Winter Bird Use of Urban and Rural Habitats in Ontario

This study examined variation in winter bird diversity, abundance, biomass and species and guild composition on plots in farmland, rural forests, mixed rural habitat, cities and three categories of urban natural areas in southern Ontario. Small (<20 g), insectivorous, upper canopy, bark foraging and forest species were more prevalent in rural mixed habitat, urban natural areas and especially rural forests. Larger (20-100 g), ground feeding and omnivorous birds typified cities and farms. Many bird species classified as forest, forest edge and field species during summer also favored these same habitats during winter. The 52 sample plots can be accurately classified into the seven habitat categories through discriminant analysis using the percentages of small species, insectivores, forest species and alien species. Urban natural areas, forests and mixed rural habitat showed the highest diversity while cities and farms showed the lowest diversity. Both bird abundance and biomass were highest in urban natural areas with open water and urban residential and commercial areas, whereas both were lowest in farmland.

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Winter bird abundance, species richness and functional guild composition at Delhi’s ponds: does time of day and wetland extent matter?

Journal of Urban Ecology ◽

10.1093/jue/juab001 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Prakhar Rawal ◽

Swati Kittur ◽

Murali Krishna Chatakonda ◽

K S Gopi Sundar

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Species Abundance ◽

Bird Species ◽

Time Of Day ◽

Conservation Priorities ◽

Bird Abundance ◽

Functional Guilds ◽

Β Diversity ◽

Functional Guild ◽

Guild Composition

Abstract Urbanisation can limit species persistence and bias composition of functional guilds with serious consequences for ecosystem functioning and conservation planning. Standardised biodiversity surveys are missing at most tropical urban cities where biodiversity levels are high alongside rapidly increasing rates of urbanisation. We explored the utility of time-bound surveys to document winter birds at ponds (wetlands ≤ 5 ha) in Delhi, India at two different times of the day (morning and evening) and in areas with varying extents of wetlands. Systematic surveys at 39 ponds during January–March 2020 yielded an estimated 173 ± 22 bird species (∼37% of Delhi’s birds). The total bird species assemblage at ponds did not vary significantly with time of day, but β-diversity increased marginally with increasing extent of wetlands. Total bird abundance and species richness varied substantially with time of day, with differences apparent across several species rich functional feeding and habitat guilds. Abundance and species richness of some guilds, including species-poor guilds, varied in ponds located in areas with differing extent of wetlands. Reliable and comparable measures of species abundance and species richness (both total and across functional guilds)— metrics commonly used to set research and conservation priorities—in urban habitats can be obtained after appropriately standardising field effort. Such standardised efforts can help underscore the importance of maintaining and improving erstwhile-ignored habitats such as unprotected ponds that are providing refugia to hundreds of bird species in mega-cities like Delhi.

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Avian Reporting Rates in Chugcheongnam Province, South Korea Depend on Distance from Forest Edge, Size of Trees, and Size of Forest Fragments

Forests ◽

10.3390/f10050364 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 364

Author(s):

Jang ◽

Seol ◽

Chung ◽

Sagong ◽

Lee

Keyword(s):

South Korea ◽

Size Structure ◽

Species Abundance ◽

Bird Species ◽

Forest Edge ◽

Forest Area ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Bird Abundance ◽

Forest Condition ◽

Abundance And Diversity

Forests provide bird communities with various resources, including food and habitats. Thus, forest attributes, such as size, structure, and species composition, influence the distribution and dynamics of bird species. This study was conducted to examine the association between forest condition, bird species abundance, and diversity within Chungcheongnam Province, South Korea. Zero-inflated binomial regression models were used to analyze a total of 1646 sampling points of abundance and diversity. Forest area, distance to forest edge, and tree size class were selected as covariates. Negative associations between forest area and overall bird abundance and species richness were indicated, whereas distance to forest edge was not a significant factor. This insignificance may be attributed to the relatively small, fragmented, and homogenous forest areas across the studied region. Results for individual bird species indicated that six out of the 35 major bird species had significant associations to the forest edge and three species showed a preference for the interior of the forest. The results of this study imply that other factors, such as food availability and biotic interaction, are more important when determining habitat preference in a relatively homogenous area with a long history of human disturbance.

