scholarly journals Not just trash birds: Quantifying avian diversity at landfills using community science data

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0255391
Author(s):  
Zachary J. Arnold ◽  
Seth J. Wenger ◽  
Richard J. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Avian Diversity ◽  
Reference Sites ◽  
Science Data ◽  
Grassland Species ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
Community Science

Landfills provide seasonally reliable food resources to many bird species, including those perceived to be pest or invasive species. However, landfills often contain multiple habitat types that could attract diverse species, including those of conservation concern. To date, little is known about the characteristics and composition of bird communities at landfills relative to local and regional pools. Here we used the community science database eBird to extract avian species occurrence data at landfills across the US. We compared species richness and community similarity across space in comparison to similarly-sampled reference sites, and further quantified taxonomic and dietary traits of bird communities at landfills. While landfills harbored marginally lower species richness than reference sites (respective medians of 144 vs 160), landfill community composition, and its turnover across space, were similar to reference sites. Consistent with active waste disposal areas attracting birds, species feeding at higher trophic levels, especially gulls, were more frequently observed at landfills than reference sites. However, habitat specialists including two declining grassland species, Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) and Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), as well as migratory waterfowl, were more frequently encountered at landfills than reference sites. Together, these results suggest that landfills harbor comparable avian diversity to neighboring sites, and that habitats contained within landfill sites can support species of conservation concern. As covered landfills are rarely developed or forested, management of wetlands and grasslands at these sites represents an opportunity for conservation.

scholarly journals Bird species richness in High-Andean forest fragments: habitat quality and topography matter

2020 ◽  
Vol 150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constance Fastré ◽  
Diederik Strubbe ◽  
José A. Balderrama ◽  
Jennifer R.A. Cahill ◽  
Hannes Ledegen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
Species Of Conservation Concern ◽  
Forest Remnants ◽  
Exotic Plantations ◽  
Conservation Concern

Montane forests worldwide are known centers of endemism and biodiversity but are highly threatened by fragmentation processes. Using data collected in 15 Polylepis forest remnants covering 2000 hectares, we investigated how bird species richness and bird community composition, particularly for species of conservation concern, are influenced by habitat quality and topography in the Tunari National Park in the High Andes of Bolivia. Bird species richness was highest in topographically complex, low-elevation Polylepis patches located in areas with a high potential to retain rainwater. Bird communities differed strongly between Polylepis lanata and P. subtusalbida remnants, each supporting different threatened and endemic species. Within the P. subtusalbida forest, high-elevation fragments characterized by high amounts of sunlight and low anthropogenic disturbance were more likely to contain threatened species. Surprisingly, we found no effect of fragment size on the diversity or composition of bird communities or the presence of bird species of conservation concern. The presence of exotic plantations (Pinus and/or Eucalyptus spp.) in or outside forest remnants was negatively associated with the number of bird species as well as with occurrence of the endangered Cochabamba-mountain finch (Compsospiza garleppi). To support the different communities found in Polylepis forests, these results suggest that conservation efforts should be directed towards both forest types (P. subtusalbida and P. lanata) present in the area. For an efficient management of avian diversity, exotic plantations should be established away from native remnants while existing patches should be managed to maintain or increase habitat quality. Finally, the importance of local topography in determining avian species richness and community composition in forest fragments, mainly through topographic controls on moisture distribution and the amount of sunlight received by the fragments, should be considered when planning conservation and reforestation schemes.

Functional evenness of bird communities varies along the elevational gradient in Europe: Conservation implications

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Morelli ◽  
Yanina
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
Negative Association ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Breeding Bird ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
Large Spatial Scale ◽  
Functional Evenness

ContextThe negative association between elevation and species richness is a well-recognized pattern in macro-ecology. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate changes in functional evenness of breeding bird communities along an elevation gradient in Europe. MethodsUsing the bird data from the EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds we estimated an index of functional evenness which can be assumed as a measure of the potential resilience of communities.ResultsOur findings confirm the existence of a negative association between elevation and bird species richness in all European eco regions. However, we also explored a novel aspect of this relationship, important for conservation: Our findings provide evidence at large spatial scale of a negative association between the functional evenness (potential community resilience) and elevation, independent of the eco region. We also found that the Natura2000 protected areas covers the territory most in need of protection, those characterized by bird communities with low potential resilience, in hilly and mountainous areas.ConclusionsThese results draw attention to European areas occupied by bird communities characterized by a potential lower capacity to respond to strong ecological changes, and, therefore, potentially more exposed to risks for conservation.

scholarly journals Can clearcuts increase bird species richness in managed forests?

