The effect of urbanization on population densities of forest passerine species in a Central European city

Typical, but less common, passerine forest species were selected for this study, such as Lullula arborea, Anthus trivialis, Troglodytes troglodytes, Prunella modularis, Turdus philomelos, Turdus viscivorus, Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Regulus regulus, Regulus ignicapillus, Muscicapa striata, Ficedula albicollis, Ficedula hypoleuca, Parus cristatus, Parus palustris, Parus ater, Certhia familiaris, Certhia brachydactyla, Oriolus oriolus, Garrulus glandarius, and Corvus corax. M. striata and T. philomelos were the most numerous among the 20 investigated species, the former one nested in a density of 6.7 pairs per 100 ha of wooded area, while the later one at 5.1 pairs per 100 ha. Density of most other species was below 3 pairs per 100 ha of wooded area. A. trivialis, P. cristatus and P. modularis were unexpectedly rare (< 1 pair per 100 ha). Otherwise, relatively numerous were T. troglodytes (1.8 p./100 ha), R. regulus (1.8 p./100 ha) and P. palustris (1.4 p./100 ha). P. cristatus, L. arborea, and T. viscivorus were the rarest species investigated (below 0.1 p./100 ha). Several bird species nested in wooded areas only in the outer zone of the city. This group included A. trivialis, R. regulus, P. ater, and C. corax. Population density of T. troglodytes, T. philomelos and O. oriolus were significantly higher in outer than in inner zone, while the reverse was true in the case of M. striata and F. hypoleuca.

Structure of the Breeding Bird Assemblage of A Natural Beech-Spruce Forest in the Šútovská Dolina National Nature Reserve, the Malá Fatra Mts

Korňan M., Adamík P.: Structure of the breeding bird assemblage of a natural beech-spruce forest in the Šútovská dolina National Nature Reserve, the Malá Fatra Mts. Ekológia (Bratislava), Vol. 33, No. 2, p. 138-150, 2014.The structure of a breeding bird assemblage of a natural beech-spruce forest in the Šútovská dolina National Nature Reserve, the Malá Fatra Mts was studied in the period 2000−2002. A 20-ha forest interior study plot was established for bird censusing. Population abundances were estimated by a combined version of the mapping method from April to the beginning of July. Altogether, 49 breeders were recorded and the total mean breeding bird assemblage density of the beech-spruce forest was 54.23±8.60 pairs/10 ha (CV = 15.85%). One species were characterised as eudominant (≥10%): Fringilla coelebs; and five species as dominant (≥5%): Erithacus rubecula, Sylvia atricapilla, Parus ater, Regulus regulus and Certhia familiaris. The Shannon diversity index (H') varied between 3.97 and 4.04 bites. The evenness index (J') reached values between 0.74 and 0.79. Expected species diversity in random sample of 100 pairs calculated by rarefaction [E (S1