Birds of remnant vegetation on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia: the role of interiors, edges and roadsides

2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. Antos ◽  
John G. White
Keyword(s):  
Introduced Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Forest Edges ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Remnant Vegetation ◽  
Roadside Vegetation

Habitat loss and fragmentation on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia, has resulted in a mosaic of forest patches, forest edges abutted by agricultural land and linear habitat strips amidst a human-modified land matrix. To examine the use of forest elements by the avifauna in this landscape, bird populations were sampled along fixed transects established within forest interiors, on forest edges and along forested roadsides. A total of 60 species was recorded during this study, five of which were introduced. Species richness and diversity did not differ significantly between the three habitat elements, but avifaunal composition varied considerably. The species assemblages of all habitat elements differed significantly, with forest interiors and roadsides showing the greatest difference and forest interiors and forest edges showing the least degree of difference. Forest-dependent bird species used both interiors and edges. Interiors differed from edges and roadsides in having lower abundances of open country species, predatory species and introduced species, A clear gradient of change in bird communities from forest interiors to roadside vegetation was observed. This study suggests that the interiors of medium-sized (<1 000 ha) patches may play an important role in conserving bird biodiversity on a local level as they provide refuge for forest-dependent native species in extensively cleared landscapes.

scholarly journals Bird communities in a degraded forest biodiversity hotspot of East Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moses Mulwa ◽  
Mike Teucher ◽  
Werner Ulrich ◽  
Jan Christian Habel
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Natural Forest ◽  
Tree Plantations ◽  
Agricultural Fields ◽  
Degraded Forest ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Small Forest

AbstractTropical forests suffer severe habitat destruction. Thus, tropical forests frequently consist today of only a few small remnants that are often embedded within a matrix of agricultural fields and tree plantations. Forest specialist species have experienced severe population declines under these circumstances. We studied bird communities based on census plots set up in a near-natural forest block, as well as degraded forest patches, tree plantations, and agricultural fields, across the Taita Hills in southern Kenya. We classified each bird species according its ecology and behavior. We quantified the land cover and landscape configuration around each census plot. Typical forest species were mainly observed in the near-natural forest block, and to a lower extent in degraded forest patches. Plantations were almost devoid of birds. Bird communities of small forest fragments were more similar to that of agricultural land than the near-natural forest block. Most frugivorous, insectivorous and nectarivorous birds occurred in forest habitats, while granivorous bird species dominated the bird communities of agricultural land. The surrounding landscape had a marginal impact on bird species composition at local sites. Our study showed that the preservation of near-natural cloud forest, including small forest patches, is essential for the conservation of forest-dependent species, and that plantations do not serve as surrogate habitats.

The Shack Idea

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Estella B. Leopold
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
New Order ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Perfect Model ◽  
Major Disruption ◽  
The Right ◽  
Splendid Isolation

As each of us siblings—Starker, Luna, Carl, Nina, and i— matured and entered our professional lives in different parts of the country, we carried with us a hankering to have a place in the country, a Shack of our own. It is not merely real estate, of course. Instead, it is a camping place for feeling close to the land, a place to work with the land and to observe the ecosystem and its fauna. To “own,” or as the first peoples saw it, to “belong” on a piece of land is exciting and special—a chance to become acquainted with a few favorite species, then to watch them grow. But of course it is way more than that. As Dad said, he chose his land for its backwardness, but it flourished in splendid isolation under our care. Shack land, as we conceived of it, had the potential of being inhabited by a vast number of native bird species, plus a diverse fauna of mammals, which got richer with time. We were excited that the Shack landscape itself had such physical variety; it had hills and dales, a grand river, a series of tributaries animated by spring and fall floods, a standing bottomland forest coursed by those floods and occupied by lively muskrats, with ducks flying in and out of the sloughs, as well as kingfishers and jays. Even though it was “degraded” agricultural land, Dad and Mother saw it as a land of opportunities for the family. While it had a “reduced level of complexity,” the soil was still there, and we could help improve it, which actually means that the right plants could make it better. Prairie is the perfect model for this kind of restoration and recovery. Dad described the upward flow of energy from soils through the plant community as a kind of circuit. After major disruption and loss of native species, the energy circuit is slowed and altered. He asked, “Can the land adjust itself to the new order?” He was sure it could if we reintroduced the native plant species on that cornfield, on that terrace, on that hill, in order for a genuine prairie, with its very efficient energy-flow, to become reestablished.

