Foraging Ecology of a Mulga Bird Community

1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry F. Recher ◽  
William E. Davis Jr
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Guild Structure ◽  
Opportunistic Species ◽  
Common Food ◽  
Eucalyptus Forest

Mulga is a distinctive woodland or shrub community with a wide distribution across the semi-arid zone of southern and central Australia. Mulga (Acacia aneura) is the dominant shrub and small tree, but other species of Acacia are common. Typical of Australian habitats in the arid zone, mulga has a core of resident bird species that is augmented by nomadic (opportunistic) species when conditions are favourable. This paper describes the foraging behaviour and habitat use of a mulga avifauna in the vicinity of Alice Springs during late winter, when many opportunistic species were present. Data were obtained for 24 species, of which 16 were confirmed as nesting. Many birds, regardless of their normal foraging habits, converged on a common food resource: a geometrid moth (Geometridae) that was abundant on mulga plants. Despite their use of a common food resource, species differed in their foraging behaviour, proportions of different substrates used, and foraging heights. Ground-foraging species dominated the avifauna, but in most respects the guild structure of the community was a scaled-down version of Eucalyptus forest avifaunas. Differences in guild structure between mulga and eucalypt forest are best explained by differences between the two habitats in the kinds of resources (e.g. foraging substrates, types of food) that are available.

scholarly journals Distribution and density of oxpeckers on giraffes in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roxanne Gagnon ◽  
Cheryl T. Mabika ◽  
Christophe Bonenfant
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Large Mammals ◽  
Large Herbivores ◽  
Aggregation Behaviour ◽  
Hwange National Park ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
Parasite Dynamics

AbstractOxpeckers (Buphagus sp.) are two bird species closely associated to large mammals, including giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis). We tested whether oxpeckers distributed themselves at random across individuals or aggregated on individual giraffes, and if birds select the host’s body parts with the expected greatest amount of ticks. By counting oxpeckers on giraffe’s body from photographs, we quantified the distribution of birds per hosts and over predefined zones on the giraffe body. Oxpeckers displayed a strong aggregation behaviour with few hosts carrying many birds while many carried a limited number or no birds, a pattern that was most exaggerated for males. Oxpeckers were disproportionately found on the mane and back, where the density of ticks is presumably the highest. This high aggregation level of birds is typical of parasitic species and could suggest that oxpecker distribution may mirror the distribution of ticks, their primary food resource, on giraffes. Abundance of ticks appears as a major driver of the oxpecker foraging behaviour, and the oxpecker–large herbivores system proves to be highly relevant for the study of host–parasite dynamics.

scholarly journals Search Tactics of Insectivorous Birds Foraging in an Australian Eucalypt Forest

The Auk ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 515-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard T. Holmes ◽  
Harry F. Recher
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Structure ◽  
Temperate Forest ◽  
Prey Capture ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Insectivorous Birds ◽  
Community Patterns ◽  
Eucalypt Forest ◽  
Eucalyptus Forest ◽  
Forest Habitats

Abstract The different ways birds searched for food in an Australian Eucalyptus forest led them to detect and capture different kinds of prey. Five major searching modes were identified among 23 common, mostly insectivorous bird species. These were distinguished largely by the rates, distances, and angles moved by birds while foraging and by their prey-capture behavior. Some bird species typically moved slowly, visually examining substrates at relatively long distances, and then took flight to capture prey (e.g. whistlers, flycatchers, muscicapid robins, cuckoos). Others moved at more rapid rates and either gleaned small prey from nearby substrates (e.g. thornbills, treecreepers) or flushed insects that were then pursued (e.g. fantails). Two species (Eastern Shrike-Tit, Falcunculus frontatus; White-eared Honeyeater, Meliphaga leucotis) were specialized substrate-restricted searchers, seeking invertebrate and carbohydrate foods among the exfoliating bark of Eucalyptus. The search tactics of birds in this south temperate Australian forest were similar to those of birds in a north temperate forest in New Hampshire, USA, previously reported by Robinson and Holmes (1982). The differences in food-searching behavior between these phylogenetically distinct avifaunas (e.g. search flight and prey-attack flight lengths, hop/flight ratios, foraging rates) reflect the effects of unique foliage structures (e.g. spacing of branches, arrangements of leaves) and food resources at each site. These findings support the hypothesis that habitat structure and food availability provide opportunities and constraints on how birds search for and capture food in forest habitats. These in turn are postulated to affect the success of particular bird species exploiting those habitats and thus influence bird community patterns.

