Effects of crop diversity on bird species richness and abundance in a highland East African agricultural landscape

In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of fires on bird diversity in Australia’s tropical savannas. Bird surveys were conducted at 69 sites between 2005 and 2007 to estimate bird species richness and abundance within the Mornington Sanctuary, the Kimberley, north-west Australia. We used MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and Landsat satellite imagery to map fire scars and to quantify vegetation cover parameters, and QuickBird imagery to map the percentage tree cover. Bird species richness and abundance were higher in areas exhibiting minimum seasonal and interannual changes, e.g. in riparian areas, near water and where tree cover was high. We found a significant negative effect of fire on bird diversity following the extensive late dry-season fires of 2006. These findings support the view that intense and large fires are threatening biodiversity and reinforce the importance of reducing the occurrence of late dry-season fires, which are the most severe and extensive. MODIS satellite imagery was found to provide a cost-effective approach to monitoring savanna landscapes, assessing the state of vegetation and monitoring fire dynamics.

Download Full-text

USE OF RESTORATION PLANTINGS TO ENHANCE BIRD SEED DISPERSAL AT THE ROADSIDE: FAILURES AND PROSPECTS

Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management ◽

10.3846/16486897.2015.1079529 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 302-311 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Rocío de TORRE ◽

María Dolores JIMÉNEZ ◽

Álvaro RAMÍREZ ◽

Ignacio MOLA ◽

Miguel A. CASADO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Seed Dispersal ◽

Agricultural Landscape ◽

Bird Species ◽

Ecological Processes ◽

Frugivorous Birds ◽

Bird Droppings ◽

Bird Richness ◽

Species Richness And Abundance

Plantings are commonly used in roadside reclamation for ornamental purposes and for increasing slope stability and road safety. However, the role of these plantings in restoring ecological processes, such as seed dispersal, has received little attention. We carried out a study to assess the potential role of plantings on roadside embankments to attract frugivorous birds and to enhance seed dispersal mediated by birds from the surrounding landscape. We examined: (1) bird species richness and abundance; (2) patterns of avian spatial distribution within embankments and (3) seed dispersal mediated by birds. Bird richness and abundance did not differ between embankments with and without plantings. However, birds were not distributed randomly within embankments, with levels of species richness and abundance for facultative frugivorous between 4.8–8 times higher in areas closer to plantings. An analysis of bird droppings showed that birds only dispersed seeds of the planted species since no seeds of woody plants from matrices were detected. These results suggest that plantings acted as selective bird attractors, providing food and perches for frugivorous species. Nevertheless, the scarcity of seed-dispersing birds in the surrounding agricultural landscape prevented plantings from enhancing seed dispersal and connectivity to adjacent habitat.

Download Full-text