The utility to birds and mammals of remnant riparian vegetation and associated windbreaks in the tropical Queensland uplands

1994 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis Crome ◽  
Jodi Isaacs ◽  
Les Moore
Keyword(s):  
Riparian Vegetation ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Grassland Species ◽  
Remnant Vegetation ◽  
Forest Remnant ◽  
Dendrolagus Lumholtzi ◽  
Ringtail Possum

Birds and mammals were censused in a ribbon of remnant vegetation along a stream connecting two rainforest fragments on a farm on the Atherton Tablelands of North Queensland. The vegetation consisted of two larger (6.5 and 19.6 ha) and one smaller forest remnant (1.1 ha) and numerous tiny disconnected patches scattered across the property and along the creek. These were classified into five types ? "Forest", "Regeneration", "Copse", "Lantana" and "Tobacco Bush". Censuses were also done in four windbreak plantings. Sixty-four species of birds were recorded in systematic censuses in the patches along the creek and in the windbreaks. Along the creek, "Forest" patches had the most species and the most rainforest species followed by "Copse" and "Regeneration" sites. "Lantana" patches were surprisingly rich in species; a total of 32 were recorded including nine rainforest species. The fewest bird species were recorded in the windbreaks which were particularly poor in rainforest species. Small mammals were live trapped in the three larger patches, in the ribbon and in one windbreak. Eleven species were captured ? six rainforest, three grassland and two introduced. The grassland species were not caught in the larger forest patches and two rainforest rodents were not caught along the creek. Nothing was caught in the windbreak but grassland species were caught in an adjoining abandoned orchard. Three species of arboreal mammals were recorded by spotlighting ? Lumholtz' Tree-kangaroo Dendrolagus lumholtzi, Coppery Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpecula johnstonii and Green Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus archeri. All occurred in the stream vegetation as well as the larger forest patches. None were seen in any of the four windbreaks. It is concluded that the creek vegetation is valuable wildlife habitat. The windbreaks were less so but were still useful to the fauna on the study area.

scholarly journals Farmland bird communities in the Baltic region: impact of agricultural intensification and farmers’ attitudes

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Herzon
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Agricultural Policies ◽  
Farmland Birds ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Farmland Bird ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
The Eu

Intensification of agricultural land-use was shown to be the key reason behind declines in wildlifespecies associated with farmland. I looked at scenarios of agricultural development across the Baltic states ofEstonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and the ways they are seen to affect farmed environments as a habitat offarmland bird species. Community richness and abundance of many farmland bird species were positivelyrelated to the number of non-cropped elements within farmland, the local mixture of annual crop and grassfields, and the variety of field types. The above positive associations were strongest in open landscapes.There was a clear indication that the more intensively farmed areas across the region provided habitat forfewer bird species and individuals. The difference could partly be explained by the more heterogeneouslandscape and field areas in the latter. Within homogenous arable fields intensification of field managementwas reflected in a tangible decrease in farmland bird abundance, especially in species in need of edgestructures.Based on the interviews in Estonia and Finland I explored farmers’ interest in and knowledge offarmland wildlife, their understanding of the concept of biodiversity, and awareness of the potential causesbehind declines of farmland birds. Many farmers viewed biodiversity from a narrow perspective oftenexcluding species directly related to farming. In Finland farmers expressed concern about the decline incommon farmland species, but Estonian farmers did not, which might be related to the fact that these speciesare still very common. In both countries farmers rated intensification of agriculture as the major drivingforce behind farmland bird declines. The expressed interest in wildlife positively correlated with willingnessto undertake wildlife-friendly measures. Only farmers with agri-environment contracts targeted specificallyat biodiversity enhancement were more knowledgeable about practical on-farm activities favouring wildlife,and were more willing to employ them that the rest.The results suggest that, by contributing to simplification of the farmland structure, homogenisationof crops, and increase in intensity of field use EU agricultural policies will have a detrimental effect onfarmland bird populations in Eastern Europe. Farmers are on the whole positive to the idea of supportingwildlife in the fields, and are concerned about its decline, but they require payments to offset their incomeloss and extra work. Biodiversity conservation should be better integrated into the agri-environmentprogrammes if it to serve as awareness tool for farmers. I argue that with a foreseen tripling of cereal yieldsacross the region, the EU Council’s Göteborg target of slowing biodiversity decline by 2010 may not berealistic unless considerable improvements are made into the EU agricultural policy for the region.

scholarly journals Recent recovery and expansion of Guam’s locally endangered Såli (Micronesian Starling) Aplonis opaca population in the presence of the invasive brown treesnake

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
HENRY S. POLLOCK ◽  
MARTIN KASTNER ◽  
GARY J. WILES ◽  
HUGO THIERRY ◽  
LAURA BARNHART DUEÑAS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Native Forest ◽  
Boiga Irregularis ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Brown Treesnake

