scholarly journals [The ornithological breeding community in the Oasis of Arcola (Sp)]

2020 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Todisco ◽  
Stefania Cassano ◽  
Pamela O’Shaughnessy ◽  
Marco Gustin
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Parus Major ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Alnus Glutinosa ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Salix Alba ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
The One

[The waterways Rivers, especially in lowland areas, often result the elements of highest naturalistic value and play an important role as ecological corridors. Rivers are characterized by high dynamism and biological complexity, and the distribution of several bird species often depends on their physical characteristics and water velocity. During spring 2018, we studied the bird community dwelling in the Arcola Reserve, managed by Lipu, in province of La Spezia (NW Italy), included within the Montemarcello Magra Regional Natural Park (SCZ IT1343502). This site presents a portion of plain woodland with presence of arboreal substrate dominated by Alnus glutinosa, Populus nigra, Populus alba, Salix alba, and a portion consisting of scattered trees, xeric meadows with shrubby formations comprising Rosa canina, Rubus sp., Spartium junceum, Prunus spinosa. Besides, rare reed formations are present. In the 20 hectares of the study area, we carried out field samplings through 8 monitoring sessions since April 23th until June 26th 2018. Overall, we found 62 species of which only 32 were (potentially, probably or certainly) nesting inside the reserve (22 belonging to Passerines and 10 to the non-Passerines species). Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos (16.87 ± 4.37 individuals), Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla (16 ± 1.41 individuals), Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti (13 ± 2.06 individuals), Melodious Warbler (11.88 ± 6.88 individuals), Blackbird Turdus merula (10.75 ± 1.30 individuals) and Great Tit Parus major (9.88 ± 4.04 individuals) were the most abundant species. The density was 62.97 pairs/10 ha, whereas diversity resulted 2.47, this evidencing a considerable degree of complexity, while the evenness value suggests a certain degree of homogeneity in the abundance of the surveyed species. Five dominant species were present. Although the Passerines resulted the most important order in the community, also the non-Passerines showed a value higher than the one reported by other authors, although in less heterogeneous environments. Less than one third of the breeding species resulted to be long migrant species. Results of the present study represent a first step towards the increased knowledge about the avian community of the Arcola Reserve, especially addressed to its administrators as to highlight the need of preserving natural habitats and associated animal and plant species].   [Article in Italian]

Bird community structure in natural and urbanized habitats along an altitudinal gradient in Pauri district (Garhwal Himalaya) of Uttarakhand state, India

Biologia ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Archana Naithani ◽  
Dinesh Bhatt
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Altitudinal Gradient ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Forest Habitat ◽  
Rarefaction Analysis

AbstractIn the Indian subcontinent there is hardly any study that compares the bird community structure of urban/suburban areas with those of forest habitat. The present survey identified diverse assemblages of birds in the Pauri district at different elevations. A total of 125 bird species belonging to 40 families including two least count species (Lophura leucomelanos and Pucrasia marcolopha) were recorded during this survey in the forest and urbanized habitats of Pauri District (Garhwal Hiamalaya) of Uttarakhand state, India. The high elevation (Pauri 1600–2100 m a.s.l.), mid elevation (Srikot-Khanda 900–1300 m a.s.l.) and low elevation (Srinagar 500–900 m a.s.l.) contributed 88.8%, 63.2% and 58.4% of the total species respectively. Rarefaction analysis and Shannon diversity index showed that the high elevation forest habitat had highest bird species richness (BSR) and bird species diversity (BSD) followed by the mid and then the low elevation forests. BSR and BSD fluctuated across seasons at all elevations but not across habitat types. Present study provides a base line data about avian community composition in urbanized and natural habitats along altitudinal gradient in the study area. This information may be useful to the conservation biologists for the better management and conservation of the avifauna in the Western Himalaya, a part of one of the hot biodiversity spots of the world.

scholarly journals Mangrove bird community of Paranaguá Bay - Paraná, Brazil

2007 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz Augusto Macedo Mestre ◽  
Ricardo Krul ◽  
Valéria dos Santos Moraes
Keyword(s):  
Human Impacts ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Point Counts ◽  
Flying Insects ◽  
Paranaguá Bay ◽  
Conservation Plans

