Bird Community Structure Research Articles

Importance of Ethiopian shade coffee farms for forest bird conservation

Coffee is the most important tropical commodity and is grown in high-priority areas for biological conservation. There is abundant literature on the conservation value of coffee farms internationally, but there has been little research on this topic in Africa. Ethiopia is a diverse and little-studied country with high levels of avian endemism, pressing conservation challenges, and where Coffea arabica originated. We sampled bird communities in shade coffee farms and moist evergreen Afromontane forest in Ethiopia utilizing standard mist netting procedures at seven sites over three years to evaluate bird species richness, diversity and community structure. Although species diversity did not differ between shade coffee and forest, shade coffee farms had over double the species richness of forest sites and all but one of the nine Palearctic migratory species were captured only in shade coffee. There was a greater relative abundance of forest specialists and understory insectivores in forest, demonstrating that little-disturbed forest is critical for sustaining these at-risk groups of birds. Nonetheless, all species recorded in primary forest control sites were also recorded in shade coffee, indicating that Ethiopian shade coffee is perhaps the most “bird-friendly” coffee in the world. This is an important finding for efforts to conserve forest birds in Africa, and for shade coffee farmers that may benefit from avian pest regulation and biodiversity-friendly coffee certifications.

Community Structure of Birds at Islands in Karon River in Ahvaz City in Spring and Summer 2014

The main objectives of this study was to determine and compare the density and diversity of water birds and terrestrial birds using total count method at islands in Karon river in Ahvaz city . A total of 5218 bird individuals from 57 bird species were recorded in the islands. Out of the total 57 species, 20 (35.08% of all detections) and 37 (64.91% of all detections) bird species belong to water birds and terrestrial birds respectively, that 14 species of them were breeder. The results showed that average terrestrial bird density of the islands was 173.93±4.53 bird’s ha -1 and ranged from 91.4-262.6 birds ha -1 (95% confidence interval). The terrestrial birds have higher density (173.93±4.53 bird’s ha -1 ) as compared to water birds (43.63±1.78 birds ha -1, ranged from 16.6-63.1 birds ha -1 ). The highest water bird density was recorded for Little Egret (89.3±0.89 bird’s ha -1 ) and the lowest was Spoonbill (0.2±0.11 bird’s ha -1 ). The highest terrestrial bird density was recorded for Scrub Sparrow (93.4±1.05 bird’s ha -1 ) and the lowest was Roller and Red-backed Shrike (0.2±0.11 bird’s ha -1 for each). The highest species diversity i.e. Shannon’s index (2.817), species richness i.e. Margalef’s index (R 1 = 6.227), species evenness, i.e., McIntosh’s index (E = 0.509) and Fisher alpha’s index (11.08) was recorded for all birds. This study indicated that islands in the Karon River are a highly important habitat and provide diverse food, shelter, nesting and roosting sites for water birds as well as terrestrial birds.

