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 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.

scholarly journals Why a landscape view is important: nearby urban and agricultural land affects bird abundances in protected areas

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10719
Author(s):  
Gregory Duncan Duckworth ◽  
Res Altwegg
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Urban Area ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Grid Cell ◽  
Land Use Type ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Land Use Types

Protected areas are one of the primary conservation tools used worldwide. However, they are often embedded in a landscape that is intensely used by people, such as for agriculture or urban development. The proximity of these land-use types to protected areas can potentially affect the ecological effectiveness (or conservation effectiveness) of protected areas. In this article, we examine to what degree adjacent agricultural and urban land uses affect the ecological effectiveness of protected areas over the greater Gauteng region of South Africa. We selected 198 common, resident bird species, and analysed detection/non-detection data for these species collected over regular grid cells (approximately 61 km2 in area). For each species, we estimated abundance per grid cell with the Royle-Nichols model in relation to the proportion of protected area as a covariate. Our study focused on how this relationship between proportion of protected area and abundance (which we term the ‘protection–abundance relationship’) changed as a function of other land-use types in the grid cell. Specifically, we examined the interaction effects between protected area and both urban and agricultural land-use type per grid cell on bird abundance. We assigned each species to one of seven guilds, namely: frugivores, gleaners, granivores, ground-feeders, hawkers, predators and vegivores, and examined how the protection–abundance relationship varied across guilds in relation to agriculture and urban area. As urban area within a grid cell increased, the protection–abundance relationship became more positive for 58% of all species. At the level of guilds, the protection–abundance relationship became more positive for two guilds (granivores and ground-feeders), more negative for frugivores, and remained unchanged for the other four guilds (gleaners, hawkers, predators and vegivores). As agricultural area within a grid cell increased, the protection–abundance relationship became more positive for 49% of all species. At the guild level, the protection–abundance relationship became more positive for six guilds (frugivores, gleaners, ground-feeders, hawkers, predators and vegivores) and remained unchanged for the granivores. Our results show land-use type near protected areas modified the effect protected areas had on bird abundances, and hence the ecological effectiveness of protected areas. Our results suggest that protected areas should be viewed as constituents within the landscape, rather than islands of protection.

scholarly journals Population trends of Goričko agricultural landscape birds

Acrocephalus ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (174-175) ◽  
pp. 127-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarina Denac ◽  
Primož Kmecl ◽  
Gregor Domanjko ◽  
Damijan Denac
Keyword(s):  
Nature Conservation ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Population Trends ◽  
Land Consolidation ◽  
Bird Conservation ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Nature Protection

AbstractDue to numerous bird surveys in the past 20 years, the avifauna of Goričko is relatively well known. For some species, the very first national ecological researches were conducted in this area. The article summarizes all bird surveys so far. It presents population trends of farmland species which is one of the most threatened bird groups in Europe. Most of the qualifying species of this habitat that are protected within the Natura 2000 network have suffered a decline at Goričko, specifically QuailCoturnix coturnix, Scops OwlOtus scops, HoopoeUpupa epops, WoodlarkLullula arboreaand White StorkCiconia ciconia. The number of breeding pairs of the latter has not changed, but its fecundity has decreased. Furthermore, populations of other farmland bird species have decreased, for example SkylarkAlauda arvensis, StonechatSaxicola rubicola, SerinSerinus serinusand Common LinnetLinaria cannabina, as well as butterfly populations and tracts of grassland habitat types. National agricultural and nature conservation policies are evidently inefficient in protecting the biodiversity of Goričko. The most probable cause for bird population decline is agricultural intensification, which manifests itself at Goričko as disappearance and intensification of meadows, land consolidation, degradation of traditional orchards and use of pesticides. As a result of land consolidation hedges, uncultivated strips between fields, individual trees and bushes and minority habitat types are disappearing, whereas the surface of arable fields is increasing. Nature conservation measures performed by the Public Institute Goričko Nature Park with the support of DOPPS – BirdLife Slovenia volunteers seem to be efficient, but are spatially and temporally constrained. For this reason, they cannot serve as a substitute for insufficient systemic financing which could be improved by substantive and financial reform of the agri-environmental scheme. Currently, a negligible percentage (1% in 2016) of Goričko is covered by agrienvironmental scheme measures with positive influence on qualifying species and habitat types. As a consequence, only an insignificant share of subsidies from the Rural Development Plan is used for nature protection at Goričko. If the system of agricultural subsidies remains unaltered, no improvement of the conditions for bird conservation at Goričko can be expected.

scholarly journals Bird community structure as a function of habitat heterogeneity: A case of Mardi Himal, Central Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naresh Pandey ◽  
Laxman Khanal ◽  
Neeti Chapagain ◽  
K. Deepak Singh ◽  
Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Habitat Heterogeneity ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
Feeding Guilds ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
Point Count ◽  
Central Nepal

Abstract. Pandey N, Khanal L, Chapagain N, Singh KD, Bhattarai BP, Chalise MK. 2021. Bird community structure as a function of habitat heterogeneity: A case of Mardi Himal, Central Nepal. Biodiversitas 22: 262-271. Community structure of birds at different habitat types is underexplored in the montane environment of the central Himalaya. Therefore, this study explored bird community structure in different habitat types in Mardi Himal of the Annapurna Conservation Area, central Nepal, and tested association of different feeding guilds with the habitats. Data on the avian richness and abundance were collected in the winter and the summer of 2019 by point count method along the elevational gradient in every 100 m rise and analyzed using ordination methods. A total of 673 individuals of 112 bird species from 35 families under 13 orders were recorded. Among the observed orders and families, the order Passeriformes (77 species) and family Muscicapidae (16 species) were the most dominant. A linear species accumulation curve was obtained in both seasons. Species richness and abundance were found higher at forest edges of mid-elevations and insectivores were the most abundant birds. Frugivorous and carnivorous birds showed no specific association with habitat types, whereas, insectivores and omnivores were more abundant in pastureland and forest, respectively. Our results revealed that the community composition of birds varies with the habitat types and their feeding specialization is one of the major determinants.