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Big Bird Plots: Benchmarking Neotropical Bird Communities to Address Questions in Ecology and Conservation in an Era of Rapid Change

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.3389/fevo.2021.697511 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

W. Douglas Robinson ◽

Dan Errichetti ◽

Henry S. Pollock ◽

Ari Martinez ◽

Philip C Stouffer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Community Structure ◽

Community Dynamics ◽

Rapid Change ◽

Bird Species ◽

Bird Communities ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Bird Diversity ◽

Future Research ◽

Large Network ◽

Bird Abundance

Extensive networks of large plots have the potential to transform knowledge of avian community dynamics through time and across geographical space. In the Neotropics, the global hotspot of avian diversity, only six 100-ha plots, all located in lowland forests of Amazonia, the Guianan shield and Panama, have been inventoried sufficiently. We review the most important lessons learned about Neotropical forest bird communities from those big bird plots and explore opportunities for creating a more extensive network of additional plots to address questions in ecology and conservation, following the model of the existing ForestGEO network of tree plots. Scholarly impact of the big bird plot papers has been extensive, with the papers accumulating nearly 1,500 citations, particularly on topics of tropical ecology, avian conservation, and community organization. Comparisons of results from the plot surveys show no single methodological scheme works effectively for surveying abundances of all bird species at all sites; multiple approaches have been utilized and must be employed in the future. On the existing plots, abundance patterns varied substantially between the South American plots and the Central American one, suggesting different community structuring mechanisms are at work and that additional sampling across geographic space is needed. Total bird abundance in Panama, dominated by small insectivores, was double that of Amazonia and the Guianan plateau, which were dominated by large granivores and frugivores. The most common species in Panama were three times more abundant than those in Amazonia, whereas overall richness was 1.5 times greater in Amazonia. Despite these differences in community structure, other basic information, including uncertainty in population density estimates, has yet to be quantified. Results from existing plots may inform drivers of differences in community structure and create baselines for detection of long-term regional changes in bird abundances, but supplementation of the small number of plots is needed to increase generalizability of results and reveal the texture of geographic variation. We propose fruitful avenues of future research based on our current synthesis of the big bird plots. Collaborating with the large network of ForestGEO tree plots could be one approach to improve understanding of linkages between plant and bird diversity. Careful quantification of bird survey effort, recording of exact locations of survey routes or stations, and archiving detailed metadata will greatly enhance the value of benchmark data for future repeat surveys of the existing plots and initial surveys of newly established plots.

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Acoustic indices applied to biodiversity monitoring in a Costa Rica dry tropical forest

Journal of Ecoacoustics ◽

10.22261/jea.tnw2np ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 1-1 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Mónica I. Retamosa Izaguirre ◽

Oscar Ramírez-Alán

Keyword(s):

Tropical Forests ◽

Diversity Index ◽

Bird Species ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Lower Percentage ◽

Bird Diversity ◽

Biodiversity Monitoring ◽

Bird Abundance ◽

Point Counts ◽

Bird Richness

Standardized methods for biodiversity monitoring are needed to evaluate conservation efforts. Acoustic indices are used in biodiversity assessments, but need to be compared to traditional wildlife methods. This work was conducted in the Santa Rosa National Park between June and November, 2015. We installed recorders and conducted bird point counts in twelve sampling sites. We compared acoustic indices (Acoustic Evenness Index [AEI], Acoustic Diversity Index [ADI], Acoustic Complexity Index [ACI], Bioacoustic Index [BIO], Normalized Difference Soundscape Index [NDSI], Total Entropy [TE], Median Amplitude Envelope [MAE], Number of peaks [NP]) with indices from bird point counts (Bird Abundance, Bird Richness, Bird Diversity and Bird Evenness), and discuss the utility of acoustic indices as indicators for biodiversity monitoring in tropical forests. ADI, ACI, BIO and TE presented a similar temporal pattern peaking between 5 am and 6 am; and an additional peak at 5 pm, except for ACI. These patterns were consistent with the daily biological rhythms. AEI, ACI, BIO and Bird Abundance were related to characteristics of younger forests (lower percentage of canopy cover) but NP, ADI, TE, Bird Diversity and Bird Evenness were related to characteristics of older forests (higher percentage of canopy cover and a lower number of patches). ACI was positively correlated to Bird Abundance and NP was positively correlated to Bird Diversity. ACI reflects biological activity, but not necessarily a more diverse bird community in this study area. This might be an indication of a strong acoustic competition, or several highly dominant bird species in younger forests. Furthermore, acoustic communities in tropical forests commonly include insects (cicadas) and frogs, which might affect resulting acoustic indices. A variety of methods are probably needed to thoroughly assess biodiversity. However, a combination of indices such as ACI and NP might be considered to monitor trends in abundance and diversity of birds in dry forests.

