scholarly journals Winter bird numbers and land-use preferences in an arable landscape in eastern England

1999 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher F. Mason ◽  
Sheila M. Macdonald

SummaryThe winter bird assemblage and habitat preferences were studied in a largely arable landscape, dominated by winter cereals, in eastern England in one winter. A total of species was recorded on 70 l-km transects but 11% of transects had no birds. Overall densities were low, Skylark Alauda arvensis being the most abundant species. Bird was highest in the first winter period (October-December). Species richness varied proportion to the available habitat in the first winter period but there was a preference for stubble, grass and tilled land (harrow) in the second winter period (January-February) Skylarks preferred stubbles in the first winter period and stubbles and grass in the second winter period. Some 34% of all birds fed on winter cereals despite a lack of preference for this habitat, while 94% of seed specialists (finches and buntings) were recorded on stubbles. The areas of preferred habitats (stubbles, grass) were probably too limited to allow more than small populations to persist. Only by the widespread adoption of agricultural extensification and/or farming some of the land specifically for conservation benefits can the declines in bird populations on intensively managed arable farmland be reversed.

Author(s):  
Rebeca de Jesús Crespo ◽  
Madison Harrison ◽  
Rachel Rogers ◽  
Randy Vaeth

We investigated the role of socio-economic factors in the proliferation of mosquito vectors in two adjacent but socio-economically contrasting neighborhoods in Baton Rouge, LA, USA. We surveyed mosquito larvae habitat, mosquito larvae, and adult mosquitoes during the summer of 2020. We also evaluated the number of requests for mosquito abatement services in the years preceding the study for each area. While we did not find differences in terms of the most abundant species, Culex quinquefasicatus (F1,30 = 0.329, p = 0.57), we did find a higher abundance of mosquito habitats, particularly discarded tires, as well as larvae (z = 13.83, p < 0.001) and adults (F1,30 = 4.207, p = 0.049) of the species Aedes albopictus in the low-income neighborhood. In contrast, mosquito abatement requests were significantly higher in the high socio-economic neighborhood (z = −8.561, p < 0.001). This study shows how factors such as adjudicated properties, discarded tires and pest abatement requests can influence the abundance of mosquito vectors, disproportionately affecting low-income groups. This study also highlights how Aedes spp. may be better indicators than Culex spp. of socio-economic differences between nearby neighborhoods, due to their short flight range and habitat preferences, and this should be considered in future studies attempting to detect such disparities in the future.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Á. Collado ◽  
Daniel Sol ◽  
Ignasi Bartomeus

ABSTRACTHabitat loss and alteration is widely considered one of the main drivers of the current loss of pollinator diversity. Unfortunately, we still lack a comprehensive analysis of habitat importance, use and preference for major groups of pollinators. Here, we address this gap analysing a large dataset of 15,762 bee specimens (more than 400 species) across northeast USA. We found that natural habitats sustain the highest bee diversity, with many species strongly depending on such habitats. By characterizing habitat use and preference for the 45 most abundant species, we also show that many bee species can use human-altered habitats despite exhibiting strong and clear preferences for forested habitats. However, only a few species appear to do well when the habitat has been drastically modified. We conclude that although altered environments may harbor a substantial number of species, preserving natural areas is still essential to guarantee the conservation of bee biodiversity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 1432-1439
Author(s):  
Shah Wahid ◽  
Khurshaid Khan ◽  
Nazma Habib Khan

Abstract The species composition, distribution, and bionomics of sand flies was investigated from January to December 2017 in four tehsils (20 villages) of district Bajaur (formally Bajaur agency), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. In total, 4,173 adult specimens comprising of seven species of Phlebotomus (Diptera: Psychodidae) and three species of Sergentomyia (Diptera: Psychodidae) were collected by oral aspirator, insecticide spray, and sticky traps from June to October. Highest numbers of flies were collected indoors in July and August when relative humidity and temperature were highest. Phlebotomus sergenti Parrot (Diptera: Psychodidae) was the most abundant species from all the collection sites, making approximately 70% of the total capture. Combined dwellings and chicken cages harbored the highest number of adult and immature flies (unrotated external genitalia). Abundance of P. sergenti had a significant (P ≤ 0.05) positive correlation with monthly average temperature, relative humidity, and average rainfall in indoor collections. On the other hand, P. papatasi Scopoli displayed similar correlation in the indoor and nighttime collections. Both the species were apparently abundant in the elevation range ≤ 419 m above sea level and on rangelands. Phlebotomus papatasi, however, also occurred on agricultural lands. The number of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) cases did not significantly correlate with the abundance of sand fly vectors across the villages surveyed. The results reported herein can serve as a baseline for an all-extensive future work in Bajaur. Our investigations will benefit the public health experts and medical entomologists for improved control and surveillance vectors of leishmaniasis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 866
Author(s):  
Jerzy Błoszyk ◽  
Katarzyna Buczkowska ◽  
Anna Maria Bobowicz ◽  
Alina Bączkiewicz ◽  
Zbigniew Adamski ◽  
...  

