Abstract
BackgroundSpecies co-occurrences can have profound effects on the habitat use of species, and therefore habitat structure alone cannot fully explain observed abundances. To account for this aspect of community organization, we developed multi-species abundance models, incorporating the local effect of co-occurring and potentially associated species, alongside with environmental predictors, linked mainly to forest management intensity. We coupled it with a landscape-scale analysis to further examine the role of management intensity in modifying the habitat preferences in connection with the landscape context. Using empirical data from the Black Forest in southern Germany, we focused on the forest bird assemblage and in particular on the cavity-nesting and canopy-foraging guilds. We included in the analysis species that co-occur and for which evidence suggests association is likely.ResultsOur findings show that the local effect of species associations can mitigate the effects of management intensity on forest birds. We also found that bird species express wider habitat preferences in forests under higher management intensity, depending on the landscape context.ConclusionsWe suspect that species associations may facilitate the utilization of a broader range of environmental conditions under intensive forest management, which benefits some species over others. Networks of associations may be a relevant factor in the effectiveness of conservation-oriented forest management.
Highlights
Species co-occurrences can have profound effects on the habitat use of species, and habitat structure alone cannot fully explain observed abundances
Guilds abundance and associations Over 3 years, we recorded 8812 individuals belonging to 16 different species that were detected at least 30 times, of which 11 were cavity nesters, 10 canopy foragers, with 5 belonging to both guilds (Table 1)
Interspecific associations can result in striking differences in habitat selection for bird species with overlapping habitat preferences [49, 86]
Summary
Species co-occurrences can have profound effects on the habitat use of species, and habitat structure alone cannot fully explain observed abundances To account for this aspect of community organization, we developed multi-species abundance models, incorporating the local effect of co-occurring and potentially associated species, alongside with environmental predictors, linked mainly to forest management intensity. Species interactions are often simplistically assumed based on patterns of species co-occurrences, in relation to a baseline occurrence rate dependent on the environmental conditions [11] Despite criticism to this approach [12], the inclusion of an interaction component can improve the outcome of ecological niche modeling [13]. The effect of interacting species can modify ecological niches within populations, highlighting inter-individual differences [14], or differences within meta-populations, e.g., following the introduction of allochthonous species [15]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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.
