scholarly journals Bird Occupancy of a Neotropical Forest Fragment Is Mostly Stable over 17 Years but Influenced by Forest Age

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Marconi Campos-Cerqueira ◽  
W. Douglas Robinson ◽  
Gabriel Augusto Leite ◽  
T. Mitchell Aide

The effects of forest degradation, fragmentation, and climate change occur over long time periods, yet relatively few data are available to evaluate the long-term effects of these disturbances on tropical species occurrence. Here, we quantified changes in occupancy of 50 bird species over 17 years on Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama, a model system for the long-term effects of habitat fragmentation. The historical data set (2002–2005) was based on point counts, whereas the contemporary data set (2018) was based on acoustic monitoring. For most species, there was no significant change in occupancy; however, the occupancy of four species (Tinamus major, Polioptila plumbea, Myiarchus tuberculifer, and Ceratopipra mentalis) increased significantly, and the occupancy of three species (Saltator grossus, Melanerpes pucherani, and Cyanoloxia cyanoides) decreased significantly. Forest age explained the majority of occupancy variation and affected the occupancy of more bird species than survey period or elevation. Approximately 50% of the species seem to favor old-growth forest, and 15 species (30%) had a significantly higher occupancy in old-growth forest sites. Elevation had no significant impact on the occupancy of the majority of bird species. Although BCI has been a protected reserve for approximately 100 years, land-use legacies (i.e., forest age) continue to influence bird distribution.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Lindenmayer ◽  
Elle Bowd ◽  
Lachlan McBurney

Birds are high profile elements of the vertebrate biota in almost all terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. Many studies have uncovered evidence of a decline in bird biodiversity, but temporal patterns of change vary among ecosystems and among bird species with different life history traits. Ecosystem-specific, long-term studies are critical for identifying patterns of temporal change in bird biodiversity and the drivers of that change. Here we present a case study of drivers of temporal change in the bird fauna of the Mountain Ash and Alpine Ash eucalypt forests of south-eastern Australia. Using insights from observational studies and experiments conducted over the past 18 years, we discuss the direct and interactive effects of fire and logging on birds. The extent and severity of wildfires have major negative effects on almost all bird species, and have persisted for more than a decade after the last major conflagration (in 2009). Logging has markedly different effects on birds than those quantified for fire, and may have resulted in elevated levels of site occupancy in remaining uncut areas in the landscape. Both fire and logging have led to marked losses in the extent of old growth forest in Mountain Ash and Alpine Ash ecosystems. This is a concern given the strong association of most species of birds with old forest relative to younger age cohorts. Based on an understanding of the effects of fire and logging as drivers of change, we propose a series of inter-related management actions designed to enhance the conservation of avifauna in Mountain Ash and Alpine Ash ecosystems. A particular focus of management must be on increasing the interval between fires and limiting the spatial extent of wildfires and, in turn, significantly expanding the extent of old growth forest. This is because old growth forest is where most bird species are most likely to occur, and in the event of future wildfires, where fire severity will be lowest. Expansion of the old growth estate will require commercial logging operations to be excluded from large parts of Mountain Ash and Alpine Ash forests.


1998 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel K. Haener ◽  
Wiktor L. Adamowicz

This paper considers the treatment of “don't know” (DK) responses to referendum contingent valuation questions. The determinants of DK responses are empirically analyzed using a data set from a survey of old growth forest valuation. It is found that DK respondents possess unique characteristics that differentiate them from Yes and No respondents. These findings do not support the most common treatments of DK responses that are currently used. Responses to an open-ended question included in the survey are used to provide further insight into the preferences of DK respondents.


2017 ◽  
Vol 399 ◽  
pp. 197-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Jaloviar ◽  
Milan Saniga ◽  
Stanislav Kucbel ◽  
Ján Pittner ◽  
Jaroslav Vencurik ◽  
...  

2005 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julieta Benítez-Malvido ◽  
Miguel Martínez-Ramos ◽  
José Luis C. Camargo ◽  
Isolde D. K. Ferraz

In the Central Amazon we investigated whether seedling performance (survival, and relative growth rates in height and leaf numbers) was affected by initial seedling size (height and leaf numbers) in habitats that varied in their degree of human disturbance: cattle pasture, young secondary forest, 1-ha forest fragment and old-growth forest. Additionally, effects of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), litter standing crop (LSC) and insect herbivory were evaluated 12 mo after transplantation in seedlings from the native canopy trees Chrysophyllum pomiferum, Micropholis venulosa and Pouteria caimito. Seedling performance changed rank across the understorey environment depending on species. Seedlings of Chrysophyllum thrived in all conditions but under high PAR, Micropholis thrived only in intermediate light conditions, whereas Pouteria thrived under high PAR. Effects of initial seedling size, PAR and herbivory after 1 y were specific to species, whereas LSC had no effect on performance. Initially larger seedlings resulted in lower survival for Chrysophyllum and Pouteria. Herbivory affected seedling performance in all species. Negative effects of herbivory were intensified under low PAR. Overall, our results showed that, as seedlings, species of the same family and characteristic of old-growth forests respond differently to the environmental constraints present in contrasting human-disturbed conditions. Larger seedlings may not always present greater tolerance to physical and biotic mortality risks.


