Influence of fire regime and other habitat factors on a eucalypt forest bird community in south-eastern Australia in the 1980s

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 312
Author(s):  
Peter Smith ◽  
Judy Smith
Keyword(s):  
Fire Regime ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Forest Bird ◽  
Blue Mountains ◽  
Eucalypt Forest ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Wide Range

We investigated bird habitat relationships in extensive eucalypt forest in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, in 1986–87, assessing the importance of fire regime variables compared with other habitat variables. Our study sites encompassed a wide range of postfire ages, fire frequencies and fire severity, but we found no major bird community differences corresponding to differences in fire regime. The more common forest bird species appeared well adapted to fire regime variation in the 1980s. Tree canopy height was a far greater influence, with more species and more birds in taller forests (interpreted as a result of higher soil fertility leading to higher productivity of bird foods and greater structural complexity in taller forests). Other trends were fewer birds where there was a rainforest understorey under the eucalypts (reflecting the general scarcity of rainforest birds in the Blue Mountains), and more birds where nectar-rich flowers were more abundant (reflecting the abundance of nectarivorous birds in the Blue Mountains, especially over winter). The climate has changed since the 1980s and fires threaten to become much more severe, extensive and frequent. How these changes will impact on forest birds, and what management responses are required, is a critical area for further study.

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.

scholarly journals Evidence of change in a low-elevation forest bird community of Hawai'i since 1979

2003 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 175-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle H. Reynolds ◽  
Richard J. Camp ◽  
Bonnie M. B. Nielson ◽  
James D. Jacobi
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Natural Area ◽  
Present Evidence ◽  
Forest Bird ◽  
Bird Survey ◽  
Elevational Range ◽  
Abundance And Distribution ◽  
Avian Disease

We evaluated the abundance and distribution of low-elevation forest birds on windward Hawai'i Island during August 1993-February 1994, and present evidence of changes in the species composition of the forest bird community since 1979. Endemic Hawaiian birds occurred in native-dominated forests as low as 120 m elevation. Non-native species were detected at all survey locations. We observed non-native Saffron Finch Sicalis flaveola, previously unrecorded in Puna. Variable circular plot surveys of Kahauale'a Natural Area Reserve indicated the disappearance of two native species ('I'iwi Vestiaria coccinea and 'O'u Psittitostra psittacea), and two non-native additions (Red-billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea and Kalij Pheasant Lophura leucomelana) to the study area since the Hawai'i Forest Bird Survey conducted in 1979. We present evidence that native 'Elepaio Chasiempsis sandwichensis has experienced a decrease in population density and an elevational range contraction since 1979. Surveys indicate Puna's forest bird community has had increasing aliens and declining native species since 1979. The persistence of some native bird species within the range of avian disease vectors such as Culex quinquefasciatus in forests below 1,000 m elevation presents an important enigma that requires additional study.

scholarly journals Forest and biodiversity: a multiscale analysis of forest bird community in Varese district

2013 ◽  
Vol 82 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Gagliardi ◽  
Damiano Preatoni ◽  
Fabio Saporetti ◽  
Guido Tosi
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Landscape Metrics ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Multiscale Analysis ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Multiscale Approach ◽  
Forest Bird ◽  
Area Data

Forests represent more than 45% of the Varese district area. Data of forest bird community composition are correlated with the appearance of woods. With a multiscale approach (1 km2 units and territories) some landscape metrics are analysed, in order to evaluate the influence of environmental variables on bird species.

scholarly journals Search Tactics of Insectivorous Birds Foraging in an Australian Eucalypt Forest

The Auk ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 515-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard T. Holmes ◽  
Harry F. Recher
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Structure ◽  
Temperate Forest ◽  
Prey Capture ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Insectivorous Birds ◽  
Community Patterns ◽  
Eucalypt Forest ◽  
Eucalyptus Forest ◽  
Forest Habitats