城市公园生境类型对鸟类群落的影响

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 城市公园生境类型对鸟类群落的影响 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201309112250 作者: 作者单位: 华东师范大学，上海市城市化过程与恢复重点实验室,华东师范大学，上海市城市化过程与恢复重点实验室,华东师范大学，上海市城市化过程与恢复重点实验室,华东师范大学，上海市城市化过程与恢复重点实验室,上海市浦东新区林业站,上海市浦东新区林业站,华东师范大学,上海市野生动植物保护管理站,上海科技馆,华东师范大学，上海市城市化过程与恢复重点实验室 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 上海市绿化和市容管理局专项基金、浦东新区科技发展基金(PKJ2011-N020) The influence of habitat types on bird community in urban parks Author: Affiliation: East China Normal University，Shanghai Key Laboratory of Urbanization and Ecological Restoration,,,,,,,,,East China Normal University，Shanghai Key Laboratory of Urbanization and Ecological Restoration Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:2011 年12 月-2012 年11 月,在上海世纪公园和滨江森林公园对鸟类群落和植物群落进行调查,通过对12 个植被变量进行主成分分析,将两个公园分为8 种不同的生境类型。结果表明:2 个公园生境构成存在显著差异,滨江森林公园灌木层植物发达的生境(Habitat with developed shrub layer, S型)以及灌木层和地被层植物都发达的生境(Habitat with developed tree layer and shrub layer, T+S型)数量显著多于世纪公园,世纪公园地被层发达的生境(Habitat with developed ground cover layer, G型)以及乔木层和地被层植物都发达的生境(Habitat with developed tree layer and ground cover layer, T+G型)数量显著多于滨江森林公园。世纪公园不同生境中鸟种数差异显著,而滨江森林公园中差异不显著。2 个公园有24 种共有鸟种,对共有鸟种生境利用率的配对t检验结果表明,滨江森林公园鸟类生境利用率显著高于世纪公园。对2 个公园共有生境类型中鸟种数进行分析,发现滨江森林公园鹟科(Muscicapidae)鸟类种数显著大于世纪公园。根据以上结果,上海城市公园不同生境类型对鸟类群落结构存在显著影响。因此,建议在规划和建设大型城市公园时,应构建植被分层结构复杂的生境,多样化种植各类乔木,林下多样化搭配灌木。在保留供游客休憩草坪区域的同时种植各类草本植物,以此提高鸟类生境利用率,增加城市公园的鸟类多样性。 Abstract:The bird communities and vegetation communities in Shanghai Century Park and Bingjiang Forest Park were respectively surveyed from December 2011 to November 2012. In accordance with the result of principal components analysis of 12 vegetation variables, the vegetation in the two parks was grouped into 8 types including T type (habitat with developed tree layer), S type (habitat with developed shrub layer), G type (habitat with developed ground cover layer), T+S type (habitat with developed tree layer and shrub layer), T+G type (habitat with developed tree layer and ground cover layer), S+G type (habitat with developed shrub layer and ground cover layer), T+S+G type (habitat with complex vegetation structure), D type (disturbed habitat). Chi-square test suggested that the S type and T+S type habitat in Binjiang Forest Park was significantly more abundant than those in Century Park while G type and T+G type habitat in Century Park was significantly more abundant than those in Binjiang Forest Park. Developed tree layer habitat was abundant both in the two parks and More than 70% of the bird richness and bird abundance were recorded in these habitat. Bird richness was significantly different in habitat types in Century Park, but the richness difference was not significant in Binjiang Forest Park. There were 24 common bird species in the two parks, which were indicated to have performed higher utility rate in Binjiang Park than those in Century Park in accordance with paired sample t test result. Analysis of the bird richness in common habitat types of the two parks showed that the richness of Muscicapidae in Binjiang Park was significantly higher than that of their counterparts in Century Park. Due to the forgoing, we concluded that (1) trees were one of the most important vegetation components that enhanced the bird species richness and diversity in urban green spaces; (2) shrubs were usually treated as being as important as trees for birds living in urban areas, where they provided some forest birds with nesting sites; (3) ground cover layer provided the ground foraging groups with feeding resources. Our research emphasized that habitat types significantly influenced the structure of bird communities in the urban parks in Shanghai. Therefore, we suggest that hierarchical vegetation types should be adopted while planning and constructing large-scale urban parks so that the bird diversity will be improved. Furthermore, in order to perform higher utility rate of urban birds, diversified shrubs and different kinds of herbaceous plant should be planted under the tree layer. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

盐城自然保护区新洋港河口不同生境冬季鸟类群落组成及其梯度变化

盐城自然保护区新洋港河口不同生境冬季鸟类群落组成及其梯度变化

The importance of riparian habitats for avian communities in a highly human-modified Neotropical landscape

Intensification of agriculture and urban development are the main forces degrading natural ecosystems, particularly within species-rich countries. In this study, we determined the variation in bird communities between anthropogenic (i. e., cattle grazing lands, crop fields, urban areas) and riparian habitats within a highly humanmodified landscape in northwestern Colombia. For this purpose, we assessed differences in bird community diversity, structure, and composition among studied habitats. We also investigated similarities of surveyed habitats according to the habitat preferences of species. Results showed that riparian habitats play a fundamental role in human-dominated landscapes, as they maintain diverse and complex bird communities, support interior forest bird species, and might promote heterogeneous bird communities in nearby habitats. Cattle grazing lands also exhibited heterogeneous bird communities, which might be a result of the presence of tall trees, abundant shrub cover, and proximity of riparian habitats. Few species were over dominant within crop fields and urban areas due to a simple vegetation structure, leading to homogeneous avian communities where disturbed-site species thrive. Given that increasing human population depends on agricultural and urban ecosystems worldwide, there is an urgent need to foster management and conservation activities within such ecosystems to support wildlife and enhance human welfare.

