scholarly journals Human-related processes drive the richness of exotic birds in Europe

2008 ◽  
Vol 276 (1654) ◽  
pp. 47-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Chiron ◽  
Susan Shirley ◽  
Salit Kark
Keyword(s):  
Exotic Species ◽  
Propagule Pressure ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Minor Importance ◽  
Relative Role ◽  
Natural Factors ◽  
Bird Richness ◽  
Exotic Birds

Both human-related and natural factors can affect the establishment and distribution of exotic species. Understanding the relative role of the different factors has important scientific and applied implications. Here, we examined the relative effect of human-related and natural factors in determining the richness of exotic bird species established across Europe. Using hierarchical partitioning, which controls for covariation among factors, we show that the most important factor is the human-related community-level propagule pressure (the number of exotic species introduced), which is often not included in invasion studies due to the lack of information for this early stage in the invasion process. Another, though less important, factor was the human footprint (an index that includes human population size, land use and infrastructure). Biotic and abiotic factors of the environment were of minor importance in shaping the number of established birds when tested at a European extent using 50×50 km 2 grid squares. We provide, to our knowledge, the first map of the distribution of exotic bird richness in Europe. The richest hotspot of established exotic birds is located in southeastern England, followed by areas in Belgium and The Netherlands. Community-level propagule pressure remains the major factor shaping the distribution of exotic birds also when tested for the UK separately. Thus, studies examining the patterns of establishment should aim at collecting the crucial and hard-to-find information on community-level propagule pressure or develop reliable surrogates for estimating this factor. Allowing future introductions of exotic birds into Europe should be reconsidered carefully, as the number of introduced species is basically the main factor that determines the number established.

Effects of ectoparasites on breeding success of great tits (Parus major) and pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) in an air pollution gradient

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 624-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tapio Eeva ◽  
Esa Lehikoinen ◽  
Jorma Nurmi
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Breeding Success ◽  
Detrimental Effect ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Parus Major ◽  
Ficedula Hypoleuca ◽  
Nest Size ◽  
Minor Importance ◽  
Ceratophyllus Gallinae

Numbers of ectoparasitic blow fly (Protocalliphora azurea) larvae (Diptera: Calliphoridae), adult and larval hen fleas, Ceratophyllus gallinae (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae), and other nest-dwelling insects were counted from the nests of the great tit, Parus major, and the pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca, in southwestern Finland around a factory complex emitting large quantities of sulphuric oxides and heavy metals. Protocalliphora azurea larvae were more frequently found in the nests of P. major than in those of F. hypoleuca. The prevalence of P. azurea larvae tended to be lower in polluted areas. The number of P. azurea larvae correlated positively with nest size and brood size of P. major. This may be caused by difficulties in sanitation of large and crowded nests. The numbers of fleas and their larvae were negatively affected by moisture in the nests. Nests of F. hypoleuca contained more adult fleas in polluted areas. This may indicate reduced resistance of birds exposed to heavy metals, but other possibilities are also discussed. We found a detrimental effect of P. azurea larvae on the growth of P. major nestlings, and an effect of fleas on mortality of F. hypoleuca nestlings, but these effects were not enhanced by air pollution. We conclude that the ectoparasites studied, at densities observed in our study area, are of minor importance in determining the breeding success of these two bird species.

Modelling bird richness and bird species presence in a boreal forest reserve using airborne laser-scanning and aerial images

Bird Study ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrine Eldegard ◽  
John Wirkola Dirksen ◽  
Hans Ole Ørka ◽  
Rune Halvorsen ◽  
Erik Næsset ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Airborne Laser Scanning ◽  
Aerial Images ◽  
Forest Reserve ◽  
Airborne Laser ◽  
Bird Richness

scholarly journals Power line routing and configuration as major drivers of collision risk in two bustard species

Oryx ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Teresa Marques ◽  
Ricardo C. Martins ◽  
João Paulo Silva ◽  
Jorge M. Palmeirim ◽  
Francisco Moreira
Keyword(s):  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Power Line ◽  
Power Lines ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Collision Risk ◽  
Great Bustard ◽  
Line Configuration ◽  
Tetrax Tetrax

Abstract Collision with power lines is a major cause of mortality for many bird species. Understanding the biotic and abiotic factors that increase collision risk is therefore important for implementing mitigation measures to minimize mortality, such as power line rerouting or wire marking. Here, we used collision events registered during 2003–2015 along 280 km of transmission power lines in southern Portugal to analyse spatio-temporal patterns and collision risk factors in two sympatric, threatened, and collision-prone species: the great bustard Otis tarda and the little bustard Tetrax tetrax. The occurrence of collisions was not uniform across space and time, and variations could be explained by the species' ecological requirements, distribution patterns and behaviour. Although both species fly considerable distances between areas of suitable habitat, collisions were far more likely in power line sections with > 20% (for the little bustard) or > 50% (for the great bustard) of open farmland habitat in the surroundings. Power line configuration was also important: taller pylons and those with a higher number of wire levels posed a higher risk for both species. Wire marking had a small but significant effect for the little bustard, reducing collisions risk. There was, however, no similar effect for the great bustard, possibly a result of limited data. Mitigation measures should be implemented to prevent bustard collisions, including adequate route planning, ideally avoiding areas with > 20% of open habitat. Line configuration and wire marking are particularly important where such localities cannot be avoided and power lines cross areas with a high proportion of bustard habitat, including outside protected areas.