Abstract The different ways birds searched for food in an Australian Eucalyptus forest led them to detect and capture different kinds of prey. Five major searching modes were identified among 23 common, mostly insectivorous bird species. These were distinguished largely by the rates, distances, and angles moved by birds while foraging and by their prey-capture behavior. Some bird species typically moved slowly, visually examining substrates at relatively long distances, and then took flight to capture prey (e.g. whistlers, flycatchers, muscicapid robins, cuckoos). Others moved at more rapid rates and either gleaned small prey from nearby substrates (e.g. thornbills, treecreepers) or flushed insects that were then pursued (e.g. fantails). Two species (Eastern Shrike-Tit, Falcunculus frontatus; White-eared Honeyeater, Meliphaga leucotis) were specialized substrate-restricted searchers, seeking invertebrate and carbohydrate foods among the exfoliating bark of Eucalyptus. The search tactics of birds in this south temperate Australian forest were similar to those of birds in a north temperate forest in New Hampshire, USA, previously reported by Robinson and Holmes (1982). The differences in food-searching behavior between these phylogenetically distinct avifaunas (e.g. search flight and prey-attack flight lengths, hop/flight ratios, foraging rates) reflect the effects of unique foliage structures (e.g. spacing of branches, arrangements of leaves) and food resources at each site. These findings support the hypothesis that habitat structure and food availability provide opportunities and constraints on how birds search for and capture food in forest habitats. These in turn are postulated to affect the success of particular bird species exploiting those habitats and thus influence bird community patterns.

scholarly journals Bird Diversity Unconsciously Increases People’s Satisfaction with Where They Live

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 153
Author(s):  
Lauren Hepburn ◽  
Adam C. Smith ◽  
John Zelenski ◽  
Lenore Fahrig
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Bird Diversity ◽  
Neighbourhood Satisfaction ◽  
Tree Canopy Cover

There is growing evidence that exposure to nature increases human well-being, including in urban areas. However, relatively few studies have linked subjective satisfaction to objective features of the environment. In this study we explore the links among objective environmental features (tree cover, water, and bird diversity) and subjective judgements of satisfaction. We surveyed residents of Ottawa, Canada (n = 1035) about their satisfaction with their local neighbourhoods. We then compared the survey responses to measures of nature near their homes, including bird diversity (number of bird species), tree canopy cover, and distance to water. After controlling for effects of income and subjective happiness, residents’ neighbourhood satisfaction was positively related to the number of bird species nearby, even before participants were prompted to consider nature. Residents’ appreciation of their local neigbourhood relative to others also increased with tree canopy cover and nearness to water. Unsolicited comments from participants following the survey indicated that while residents consciously appreciate trees and water, the relationship between bird diversity and neighbourhood satisfaction appears to be unconscious; very few of the participants mentioned birds. Based on these results, we speculate that a diverse local bird community may provoke feelings of satisfaction through their presence, activity, and songs. Our results create a compelling argument for city planners and individual residents to maintain bird-friendly spaces in urban areas.

scholarly journals Rapidly mapping fire effects on biodiversity at a large-scale using citizen science

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Casey Kirchhoff ◽  
Corey Thomas Callaghan ◽  
David A. Keith ◽  
Dony Indiarto ◽  
Guy Taseski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Fire Effects ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Disturbed Areas ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Large Scale Disturbance ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Citizen Science Project

The unprecedented scale of the 2019-2020 eastern Australian bushfires exemplifies the challenges that scientists and conservation biologists face monitoring the effects of biodiversity in the aftermath of large-scale environmental disturbances. After a large-scale disturbance there are conservation policy and management actions that need to be both timely and informed by data. By working with the public, often widely spread out over such disturbed areas, citizen science offers a unique opportunity to collect data on biodiversity responses at the appropriate scale. We detail a citizen science project, hosted through iNaturalist, launched shortly after the 2019-2020 bushfire season in eastern Australia. It rapidly (1) provided accurate data on fire severity, relevant to future recovery; and (2) delivered data on a wide range (mosses to mammals) of biodiversity responses at a scale that matched the geographic extent of these fires.