Diversity of bird community in Hohhot

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-165
Author(s):  
G Ariunjargal ◽  
Yang Guisheng
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Habitat Diversity ◽  
Ecological Condition ◽  
Fundamental Study ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Bird Distribution

The article contains research on avifauna compliment, numeral and bird distribution which depend on differentiation of habitat and seasons in Hohhot for last year. A bird is one of the important species of vertebrates which has an essential role on ecological balance and biological control. Having diversity of birds is the main composition of biological diversity. Bird community structure is determined by relationship of bird’s species and general correlation of birds and environment. Diversity of bird community structure has direct correlation of its species, bird community numeral and habitat. Also it depends on geographical factor, habitat, diversity of plant community, plant vertical structure, food resource, possibility of shelter and other factors. Therefore, bird species become a very valuable indicator for ecological condition of the city and environmental ecological quality. We have divided the areas around Hohhot, Inner Mongolia into 6 different habitats such as grassland, farmland, residential area, woodland, wetland and garbage dump. We have performed the bird fundamental study, and investigated bird flora, ecology, distribution, diversity, environment, and community structure in different habitats and seasons. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5564/mjas.v11i2.240 Mongolian Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol.11(2) 2013 pp.159-165

scholarly journals Predicting the Future Distribution of Ara rubrogenys, an Endemic Endangered Bird Species of the Andes, Taking into Account Trophic Interactions

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
Alain Hambuckers ◽  
Simon de Harenne ◽  
Eberth Rocha Ledezma ◽  
Lilian Zúñiga Zeballos ◽  
Louis François
Keyword(s):  
Food Resource ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Co2 Concentration ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Plant Resources ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
The Andes ◽  
Vegetation Models ◽  
Fertilizing Effect ◽  
The Impact

Species distribution models (SDMs) are commonly used with climate only to predict animal distribution changes. This approach however neglects the evolution of other components of the niche, like food resource availability. SDMs are also commonly used with plants. This also suffers limitations, notably an inability to capture the fertilizing effect of the rising CO2 concentration strengthening resilience to water stress. Alternatively, process-based dynamic vegetation models (DVMs) respond to CO2 concentration. To test the impact of the plant modelling method to model plant resources of animals, we studied the distribution of a Bolivian macaw, assuming that, under future climate, DVMs produce more conservative results than SDMs. We modelled the bird with an SDM driven by climate. For the plant, we used SDMs or a DVM. Under future climates, the macaw SDM showed increased probabilities of presence over the area of distribution and connected range extensions. For plants, SDMs did not forecast overall response. By contrast, the DVM produced increases of productivity, occupancy and diversity, also towards higher altitudes. The results offered positive perspectives for the macaw, more optimistic with the DVM than with the SDMs, than initially assumed. Nevertheless, major common threats remain, challenging the short-term survival of the macaw.

scholarly journals Prey, management and landscape requirements of an endangered population of the Woodlark Lullula arborea in Southwest Germany

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verena Rösch ◽  
Pascal Aloisio ◽  
Martin H. Entling
Keyword(s):  
Food Resource ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Main Food ◽  
Vegetation Height ◽  
Endangered Population ◽  
Rhine Valley ◽  
Territory Selection ◽  
Main Food Source ◽  
Upper Rhine

AbstractVineyards can be valuable habitats for biodiversity conservation. For example, in Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany) over a third of the state’s critically endangered Woodlark (Lullula arborea) population breeds in vineyards along the western margin of the Upper Rhine Valley. We here aim to elucidate how local ground cover management, food availability and the proximity to settlements affect territory selection by this bird species in the region. As climate, site conditions and management differ greatly from more continental or Mediterranean wine-growing areas, conditions for Woodlark conservation may differ as well.We compared 26 Woodlark territories in vineyards with 26 nearby reference areas from which Woodlarks were absent. We recorded vineyard ground cover in the inter-rows (% cover) as well as vegetation height and composition (forbs vs. grasses). Arthropods were sampled using pitfall traps, since they are the main food resource of Woodlarks during the breeding season. In addition, the distance to built-up areas was measured. The vegetation in Woodlark territories was shorter (mean 14.2 vs. 19.6 cm) and more dominated by forbs (39% vs. 27% cover) than in absence areas. The vegetation cover in the inter-rows had no effect on Woodlark territory presence or absence. Woodlarks also favoured areas with a higher abundance of arthropods (mean abundance 69.1 vs. 57.5) and a greater distance to built-up areas (mean distance 554 vs. 373 m). We conclude that to promote the Woodlark in wine-growing areas, short, forb-rich swards should be created, facilitating arthropod detectability. This is likely to require low levels of nitrogen fertilization since fertilizers favour tall-growing grasses that outcompete forbs. Pesticide applications should be kept at a minimum to enhance arthropods as the main food source for Woodlarks and their chicks. In addition, the expansion of settlements into breeding areas of Woodlarks should be avoided.