Summary Assessing the impacts of invasive predators on the demography and distribution of native species is critical for understanding mechanisms of species persistence and informing the design of recovery programmes. On the oceanic island of Guam, the introduction of the predatory brown treesnake Boiga irregularis after World War II caused the near-total loss of the native forest avifauna. Localised snake control measures have been implemented since the early 1990s, yet it remains poorly understood how they have impacted Guam’s remaining native bird populations. To address this question, we combined intensive area searches of Andersen Air Force Base (AAFB) with island-wide transect surveys and opportunistic sightings to provide a comprehensive update on the distribution and abundance of Såli (Micronesian Starling, Aplonis opaca) – one of Guam’s last extant native bird species. Area searches of AAFB, where the largest remnant of the Såli population persists, revealed a 15-fold population increase since the last survey in the early 1990s, and transect surveys and opportunistic sightings indicate incipient recolonisation of other urbanised areas of northern and central Guam. We estimate the current island-wide population size at ~1,400 individuals. The population increase can likely be attributed to a combination of snake control measures and the Såli’s ability to exploit urban refugia for nesting and roosting. Although these trends demonstrate some population recovery, a skewed age ratio (>90% adults and subadults) at AAFB and a highly urbanised distribution and low abundance outside AAFB indicate that snake predation continues to strongly impact the population. More intensive snake suppression efforts, particularly in forested areas, may allow for the Såli population to attain its former distribution and abundance on Guam. More broadly, our findings reinforce the importance of urban areas as refugia for some threatened species.

scholarly journals Ornithologycal impotrance of Gruza accumulation

2004 ◽  
pp. 55-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daliborka Barjaktarov
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Middle Part ◽  
The State ◽  
Migration Route ◽  
Anthropogenic Influence ◽  
Artificial Lake ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Wintering Area

Damming the middle part of Gruza River, in order to supply drinking and technical water for Kragujevac District caused appearance of Gruzanska accumulation. This lake fills the depression of Knicko Polje between the Gledicke Mts and Kotlenik. As the ornithofauna of accumulation lakes, both in this country and abroad, is poorly studied, this paper presents the data on the state of ornithofauna of Gruzansko Lake. The lake has an important role in migration of both native and foreign bird populations, but also as a wintering area for certain species of ducks and geese, as it is situated on the assumed Morava -Vardar migration route. During the research, 78 bird species were recorded and for 25 species it was proven that they breed in the area. Most species were recorded in the zone of strong anthropogenic influence, which is understandable as before the building of the dam and the artificial lake the Knicko Polje was dominated by agricultural land, mowed meadows and orchards.

scholarly journals Habitat heterogeneity influences avian feeding guild composition in urban landscapes: evidence from Bhubaneswar, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bibhu Prasad Panda ◽  
B. Anjan Kumar Prusty ◽  
Biswajit Panda ◽  
Abanti Pradhan ◽  
Siba Prasad Parida
Keyword(s):  
Urban Area ◽  
Habitat Heterogeneity ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Urban Landscape ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Agricultural Lands ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Forest Patches

Abstract Background Habitat heterogeneity clearly distinguished in terms of availability of food and habitat resources and landscape features (natural or human-modified) play a crucial role in the avian species composition and population structure. To examine this, a study was carried out in Bhubaneswar, India, to understand the ecological niche distinction in birds based on habitat heterogeneity. Regular sampling was conducted in 30 sampling sites covering six different habitat types in a predominantly urban landscape of Bhubaneswar for understanding the ecological niche in birds. The birds were classified into 11 types of foraging guilds. Results The insectivorous guild had the highest bird species richness (181 species) and the omnivorous guild had the lowest (11 species). The piscivorous guild and wetland habitat had the strongest linkage, followed by the insectivorous guild and agricultural land. The frugivorous guild was significantly correlated with forest habitats (r = 0.386, p < 0.01) and park and garden habitats (r = 0.281, p < 0.01). This urban area hosted a higher number of bird species in certain habitat types, viz., agricultural lands (52%, 115 species) and forest patches (50%, 111 species). Conclusion The present study highlights the importance of agricultural lands, forest patches, parks and gardens, and wetlands inside the cityscape for supporting avifauna. It is therefore suggested that such habitats should be conserved inside an urban area to protect native avifauna. Thus, the city development plan must invariably include strategies for conserving the forest patches inside the urban area. Measures must be taken to restrain the degradation of agricultural lands and reduce their utilization for non-agricultural purposes, which will help in further reducing the bird population decline in the urban landscape.

scholarly journals Diet composition of the invasive red-whiskered bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus in Mauritius