Diversity of bird community in Hohhot

The article contains research on avifauna compliment, numeral and bird distribution which depend on differentiation of habitat and seasons in Hohhot for last year. A bird is one of the important species of vertebrates which has an essential role on ecological balance and biological control. Having diversity of birds is the main composition of biological diversity. Bird community structure is determined by relationship of bird’s species and general correlation of birds and environment. Diversity of bird community structure has direct correlation of its species, bird community numeral and habitat. Also it depends on geographical factor, habitat, diversity of plant community, plant vertical structure, food resource, possibility of shelter and other factors. Therefore, bird species become a very valuable indicator for ecological condition of the city and environmental ecological quality. We have divided the areas around Hohhot, Inner Mongolia into 6 different habitats such as grassland, farmland, residential area, woodland, wetland and garbage dump. We have performed the bird fundamental study, and investigated bird flora, ecology, distribution, diversity, environment, and community structure in different habitats and seasons. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5564/mjas.v11i2.240 Mongolian Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol.11(2) 2013 pp.159-165

Diversity and status of avifauna in Todgarh-Raoli Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan, India

Understanding the diversity and structure of bird communities is essential to delineate the importance of regional or local landscapes for avian conservation. Birds are very sensitive to environmental changes and are used as a “bioindicator.” The study was carried out to explore the diversity and status of avifauna in the Todgarh-Raoli Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan, India, from January 2013 to December 2013. The line transect method was used to cover most of the study area. A total of 142 species of birds belonging to 45 families and 18 orders were recorded. Muscicapidae was the most dominant family with 23 species, and its relative diversity index was also found to be the highest (relative diversity index = 16.19). The analysis of data on residential status revealed that 99 species were residents, six species were winter visitors, three species were summer visitors, and 14 species were passage visitors. The analysis of feeding habits showed that a maximum number of species (44 species) were omnivorous, 42 species were insectivorous, 35 species were carnivorous, 12 species were granivorous, four species were frugivorous, four species were insectivorous–nectivorous, and one species was nectivorous. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, 128 species were in the Least Concern category, one species was in the Endangered category, two species were in the Critically Endangered category, six species were in the Near Threatened category, and two species were in the Vulnerable category. Thus, the Todgarh-Raoli Wildlife Sanctuary supports a sound avifaunal diversity. Its proper management will not only improve the situation for its resident species, but will also attract more migratory and vagrant species in the future.

Man-made environments relationships with island raptors: endemics do not cope with habitat changes, the case of the island of Cuba

Several studies conducted in neotropical islands have found that the intensity of human activity has altered the original structure and richness of bird communities, strongly affecting endemic species. Despite these effects, studies are limited, and lacking for raptors, in contrast to temperate and continental regions. During breeding and non-breeding seasons of 2012, roadside surveys and point counts were conducted in natural and human-transformed areas of the island of Cuba to determine whether or not raptors from an island show a pattern of ecological response to human activity similar to those observed in continental studies. Raptors showed strong variation in relation to habitat transformations, with lower richness, abundance, and density in the more extensively transformed areas. A total of 11 species was recorded, mostly in natural areas. Similar numbers of species were observed in coastal vegetation and cattle pasture habitat types within each zone. Nine species were detected in agriculture, while ten were found in forest habitat. A gradient of species-habitat was identified: Specialists/endemics tend to occur in natural areas, “intermediate species” in moderately modified areas and generalists in heavily modified areas. Generalists had higher abundances in anthropogenic areas, whereas specialists were found only in natural areas. Under insular conditions, land use changes can pose major threats for endemic and specialist raptors, seriously compromising their conservation. Endemic raptors do not cope well with habitat changes on the island, thus a rapid process of species impoverishment might be expected. Establishing a conservation program in Cuba is urgently needed.