scholarly journals Testing the Likeable, Therefore Abundant Hypothesis: Bird Species Likeability by Urban Residents Varies Significantly with Species Traits

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 487
Author(s):  
Lillian Collins ◽  
Grant D. Paton ◽  
Sara A. Gagné
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Species Traits ◽  
Community Change ◽  
Habitat Availability ◽  
Urban Residents ◽  
Behavioral Traits

The urbanization of landscapes filters bird communities to favor particular species traits, driven in part by the changes that homeowners make to the amount and quality of habitat in yards. We suggest that an ultimate driver of these proximate mechanisms underlying bird community change with respect to urbanization is the likeability of species traits by urban residents. We hypothesize that bird species likeability, modulated by species traits, influences the degree to which homeowners alter the availability and quality of habitat on their properties and thereby affects species population sizes in urbanized landscapes. We refer to this new hypothesis as the Likeable, therefore Abundant Hypothesis. The Likeable, therefore Abundant Hypothesis predicts that (1) bird species likeability varies with species morphological and behavioral traits, (2) homeowners use trait-based likeability as a motivator to modify habitat availability and quality on their properties, and (3) residential habitat availability and quality influences species populations at landscape scales. We tested the first prediction of the Likeable, therefore Abundant Hypothesis using a survey of 298 undergraduate students at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte who were asked to rank their preferences for 85 forest generalist and edge/open country songbird species grouped according to 10 morphological and behavioral traits. Survey respondents preferred very small, primarily blue or black species that are insectivorous, aerial or bark foragers, residents, and culturally unimportant. On the other hand, respondents disliked large or very large, primarily yellow or orange species that forage on the ground and/or forage by flycatching, are migratory, and are culturally important. If the Likeable, therefore Abundant Hypothesis is true, natural resource managers and planners could capitalize on the high likeability of species that are nevertheless negatively affected by urbanization to convince homeowners and residents to actively manage their properties for species conservation.

scholarly journals The impact of Sosnowsky’s Hogweed on feeding guilds of birds

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilia Grzędzicka ◽  
Jiří Reif
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Plant Invasions ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Feeding Guilds ◽  
Guild Structure ◽  
Feeding Guild ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
The Impact

AbstractPlant invasions alter bird community composition worldwide, but the underlying mechanisms still require exploration. The investigation of feeding guild structure of bird communities can be informative in respect to the potential impact of invasion features on the availability of food for birds. For this purpose, we focused on determining the influence of the invasive Sosnowsky’s Hogweed Heracleum sosnowskyi on the abundance of birds from various feeding guilds. In spring and summer 2019, birds were counted three times on 52 pairs of sites (control + Heracleum) in southern Poland, at various stages of Sosnowsky’s Hogweed development (i.e. sprouting, full growth and flowering, all corresponding to respective bird counts). We have shown that the presence of invader negatively affected the abundance of birds from all feeding guilds. However, a closer examination of the invaded sites uncovered that responses of particular guilds differed in respect to development stages expressed by a set of characteristics of the invader. Ground and herb insectivores were more common on plots with a higher number of the invader, while the abundance of bush and tree insectivores was negatively correlated with hogweeds’ height. Granivores were not affected by the invader’s features, while the abundance of omnivores was negatively related to the number of flowering hogweeds. Besides showing the general negative impact of the invader on different feeding guilds, our research has shown that certain aspects of Sosnowsky’s Hogweed invasion may support or depress occurrence of different birds on invaded plots. Knowledge of these aspects may facilitate our capacity for coping with challenges the invasive plants put in front of bird conservationists.

scholarly journals Fire and Mechanical Forest Management Treatments Support Different Portions of the Bird Community in Fire-Suppressed Forests

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 150
Author(s):  
Lance Jay Roberts ◽  
Ryan Burnett ◽  
Alissa Fogg
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Fire Disturbance ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
High Severity ◽  
Commercial Thinning ◽  
Silvicultural Management ◽  
Total Community

