Abundance and species composition of amphibians, small mammals, and songbirds in riparian forest buffer strips of varying widths in the boreal mixedwood of Alberta

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (10) ◽  
pp. 1784-1800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan J Hannon ◽  
Cynthia A Paszkowski ◽  
Stan Boutin ◽  
Jordan DeGroot ◽  
S Ellen Macdonald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Forest Harvesting ◽  
Buffer Strips ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Managed Landscapes

Forested buffer strips are left along water bodies after forest harvesting to protect water quality and fish stocks, but little is known about their utility as reserves for forest species in managed landscapes. We report on changes in terrestrial vertebrate communities from pre- to post-harvest in experimentally created buffer strips (20, 100, 200, and 800 m wide) in a boreal mixedwood forest in Alberta, Canada. We trapped anuran amphibians and small mammals and spot-mapped bird territories around 12 lakes (4 treatment levels, 3 replicates) before and after harvesting. Changes in small mammal or amphibian abundance were not detected for any treatment relative to controls; however, these species are habitat generalists that used and even bred in clearcuts. Total bird abundance did not change after harvesting, with the exception of crowding in 20-m buffers 1 year post-harvest. Species composition did not change for amphibians and small mammals after harvest, but forest-dependent bird species declined as buffer width narrowed from 200 to 100 m and narrower. We concluded that 20–100 m buffers would not serve as reserves for forest songbirds in managed landscapes, but that 200 m wide strips conserved the pre-harvest passerine bird community, at least up to 3 years post-harvest.

Effects of mechanical strip thinning of aspen on small mammals and breeding birds in northern Minnesota, U.S.A.

1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 1284-1294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald P. Christian ◽  
Marlys Reuvers-House ◽  
Joann M. Hanowski ◽  
Gerald J. Niemi ◽  
John G. Blake ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Breeding Birds ◽  
Deciduous Forests ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Forest Songbirds

Abundance and species composition of small mammals and breeding birds were studied on mechanically strip-thinned aspen stands and comparable reference stands in northern Minnesota. Strip-thinned stands included sapling-sized stands thinned 1 or 2 years before the study and pole-sized stands thinned 7–11 years previously. Fewer individual birds were observed on sapling-sized thinned than reference stands, reflecting primarily decreases in abundances of bird species that select midsuccessional deciduous forests; several of these species are long-distance migrants. Bird abundance and community composition on thinned and reference pole-sized stands were similar, differing most notably in the presence of Canada Warbler (Wilsoniacanadensis (L.)) and Downy Woodpecker (Picoidespubescens (L.)) in thinned but not reference stands. Significantly more individual small mammals were captured on thinned than reference stands, and most other measures of abundance indicated positive numerical responses of small mammals to strip thinning. Mechanical strip thinning of aspen shows promise for enhancing aspen supply by allowing trees to grow more rapidly to harvestable size. Our results suggest that use of this practice has no negative effects on small mammals and relatively short-lived negative effects on forest songbirds at the stand level.

scholarly journals Standing deadwood for keystone bird species in the eastern boreal forest: Managing for snag dynamics

2009 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Drapeau ◽  
Antoine Nappi ◽  
Louis Imbeau ◽  
Michel Saint-Germain
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Keystone Species ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Forest Harvesting ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Forestry Practices ◽  
Tree Retention ◽  
Management Approaches ◽  
Managed Landscapes

Extensive even-aged management of the boreal forest and its consequences on the loss of late-seral stages (>100 years) is raising concerns about the future of organisms associated with standing deadwood. The considerable reduction of deadwood not only at the stand but at the landscape level is considered to be one of the principal causes of biodiversity loss in managed forest ecosystems worldwide. Ecosystem-oriented management approaches propose a fundamental change in forestry practices whereby live and dead tree retention becomes an important consideration in forest harvesting. We use woodpecker assemblages and their association with standing deadwood for both nesting and foraging to emphasize the importance of the entire range of snag degradation stages for maintenance of key ecological processes in habitat remnants of managed landscapes. We argue that bridging foraging and nesting knowledge of woodpecker’s snag requirements can refine conservation objectives for deadwood retention in the boreal forest. Key words: deadwood, woodpeckers, hole-nesting community, late-seral forests, keystone species, foraging and nesting tree requirements, food webs, nest webs, snag management

scholarly journals Effects of proximity to urban areas on a riparian bird community in remnant Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Ana Cecília de Paula Lourenço ◽  
Maria Cecília Barbosa de Toledo
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Average Height ◽  
Trophic Groups ◽  
Generalist Species ◽  
Canopy Opening