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A cross-continental look at the patterns of avian species diversity and composition across an urbanisation gradient

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr15007 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 42 (7) ◽

pp. 554 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Barbara Clucas ◽

John M. Marzluff

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Species Composition ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Gradient Methods ◽

Bird Species ◽

Bird Diversity ◽

Biological Traits ◽

Bird Abundance ◽

Bird Feeders ◽

Urbanisation Gradient

Context As humans become increasingly urban, the need for conservation of nature in cities increases and requires an understanding of the patterns and processes of urban ecosystems. In particular, because humans are the most dominant species in urban areas, understanding the role humans play in these ecosystems (direct and indirect) will be of primary importance. Aims We examine the diversity and composition of bird species across an urbanisation gradient in two cities (Berlin, Germany, and Seattle, Washington, USA). We determine the degrees of species urban tolerance and examine how certain biological traits of species, namely, diet, whether or not species use bird feeders, nest sites and innovation rate, characterise species urban tolerance. Finally, we determine whether human provisioning (bird feeders and nest boxes) influences what types of species persist across the urbanisation gradient. Methods We surveyed bird abundance and species richness using point counts and surveyed human provisioning by conducting door-to-door interviews of residents across an urbanisation gradient in Berlin and Seattle. Key results We found that patterns of species richness were similar in both cities, but that species composition in Berlin changed less across the urbanisation gradient than it did in Seattle. The majority of birds in Berlin were urban tolerant, whereas in Seattle, they were moderately urban tolerant and intolerant. A cluster analysis revealed that, in general, in Berlin, omnivorous, open-nesting birds that use bird feeders and have relatively high innovation rates tended to be urban tolerant. In Seattle, birds that were mostly omnivorous, nested in open cups, and used bird feeders tended to be moderately urban tolerant and they were influenced by provisioning of food by humans. Conclusion Urbanisation and human interactions with birds can act as ecological filters, favouring certain bird species that can lead to varying species compositions across an urban gradient. These differences in species composition across the gradient may be more noticeable in younger cities than in older cities where the filtering process has been occurring for longer time. Implications By providing a variety of habitats and supplementing natural foods and nesting places, urban planners and residents can help conserve bird diversity in urban areas.

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Composition and structure of bird communities in vegetational gradients of Bodoquena Mountains, western Brazil

Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências ◽

10.1590/0001-3765201620140723 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 88 (1) ◽

pp. 211-225 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

MAURICIO N. GODOI ◽

FRANCO L. SOUZA ◽

RUDI R. LAPS ◽

DANILO B. RIBEIRO

Keyword(s):

Vegetation Type ◽

Bird Species ◽

Bird Community ◽

Bird Communities ◽

Bird Diversity ◽

Bird Conservation ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Bird Abundance ◽

Point Counts ◽

Composition And Structure

ABSTRACT The informations of bird species distribution in different habitats and the structure of their communities are crucial for bird conservation. We tested the differences in composition, richness and abundance of birds in different phytophysiognomies at Bodoquena Mountains, western Brazil, and we demonstrated the variations in richness and abundance of birds between different trophic groups. Sampling was conducted between July 2011 and June 2012 in 200 point counts arranged in the study area. A total of 3350 contacts were obtained belonging to 156 bird species. Woodland savannas, seasonal forests and arboreal savannas had higher bird abundance and richness, while riparian forests, clean pastures and dirty pastures had smaller values of these parameters. The bird community was organized according to local vegetational gradient, with communities of forests, open areas and savannas, although many species occurred in more than one vegetation type. The insectivorous, omnivorous, frugivorous and gramnivorous birds composed most of the community. These data showed how important environmental heterogeneity is to bird communities. Furthermore, the presence of extensive patches of natural habitats, the small distance between these patches and the permeability of pastures, with high arboreal and shrubby cover, are indicated as important factors to maintain the bird diversity.

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Steigende Bestandszahlen bei Spechten und anderen Vogelarten dank Zunahme von Totholz? | An increase in the population of woodpeckers and other bird species thanks to an increase in the quantities of deadwood?

Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen ◽

10.3188/szf.2009.0334 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 160 (11) ◽

pp. 334-340 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Pierre Mollet ◽

Niklaus Zbinden ◽

Hans Schmid

Keyword(s):

Forest Inventory ◽

Bird Species ◽

National Forest Inventory ◽

Population Increase ◽

National Forest ◽

Forest Species ◽

Breeding Populations ◽

Willow Tit ◽

Middle Spotted Woodpecker ◽

Important Habitat

Results from the monitoring programs of the Swiss Ornithological Institute show that the breeding populations of several forest species for which deadwood is an important habitat element (black woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, middle spotted woodpecker, lesser spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, three-toed woodpecker as well as crested tit, willow tit and Eurasian tree creeper) have increased in the period 1990 to 2008, although not to the same extent in all species. At the same time the white-backed woodpecker extended its range in eastern Switzerland. The Swiss National Forest Inventory shows an increase in the amount of deadwood in forests for the same period. For all the mentioned species, with the exception of green and middle spotted woodpecker, the growing availability of deadwood is likely to be the most important factor explaining this population increase.

