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

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9727 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katerina Sam ◽  
Bonny Koane

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.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katerina Sam ◽  
Bonny Koane

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.


Author(s):  
Sam Finnie ◽  
Katerina Sam ◽  
Maurice Leponce ◽  
Yves Basset ◽  
Dick Drew ◽  
...  

PeerJ ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. e978 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxime Le Cesne ◽  
Stephen W. Wilson ◽  
Adeline Soulier-Perkins

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa M. ZoBell ◽  
Brett J Furnas

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.


Biotropica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katerina Sam ◽  
Bonny Koane ◽  
Legi Sam ◽  
Anna Mrazova ◽  
Simon Segar ◽  
...  

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 575
Author(s):  
Subir Sarker ◽  
Ajani Athukorala ◽  
Tadiwa Nyandowe ◽  
Timothy R. Bowden ◽  
David B. Boyle

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.


Biotropica ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 641-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jérôme Orivel ◽  
Petr Klimes ◽  
Vojtech Novotny ◽  
Maurice Leponce

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