The study presented in this research paper is the first taxonomic investigation focusing on Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) mites with a brief discussion of the genetic differences of two very closely related species from the genus Oodinychus Berlese, 1917, i.e. O. ovalis (C.L. Koch, 1839) and O. karawaiewi (Berlese, 1903). These two morphologically similar species are quite common and they have a wide range of occurrence in Europe. They also live in almost the same types of habitat. However, O. ovalis usually exhibits higher abundance and frequency of occurrence. The major aim of the study was to carry out a comparative analysis of the systematic position, morphological and biological differences, as well as habitat preferences and distribution of O. ovalis and O. karawaiewi. The next aim was to ascertain whether the differences in number and frequency of these species may stem from the genetic differences at the molecular level (16S rDNA and COI). The study shows that O. ovalis, which is a more abundant species than O. karawaiewi, turned out to be genetically more polymorphic.


The Auk ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 1249-1260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Gillings ◽  
Robert J. Fuller ◽  
William J. Sutherland

Abstract Many species, including shorebirds, feed during both day and night, yet little is known about how this affects behavior and habitat preferences. European Golden-Plovers (Pluvialis apricaria) and Northern Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) feeding on arable farmland were more widely dispersed at night: nocturnal flocks were smaller, typically monospecific, and occurred in many more fields than diurnal mixed-species flocks. Diurnal numbers of European Golden-Plovers could not be used to predict nocturnal numbers; this indicates that ranging behavior differed between day and night. For both species, nocturnal feeding was recorded on almost all nights, irrespective of moon phase. Northern Lapwing nocturnal feeding activity decreased with increasing cloud cover and decreasing ground temperature, but no clear relationships were detected between European Golden-Plovers’ nocturnal feeding activity and environmental variables. Habitat selection differed between day and night, and between species at night. Diurnal studies of habitat choice and site selection may misrepresent the full requirements of such species. Los Estudios Diurnos no Predicen la Preferencia Nocturna de Hábitat ni la Selección Nocturna de Sitio en Pluvialis apricaria y Vanellus vanellus


Biologia ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chryssa Anastasiadou ◽  
Christos Gkenas ◽  
Ifigenia Kagalou ◽  
Ioannis Leonardos

AbstractIn order to have a comprehensive evaluation and classification of the natural biota of Lake Pamvotis, the present study aims at investigating shrimps’ bionomic traits. Information on shrimps’ habitat preferences, abundances, and syntopic species in relation to the physicochemical profile of the lake’s water are investigated for the first time. The study was carried out on a bi-monthly base, at six littoral sites of the lake. Samples’ study from different habitats and seasons revealed that the freshwater shrimp Atyaephyra thyamisensis was the most abundant species, accounting for 44.76% of the total taxa catch, while the grass shrimp Palaemonetes antennarius was less abundant (7.54%). Syntopic fish species in the littoral zone of Lake Pamvotis such as Economidichthys pygmaeus, Gambusia holbrooki, Knipowitschia caucasica and Rutillus panosi showed interannual differences with abundances of 24.12%, 19.13%, 4.26% and 0.20%, respectively. Correspondence analysis revealed clear patterns between species and stations. A. thyamisensis was predominant in shallow, well oxygenated water bodies rich with aquatic vegetation, but it was absent from deeper habitats. P. antennarius was found mainly in lentic water bodies, rocky substratum and deeper habitats. Taking into account the high ecological importance of the freshwater shrimps in ecosystems’ energy flow, ecological and biological data of lake’s shrimps are discussed and presented thoroughly. Threats and conservation measures for both shrimp species are debated also in detail.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Matsyura ◽  
А. А. Zimaroyeva ◽  
K. Jankowski

