Songbird diversity and movement in upland and riparian habitats in the boreal mixedwood forest of northeastern Ontario

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 1149-1164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Mosley ◽  
Stephen B Holmes ◽  
Erica Nol
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Avian Biodiversity ◽  
Boreal Mixedwood Forest ◽  
Riparian Habitats ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

Little is known about the importance of riparian areas in supporting avifaunal diversity in the boreal mixedwood forest, especially outside of the breeding season. Bird populations were sampled by mist netting 18 upland and 18 riparian sites along six streams in a forested region of northeastern Ontario. Riparian sites generally had more variable vegetation than upland sites. Some riparian sites formed distinctive habitats, while others were structurally and compositionally similar to upland sites. During spring and fall migration, there was no significant difference in bird abundance or species richness between riparian and upland habitats. During the breeding period, riparian areas had greater avian species richness and abundance and more insects than upland forests, suggesting that birds were selecting these habitats because they contain more food. More birds were captured in nets placed perpendicular to the stream than parallel during the breeding and fall migration periods, suggesting that riparian areas may function as movement corridors. A greater understanding of the importance of riparian habitats to songbird communities is needed if we are to maximize the effectiveness of these regions for conserving avian biodiversity in the boreal mixedwood forest.

scholarly journals Seasonal variation in species richness and abundance of waterbirds in Mole National Park, Ghana: Implication for conservation and ecotourism

Koedoe ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy K. Aikins ◽  
Francis Gbogbo ◽  
Erasmus H. Owusu
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
National Park ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Waterbird Species ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

Mole National Park is the largest and the oldest national park in Ghana and an important bird area, yet its waterbird fauna is poorly documented because it is situated in the northern ecological zone far away from the coast of Ghana. Information on the seasonal variation in the park’s bird abundance and diversity is generally patchy but necessary for effective birdwatching planning and management of the park’s birds. Therefore, as a guide to potential ecotourists interested in waterbirds, this study described the seasonal variation in waterbird species diversity and abundance at Mole National Park. As waterbirds mostly congregate around open wetlands and their abundance is more appropriately determined by counting all individuals in the congregant, data were collected using the total area count of waterbirds from August 2015 to October 2015 (the wet season) and from December 2015 to February 2016 (the dry season). Secondary data on arrival of tourists in the park were also analysed. The park’s waterbird species richness was 29 in the dry season compared to 18 in the wet season. There was significant difference (p < 0.05) in the abundance of waterbirds in the dry season in which 4014 waterbirds were encountered compared to 646 in the wet season. The yearly tourist arrival data at Mole National Park shows an increasing trend with peak visitation period occurring during the wet season. The chances of tourists encountering more species and numbers of waterbirds in the park are higher in the dry season compared to the wet season.Conservation implications: Species richness and abundance of waterbirds in Mole National Park varied according to the wet and dry seasons with both the number of species and abundance higher in the dry season than the wet season. It is therefore indicative that most birdwatchers who visit the park in the wet season miss out on a number of species and numbers of waterbirds. To achieve effective birdwatching, management should schedule birdwatching activities to coincide with the dry season as the chances of encountering more species and numbers of waterbirds are higher.

scholarly journals Factors influencing the appearance of spider (Araneae) and beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages in nests of great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Biologia ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Mérő ◽  
Maja Janjatović ◽  
Roland Horváth ◽  
Katarina Mrkobrad ◽  
Antun Žuljević
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Great Reed Warbler ◽  
Acrocephalus Arundinaceus ◽  
Reed Warbler ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Beetle Assemblages ◽  
Potential Factors ◽  
Spider Abundance ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

AbstractThe appearance of spider (Araneae) and beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages found in nests of great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus was studied, firstly to investigate breeding success and the amount of precipitation as potential factors which might affect the abundance and species richness of both groups. In addition, we compared the diversity of spider and beetle assemblages between nests found in different reed habitats, and considered the position of nests (above water or dry ground). In this study we selected five different randomly chosen reed habitats: two mining ponds, two small canals and one large canal. Great Reed Warbler nests were collected either shortly after fledging, or after the clutch had failed. Altogether, 12 species of spider and 19 species of beetle were collected. In both groups there was no significant difference in abundance between successful, lost and cuckoo-parasitized nests; however, there was a significant difference in species richness between the three nest categories in spider assemblages, which was not the case in beetle assemblages. The amount of precipitation did not affect beetle or spider abundance; only the species richness of spiders showed significant growth. Furthermore, we found no significant relationship between vegetation cover and the species richness and abundance of spiders and beetles. The diversity of both groups differed significantly according to reed habitat: beetle assemblages were most diverse by the large canal and spiders at the mining ponds.