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Survey on Bird Species and Analysis on Bird Diversity in the Central Kunlun Mountains in the Early Winter

Arid Zone Research ◽

10.3724/sp.j.1148.2010.00230 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 230-235

Author(s):

Ming MA ◽

Bao-wen HU ◽

Yu MEI ◽

Thomas McCarthy

Keyword(s):

Bird Species ◽

Bird Diversity ◽

Early Winter ◽

Kunlun Mountains

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Diversity and host assemblage of avian haemosporidians in different terrestrial ecoregions of Peru

Current Zoology ◽

10.1093/cz/zoab030 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Luz Garcia-Longoria ◽

Jaime Muriel ◽

Sergio Magallanes ◽

Zaira Hellen Villa-Galarce ◽

Leonila Ricopa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amazon Basin ◽

Evolutionary Dynamics ◽

Bird Species ◽

Host Community ◽

Bird Diversity ◽

New Host ◽

Parasite Richness ◽

Haemosporidian Parasites ◽

Avian Haemosporidians ◽

Host Parasite

Abstract Characterizing the diversity and structure of host-parasite communities is crucial to understanding their eco-evolutionary dynamics. Malaria and related haemosporidian parasites are responsible for fitness loss and mortality in bird species worldwide. However, despite exhibiting the greatest ornithological biodiversity, avian haemosporidians from Neotropical regions are quite unexplored. Here, we analyse the genetic diversity of bird haemosporidian parasites (Plasmodium and Haemoproteus) in 1,336 individuals belonging to 206 bird species to explore for differences in diversity of parasite lineages and bird species across five well-differentiated Peruvian ecoregions. We detected 70 different haemosporidian lineages infecting 74 bird species. We showed that 25 out of the 70 haplotypes had not been previously recorded. Moreover, we also identified 81 new host – parasite interactions representing new host records for these haemosporidian parasites. Our outcomes revealed that the effective diversity (as well as the richness, abundance, and Shannon-Weaver index) for both birds and parasite lineages was higher in Amazon basin ecoregions. Furthermore, we also showed that ecoregions with greater diversity of bird species also had high parasite richness, hence suggesting that host community is crucial in explaining parasite richness. Generalist parasites were found in ecoregions with lower bird diversity, implying that the abundance and richness of hosts may shape the exploitation strategy followed by haemosporidian parasites. These outcomes reveal that Neotropical region is a major reservoir of unidentified haemosporidian lineages. Further studies analysing host distribution and specificity of these parasites in the tropics will provide important knowledge about phylogenetic relationships, phylogeography, and patterns of evolution and distribution of haemosporidian parasites.

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Does the invasion of Northern Red Oak Quercus rubra in parkland influence the diversity of birds?

Biologia ◽

10.1515/biolog-2017-0022 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 72 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Emilia Grzędzicka ◽

Katarzyna Kowalik ◽

Barbara Bacler-Żbikowska

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Bird Species ◽

Coal Industry ◽

Alien Plants ◽

Forest Birds ◽

Bird Diversity ◽

Red Oak ◽

Northern Red Oak ◽

Alien Plant Species ◽

Alien Plant

AbstractInvasive plants are non-native, but in most cases naturalised, species that have successfully spread outside of their native range. Aliens invaded all habitats, are competing with native plants, thus, after the direct destruction of habitats, invasions are recognised as the second largest danger for biodiversity. Northern Red Oak is one of the most common invasive tree species dispersed primarily by birds, but new studies have shown that it is also spread continuously in a forest stand. The main aim of our research was to check how strong is the invasion of Northern Red Oak in Silesia Park, where it was introduced together with other alien plant species, and how this invasion interacts with bird diversity. Silesia Park was created 65 years ago on the surface largely ravaged by coal industry. Because many studies indicate birds as vectors of alien plants invasion, we examined the bird fauna in a described area, looking for species that can contribute to spreading oaks. Research showed the diversity of 50 bird species. Surface with a presence of Northern Red Oak was characterised by greater participation of alien plant species than the patch of natural forest, which existed there long before the park creation. The greatest bird diversity was found in the most natural part of Silesia Park, and the lowest in the area of invasion, especially in the case of species classified as “forest birds”. The presence of alien plants increased number of “non-forest” birds, mostly synanthropic species. We also found that Northern Red Oak spreads by spontaneous seed dispersal.

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