Silvicultural treatments, fire, and insect outbreaks are the primary disturbance events currently affecting forests in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, a region where plants and wildlife are highly adapted to a frequent-fire disturbance regime that has been suppressed for decades. Although the effects of both fire and silviculture on wildlife have been studied by many, there are few studies that directly compare their long-term effects on wildlife communities. We conducted avian point counts from 2010 to 2019 at 1987 in situ field survey locations across eight national forests and collected fire and silvicultural treatment data from 1987 to 2016, resulting in a 20-year post-disturbance chronosequence. We evaluated two categories of fire severity in comparison to silvicultural management (largely pre-commercial and commercial thinning treatments) as well as undisturbed locations to model their influences on abundances of 71 breeding bird species. More species (48% of the community) reached peak abundance at moderate-high-severity-fire locations than at low-severity fire (8%), silvicultural management (16%), or undisturbed (13%) locations. Total community abundance was highest in undisturbed dense forests as well as in the first few years after silvicultural management and lowest in the first few years after moderate-high-severity fire, then abundance in all types of disturbed habitats was similar by 10 years after disturbance. Even though the total community abundance was relatively low in moderate-high-severity-fire habitats, species diversity was the highest. Moderate-high-severity fire supported a unique portion of the avian community, while low-severity fire and silvicultural management were relatively similar. We conclude that a significant portion of the bird community in the Sierra Nevada region is dependent on moderate-high-severity fire and thus recommend that a prescribed and managed wildfire program that incorporates a variety of fire effects will best maintain biodiversity in this region.

Bird community structure in natural and urbanized habitats along an altitudinal gradient in Pauri district (Garhwal Himalaya) of Uttarakhand state, India

Biologia ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Archana Naithani ◽  
Dinesh Bhatt
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Altitudinal Gradient ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Forest Habitat ◽  
Rarefaction Analysis

AbstractIn the Indian subcontinent there is hardly any study that compares the bird community structure of urban/suburban areas with those of forest habitat. The present survey identified diverse assemblages of birds in the Pauri district at different elevations. A total of 125 bird species belonging to 40 families including two least count species (Lophura leucomelanos and Pucrasia marcolopha) were recorded during this survey in the forest and urbanized habitats of Pauri District (Garhwal Hiamalaya) of Uttarakhand state, India. The high elevation (Pauri 1600–2100 m a.s.l.), mid elevation (Srikot-Khanda 900–1300 m a.s.l.) and low elevation (Srinagar 500–900 m a.s.l.) contributed 88.8%, 63.2% and 58.4% of the total species respectively. Rarefaction analysis and Shannon diversity index showed that the high elevation forest habitat had highest bird species richness (BSR) and bird species diversity (BSD) followed by the mid and then the low elevation forests. BSR and BSD fluctuated across seasons at all elevations but not across habitat types. Present study provides a base line data about avian community composition in urbanized and natural habitats along altitudinal gradient in the study area. This information may be useful to the conservation biologists for the better management and conservation of the avifauna in the Western Himalaya, a part of one of the hot biodiversity spots of the world.

Influence of cliffs on bird community diversity

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 278-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
J D Matheson ◽  
D W Larson
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Community Diversity ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
Narrow Component ◽  
Habitat Features ◽  
Habitat Mosaic ◽  
The North ◽  
Talus Slope ◽  
Additive Influence

Cliffs along the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario, Canada, support a long, narrow presettlement forest that includes three distinct geomorphic and vegetation zones: cliff edge, cliff face, and talus slope. This unique landform provides an opportunity to evaluate differences in bird communities between the escarpment and adjacent forest relative to habitat features. We sampled forest birds 12 times during the summer of 1994 in plots located in plateau forests, on talus slope, at cliff edges, and on cliff faces. Eleven habitat variables considered important to birds were also sampled in the plots. We arranged plots along six randomly spaced transects at a south site and a north site. Both sites had the consistent habitat heterogeneity considered important to birds. Bird species richness and composition responded to this heterogeneity, but differently at each site: plateau deciduous forests always had the lowest richness and the simplest species composition, whereas both cliff edges and talus slopes had a higher diversity of birds. Cliff faces had large numbers of species in the south but smaller numbers in the north. Escarpment zones form a habitat mosaic that supports many species not found in the adjacent forest and is consistent with the effect of habitat edge. The results suggest that cliffs represent a significant additive influence on avian biodiversity, even when the cliff is a very narrow component of the landscape.

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