This study describes the mangrove bird community of Paranaguá Bay in Paraná - South Brazil. Seasonal surveys were conducted during September 1997 to September 1998 at three sites in Paranaguá Bay. Frequencies and abundances of birds were registered in 200m transects and one hour point counts. A total of 81 bird species were observed in the three sampling sites. Most of the bird species in Paranaguá mangroves are fruits, seeds and arthropods consumers, and predators of flying insects. The most frequent and abundant species were Egretta caerulea, Ceryle torquata, Chloroceryle amazona, Pitangus sulphuratus, Turdus amaurochalinus and Parula pitiayumi. The bird community of these three sites is composed mainly by forest bird species. The mangroves of Paranaguá Bay shelter one of the richest avifauna of Brazilian mangroves. Differences between sampling sites could be related to the proximity of the Paranaguá city and human impacts in the areas. Only in the most disturbed site were observed Passer domesticus and large flocks of Coragyps atratus. This study contributed to the knowledge of mangrove communities, and could be an important basis to fluvial-marine conservation plans in Paraná- Brazil.

scholarly journals Efecto de la estructura del cultivo de palma de aceite Elaeis guineensis (Arecaceae) sobre la diversidad de aves en un paisaje de la Orinoquía colombiana

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 1569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Patricia Tamaris ◽  
Hugo Fernando López ◽  
Nabhi Romero
Keyword(s):  
Oil Palm ◽  
Elaeis Guineensis ◽  
Group Structure ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Trophic Group ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Line Transects ◽  
Suitable Habitats

The expansion of oil palm plantations has caused drastic changes in natural ecosystems and modifications in the vegetation structure, reducing available habitat for native bird species. We studied birds associated with oil palm plantations plots of different palm size classes, in the foothills of the Colombian Orinoquia region, from August 2013 and February 2014. The palm size clases were three: small up to 6 m height; medium up to 10 m; and large up to 15 m; in each plot we counted birds through line transects, and compared their bird composition, richness, and abundance, and described trophic group structure. We recorded a total of 468 individuals, belonging to 44 bird species and 23 families. Gymnomystax mexicanus, Crotophaga ani and Milvago chimachima were the most abundant species, the first tow representing 4.5 % of the abundant species; 25 % had intermediate abundances and 70.4 % were rare in the plantations area. In terms of the abundance of bird species, medium and large palms plots were more similar. Bird community found in plots with large palms had the highest diversity and uniformity (2.63 and 0.8907, respectively), while in those of small palms it was a greater dominance and abundance of individual birds (0.1825 and 252, each one). For the entire plantation, insectivorous and carnivorous birds predominated, and had greater association with small and large palms. Oil palm stands serve as suitable habitats for a small number of widespread bird species, and the height does not seem to be an important factor, that may meaningfully benefit the composition, richness and abundance of bird species associated with the plantations.

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

2016 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-225 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Bird community structure of small islands: a case study on the Pahawang Island, Lampung Province, Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-18
Author(s):  
Dian Iswandaru ◽  
Indra Gumay Febryano ◽  
Trio Santoso ◽  
Hari Kaskoyo ◽  
Gunardi Djoko Winarno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diversity Index ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Feeding Guilds ◽  
Small Islands ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Nesting Sites

Small islands are extremely vulnerable to ecosystem disturbances. One of the common factors im-pacting on island ecosystems is the rise of tourism activity and the associated conversion of man-grove forest’s function into tourism’s supporting facility. Those changes will ultimately affect the diversity of bird species inhabiting the island.  Therefore, this study aimed to analyse the structure of a bird community in the mangrove forests of the Pahawang Island. The study used the transect method with tracking implemented. The obtained data were analysed using the Shannon-Wienner diversity index. We recorded 28 species from 21 families. Out of 21 families, Columbidae had the highest number of species (three species). Seven feeding guilds were observed during the present study, the maximum number of species belonged to the insectivore group and the minimum – to the nectarivore and omnivore (1 species each) guilds. Based on the abundance rank, the most abundant species was the cave swiftlet (Collochalia linchi). Three of the recorded species are listed in the cat-egory “Protected” according to the Indonesia Law: the brahminy kite (Haliastur indus), sunda pied fantail (Rhipidura javanica), and the black-naped tern (Sterna sumatrana). All bird species that have been recorded during the present study is classified as “Least Concern” in the IUCN Red List. The values of the Shannon-Wienner index suggest neither high nor low diversity (H’ = 2.55). Mangrove forest ecosystems, including the mudflat on the Pahawang Island, are important supporting popula-tions of wild birds through providing foraging, roosting and nesting sites. 