Climate change in our backyards: the reshuffling of North America's winter bird communities.

Much of the recent changes in North American climate have occurred during the winter months, and as result, overwintering birds represent important sentinels of anthropogenic climate change. While there is mounting evidence that bird populations are responding to a warming climate (e.g., poleward shifts) questions remain as to whether these species-specific responses are resulting in community-wide changes. Here, we test the hypothesis that a changing winter climate should favor the formation of winter bird communities dominated by warm-adapted species. To do this, we quantified changes in community composition using a functional index--the Community Temperature Index (CTI)--which measures the balance between low- and high-temperature dwelling species in a community. Using data from Project FeederWatch, an international citizen science program, we quantified spatiotemporal changes in winter bird communities (n = 38 bird species) across eastern North America and tested the influence of changes in winter minimum temperature over a 22-year period. We implemented a jackknife analysis to identify those species most influential in driving changes at the community level and the population dynamics (e.g., extinction or colonization) responsible for these community changes. Since 1990, we found that the winter bird community structure has changed with communities increasingly composed of warm-adapted species. This reshuffling of winter bird communities was strongest in southerly latitudes and driven primarily by local increases in abundance and regional patterns of colonization by southerly birds. CTI tracked patterns of changing winter temperature at different temporal scales ranging from 1 to 35 years. We conclude that a shifting winter climate has provided an opportunity for smaller, southerly distributed species to colonize new regions and promote the formation of unique winter bird assemblages throughout eastern North America.

The control of rank-abundance distributions by a competitive despotic species.

Accounting for differences in abundances among species remains a high priority for community ecology. While there has been more than 80 years of work on trying to explain the characteristic S shape of rank-abundance distributions (RADs), there has been recent conjecture that the form may not depend on ecological processes per se but may be a general phenomenon arising in many unrelated disciplines. We show that the RAD shape can be influenced by an ecological process, namely, interference competition. The noisy miner (Manorina melanocephala) is a hyperaggressive, 'despotic' bird that occurs over much of eastern Australia (>10(6) km(2)). We compiled data for bird communities from 350 locations within its range, which were collected using standard avian survey methods. We used hierarchical Bayesian models to show that the RAD shape was much altered when the abundance of the strong interactor exceeded a threshold density; RADs consistently were steeper when the density of the noisy miner ≥2.5 birds ha(-1). The structure of bird communities at sites where the noisy miner exceeded this density was very different from that at sites where the densities fell below the threshold: species richness and Shannon diversity were much reduced, but mean abundances and mean avian biomass per site did not differ substantially.

Spring Bird Community Structure in Response to Habitat Heterogeneity in a Subtropical Hilly Landscape

To examine the impact of habitat heterogeneity on the bird communities, we investigated the structural differences of various bird communities occurring in heterogeneous habitats in the subtropical hilly areas of southern China. We used indicator Species Analysis (ISA) to test the association of specific bird species to particular habitats. We performed Two-way Cluster Analysis to find species patterning in response to habitat fragmentation. Our results demonstrated that heterogeneous habitats promoted bird diversity and human activities affected bird behavior. Indicator Species Analysis demonstrated that similar habitats had similar bird communities, while different habitats supported various bird indicator species. Although habitat diversity increased bird diversity of a region, it was unfavorable for the maintenance of specialized birds in the forests of the subtropical hilly area.

Estrutura trófica da avifauna do Mato do Silva, fragmento de floresta estacional decidual, Chiapetta, Rio Grande do Sul

Forest fragmentation results in structural and functional changes in forest environments, including the loss of resources and of specific bird species microhabitats, resulting in changes in the structure of bird communities. The objective of this study was to conduct an inventory of bird species and analyze their trophic structure in a forest fragment. Eighty seven species of birds were identified. The similarity index between the two-year studies was 65%. The trophic structure of the avifauna demonstrated the predominance of omnivorous species, which may indicate some level of depletion of the fragment. The species recorded here contribute to the knowledge of the distribution of these species in this region that is little studied.