2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jannie Fries Linnebjerg ◽  
Dennis M. Hansen ◽  
Nancy Bunbury ◽  
Jens M. Olesen
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Introduced Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Ecological Perspective ◽  
Positive Interactions ◽  
Invasional Meltdown ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Successful Establishment ◽  
The Impact

Disruption of ecosystems is one of the biggest threats posed by invasive species (Mack et al. 2000). Thus, one of the most important challenges is to understand the impact of exotic species on native species and habitats (e.g. Jones 2008). The probability that entire ‘invasive communities’ will develop increases as more species establish in new areas (Bourgeois et al. 2005). For example, introduced species may act in concert, facilitating one another's invasion, and increasing the likelihood of successful establishment, spread and impact. Simberloff & Von Holle (1999) introduced the term ‘invasional meltdown’ for this process, which has received widespread attention since (e.g. O'Dowd 2003, Richardson et al. 2000, Simberloff 2006). Positive interactions among introduced species are relatively common, but few have been studied in detail (Traveset & Richardson 2006). Examples include introduced insects and birds that pollinate and disperse exotic plants, thereby facilitating the spread of these species into non-invaded habitats (Goulson 2003, Mandon-Dalger et al. 2004, Simberloff & Von Holle 1999). From a more general ecological perspective, the study of interactions involving introduced and invasive species can contribute to our knowledge of ecological processes – for example, community assembly and indirect interactions.

An eco-evolutionary rationale to distinguish alien and native status: why the dingo is a native species on mainland Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 358-366
Author(s):  
Peter B. Banks
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Introduced Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Genetic Basis ◽  
Evolutionary Approach ◽  
Range Transport ◽  
The Status ◽  
Local Species ◽  
Natural Range ◽  
Native Status

Distinguishing between whether a species is alien or native can be problematic, especially for introduced species that are long-established in new areas outside of their natural range. Transport by humans is the criterion for alien status used by many definitions, whereas arbitrary time since arrival to a location is often used to define native status. Here I propose an eco-evolutionary approach to distinguish between alien and native status and use this to resolve uncertainty in the status of the dingo in Australia. Dingoes were transported to mainland Australia by humans, but more than 4000 years ago, and dingoes now interbreed with feral domestic dogs. Legally, this mix of events has the dingo classified as native in some jurisdictions and alien in others. I suggest that native status for introduced species should be based on (1) whether the species has evolved in their new environment; (2) whether local species recognise and respond to them as they do towards deep endemic native species, and; (3) whether their impacts benchmark against those of a native species or are exaggerated like those of other alien species. Dingoes are behaviourally, reproductively and morphologically different to close ancestors from south-east Asia, and this difference has a genetic basis indicative of evolution in Australia. There is abundant evidence that native prey species on mainland Australia recognise and respond to them as a dangerous predator, which they are. But there is strong evidence that dingo impacts on prey are not exaggerated, with effect sizes from mensurative experiments similar to those of experiments on native predators rather than alien predators. These three lines of evidence suggest dingoes should be considered native to mainland Australia. I suggest this eco-evolutionary approach to defining native status can be helpful in resolving the often-heated debates about when an alien species becomes native.

scholarly journals Taxonomic synopsis and analytical key for the genera of Solanaceae from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 346-362
Author(s):  
Edson Luís de Carvalho Soares ◽  
Márcia Vignoli-Silva ◽  
Lilian Auler Mentz
Keyword(s):  
Introduced Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Rio Grande Do Sul ◽  
Number Of Species

This work consists of a taxonomic synopsis of the genera of Solanaceae in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Solanaceae is represented by 28 genera in this state: Acnistus Schott, Athenaea Sendtn., Aureliana Sendtn., Bouchetia Dunal, Browalia L., Brugmansia Pers., Brunfelsia L., Calibrachoa La Llave & Lex., Capsicum L., Cestrum L., Datura L., Dyssochroma Miers, Grabowskia Schltdl., Jaborosa Juss., Lycianthes (Dunal) Hassl., Melananthus Walp., Nicandra Adans., Nicotiana L., Nierembergia Ruiz & Pav., Petunia Juss., Physalis L., Salpichroa Miers, Schwenckia L., Sessea Ruiz & Pav., Solandra Sw., Solanum L. (including Cyphomandra Sendtn. and Lycopersicon Mill.), Streptosolen Miers and Vassobia Rusby. Of these, 23 consist of native species , while five are represented exclusively by introduced species. The total number of species is 149, of which 118 are native and 31 are introduced (adventitious or cultivated). An identification key for genera, and also comments on the most relevant taxonomic characters of each one are presented, plus comments on the species that occur in Rio Grande do Sul state.

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