Impacts of deforestation on passerine avifauna in the Opunohu Valley of Mo'orea, French Polynesia

10.7287/peerj.preprints.2672 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Vanessa M. ZoBell ◽

Brett J Furnas

Keyword(s):

Detection Probability ◽

Bird Species ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

French Polynesia ◽

Passerine Bird ◽

Oceanic Islands ◽

Bird Populations ◽

Green Fruit ◽

Discrete Nature ◽

Acoustic Recording

Human expansion has negatively impacted biodiversity. Oceanic islands have some of the most diverse, endemic biodiversity. Endemism leads to vulnerability due to the isolated and discrete nature of oceanic islands. Birds are indicator species that adapt to change very quickly. By analyzing birds, we can investigate how changes in behavior and abundance may occur for different species in the future. Nine passerine bird species were studied with automated acoustic recording devices. Recording devices were places in agricultural, forest, and mixed habitats. Three invasive species preferred agriculture areas and low canopy cover, based on call frequency and detection probability. Native bird detectability was significantly lower than invasive bird detectability. Occupancy was above 0.8 for all species, except for the gray-green fruit dove that was >0.6. Native bird populations are at risk, based on their calling number and detection probability.

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Increased nesting success of Hawaii Elepaio in response to the removal of invasive black rats

The Condor ◽

10.1093/condor/duz003 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 121 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Paul C Banko ◽

Kelly A Jaenecke ◽

Robert W Peck ◽

Kevin W Brinck

Keyword(s):

Forest Restoration ◽

Nest Success ◽

Rattus Rattus ◽

Bird Species ◽

Oceanic Islands ◽

Nesting Success ◽

Native Forest ◽

Forest Bird ◽

Bird Populations ◽

Black Rats

Abstract In Hawaii and other oceanic islands with few native land mammals, black rats (Rattus rattus) are among the most damaging invasive vertebrate species to native forest bird populations and habitats, due to their arboreal behavior and generalist foraging habits and habitat use. We evaluated the nesting response of Hawaii Elepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis; Monarchidae), a generalist insectivore, to the removal of black rats using rodenticide in a before-after-control-impact study in high- and low-elevation mesic montane habitat recovering from long-term damage from introduced ungulates and weeds. We monitored nesting success and rat abundance during 2015–2016 before applying rodenticide bait in 2017 to remove rats from two 700 × 700 m treatment plots that were paired with 2 nontreatment plots of the same size. Rat abundance was reduced by 90% during treatment, with combined variables treatment and elevation best explaining the change using GLM methods and AIC model selection. The daily survival rate (DSR) of nests (n = 191) was greater on treated plots after rodenticide application (mean ± SE = 0.980 ± 0.004 treatment; 0.964 ± 0.004 nontreatment), modeled nest success increased from 29% to 50%, and apparent nest success (number of successful nests per total nests) increased from 37% to 52%. The most informative model for predicting DSR included the effect of treatment. Predation by rats was documented at 3 of 16 nests using video surveillance, and we observed additional evidence of rat predation during in-person nest monitoring. Rats targeted adults on the nest and sometimes removed intact eggs, leaving little trace of their activity. Our results demonstrate that reducing rat predation can immediately improve the nesting success of even a common bird species in habitat with a long history of forest restoration. Sustained predator control may be critical to accelerating the recovery of native forest bird communities.

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Summer and winter bird populations associated with five age-classes of aspen forest in Alberta

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x93-233 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 23 (9) ◽

pp. 1830-1836 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

D. A. Westworth ◽

E. S. Telfer

Keyword(s):

Habitat Structure ◽

Bird Species ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Species Number ◽

Age Classes ◽

Bird Populations ◽

Clear Cut ◽

Number Of Species ◽

Bird Density ◽

Large Trees

Summer and winter bird use of aspen forests was studied in west central Alberta. Forest age-classes in the study included 1- and 2-year-old clear-cut areas and.14-, 30-, 60-, and 80-year-old stands. Habitat structure and composition were quantified by a combination of measurement and estimation of variables. Density of the breeding bird population was estimated by territorial mapping. Changes in habitat structure between different age-classes resulted in a successional replacement of bird species. Number of individuals was greatest in 14-year-old stands at 656 territories per 100 ha, probably owing to the presence of remnant snags and of large trees that had survived past fires. The 30-year-old stands supported 312 territories per 100 ha, 60-year-old stands 380 territories, and 80-year-old stands 231 territories, respectively. Recently clear-cut areas supported only 110 territories. Number of species followed the same pattern with 25 in 14-year-old stands, 22 in the 30-year-old stands, 21 in the 60-year-old stands, and 14 in the 80-year-old stands. Recent clearcuts supported 10 species. In winter 13 bird species were recorded in the combined clear-cut, 14-, 30-, and 60-year-old stands. The highest number of species (11) were recorded in the 60-year-old stand during winter but the greatest winter bird density (125 individuals/100 ha) occurred in the 30-year-old stand. Three principal components extracted from the habitat data explained 83.2% of the variance in bird use. The components corresponded to gradients in canopy cover, occurrence of conifers, and shrub density.