Effects of Set-aside Conservation Practices on Bird Community Structure within an Intensive Agricultural Landscape

Creating and restoring patches of noncrop early-succession vegetation within agricultural landscapes may mitigate grassland bird population declines caused by agricultural land use and intensification. Achieving this goal requires an ability to balance avian benefits with agronomics, which may be facilitated by understanding how bird communities respond to various conservation practices. We evaluated bird richness, abundance, Shannon diversity, and Total Avian Conservation Value in 20 replicates of four Conservation Reserve Program practices in an intensive rowcrop agricultural landscape in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley from May–Jul., 2005–2007. Conservation practices included: (1) large blocks of structurally-diverse early-succession vegetation (6–8 y old trees) and three buffer types; (2) 30 m wide monotypic filter strips with tall dense switchgrass (Panicum virgatum); (3) 30 m wide diverse filter strips with a forb-native warm season grass mixture; and (4) 60 m wide early-succession riparian forest buffers (1–3 y old trees). The breeding bird community was dominated by red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus; 43% of total) and dickcissels (Spiza americana; 42% of total) but commonly included eastern meadowlarks (Sturnella magna), indigo buntings (Passerina cyanea), mourning doves (Zenaida macroura), and northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). We observed ≥1.8 × more dickcissels in large blocks and diverse filter strips than other buffers and greater Shannon diversity in large blocks than any buffers (P < 0.05). Diverse filter strips had ≥1.6 × greater overall bird density (7.2 birds/0.6 ha), on average, than all other practices. Based on these data, we conclude that buffers are attractive to farmland breeding birds and may provide important ecological benefits to supplement a conservation management system founded on large blocks of early-succession vegetation.

Grassland bird communities on conservation and marginal grasslands in an agricultural landscape

Six years of point count data in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, USA, were used to investigate how the community structure of grassland birds and the densities of four focal species (common yellowthroat, dickcissel, grasshopper sparrow and sedge wren) varied on conservation lands with differing management strategies (i.e., warm- versus cool-season grasses and low- to high-diversity plantings), and between conservation and unmanaged marginal grasslands (e.g., field borders and terraces). Model-selection results indicated that grasshopper sparrow and dickcissel densities were influenced by grassland type, with higher densities in parcels dominated by warm-season grasses. Species-specific changes in density in response to planting diversity reinforced the value of creating heterogeneous habitat for grassland birds. Densities for all four species were substantially lower in unmanaged marginal grasslands versus conservation parcels and the community structure between the two habitats differed significantly, with generalist species (e.g., American robins, common grackles and grassland species associated with shorter, sparse and patchy vegetation (e.g., horned lark and vesper sparrow)) largely replacing tallgrass specialists in unmanaged marginal grassland parcels.

Functional traits, land‐use change and the structure of present and future bird communities in tropical forests

AbstractAimHabitat loss continues to cause loss of biodiversity. To quantify the effects of land‐use change on the diversity and composition of ecological communities – in terms of functional groups – we make modelled estimates of the impact of past and future (to 2050) land‐use change on the overall diversity and dietary guild structure of tropical forest bird communities.LocationTropical and subtropical forests (40° S to 40° N).MethodsUsing a likelihood‐based model, we project the impact of land‐use intensity on the diversity and functional structure of tropical forest bird communities, including an estimation of uncertainty. To explore the extent to which predicted impacts are determined by the inherent sensitivity of communities because of the traits possessed by the species present, we quantify communities in terms of trait composition and explore relationships between trait composition and diversity/guild loss.ResultsWe estimate that habitat loss has led to an average decrease of 4% in total abundance, but with marked differences across different guilds, leading to substantial changes in community composition: an 11.4% loss of frugivores, 7.8% loss of nectarivores and 7.3% loss of insectivores, and a 4.0% gain of other herbivores. Projected land‐use change is predicted to result in average future losses of 1% of total abundance, 1% of each of frugivores, nectarivores and insectivores, but no average change in the abundance of other herbivores. Past and future changes have varied substantially across the biome, owing to variation in land‐use change and in the initial trait composition of communities.Main conclusionsWe predict that marked changes in community structure have occurred in the past and will occur in the future, with disproportionate losses of frugivores, nectarivores and insectivores compared with other species; these species are known to provide important ecosystem services. In the past, South America has been particularly strongly affected, while Southeast Asia will experience the strongest impacts in the future.

