Abstract
The agricultural matrix has increasingly been recognized for its potential to supplement Protected Areas (PAs) in biodiversity conservation. This potential is highly contextual, depending on composition and spatial configuration of matrix elements and their mechanistic relationship with biological communities. We investigate the effects of local vegetation structure, and proximity to a PA on the site-use of different guilds in a wintering bird community within the PA, and in wooded land-use types in the surrounding matrix. We used occupancy models to estimate covariate–guild relationships and predict site-use. We also compared species richness (estimated through capture–recapture models) and species naïve site-use between the PA and the matrix to evaluate taxonomic changes. We found that tree cover did not limit the site-use of most guilds of the community, probably due to high canopy cover across all chosen sites. Exceptions to this were guilds comprising generalist species. Shrub cover and bamboo cover had important effects on some woodland-associated guilds, suggesting a change in limiting factors for site-use under adequate tree cover. Site-use across the matrix was high for all analyzed guilds. This was found to be due to three non-exclusive reasons: (i) presence of one or more ubiquitous species (found all across the landscape) within some guilds, (ii) redundancy of species within guilds that buffered against a decrease in site-use, and (iii) turnover in guild composition/abundances to more generalist species from PA to matrix. Estimated species richness was higher in the matrix (107± 11; mean ± SE) than in the PA (90± 7), which may have been in part due to the addition of generalist species in the matrix. Understanding factors that limit biological communities is crucial to better managing the ever-increasing matrix for biodiversity conservation. Our study provides insights into the effects of different components of vegetation structure on the bird community in wooded land-use types in the matrix. We highlight the value of woodlands surrounding PAs in maintaining multiple guilds, and hence, the functionality of a wintering bird community. However, we caution that the matrix may fall short in retaining some specialized species of the community.
Highlights
Agricultural expansion continues to be a major driver of large-scale conversion of tropical forests into human-use areas [1]
Though, shrub cover and bamboo cover were found to be important factors for some of the guilds that were not limited by tree cover
While we accounted for the effects of the different components of vegetation structure in our current study, we further suggest that testing the floristic effects of vegetation, and their associated resources would be an important second step [42] to better our understanding of the mechanistic relationship of vegetation with guilds of the bird community
Summary
Agricultural expansion continues to be a major driver of large-scale conversion of tropical forests into human-use areas [1]. Efforts to prevent forest conversion and protect biodiversity in the tropics––including threatened wildlife species in particular––have largely best been met by the establishment of Protected Areas (PAs) [3]. Under current rates of human population growth, associated land-use change and inefficient policy, the scope for expansion of PAs is greatly limited [4], with continuing conversion of forests into agricultural land. There is increased recognition that PAs are not insular, and biodiversity within PAs interacts with agricultural land-uses outside [5]. Conservationists have brought to attention the need to evaluate and target the ever-increasing agricultural land-use types for their potential to supplement biodiversity conservation in the tropics
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