scholarly journals Testing the Likeable, Therefore Abundant Hypothesis: Bird Species Likeability by Urban Residents Varies Significantly with Species Traits

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 487
Author(s):  
Lillian Collins ◽  
Grant D. Paton ◽  
Sara A. Gagné
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Species Traits ◽  
Community Change ◽  
Habitat Availability ◽  
Urban Residents ◽  
Behavioral Traits

The urbanization of landscapes filters bird communities to favor particular species traits, driven in part by the changes that homeowners make to the amount and quality of habitat in yards. We suggest that an ultimate driver of these proximate mechanisms underlying bird community change with respect to urbanization is the likeability of species traits by urban residents. We hypothesize that bird species likeability, modulated by species traits, influences the degree to which homeowners alter the availability and quality of habitat on their properties and thereby affects species population sizes in urbanized landscapes. We refer to this new hypothesis as the Likeable, therefore Abundant Hypothesis. The Likeable, therefore Abundant Hypothesis predicts that (1) bird species likeability varies with species morphological and behavioral traits, (2) homeowners use trait-based likeability as a motivator to modify habitat availability and quality on their properties, and (3) residential habitat availability and quality influences species populations at landscape scales. We tested the first prediction of the Likeable, therefore Abundant Hypothesis using a survey of 298 undergraduate students at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte who were asked to rank their preferences for 85 forest generalist and edge/open country songbird species grouped according to 10 morphological and behavioral traits. Survey respondents preferred very small, primarily blue or black species that are insectivorous, aerial or bark foragers, residents, and culturally unimportant. On the other hand, respondents disliked large or very large, primarily yellow or orange species that forage on the ground and/or forage by flycatching, are migratory, and are culturally important. If the Likeable, therefore Abundant Hypothesis is true, natural resource managers and planners could capitalize on the high likeability of species that are nevertheless negatively affected by urbanization to convince homeowners and residents to actively manage their properties for species conservation.

scholarly journals Fire and Mechanical Forest Management Treatments Support Different Portions of the Bird Community in Fire-Suppressed Forests

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 150
Author(s):  
Lance Jay Roberts ◽  
Ryan Burnett ◽  
Alissa Fogg
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Fire Disturbance ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
High Severity ◽  
Commercial Thinning ◽  
Silvicultural Management ◽  
Total Community

Silvicultural treatments, fire, and insect outbreaks are the primary disturbance events currently affecting forests in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, a region where plants and wildlife are highly adapted to a frequent-fire disturbance regime that has been suppressed for decades. Although the effects of both fire and silviculture on wildlife have been studied by many, there are few studies that directly compare their long-term effects on wildlife communities. We conducted avian point counts from 2010 to 2019 at 1987 in situ field survey locations across eight national forests and collected fire and silvicultural treatment data from 1987 to 2016, resulting in a 20-year post-disturbance chronosequence. We evaluated two categories of fire severity in comparison to silvicultural management (largely pre-commercial and commercial thinning treatments) as well as undisturbed locations to model their influences on abundances of 71 breeding bird species. More species (48% of the community) reached peak abundance at moderate-high-severity-fire locations than at low-severity fire (8%), silvicultural management (16%), or undisturbed (13%) locations. Total community abundance was highest in undisturbed dense forests as well as in the first few years after silvicultural management and lowest in the first few years after moderate-high-severity fire, then abundance in all types of disturbed habitats was similar by 10 years after disturbance. Even though the total community abundance was relatively low in moderate-high-severity-fire habitats, species diversity was the highest. Moderate-high-severity fire supported a unique portion of the avian community, while low-severity fire and silvicultural management were relatively similar. We conclude that a significant portion of the bird community in the Sierra Nevada region is dependent on moderate-high-severity fire and thus recommend that a prescribed and managed wildfire program that incorporates a variety of fire effects will best maintain biodiversity in this region.