2008 ◽  
Vol 54 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 189-193
Author(s):  
M. Żmihorski
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Cumulative Number ◽  
Managed Forests ◽  
Managed Forest ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
Forest Interior ◽  
Transect Counts ◽  
The Difference

Clearcuts are one of the results of forest management. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of clearcuts on bird communities in a managed forest in Western Poland. I applied the method of point transect counts. 20 points were located near clearcuts (less than 100 m from the nearest clearcut) and 25 points in the forest interior. In total, 36 bird species were recorded. On average, I found 9.20 bird species at points located near clearcuts and 6.72 species at points situated in the forest interior, and the difference was significant. The cumulative number of bird species for a given number of sampling points in the vicinity of clearcuts was higher than in the forest interior. The obtained results indicate that in managed, even-aged forests the generation of clearcuts can lead to an increase in local bird species richness.

scholarly journals Bird communities in three forest types in the Pernambuco Centre of Endemism, Alagoas, Brazil

2013 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lahert W. Lobo-Araújo ◽  
Mário T. F. Toledo ◽  
Márcio A. Efe ◽  
Ana C. M. Malhado ◽  
Marcos V. C. Vital ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Risk Of Extinction ◽  
Bird Fauna ◽  
Richness Patterns ◽  
Ombrophilous Forest

The Pernambuco Center of Endemism (PCE) in northeastern Brazil is highly fragmented and degraded. Despite its potential conservation importance the bird fauna in this area is still relatively unknown and there are many remnant fragments that have not been systematically surveyed. Here, we report the results of bird surveys in five forest fragments (one pioneer, two ombrophilous and two seasonal). In total, 162 taxa were recorded, 12 of which are endemic to the PCE. The frequency of endangered species was lower than what has been reported in studies from the same area and most of the taxa considered to be at risk of extinction were sub-species of uncertain taxonomic validity. The comparatively low number of endemic/threatened species may be due to the small size of the fragments in the present study - a consequence of the high levels of habitat loss in this region. Analysis of species richness patterns indicates that ombrophilous forest fragments are acting as refuges for those bird species that are most sensitive to environmental degradation.

scholarly journals Composition and Functional Diversity in Bird Communities in a Protected Humid Coastal Savanna

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfan A. Rija ◽  
Abubakari S. Mgelwa ◽  
Robert B. Modest ◽  
Shombe N. Hassan
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
National Park ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Large Mammals ◽  
Feeding Guild ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
Heterogeneous Landscape ◽  
Species Lists ◽  
Associated Species

Our current understanding of the vertebrate communities of a newly gazetted Tanzanian coastal national park is limited and strongly taxonomically biased towards large mammals. We conducted bird assessments in three sites in Saadani National Park using species lists to analyze some parameters to inform biodiversity conservation in the area. We recorded 3112 individuals in 268 species falling in 66 families, including 2 endangered, 2 vulnerable, and 6 near threatened species. Both species richness and species diversity varied between sites. Species relative abundances were not different between the sites although some functional groups, especially granivores, were more abundant than others. Bird assemblages included 21 forest specialists (FF-species), 35 forest generalists (F-species), and 68 forest visitors (f-species) overlapping among bushland, wooded grassland, grassland, and thickets suggesting presence of important microhabitats for the forest-associated species in this ecosystem. Bird species richness in a feeding guild also showed marked overlap between habitats suggesting availability of rich food resources for the birds. This paper highlights the importance of maintaining a structurally heterogeneous landscape to sustain diverse bird communities in the area.

Bird communities and vegetation associations across a treeline ecotone in the Mealy Mountains, Labrador, which is an understudied part of the boreal forest

2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (6) ◽  
pp. 477-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith P. Lewis ◽  
Brian M. Starzomski
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Avian Diversity ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Treeline Ecotone ◽  
Point Counts ◽  
Deciduous Shrub

We examined the factors structuring bird communities across a complex subarctic treeline in the Mealy Mountains, Labrador, Canada. Using point counts of bird abundance in 2007 and 2008, we show that changes in vegetation driven by elevation are strongly correlated with avian community structure in this treeline ecotone system. Overall, avian diversity was higher in the forest compared with other habitat classes (krummholz, deciduous shrub, and alpine). There were strong correlations between avian diversity and vegetation richness, as well as structure, among and within habitat class in 2008. Numerous habitat types (subset of habitat class) were correlated with avian composition, although some species were clearly habitat generalists. Contrary to expectation, avian species composition was associated with physiognomy (vegetation structure) in alpine and deciduous shrub, and with either physiognomy or floristics (vegetation species composition) in krummholz and forest. Given the strong impact of elevation on vegetation and the demonstrated influence on bird communities, we note that for bird species whose near-southernmost populations are found in the Mealy Mountains, climate change is likely to have a strong negative effect if alpine tundra habitat is lost. Furthermore, forest bird species are likely to benefit from the increased tree cover as treeline moves poleward and upward.

scholarly journals Avian Diversity of Oak Mixed Forest in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarnail Singh ◽  
Sunil Bhandari ◽  
M S Bisht
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Field Survey ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Diversity ◽  
Species Evenness ◽  
Avian Diversity ◽  
Number Of Species