scholarly journals Avian Species Abundance and Richness in a  Variably Urbanised Landscape in Wellington City,  New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jennifer Glynn Vinton
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Patch Size ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Habitat Patch ◽  
Avian Community ◽  
Patch Structure ◽  
Avian Biodiversity ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance ◽  
Species Ecology

<p>Avian community composition fluctuates across the landscape at different scales of space and time. These fluctuations may be modified at the broader scale of landscape and at the local scale of habitat patch. A species' ecology also influences its occurrence and abundance in the landscape. This thesis investigates the spatial and temporal distribution of the avian community in Wellington. Wellington is an interesting case study because it has a diverse range of landscapes influenced by the proximity of hills to the coast (see Appendix 3). I assess the effect of landscape classification on the richness and abundance of birds and the role of fine patch structure in shaping this distribution. My study was located within a 5-km radius of Wellington City's central business district (41 degrees 16' S, 174 degrees 46' E). I used six strip-transects divided into 400m length segments that traversed through high to lower density residential suburbs and green space inter-digitated with built habitat, and established five-minute count (FMBC) points at each segment interval along these routes for a total of 49 points. I used ArcGIS to analyse the habitat patch types in the 100-m areas surrounding the FMBC. I recorded avian species type and abundance along the strips and at the FMBC during the morning and evening. A total of 35 bird species and 10966 individuals were recorded along the strip-transects and 34 bird species and 5960 individuals at the FMBCs. House sparrow, then starling and blackbacked gull, rock pigeon, blackbird and silvereye were the most common and widely spread species. Results indicated that landscape type modified avian biodiversity with the highest number of species (S) recorded in green landscapes (n = 10, S = 15.9) and the lowest in wharf littoral (n = 2, S = 7.5) and low-density commercial sites (n = 3, S = 6.67). The diversity of the landscape within an area did not influence avian biodiversity. I found that total species abundance did not change across the landscape but that the species' ecology did influence where it occurred and its abundance in the landscape. Dietary diversity particularly influenced a species' abundance. Both season and time of day altered species richness and abundance, with lower values of richness recorded in autumn (morning period = 13.5, evening period = 10.7). I found that avian communities in the Wellington urban area were dominated by six common species but that many more species were present in much lower numbers at fewer sites. Results showed an inverse relationship between species richness and abundance - while the greater biomass (abundance) of birds concentrated at FMBC within the built commercial centre and surrounding higher density housing areas, richness increased with distance from the built centre to residential and green sites. I found no relationship between species richness and the total number of individuals present at any point, and the total biomass and abundance of birds was also independent of patch size. Neither habitat patch diversity nor average patch size influenced species diversity across the community of birds, but the effect of average patch size was less at patches between 300 and 1500 metres. The abundance of some individuals in their favoured patch type did vary in response to patch structure with the strongest relationships seen for blackbird and house sparrow. These results suggest that birds are responding to cues at the larger scale of landscape first rather than to fine patch structure within the urban setting, and therefore that landscape is a more important influence in driving bird biodiversity.</p>

scholarly journals Orchid bees in riparian and terra-firme forest fragments in an urban matrix in southwestern Brazilian Amazonia

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 214-223
Author(s):  
Maria Eliene Maia Braga CÂNDIDO ◽  
Patrícia Nakayama MIRANDA ◽  
Elder Ferreira MORATO
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Urban Landscape ◽  
Riparian Forests ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Terra Firme ◽  
Orchid Bees ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Terra Firme Forest ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

ABSTRACT Riparian forests are important ecosystems that support an enormous biodiversity in Brazil. Despite being protected under Brazilian legislation, these forests suffer great impact from the fragmentation of habitats. Orchid bees are a key group of pollinators in the Neotropical region, yet few data are available on the assamblage structure of these bees in riparian forests. We evaluated the role of fragments of riparian and terra-firme forest on the conservation and maintenance of orchid bees in an urban landscape in the southwestern Amazon basin. Specifically, we evaluated whether bee assemblages in riparian and terra-firme forests differed significantly in abundance, species richness and composition. We also evaluated whether species richness and abundance of bees vary with the size of the forest fragment. Male bees were attracted using odoriferous baits and collected with entomological nets in 10 forest fragments. There was no significant difference between riparian and terra-firme fragments in species abundance, richness and composition, but there was a positive correlation between fragment size and species richness and abundance. Our results suggest that, in an urban landscape, the remaining riparian and terra-firme forest fragments still could maintain 62.7% of the orchid bee species known to occur in the region, reinforcing the conservation value of these forest remnants. Our findings indicate that these fragments provide a potentially important habitat for the maintenance of local bee populations in the landscape.