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.

Conflicts caused by afforestations of agricultural land in densely populated areas

1991 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Lust ◽  
B. Muys
Keyword(s):  
Nature Conservation ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Agricultural Lands ◽  
Biological Value ◽  
Ecological Problems ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Points Of View

In  densely populated areas, such as Flanders, serious conflicts arise due to the  afforestation of agricultural lands. Roughly speaking, three sectors are  involved: agriculture, forestry and nature conservation. These groups do not  always share the same points of view. But even within the different sectors  there are several subgroups with their own interests and approaches.  Generally speaking, agriculture is strongly opposed, forestry has a  relatively diversified meaning, whereas nature conservation is either opposed  or in favour, depending on the region's biological value.     The policy in this matter is not forest friendly. Legislation strongly  hampers the afforestation of agricultural lands. Moreover the subject leads  to a series of ecological problems, which have not really been considered up  to now.

scholarly journals Cost-efficient factors in local public spending: Detecting relationships between local environments, population size and urban area category

2021 ◽  
pp. 239980832110038
Author(s):  
Hiroki Baba ◽  
Yasushi Asami
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Urban Area ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Public Spending ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Environment Factors ◽  
Major Factors

This study examines regional differences in local environment factors to better understand the sustainability of local governments indexed by per capita public spending. Under the condition of heterogeneous population size, we examine how factor characteristics differ depending on the spatial context represented by the urban area category. By employing a Cobb–Douglas cost function with congestion effects on public service provision, the estimated factors enable us to articulate major factors and differences in cost-efficiency between urban area categories. We found that statistical significance and even the signatures of local environment factors differ depending on the urban employment area category. Regarding factors such as the ratios of employees in secondary and tertiary industries, these did not tend to be statistically significant in small-sized urban areas, while small-sized cities in large-sized urban areas were likely to gain confidence intervals. Moreover, we did not observe any statistical significance for the ratio of elderly people due to the balance of spending between national and local governments. These findings could contribute to sustainable management of cities in the advent of population decline.

Bird species assemblages differ, while functional richness is maintained across an urban landscape

2021 ◽  
Vol 212 ◽  
pp. 104094
Author(s):  
Monicah Mbiba ◽  
Cynthia Mazhude ◽  
Christo Fabricius ◽  
Hervé Fritz ◽  
Justice Muvengwi
Keyword(s):  
Urban Landscape ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Species Assemblages ◽  
Functional Richness

Spring Bird Community Structure in Response to Habitat Heterogeneity in a Subtropical Hilly Landscape

2014 ◽  
Vol 1010-1012 ◽  
pp. 121-125
Author(s):  
Wen Bin Li ◽  
Zhi Ming Mo ◽  
Xing Ting Chen ◽  
Chun Huang ◽  
Ming Feng Xu
Keyword(s):  
Indicator Species ◽  
Habitat Heterogeneity ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Bird Diversity ◽  
Indicator Species Analysis ◽  
Heterogeneous Habitats ◽  
Species Analysis ◽  
The Impact

To examine the impact of habitat heterogeneity on the bird communities, we investigated the structural differences of various bird communities occurring in heterogeneous habitats in the subtropical hilly areas of southern China. We used indicator Species Analysis (ISA) to test the association of specific bird species to particular habitats. We performed Two-way Cluster Analysis to find species patterning in response to habitat fragmentation. Our results demonstrated that heterogeneous habitats promoted bird diversity and human activities affected bird behavior. Indicator Species Analysis demonstrated that similar habitats had similar bird communities, while different habitats supported various bird indicator species. Although habitat diversity increased bird diversity of a region, it was unfavorable for the maintenance of specialized birds in the forests of the subtropical hilly area.

scholarly journals Modelling avian biodiversity using raw, unclassified satellite imagery

2014 ◽  
Vol 369 (1643) ◽  
pp. 20130197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Véronique St-Louis ◽  
Anna M. Pidgeon ◽  
Tobias Kuemmerle ◽  
Ruth Sonnenschein ◽  
Volker C. Radeloff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Habitat Heterogeneity ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Image Texture ◽  
Spectral Mixture Analysis ◽  
Mixture Analysis ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
Habitat Composition ◽  
Avian Biodiversity ◽  
Spectral Mixture

Applications of remote sensing for biodiversity conservation typically rely on image classifications that do not capture variability within coarse land cover classes. Here, we compare two measures derived from unclassified remotely sensed data, a measure of habitat heterogeneity and a measure of habitat composition, for explaining bird species richness and the spatial distribution of 10 species in a semi-arid landscape of New Mexico. We surveyed bird abundance from 1996 to 1998 at 42 plots located in the McGregor Range of Fort Bliss Army Reserve. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index values of two May 1997 Landsat scenes were the basis for among-pixel habitat heterogeneity (image texture), and we used the raw imagery to decompose each pixel into different habitat components (spectral mixture analysis). We used model averaging to relate measures of avian biodiversity to measures of image texture and spectral mixture analysis fractions. Measures of habitat heterogeneity, particularly angular second moment and standard deviation, provide higher explanatory power for bird species richness and the abundance of most species than measures of habitat composition. Using image texture, alone or in combination with other classified imagery-based approaches, for monitoring statuses and trends in biological diversity can greatly improve conservation efforts and habitat management.

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