scholarly journals Bird richness and composition in a Cerrado fragment in the State of São Paulo

2010 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
LT Manica ◽  
M Telles ◽  
MM Dias
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Status ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
The State ◽  
São Paulo ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Bird Richness

Bird species richness is an important measure for monitoring biodiversity changes. We analysed avifauna richness and composition in a 472 ha protected cerrado fragment and surroundings at Fazenda Canchim (RL-CPPSE), São Carlos, in the State of São Paulo (SP). We carried out 95.1 hours of observation (22 visits) at irregular intervals from May 2004 to December 2006. Qualitative surveys were done walking through tracks inside the fragment and on the roads at its edge. We recorded 160 species, six of which were endemic to Cerrado domain, 22 migratory, seven threatened within the State of São Paulo, and two globally threatened. We found 28 species in the cerradão, 110 in the cerrado sensu stricto, 13 in the gallery forest, 26 in the reservoir border, 26 in pasturelands and sugar cane monoculture and 55 in an anthropic area. Most of the species had low frequency of occurrence in all vegetation forms. Insectivores were the major trophic category (46.9%), which is typical in tropical regions, and it is also related to resource availability. Omnivores followed with 19.4%, granivores with 8.8% and frugivores with 7.5%. We conclude that, despite its size and conservation status, our study area has a remarkable bird community and must be considered as a priority conservation area to preserve bird species in Sao Paulo State.

scholarly journals The Occurence of Ecological Traps in Bird Populations: Is our Knowledge Sufficient? A Review

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 36-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petr Suvorov ◽  
Jana Svobodová
Keyword(s):  
Exotic Species ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Ecological Trap ◽  
Native Communities ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Suburban Areas ◽  
Arable Fields ◽  
Insufficient Time

ABSTRACT Anthropogenic changes in a landscape create new cues for birds, which must permanently adapt to these. If landscape changes occur too quickly, individuals have insufficient time to develop adequate reactions. They may, therefore, preferentially nest in low-quality habitats, which can lead to diminished nesting success and to reduction of their population size. This is usually termed the ecological trap hypothesis. We reviewed 38 studies investigating this phenomenon and analysed whether relationships exist between ecological trap occurrence and geographical region, habitat type, and/or life strategies of bird species. Ecological traps were most often associated with the presence of exotic species. Exotic species can modify environmental conditions in ways to which native communities are not adapted. They have been mainly detected in open habitats. Such open habitats as arable fields and meadows are under greater human pressure, and rapid changes probably occur there more frequently. Although more studies from North America were investigated, the hypothesis was supported more frequently in European studies. This is possibly due to higher human population density and, hence, more frequent habitat changes. Our results show that an ecological trap is not likely associated with migration. Ground nests suffered fewer consequences of such traps than did other nest types. Although the implications of the ecological trap hypothesis in species conservation are undisputable, a more detailed approach is still needed. For instance, some habitat types, such as suburban areas, have been neglected in the context of ecological traps, as has been the phenomenon’s appearance in pristine habitats.

Kelimpahan Kodok Jam Pasir Leptophryne borbonica di Sepanjang Aliran Sungai Cisuren, Bodogol, Taman Nasional Gunung Gede Pangrango

Jurnal BIOMA ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Dhany Ardiansyah ◽  
Arini Karunia ◽  
Talita Auliandina ◽  
Dien Anugerah Putri ◽  
Mohamad Isnin Noer
Keyword(s):  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Chemical Characteristics ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Weak Correlation ◽  
Physical Processes ◽  
Natural Factors ◽  
Abundance And Distribution ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
Number Of Individuals

There is high spatial variation in physical and chemical characteristics both within and between streams, some of which has been linked to natural factors. Stream characteristics affect many biological and physical processes. Leptophryne borbonica is stream-dependent toad that spend their life completely in or around stream. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of habitat characteristics on abundance of Leptophryne borbonica in Bodogol, Sukabumi, West Java. Survey was conducted to obtain data on 27 until 29 June 2013 along Cisuren stream of Bodogol. Parameters that used in this study were conductivity, temperature, humidity, and salinity. The findings showed that all physical factors of stream have weak correlation with the abundance of Leptophryne borbonica. Abiotic factors that forming an ecosystem could affect the abundance and distribution of a amphibians species, because amphibians are sensitive to environmental change. Our result suggested that chemical characteristics along this stream were within the range of fundamental niche of Leptophryne borbonica. However, the slightly different in the number of individuals obtained among plots indicated that there were other factors that may be at play.

scholarly journals Avian species–area relationships indicate that towns are not different from natural areas

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
SIMONE FATTORINI ◽  
GIULIA LIN ◽  
CRISTINA MANTONI
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Avian Species ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Bird Richness ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Species Area ◽  
Human Density