   The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of urban activities on the structure and composition of a bird community in riparian forests in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The study was carried out in seven areas of remnant riparian forest where fixed points have been established to sample bird species. Richness, diversity, abundance, frequency and trophic groups were used as metrics of the bird community. At each point measurements were taken for: (1) habitat characteristics: average height of trees, number of trees above 2m, number of shrubs <2m and the percentage of canopy opening; (2) neighborhood characteristics: closest distance from open areas, highways, urban areas, river and floodplain to the point of observation. The observations resulted in 88 species of birds belonging to 34 families. The most representative families were Tyrannidae, Thraupidae and Picidae. The most predominant trophic groups were insectivorous (54%), omnivorous (11.5%) and frugivorous (10.3%). The results obtained showed that the number of trees explained the variation in abundance, while the mean height of the trees explained variations in richness and frequency. Overall, the bird community was negatively affected by proximity of urban areas and highways. In conclusion, the community of birds in the riparian forest may be affected by the loss of trees above 2m and by urbanization, leading mainly to the replacement of species belonging to specialist trophic groups by generalist species and those more adjusted to human presence.

scholarly journals Fire effects on the composition of a bird community in an amazonian Savanna (Brazil)

2005 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 683-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Cintra ◽  
T. M. Sanaiotti
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Fire Effects ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
Byrsonima Crassifolia ◽  
Mist Net

The effects of fire on the composition of a bird community were investigated in an Amazonian savanna near Alter-do-Chão, Pará (Brazil). Mist-net captures and visual counts were used to assess species richness and bird abundance pre- and post-fire in an approximately 20 ha area. Visual counts along transects were used to survey birds in an approximately 2000 ha area in a nearby area. Results using the same method of ordination analysis (multidimensional scaling) showed significant effects of fire in the 20 ha and 2000 ha areas and strongly suggest direct effects on bird community composition. However, the effects were different at different spatial scales and/or in different years, indicating that the effects of fire vary spatially and/or temporally. Bird community composition pre-fire was significantly different from that found post-fire. Using multiple regression analysis it was found that the numbers of burned and unburned trees were not significantly related to either bird species richness or bird abundance. Two months after the fire, neither bird species richness nor bird abundance was significantly related to the number of flowering trees (Lafoensia pacari) or fruiting trees (Byrsonima crassifolia). Since fire is an annual event in Alter-do-Chão and is becoming frequent in the entire Amazon, bird community composition in affected areas could be constantly changing in time and space.

Increased grazing and dominance of an exotic pasture (Bothriochloa pertusa) affects vertebrate fauna species composition, abundance and habitat in savanna woodland

2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex S. Kutt ◽  
Alaric Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Information Criteria ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Theoretic Approach ◽  
Pasture Grass ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Vertebrate Fauna ◽  
Species Response ◽  
Information Theoretic Approach

The invasion of exotic pasture species into intact woodlands has the potential to affect native fauna by altering habitat structure and ecosystem function. The spread of these weeds is generally in concert with cattle grazing, so that fauna or habitat change is due to multiple interrelated causes. In this study we investigated whether the spread of the introduced pasture grass Bothriochloa pertusa and replacement of the native bluegrass B. ewartiana in eucalypt woodlands of northern Queensland has had an effect on terrestrial vertebrate fauna. We located 40 sites that sampled a range of native and introduced pastures cover, and investigated the spatial pattern of abundance with canonical analysis of principle coordinates, and correlation of the habitat attributes on the ordination space. We then selected a subset of four habitat attributes (eliminating highly colinear variables) and modelled species response to each using an information-theoretic approach. Thirty-one species (26 birds, one mammal and four reptiles) and two summary variables (bird abundance and richness) had best subset Akaike Information Criteria models with reliable parameters estimates. Seventeen models contained the B. pertusa frequency term and a further 16 had a term relating to upper storey cover (tree cover >10, 5–10 or 3–5 m). Though pasture grass cover, grazing and habitat features were correlated and thus we cannot ascribe B. pertusa as the sole determinant of fauna species change, this study has demonstrated that tropical savanna woodlands with changing Bothriochloa dominance from native to introduced species have different fauna species composition. In particular bird species richness, ground nesting species (e.g. rufous songlark Cincloramphus mathewsi, golden-headed cisticola Cisticola exilis) and terrestrial reptiles (e.g. Carlia munda and Ctenotus taeniolatus) declined. Disturbance-tolerant species such as Australian magpie Cracticus tibicen and yellow-throated miners Manorina flavigula increased in abundance in exotic pasture-dominated sites. As pastoral intensification continues in northern Australian rangelands there is a potential for significant change in the relative abundance and composition of vertebrate fauna and the reduction or loss of some species in the landscape.