Post-fire recruitment and resprouting of a threatened montane eucalypt

2021 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Heidi Zimmer ◽  
Jan Allen ◽  
Rob Smith ◽  
Rebecca Gibson ◽  
Tony Auld
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
Fire Regime ◽  
New South ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Short Interval ◽  
Fire Event ◽  
High Severity ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
One Year

Changing climate is predicted to result in increased frequency and size of wildfires in south-eastern Australia. With increasing area burnt there is increased potential for entire species distributions to be burnt in a single fire event. This is particularly the case for range-restricted threatened species. Eucalyptus canobolensis (L.A.S.Johnson & K.D.Hill) J.T.Hunter is restricted to Mount Canobolas, New South Wales, Australia. In 2018, the majority of the E. canobolensis population was burnt by wildfire. One-year post-fire, we measured recruitment, resprouting and mortality of E. canobolensis. At higher fire severities, smaller trees were more likely to resprout from their bases only, as their stems were killed (i.e. ‘top kill’). Seedling regeneration only occurred in burnt plots. Our study demonstrates that E. canobolensis has a fire response typical of many eucalypts, characterised by seedling recruitment and larger trees resprouting epicormically, even after high-severity fire. Nevertheless, E. canobolensis response to repeat and short-interval fire remains unknown, and smaller trees appear to be vulnerable to top kill. Although much of Australia’s flora can respond to fire, this response is likely to be challenged as fire extents increase, especially if this is combined with increasing fire severity and/or frequency. These changes to the fire regime are a particular threat to species with restricted distributions.

scholarly journals The Effect of Antecedent Fire Severity on Reburn Severity and Fuel Structure in a Resprouting Eucalypt Forest in Victoria, Australia

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 450
Author(s):  
Luke Collins ◽  
Adele Hunter ◽  
Sarah McColl-Gausden ◽  
Trent D. Penman ◽  
Philip Zylstra
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Fire Weather ◽  
Canopy Layer ◽  
Eucalypt Forest ◽  
Crown Scorch ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Eucalypt Forests ◽  
High Level

Research highlights—Feedbacks between fire severity, vegetation structure and ecosystem flammability are understudied in highly fire-tolerant forests that are dominated by epicormic resprouters. We examined the relationships between the severity of two overlapping fires in a resprouting eucalypt forest and the subsequent effect of fire severity on fuel structure. We found that the likelihood of a canopy fire was the highest in areas that had previously been exposed to a high level of canopy scorch or consumption. Fuel structure was sensitive to the time since the previous canopy fire, but not the number of canopy fires. Background and Objectives—Feedbacks between fire and vegetation may constrain or amplify the effect of climate change on future wildfire behaviour. Such feedbacks have been poorly studied in forests dominated by highly fire-tolerant epicormic resprouters. Here, we conducted a case study based on two overlapping fires within a eucalypt forest that was dominated by epicormic resprouters to examine (1) whether past wildfire severity affects future wildfire severity, and (2) how combinations of understorey fire and canopy fire within reburnt areas affect fuel properties. Materials and Methods—The study focused on ≈77,000 ha of forest in south-eastern Australia that was burnt by a wildfire in 2007 and reburnt in 2013. The study system was dominated by eucalyptus trees that can resprout epicormically following fires that substantially scorch or consume foliage in the canopy layer. We used satellite-derived mapping to assess whether the severity of the 2013 fire was affected by the severity of the 2007 fire. Five levels of fire severity were considered (lowest to highest): unburnt, low canopy scorch, moderate canopy scorch, high canopy scorch and canopy consumption. Field surveys were then used to assess whether combinations of understorey fire (<80% canopy scorch) and canopy fire (>90% canopy consumption) recorded over the 2007 and 2013 fires caused differences in fuel structure. Results—Reburn severity was influenced by antecedent fire severity under severe fire weather, with the likelihood of canopy-consuming fire increasing with increasing antecedent fire severity up to those classes causing a high degree of canopy disturbance (i.e., high canopy scorch or canopy consumption). The increased occurrence of canopy-consuming fire largely came at the expense of the moderate and high canopy scorch classes, suggesting that there was a shift from crown scorch to crown consumption. Antecedent fire severity had little effect on the severity patterns of the 2013 fire under nonsevere fire weather. Areas affected by canopy fire in 2007 and/or 2013 had greater vertical connectivity of fuels than sites that were reburnt by understorey fires, though we found no evidence that repeated canopy fires were having compounding effects on fuel structure. Conclusions—Our case study suggests that exposure to canopy-defoliating fires has the potential to increase the severity of subsequent fires in resprouting eucalypt forests in the short term. We propose that the increased vertical connectivity of fuels caused by resprouting and seedling recruitment were responsible for the elevated fire severity. The effect of antecedent fire severity on reburn severity will likely be constrained by a range of factors, such as fire weather.

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