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Genomic Characterisation of a Novel Avipoxvirus Isolated from an Endangered Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi)

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10050575 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 575

Author(s):

Subir Sarker ◽

Ajani Athukorala ◽

Tadiwa Nyandowe ◽

Timothy R. Bowden ◽

David B. Boyle

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Bird Species ◽

Passerine Bird ◽

Viral Diseases ◽

Genome Sequences ◽

Seabird Species ◽

Marine Bird ◽

Bird Populations ◽

Number Of Genes ◽

Canarypox Virus

Marine bird populations have been declining globally with the factors driving this decline not fully understood. Viral diseases, including those caused by poxviruses, are a concern for endangered seabird species. In this study we have characterised a novel avipoxvirus, tentatively designated albatrosspox virus (ALPV), isolated from a skin lesion of an endangered New Zealand northern royal albatross (Diomedea sanfordi). The ALPV genome was 351.9 kbp in length and contained 336 predicted genes, seven of which were determined to be unique. The highest number of genes (313) in the ALPV genome were homologs of those in shearwaterpox virus 2 (SWPV2), while a further 10 were homologs to canarypox virus (CNPV) and an additional six to shearwaterpox virus 1 (SWPV1). Phylogenetic analyses positioned the ALPV genome within a distinct subclade comprising recently isolated avipoxvirus genome sequences from shearwater, penguin and passerine bird species. This is the first reported genome sequence of ALPV from a northern royal albatross and will help to track the evolution of avipoxvirus infections in this endangered species.

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Impacts of land use and invasive species on native avifauna of Mo’orea, French Polynesia

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.3761 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. e3761 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Vanessa M. ZoBell ◽

Brett J. Furnas

Keyword(s):

Environmental Change ◽

Native Species ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Bird Species ◽

Hierarchical Cluster ◽

French Polynesia ◽

Oceanic Islands ◽

Indigenous Species ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Calling Activity

Oceanic islands are among the most endemically biodiverse ecosystems in the world. They have been adversely impacted by human expansion, which affects regional biodiversity by altering the natural habitats of vulnerable, indigenous species. Birds represent a valuable indicator species of environmental change due to their ability to adapt quickly. Investigating the relationship between environmental change, abundance, and behaviors of birds can help us better anticipate potential impacts to island ecosystems. In addition, we can understand the population trends and restricted ranges of native avifauna, identify the regions needing protection, and assess habitat vulnerability linked to anthropogenic activities. In Mo’orea, French Polynesia, we studied nine passerine bird species using automated acoustic recording devices placed in agricultural, forested, and mixed habitats. Based on call counts per unit time and occupancy modeling, we found evidence that three non-native species preferred agricultural areas and low-canopy cover over dense forested areas. Furthermore, native bird detectability and possibly abundance was significantly lower than non-native birds. Using hierarchical cluster analysis to support inferences regarding behavioral differences, we found that native bird calling activity was negatively associated with non-native bird calling activity. Altogether, these results suggest native bird populations are at risk in all of the habitats studied, but forests serve as a potential refuge.

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Biomass, abundances, and abundance and geographical range size relationship of birds along a rainforest elevational gradient in Papua New Guinea

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.9727 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e9727 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Katerina Sam ◽

Bonny Koane

Keyword(s):

Papua New Guinea ◽

Bird Species ◽

New Guinea ◽

Elevational Gradient ◽

Passerine Bird ◽

Range Size ◽

Geographical Range ◽

Feeding Guilds ◽

Bird Assemblages ◽

Bird Populations

The usually positive inter-specific relationship between geographical range size and the abundance of local bird populations comes with exceptions. On continents, the majority of these exceptions have been described from tropical montane areas in Africa, where geographically-restricted bird species are unusually abundant. We asked how the local abundances of passerine and non-passerine bird species along an elevational gradient on Mt. Wilhelm, Papua New Guinea relate to their geographical range size. We collected data on bird assemblages at eight elevations (200–3,700 m, at 500 m elevational increments). We used a standardized point-counts at 16 points at each elevational study site. We partitioned the birds into feeding guilds, and we obtained data on geographical range sizes from the Bird-Life International data zone. We observed a positive relationship between abundance and geographical range size in the lowlands. This trend changed to a negative one towards higher elevations. The total abundances of the assemblage showed a hump-shaped pattern along the elevational gradient, with passerine birds, namely passerine insectivores, driving the observed pattern. In contrast to abundances, the mean biomass of the bird assemblages decreased with increasing elevation. Our results show that montane bird species maintain dense populations which compensate for the decreased available area near the top of the mountain.

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Biomass, abundances, and abundance and geographical range size relationship of birds along a rainforest elevational gradient in Papua New Guinea

10.1101/651422 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Katerina Sam ◽

Bonny Koane

Keyword(s):

Papua New Guinea ◽

Bird Species ◽

New Guinea ◽

Elevational Gradient ◽

Passerine Bird ◽

Range Size ◽

Geographical Range ◽

Feeding Guilds ◽

Bird Assemblages ◽

Bird Populations

AbstractThe usually positive inter-specific relationship between geographical range size and the abundance of local bird populations comes with exceptions. On continents, the majority of these exceptions have been described from tropical montane areas in Africa, where geographically-restricted bird species are unusually abundant. We asked how the local abundances of passerine and non-passerine bird species along an elevational gradient on Mt. Wilhelm, Papua New Guinea relate to their geographical range size. We collected data on bird assemblages at eight elevations (200 – 3,700 m, at 500 m elevational increments). We used a standardized point-counts at 16 points at each elevational study site. We partitioned the birds into feeding guilds, and we obtained data on geographical range sizes from Bird-Life International data zone. We observed a positive relationship between abundance and geographical range size in the lowlands. This trend changed to a negative one towards higher elevations. The total abundances of the assemblage showed a hump-shaped pattern along the elevational gradient, with passerine birds, namely passerine insectivores, driving the observed pattern. In contrast to abundances, the mean biomass of the bird assemblages decreased with increasing elevation. Our results show that montane bird species maintain dense populations which compensate for the decreased available area near the top of the mountain.

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