Corvids in Zhytomyr city reach maximum density in the winter period. Rooks and Eurasian Jackdaws were the most abundant species in winter, usually feeding in multispecies flocks and forming collective roosts.Suburban green areas (buffer zones) were characterized by a considerably high diversity of Corvidae species: this habitat was occupied by all six species. We also registered the highest density of Eurasian Jays and Hooded Crows in this habitat. The green areas in the city center were also characterized by significant corvid density, especially during the breeding season. The maximum breeding density of Rooks was in these habitats, which held 6 of 12 identified urban colonies in Zhytomyr. We found that the European Magpies, Eurasian Jays, and Hooded Crows also had high breeding success here. Eurasian Jackdaws occurred here only in autumn and winter, when they fed together with Rooks on lawns, gardens, and parks. With stable snow cover the Rook density in habitats of the green areas decreased due to the depletion of food resources.The individual buildings zone of the city were characterized by the lowest density of all corvid species, except for European Magpies and Eurasian Jays. The number of common species (Rooks, Eurasian Jackdaws, and Hooded Crows) was low because of shortage of food resources, lack of sites for large roosting flocks and shortage of suitable nesting sites. However, Eurasian Magpies reached one of their highest densities in this habitat (12.8 birds/km2). This species was registered in habitats around private buildings all the year round, successfully nesting in the yards of private houses and on trees in the streets. Its breeding density was 11.2 birds/km2.During three years of research (2009–2012) the density of all corvids except for European Magpie, practically did not change, although we determined a slight positive trend for all the species. The strong increase in the number of Eurasian Jackdaws could be explained by the increasing density of wintering populations or due to the increasing number of migrants from more northern regions.


EDIS ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2005 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Leann White ◽  
Peter C. Frederick ◽  
Martin B. Main ◽  
James A. Rodgers, Jr.

Many long-legged wading birds such as little blue herons (Egretta caerulea), great blue herons (Ardea herodius), and great egrets (Ardea albus) nest together in large aggregations called breeding colonies. Although different species vary in their habitat preferences, wading birds have several common requirements for nesting. Colony sites must provide protection from predators, nesting materials, and nearby foraging areas (Hafner 2000). In the past, wading birds nested in natural wetland habitats that are becoming increasingly scarce as wetland habitats are continually altered or degraded to accommodate human needs. The future success of wading bird populations may be determined by how well they cope with manipulated foraging and nesting habitats. In this document, we make recommendations on the creation of nesting islands for long-legged wading birds.  This document is CIR1473, one of a series of the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date May 2005. CIR1473/UW223: Nesting Island Creation for Wading Birds (ufl.edu)


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 130-151
Author(s):  
Selçuk Altinsaçli ◽  
Ferda Perçin Paçal ◽  
Songül Altinsaçli

The present study analyzed the spatiotemporal changes of Ostracoda fauna in eight coastal lagoons in the Enez-Evros delta (Tuzla Lake 1, Tuzla Lake 2, Tuzla Lake 3, Taz, Işık, Dalyan, Kuvalak, and Taşaltı), located along the northern Aegean Sea coastline of Turkey. Recent ostracod samples collected from the eight lagoons were analyzed, and 16 living ostracod species (belonging to 14 genera) were identified during the sampling periods. The most abundant species were found to be Cyprideis torosa and Loxoconcha elliptica. C. torosa, a cosmopolitan and opportunistic species of Ostracoda, was found in all the studied coastal lagoons. All ostracod species determined in the lagoons were grouped into three assemblages: Group 1: halophilic continental freshwater species (F. fabaeformis, C. vidua, D. stevensoni, E. virens, H. salina, I. biplicata, I. bradyi, L. inopinata, and S. aculeata); Group 2: euryhaline and typical brackish water species (C. torosa and L. elliptica); Group 3: marine (coastal: A. convexa, L. rhomboidea, C. elongata, and X. communis) and brackish (lagoonal: L. lacertosa) water species. These species of Ostracoda were shown to be affected by environmental conditions. Analyses with the physicochemical variables and species (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and Canonical Correspondence Analysis) confirmed that ostracod distribution in the Enez lagoons are controlled by seawater–freshwater inputs and by salinity. The purpose of this work is about to present data about of the Enez lagoons, and analyze the diversity of ostracods of them.


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