The avian diversity of Oak mixed forest in Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand was studied during October 2019 to March 2020. Two strands of oak mixed forest located at different sites at 29º 22’-29º 75’ North and 78º, 10’ -78º,80’ East (1750 masl) were selected. Regular field survey was carried out during the morning and evening hours at each site. A total of 63 species of birds belonging to 07 orders and 31 families were recorded. The average bird diversity index H ¯was 3.202. The species richness was observed around 7.27 and species evenness was 0.72. The highest number of species was recorded at Ransi Oak mixed forest (63) and lowest number of bird species were recorded in Teka Oak mixed forest (60).

scholarly journals Avifauna within the Main Campus of Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (12) ◽  
pp. 1246-1252
Author(s):  
Hassan A Rudayni
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
House Sparrow ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Avian Diversity ◽  
Main Campus ◽  
Wiener Diversity Index ◽  
New Policies

Avian diversity of two zones within the main campus of IMSIU University was studied during the period from July 2019 to June 2020. A total number of 1,653 individual birds was recorded across the main campus which falls under fifteen species belonging to thirteen families. Out of this number, 760 individual of them were recorded in Zone-A versus 893 individual in Zone-B. Species richness in Zone-A was 15 while species richness in Zone-B was 13. Census index of the Birds was recorded as follows: 4.6 Birds/ha and 7.9 Birds/ha in both Zones A and B, respectively. Bird species sighted was higher in Zone-B as compared with Zone-A, as indicated by Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H) which accounts for 1.83 in Zone-A and 1.65 in Zone-B. Pigeon (Columba livia), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) were among the most frequently sighted. From the current study, it is recommended that Zone-B be pedestrianized for the enrichment and protection of the avian species. Also, new policies should be put forward by the relevant authority within the main campus to maintain avian diversity, such as expanding afforestation and green landscapes, in addition to the establishment of artificial lakes and ponds.

scholarly journals Hydro Power Development and Its Impacts on the Habitats and Diversity of Montane Birds of Western Himalayas

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 311-324
Author(s):  
V. Jolli
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Western Himalayas ◽  
Hydro Power ◽  
Dam Building ◽  
Building Activities

Abstract The montane forest ecosystems of Western Himalayas are under severe anthropogenic pressure because of hydro-electric project (HEP) development. Several studies have highlighted downstream effects of HEP, but there is no information on the effects of HEP-building activities on upstream fauna. In particular, studies on upstream Himalayan montane ecosystems and fauna around dams are lacking. I investigated effects of dam-building activities on bird communities in Indian Western Himalayas. I studied the response of bird communities along a disturbance gradient with the aim to identify key factors influencing their distribution. I surveyed primary and secondary montane forests, agricultural lands, and dam-affected (disturbed) habitats. Response variables included total avifaunal and woodland species richness and abundance, which were estimated by point-count surveys. Explanatory variables included tree and shrub density, canopy cover, disturbance intensity, and elevation. Bird species richness was higher in undisturbed and lesser disturbed sites, lower in agricultural sites, and lowest in HEP-affected sites. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that canopy cover, shrub density, and disturbance influenced species distribution; woodland birds significantly negatively responded to dam-building activities. Th e study has shown that dam-building activity has negatively affected montane birds. I propose that increasing shrub and tree cover in dam-disturbed sites would minimise losses of avian habitats.

scholarly journals Consistency in bird community assembly over medium-term along rural-urban gradients in Argentina

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas M. Leveau
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Assembly ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Environmental Filtering ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Assembly Rules ◽  
Urban Habitats

Abstract Background The analysis of bird community assembly rules is fundamental to understand which mechanisms determine the composition of bird species in urban areas. However, the long-term variation of community assembly rules has not been analyzed yet. The objectives of this study are (1) to analyze the variation of community assembly rules along rural-urban gradients of three cities in central Argentina and (2) to compare the patterns of community assembly between two periods separated by 6 years. Bird surveys were performed along transects in urban, suburban, and rural habitats during 2011 and 2017. Departures from null models that took into account differences in species richness (standardized effect size, SES) were calculated for functional and phylogenetic diversities. Results A total of 57 species were recorded. Bird species richness was higher in suburban than in urban and rural habitats. SES of functional diversity increased over the years and was significantly lower in urban habitats than in rural habitats, showing a pattern of functional clustering in the most urbanized areas and functional randomness in rural ones. Phylogenetic diversity was higher in both suburban and urban habitats than rural ones, and the phylogenetic clustering in rural bird assemblages changed to randomness in suburban and urban habitats. Conclusions Bird communities in urban habitats were phylogenetically random and functionally clustered, evidencing environmental filtering by urbanization. In contrast, bird communities in rural areas tended to be phylogenetically clustered, evidencing that certain clades are adapted to rural areas. The processes structuring bird communities along rural-urban gradients were consistent between the 2 years compared.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document