2016 ◽  
Vol 381 ◽  
pp. 125-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriano Mazziotta ◽  
Jacob Heilmann-Clausen ◽  
Hans Henrik Bruun ◽  
Örjan Fritz ◽  
Erik Aude ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel S. Botting ◽  
Arthur L. Fredeen

The diversity and abundance of terrestrial lichens, mosses, and liverworts were examined and compared between two ages of forest (old-growth and young second-growth) on two dominant soil types (fine- and coarse-textured soils) in subboreal spruce forests in central British Columbia. Major differences in species composition were found between forest ages, with 30% of species found only in old-growth forest and 21% found only in young second-growth forest. Liverworts were much more common in old-growth sites with half the liverwort species found exclusively in old-growth, and 90% of the recorded liverwort observations occurring there. Different moss species assemblages dominated old-growth and second-growth sites, with much of the terrestrial cover of second-growth sites composed of Polytrichum juniperinum Hedw. Young second-growth forest had higher cover of lichen species than old-growth forest. Lichens and bryophytes used different terrestrial substrates in each forest age, with higher cover of mosses and lichens occurring on woody substrates in old-growth, irrespective of substrate availability. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination clearly separated plots by forest age and also showed soil texture to be a defining variable. Though not statistically significant, there was increased bryophyte diversity on coarse-textured soils and increased lichen cover on fine-textured soils.


2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 301-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julieta Benítez-Malvido ◽  
Miguel Martínez-Ramos

Abstract:Plant survival and growth in tropical rain forest are affected by different biotic and abiotic forces. As time elapses and plants grow the relative importance of such forces as regeneration inhibitors and/or facilitators may change according to habitat and species. To detect within- and among-species divergences in performance over time in different habitats we followed, for nearly a decade, the survival, growth and herbivory of seedlings of the native tree species: Chrysophyllum pomiferum, Micropholis venulosa and Pouteria caimito. In Central Amazonia, young seedlings were planted into old-growth and secondary forests dominated by Vismia spp. One year after planting, C. pomiferum ranked first (i.e. fast growth, fewer dead and less herbivory) for both habitats, followed by M. venulosa and P. caimito. Initial trends changed over time. In the long term, M. venulosa ranked first for both habitats, followed by C. pomiferum and P. caimito ranked consistently lowest. Within-species divergences in growth and herbivory were greater in secondary forest. Initial seedling responses cannot always be used to predict species persistence in the long term. Contrary to previous estimations, old-growth-forest species can persist under Vismia spp. stands, at least when planted.


1999 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 209-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herbert Lansdell

Long-term effects in a neurosurgically separated twin pair were illuminated by standard psychological test scores obtained over a period from 2 to 38 years of age. Interdigitation of the gyri of their right frontal lobes had necessitated separation in two stages at 4 months of age. One twin clearly suffered some brain injury and showed some impairment during the testing at 5 years of age. The scores of both twins rose at the adult testing. The brighter twin has an IQ comparable to that of the mother. The unique data set is a kind of model for long-term assessment of early brain surgery, particularly with craniopagus twins.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert T. Leverett ◽  
Susan A. Masino ◽  
William R. Moomaw

AbstractPre-settlement New England was heavily forested, with some trees exceeding 2 m in diameter. New England’s forests have regrown since farm abandonment and represent what is arguably the most successful regional reforestation on record; the region has recently been identified as part of the “Global Safety Net.” Remnants and groves of primary “old-growth” forest demonstrate that native tree species can live for hundreds of years and continue to add to the biomass and structural and ecological complexity of forests. Forests are an essential natural climate solution for accumulating and storing atmospheric CO2, and some studies emphasize young, fast-growing trees and forests whereas others highlight high carbon storage and accumulation rates in old trees and intact forests. To address this question directly within New England we leveraged long-term, accurate field measurements along with volume modeling of individual trees and intact stands of eastern white pines (Pinus strobus) and compared our results to models developed by the U.S. Forest Service. Our major findings complement, extend, and clarify previous findings and are three-fold: 1) intact eastern white pine forests continue to sequester carbon and store high cumulative carbon above ground; 2) large trees dominate above-ground carbon storage and can sequester significant amounts of carbon for hundreds of years; 3) productive pine stands can continue to sequester high amounts of carbon for well over 150 years. Because the next decades are critical in addressing the climate crisis, and the vast majority of New England forests are less than 100 years old, and can at least double their cumulative carbon, a major implication of this work is that maintaining and accumulating maximal carbon in existing forests – proforestation - is a powerful near-term regional climate solution. Furthermore, old and old-growth forests are rare, complex and highly dynamic and biodiverse, and dedication of some forests to proforestation will also protect natural selection, ecosystem integrity and full native biodiversity long-term. In sum, strategic policies that grow and protect existing forests in New England will optimize a proven, low cost, natural climate solution for meeting climate and biodiversity goals now and in the critical coming decades.


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