Bird communities and vegetation associations across a treeline ecotone in the Mealy Mountains, Labrador, which is an understudied part of the boreal forest

2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (6) ◽  
pp. 477-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith P. Lewis ◽  
Brian M. Starzomski
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Avian Diversity ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Treeline Ecotone ◽  
Point Counts ◽  
Deciduous Shrub

We examined the factors structuring bird communities across a complex subarctic treeline in the Mealy Mountains, Labrador, Canada. Using point counts of bird abundance in 2007 and 2008, we show that changes in vegetation driven by elevation are strongly correlated with avian community structure in this treeline ecotone system. Overall, avian diversity was higher in the forest compared with other habitat classes (krummholz, deciduous shrub, and alpine). There were strong correlations between avian diversity and vegetation richness, as well as structure, among and within habitat class in 2008. Numerous habitat types (subset of habitat class) were correlated with avian composition, although some species were clearly habitat generalists. Contrary to expectation, avian species composition was associated with physiognomy (vegetation structure) in alpine and deciduous shrub, and with either physiognomy or floristics (vegetation species composition) in krummholz and forest. Given the strong impact of elevation on vegetation and the demonstrated influence on bird communities, we note that for bird species whose near-southernmost populations are found in the Mealy Mountains, climate change is likely to have a strong negative effect if alpine tundra habitat is lost. Furthermore, forest bird species are likely to benefit from the increased tree cover as treeline moves poleward and upward.

scholarly journals Shifting cultivation along the Trans-African Highway and its impact on the understorey bird community in the Ituri Forest, Zaire

1997 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Plumptre
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Forest Structure ◽  
Shifting Cultivation ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Selective Logging ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
Ituri Forest

summarySince the 1940s, horticulturalists (the Lese) have been settled along the sides of the roads that traverse a large part of the forest in eastern Zaire. These people have maintained their lifestyle of shifting cultivation and trade with the Mbuti pygmies. This has resulted in corridors of heavily disturbed and regenerating forest. The results of a study of the understorey bird community at three sites in the Okapi Reserve in the Ituri forest in Zaire are reported here. Two primary forest sites (one monodominant Gilbertiodendron forest) in the Reserve were compared with an area of forest disturbed by shifting cultivation. The two primary forest sites were more similar in species composition than they were to secondary forest created by shifting cultivation. Shifting cultivation had a more severe impact on the bird community than selective logging does in forests in Uganda and Malaysia. There was a shift following disturbance from a bird community dominated by insectivores to one with more frugivore-insectivores and nectarivores. Ground thrushes Zoothera spp. and flycatchers were abundant in the monodominant Gilbertiodendron forest and appear to suffer from the change in forest structure following disturbance. The Okapi Reserve currently conserves some important bird species and at least 333 birds have been reported to occur there.

scholarly journals Diversity and temporal variation of the bird community in paddy fields of Kadhiramangalam, Tamil Nadu, India

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 14279-14291
Author(s):  
Chaithra Shree Jayasimhan ◽  
Pramod Padmanabhan
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Paddy Fields ◽  
Common Myna ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Community Data ◽  
Paddy Cultivation