scholarly journals Comparison of point and roadside transect methods to evaluate the abundance and richness of diurnal raptors in the arid region of Rajasthan

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0259805
Author(s):  
Govind Tiwari ◽  
Puneet Pandey ◽  
Rahul Kaul ◽  
Hang Lee ◽  
Randeep Singh
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Point Count ◽  
Point Counts ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Unidentified Species ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance ◽  
Point Count Method

Diurnal raptors show a wider distribution compared to other groups of birds including passerines, woodpeckers, and seriemas, but occur at lower-than-expected densities. Estimating the precise abundance is essential to achieve conservation goals but the methods used to estimate the populations of birds need to be appropriate to arrive at meaningful conclusions. We compared the two survey methods: roadside point count and strip transects, for estimating species richness and abundance of raptors in the arid landscape of Rajasthan. Roadside point counts and roadside strip transects were done on 50 transects between December 2019- February 2020 (with an average length of 20 km and a total distance of 3000 km) to assess the species richness and abundance of raptors. A total of 2954 observations of raptors belonging to 35 species were recorded using both methods. Mann Whitney U test result showed no significant difference in species richness and abundance estimates between both methods (p = 0.206). The point count method yielded a higher relative abundance of 2.79 individuals [10 km2]-1h-1 than the 1.90 individuals [10 km2]-1h-1 obtained during the strip transect. Also, the number of unidentified species were less for point counts. Extrapolation values indicated that both the methods do not differ much for the detection of unsampled species. The choice of survey method depends on the objectives of the study, but our results favor the use of point counts rather than strip transects to survey raptors in open habitats. The information generated from this study is expected to provide the most efficient method to study the abundance and distribution of raptors in similar landscapes.

scholarly journals Avian Species Abundance and Richness in a  Variably Urbanised Landscape in Wellington City,  New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jennifer Glynn Vinton
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Patch Size ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Habitat Patch ◽  
Avian Community ◽  
Patch Structure ◽  
Avian Biodiversity ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance ◽  
Species Ecology

<p>Avian community composition fluctuates across the landscape at different scales of space and time. These fluctuations may be modified at the broader scale of landscape and at the local scale of habitat patch. A species' ecology also influences its occurrence and abundance in the landscape. This thesis investigates the spatial and temporal distribution of the avian community in Wellington. Wellington is an interesting case study because it has a diverse range of landscapes influenced by the proximity of hills to the coast (see Appendix 3). I assess the effect of landscape classification on the richness and abundance of birds and the role of fine patch structure in shaping this distribution. My study was located within a 5-km radius of Wellington City's central business district (41 degrees 16' S, 174 degrees 46' E). I used six strip-transects divided into 400m length segments that traversed through high to lower density residential suburbs and green space inter-digitated with built habitat, and established five-minute count (FMBC) points at each segment interval along these routes for a total of 49 points. I used ArcGIS to analyse the habitat patch types in the 100-m areas surrounding the FMBC. I recorded avian species type and abundance along the strips and at the FMBC during the morning and evening. A total of 35 bird species and 10966 individuals were recorded along the strip-transects and 34 bird species and 5960 individuals at the FMBCs. House sparrow, then starling and blackbacked gull, rock pigeon, blackbird and silvereye were the most common and widely spread species. Results indicated that landscape type modified avian biodiversity with the highest number of species (S) recorded in green landscapes (n = 10, S = 15.9) and the lowest in wharf littoral (n = 2, S = 7.5) and low-density commercial sites (n = 3, S = 6.67). The diversity of the landscape within an area did not influence avian biodiversity. I found that total species abundance did not change across the landscape but that the species' ecology did influence where it occurred and its abundance in the landscape. Dietary diversity particularly influenced a species' abundance. Both season and time of day altered species richness and abundance, with lower values of richness recorded in autumn (morning period = 13.5, evening period = 10.7). I found that avian communities in the Wellington urban area were dominated by six common species but that many more species were present in much lower numbers at fewer sites. Results showed an inverse relationship between species richness and abundance - while the greater biomass (abundance) of birds concentrated at FMBC within the built commercial centre and surrounding higher density housing areas, richness increased with distance from the built centre to residential and green sites. I found no relationship between species richness and the total number of individuals present at any point, and the total biomass and abundance of birds was also independent of patch size. Neither habitat patch diversity nor average patch size influenced species diversity across the community of birds, but the effect of average patch size was less at patches between 300 and 1500 metres. The abundance of some individuals in their favoured patch type did vary in response to patch structure with the strongest relationships seen for blackbird and house sparrow. These results suggest that birds are responding to cues at the larger scale of landscape first rather than to fine patch structure within the urban setting, and therefore that landscape is a more important influence in driving bird biodiversity.</p>