SUMMARYUrban areas host many bird species, and urban species richness can be compared with that in natural areas using species–area relationships (SARs). We used a multimodel selection approach to investigate the influence of area, human population, elevation and climatic variables on species richness of breeding birds from 34 towns and 54 nature reserves in Italy. Using the linearized power function, area was identified as the most important correlate of avian species richness in both urban and natural areas. The SARs did not differ significantly between towns and reserves, although human density had a negative effect on bird richness. These findings underline the possible importance of urban areas in biodiversity conservation, but also stress that human density is a factor reducing species richness. However, species richness alone cannot inform conservation priorities because it does not take into account the different conservation values of species.

scholarly journals Ecological Gradients Influencing Waterbird Communities in Black Water Lakes in the Anavilhanas Archipelago, Central Amazonia

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renato Cintra
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
High Water ◽  
Water Transparency ◽  
Aquatic Bird ◽  
Large Spatial Scale ◽  
Black Water ◽  
Bird Richness ◽  
Central Amazonia ◽  
Lake Systems

For the first time, and in a large spatial scale, the influence of ecological properties on the aquatic bird community of black water lakes in Brazilian Amazonia is evaluated. Bird surveys were conducted in 45 lakes. A total of 3626 individuals in 48 bird species were recorded; of these, 31 are aquatic, and 18 of these are primarily piscivorous. Bird richness and abundance were not significantly related to lake shape and productivity but were influenced by hydrological period (low versus high), water depth, transparency, lake isolation, and habitat richness. Matrices of bird species by lake were subjected to multivariate analyses (NMDS) to evaluate how these parameters influence bird community. The variation in bird species composition was positively correlated to lake depth and isolation and negatively correlated to water transparency and habitat richness. The results indicate that period, lake physical characteristics (depth, water transparency), isolation, and habitat richness are determinants of aquatic bird community composition in the black water lake systems of Amazonia.

scholarly journals Using birds to set conservation priorities for Pantanal wetland forests, Brazil

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOÃO BATISTA DE PINHO ◽  
MIGUEL ÂNGELO MARINI
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Evergreen Forest ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Dry Forests ◽  
Point Counts ◽  
Evergreen Forests ◽  
Local Species Richness ◽  
Bird Richness

SummaryThe Pantanal of Brazil, one of the largest wetlands in the world, is suffering severe threats, such as forest and grassland clearance on the surrounding plateau, conversion of forests and savannas for cattle ranching and effects of large development projects. We used richness, abundance and composition of bird species in four forest types to propose conservation priorities for the northern Pantanal. Birds from 11 sites (a total of 41 points) were sampled through point counts and mist-netting. In total 215 species were recorded in the forests. Two evergreen forest types (cambarazal and landi) had higher estimates of bird richness and abundance than two dry forest types (carvoeiro and cordilheira). The evergreen forests also had more species exclusive to them and were more similar to each other than the dry forests. Selection of forests to be conserved in the northern Pantanal should give priority to evergreen forests and secondarily to dry forests. Cambarazal should be the first forests to be conserved. If the Pantanal inundation cycle is altered by the construction of hydroelectric dams or the Paraguay-Paraná waterway, cambarazal and landi may no longer become flooded, decreasing local species richness. Before our recommendations are considered for conservation and management decisions, more studies on other groups of organisms should also be taken into consideration, and similar studies should be conducted in other regions of the Pantanal. Conservation of Pantanal forest birds depends on a deeper understanding of their use of several habitats, stronger protection of the forests with higher diversity, and public policies that guarantee the long term maintenance of natural flooding cycles.

scholarly journals Contemporary morphological diversification of passerine birds introduced to the Hawaiian archipelago

2011 ◽  
Vol 278 (1716) ◽  
pp. 2392-2400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blake A. Mathys ◽  
Julie L. Lockwood
Keyword(s):  
Exotic Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Adaptive Divergence ◽  
Evolutionary Divergence ◽  
Contemporary Evolution ◽  
Origin Time ◽  
Hawaiian Archipelago ◽  
Introduced Range

Species that have been introduced to islands experience novel and strong selection pressures after establishment. There is evidence that exotic species diverge from their native source populations; further, a few studies have demonstrated adaptive divergence across multiple exotic populations of a single species. Exotic birds provide a good study system, as they have been introduced to many locations worldwide, and we often know details concerning the propagule origin, time of introduction, and dynamics of establishment and dispersal within the introduced range. These data make them especially conducive to the examination of contemporary evolution. Island faunas have received intense scrutiny, therefore we have expectations concerning the patterns of diversification for exotic species. We examine six passerine bird species that were introduced to the Hawaiian archipelago less than 150 years ago. We find that five of these show morphological divergence among islands from the time since they were established. We demonstrate that some of this divergence cannot be accounted for by genetic drift, and therefore we must consider adaptive evolution to explain it. We also evaluate evolutionary divergence rates and find that these species are diverging at similar rates to those found in published studies of contemporary evolution in native species.

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