Effects of ectoparasites on breeding success of great tits (Parus major) and pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) in an air pollution gradient

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 624-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tapio Eeva ◽  
Esa Lehikoinen ◽  
Jorma Nurmi
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Breeding Success ◽  
Detrimental Effect ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Parus Major ◽  
Ficedula Hypoleuca ◽  
Nest Size ◽  
Minor Importance ◽  
Ceratophyllus Gallinae

Numbers of ectoparasitic blow fly (Protocalliphora azurea) larvae (Diptera: Calliphoridae), adult and larval hen fleas, Ceratophyllus gallinae (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae), and other nest-dwelling insects were counted from the nests of the great tit, Parus major, and the pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca, in southwestern Finland around a factory complex emitting large quantities of sulphuric oxides and heavy metals. Protocalliphora azurea larvae were more frequently found in the nests of P. major than in those of F. hypoleuca. The prevalence of P. azurea larvae tended to be lower in polluted areas. The number of P. azurea larvae correlated positively with nest size and brood size of P. major. This may be caused by difficulties in sanitation of large and crowded nests. The numbers of fleas and their larvae were negatively affected by moisture in the nests. Nests of F. hypoleuca contained more adult fleas in polluted areas. This may indicate reduced resistance of birds exposed to heavy metals, but other possibilities are also discussed. We found a detrimental effect of P. azurea larvae on the growth of P. major nestlings, and an effect of fleas on mortality of F. hypoleuca nestlings, but these effects were not enhanced by air pollution. We conclude that the ectoparasites studied, at densities observed in our study area, are of minor importance in determining the breeding success of these two bird species.

Influence of cliffs on bird community diversity

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 278-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
J D Matheson ◽  
D W Larson
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Community Diversity ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
Narrow Component ◽  
Habitat Features ◽  
Habitat Mosaic ◽  
The North ◽  
Talus Slope ◽  
Additive Influence

Cliffs along the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario, Canada, support a long, narrow presettlement forest that includes three distinct geomorphic and vegetation zones: cliff edge, cliff face, and talus slope. This unique landform provides an opportunity to evaluate differences in bird communities between the escarpment and adjacent forest relative to habitat features. We sampled forest birds 12 times during the summer of 1994 in plots located in plateau forests, on talus slope, at cliff edges, and on cliff faces. Eleven habitat variables considered important to birds were also sampled in the plots. We arranged plots along six randomly spaced transects at a south site and a north site. Both sites had the consistent habitat heterogeneity considered important to birds. Bird species richness and composition responded to this heterogeneity, but differently at each site: plateau deciduous forests always had the lowest richness and the simplest species composition, whereas both cliff edges and talus slopes had a higher diversity of birds. Cliff faces had large numbers of species in the south but smaller numbers in the north. Escarpment zones form a habitat mosaic that supports many species not found in the adjacent forest and is consistent with the effect of habitat edge. The results suggest that cliffs represent a significant additive influence on avian biodiversity, even when the cliff is a very narrow component of the landscape.

Strong conformity requires a greater proportion of asocial learning and achieves lower fitness than a payoff-based equivalent

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 323-333
Author(s):  
Matt Grove
Keyword(s):  
Social Learning ◽  
Theoretical Analysis ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Learning Strategy ◽  
Individual Learning ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
The One ◽  
Social Learning Strategies

There is a growing interest in the relative benefits of the different social learning strategies used to transmit information between conspecifics and in the extent to which they require input from asocial learning. Two strategies in particular, conformist and payoff-based social learning, have been subject to considerable theoretical analysis, yet previous models have tended to examine their efficacy in relation to specific parameters or circumstances. This study employs individual-based simulations to derive the optimal proportion of individual learning that coexists with conformist and payoff-based strategies in populations experiencing wide-ranging variation in levels of environmental change, reproductive turnover, learning error and individual learning costs. Results demonstrate that conformity coexists with a greater proportion of asocial learning under all parameter combinations, and that payoff-based social learning is more adaptive in 97.43% of such combinations. These results are discussed in relation to the conjecture that the most successful social learning strategy will be the one that can persist with the lowest frequency of asocial learning, and the possibility that punishment of non-conformists may be required for conformity to confer adaptive benefits over payoff-based strategies in temporally heterogeneous environments.

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