Comparison of the species richness and abundance of Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) and Scolytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) captured in aerial malaise traps with and without a bottom collector

2017 ◽  
Vol 149 (3) ◽  
pp. 408-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc F. DiGirolomo ◽  
Kevin J. Dodds
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Invasive Pests ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Longhorned Beetles ◽  
Bark And Ambrosia Beetles ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Malaise Traps ◽  
Bottom Portion

AbstractMethods for detection and monitoring invasive insect species are continually being refined and developed. Detecting invasive pests early can improve chances of eradication or management of populations. Aerial malaise traps are successfully used in monitoring for insects such as longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). These traps have both a top and bottom collecting cup. The bottom portion of these traps leading to the collection cup collects canopy litter at a high rate, greatly increasing time required to sort through and possibly affecting the diversity and abundance of insects captured. Traps with top and bottom collecting cups were compared with traps with only top collecting cups to determine the effect on species richness and abundance of cerambycids and scolytines. There was no significant difference in species richness and abundance of cerambycids, and abundance of scolytines, however species richness of scolytines was significantly higher in top/bottom traps. We conclude that removing the bottoms from aerial malaise traps would benefit monitoring programmes that use this type of trap in combination with funnel traps, albeit with the potential loss of information on scolytine richness.

scholarly journals Attractiveness of Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) to different baits in the Brazilian Amazon region

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reinaldo L. Cajaiba ◽  
Eduardo Périco ◽  
Wully B. Da Silva ◽  
Mário Santos
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Physicochemical Characteristics ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Generalist Species ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Baited Traps ◽  
Brazilian Amazon Region ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) are considered essential for enhancing the physicochemical characteristics of soils, principally by changing organic materials (e.g. dead animals, faeces, fruits e leaf litter). This study compared the species richness and abundance of dung beetles captured using various types of baits, to demonstrate attractiveness differences in variable habitats of the Brazilian Amazon. Samplings were carried out with pitfall traps baited with human faeces, rotten banana, rotten meat and a non-baited trap, in February, March, June, September and October 2015. Habitats included native forests, agriculture areas, pastures and disturbed forests in different regeneration stages. A total of 13 736 Scarabaeinae beetles were captured, distributed over 98 species. Most individuals were captured using traps baited with faeces (76.7 % of individuals), followed by rotten meat baited traps (17.8 % of individuals), fermented banana baited traps (3.9 % of individuals) and finally by non-baited traps (1.6 % of individuals). A significant difference in attractiveness of the different baits used and habitats types was observed. Most of the captured assemblages were composed by coprophagous (42 %), generalist species (32 %), necrophagous (15 %) and none was classified as saprophagous. Approximately 54 % of the specimens were tunnelers, 25 % were rollers and 12 % were dwellers. The species of Scarabaeinae sampled in the region revealed qualitative and quantitative differences among their assemblages and the phytophysiognomies. The forest environments housed the greatest species richness observed, and a fraction of these is exclusive of those areas. We concluded that some species of Scarabaeinae have an important potential as disturbance indicators in the Amazonian ecosystem.

The effects of fire-driven succession on reptiles in spinifex grasslnads at Uluru National Park, Northern Territory

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Masters
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
National Park ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Pronounced Effect ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Reptile Species ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

Fire-driven succession had a pronounced effect on the distribution and abundance of reptiles inhabiting spinifex grasslands in Ulu~u National Park from 1987 to 1990. Forty species of reptiles were trapped during the study. Of these 14 were common (> 20 captures), 6 were uncommon (11-20 captures) and 20 were rare (< 10 captures). Species richness and abundance of individuals were greater on plots with mature spinifex for most species. On most sampling occasions only four geographically widely distributed species were more abundant on the regenerating plots: Rhynchoedura ornata, Diplodactylus stenodactylus, Ctenophorus nuchalis and Ramphytyphlops endoterus. Two species, Diplodactylus conspicillatus and Lerista bipes, showed no significant difference in abundance between plots. This study supports the suggestion that fire mosaics maximise reptile diversity. Although most reptile species were caught in mature spinifex, regenerating areas act as fire breaks and ensure that mature spinifex is always present.

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