Paddy, a major food crop of India, provides a variety of habitats in a short period of time and supports diverse organisms.  Paddy fields also harbour many birds with varying species composition across the different cultivation phases of paddy.  This study, conducted in the paddy fields of Kadhiramangalam, Tamil Nadu, India, recorded the bird community composition there during the various cultivation phases of paddy.  The bird community data was analysed and a total of 87 bird species were recorded from the study area belonging to 41 families and 13 orders.  The growth phase (PS 3) is the most diverse phase.  The bird composition showed a significant variation across the paddy cultivation phases with overall average dissimilarity of 71.41%.  The patterns shown by graphs of bird species composition across the paddy cultivation phases is based on guild, habitat usage and order overlap and elucidates that the change in bird community composition temporally can be attributed to the niche variability across the paddy cultivation phases.  The major species contributing to these changes observed are Black-headed Munia, Baya Weaver, Common Sandpiper, Barn Swallow, Common Myna, and Black Drongo in this region.   

More than just Night Parrots: A baseline bird survey of Pullen Pullen Reserve, south-western Queensland

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
A.S. Kutt ◽  
◽  
S.G. Kearney ◽  
P.L Kern ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Population Fluctuations ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Weather Patterns ◽  
Riparian Woodlands ◽  
Bird Survey

The birds of arid environments often exhibit nomadism, seasonal breeding and population fluctuations that respond to highly variable weather patterns. In this study we present data from a baseline bird survey in Bush Heritage Australia’s Pullen Pullen Reserve in south-western Queensland. We conducted seasonal surveys (October–November 2018, May 2019) in 40 sites representing Spinifex (Triodia spp.) grasslands, a complex of Mitchell Astrebla spp./chenopod grasslands and Georgina Gidgee Acacia georginae riparian woodlands, using a standardised 2-ha census. A total of 85 species was recorded in the standardised sites, as well as an additional 16 species recorded opportunistically. Twenty-six species (31%), many of which were nomadic, were recorded from only one of the surveys. Bird abundance and species richness were highest in the post-wet-season survey (May 2018), and there was strong variation in the composition of the bird species between the three habitats surveyed. These data provide a baseline to continue monitoring and to understand the resident and more peripatetic elements of this arid bird community, which should be surveyed regularly to investigate the role of changing management and the long-term influence of global environmental change.

A cross-continental look at the patterns of avian species diversity and composition across an urbanisation gradient

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Clucas ◽  
John M. Marzluff
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Gradient Methods ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Diversity ◽  
Biological Traits ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Bird Feeders ◽  
Urbanisation Gradient

Context As humans become increasingly urban, the need for conservation of nature in cities increases and requires an understanding of the patterns and processes of urban ecosystems. In particular, because humans are the most dominant species in urban areas, understanding the role humans play in these ecosystems (direct and indirect) will be of primary importance. Aims We examine the diversity and composition of bird species across an urbanisation gradient in two cities (Berlin, Germany, and Seattle, Washington, USA). We determine the degrees of species urban tolerance and examine how certain biological traits of species, namely, diet, whether or not species use bird feeders, nest sites and innovation rate, characterise species urban tolerance. Finally, we determine whether human provisioning (bird feeders and nest boxes) influences what types of species persist across the urbanisation gradient. Methods We surveyed bird abundance and species richness using point counts and surveyed human provisioning by conducting door-to-door interviews of residents across an urbanisation gradient in Berlin and Seattle. Key results We found that patterns of species richness were similar in both cities, but that species composition in Berlin changed less across the urbanisation gradient than it did in Seattle. The majority of birds in Berlin were urban tolerant, whereas in Seattle, they were moderately urban tolerant and intolerant. A cluster analysis revealed that, in general, in Berlin, omnivorous, open-nesting birds that use bird feeders and have relatively high innovation rates tended to be urban tolerant. In Seattle, birds that were mostly omnivorous, nested in open cups, and used bird feeders tended to be moderately urban tolerant and they were influenced by provisioning of food by humans. Conclusion Urbanisation and human interactions with birds can act as ecological filters, favouring certain bird species that can lead to varying species compositions across an urban gradient. These differences in species composition across the gradient may be more noticeable in younger cities than in older cities where the filtering process has been occurring for longer time. Implications By providing a variety of habitats and supplementing natural foods and nesting places, urban planners and residents can help conserve bird diversity in urban areas.

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