Structure of Bird Communities from Cefa Nature Park

Abstract Cefa Nature Park had, even before its establishment, a protection status directed especially towards the bird fauna, in which varied and vast wetlands, forests, meadows and agricultural lands with low agricultural activity are found. The present paper shows the results of a long period of monitoring (1991-2012) the bird fauna from this area. There are currently 78 identified species, protected and recorded in the Annex I from Birds Directive 79/409/CEE. Another 168 species were identified, that are not found on the above list, thus reaching a total number of 246 species (66% of the total bird fauna of Romania). Quantitative data is also shown with respect to the size of these species population, as well as the belonging to the sedentary or migratory species group. All of the results support the fact that Cefa Nature Park is an area of major importance for bird fauna in the Northwestern territory of Romania, and especially for those species that need wetland habitats for nesting, passage or wintering

ЗВОЛОЖЕННЯ, ЯК ФАКТОР СТРУКТУРНОЇ ОРГАНІЗАЦІЇ НАСЕЛЕННЯ ПТАХІВ ДЕРЕВНИХ НАСАДЖЕНЬ БІОСФЕРНОГО ЗАПОВІДНИКА "АСКАНІЯ-НОВА"

&lt;p&gt;The influence of different humidification types towards appearance of forest vegetation conditions on spatial organization of birds in the wood stands is analyzed. Population density, coefficient of occurrence, and informative connection with six types of soil humidification are given for 53 bird species. The informative estimation of every humidification type is determined for every bird species. Thereby it is definitely a contribution of every gradation of edaphic factor to the structural genesis of dendrophilous bird communities. The strongest informative connection between humidity gradients and the avifauna structure of the wood stands is available in dry edaphotopes for margin representatives and fresh one for typical forest species. These two humidification types play a start function in the structural genesis of some blocks of dendrophilous bird communities per se. It is determined that change of bird species of forest-steppe faunogenetic complex by species from Nemoral complex undergoes in most cases on the border of the gradient between fresh and humid edaphotopes.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;For 53 species of birds from dendrophilous complex is was revealed that the importance of different levels of soil moisture has a different impact in shaping of the modern structure dendrophilous avifauna. Dry and especially drily edaphotopes determine the spatial structure of the species that are of forest-steppe origin and belong to the representatives of the optional component of dendrophilous bird communities. Wet edafotopes are involved in the formation of the spatial structure of species of predominantly immoral origin and relate to the obligate component of representatives of dendrophilous bitd comminities.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Gradient wetting of edaphotopes on the verge of ‘linked’/’fresh’ is restructuring for the bird communities. It takes an optional replacement red communists feature to obligate. Stands rather dry and fresh items currently being the most active formation of the spatial structure of bird communities. In relation to the stands for dryish soil compaction observed populations of species that nest there. The fort stands on fresh soil tend to be the emergence of new species for nesting communities. Despite the small area and the uneven spatial arrangement of belts that are caused the effect of irrigation, there are some places of nesting of small belts for species that occur there only because of the increased level of humidity and the presence of open temporary ponds used by waterbirds. These belts have a ‘hunchback’ profile, caused by the constant flooding, and as a result - a tall and dense stands in the center of the forest belt. Formation of watering places is a separate factor that attracts birds in plantations. This phenomenon is described in detail in the literature. Significant structural adjustment of reserve stands caused by the age and condition of vegetation diversity management techniques, moreover the "island" effect becomes characteristic is fewer birds – like dendrophilous. Under present conditions, it does not describe the dendrophilous features for the bird communities in general. Only a few species possess the most biocenotical selectively retain the characteristics inherent to the "island”type populations. The biosphere reserve "Askania Nova" represents the diversity loam with varying degrees of moisture and salinity. The most common are dark chestnut soils in the north of the reserve bordering the southern black soils. Most belts representing tree plantation reserve, located in dark chestnut soils with low humus content in loess loam. Also, the composition of the physical and chemical properties of soil contributes to some zoogenic factors. In relation to the spatial distribution of birds in the reserve, one of the leading factors of the spectrum is the nature of hydration. Directly or through the woody vegetation it determines the nature of the spatial distribution of bird dendrophilous complexes. Relatively high diversity was registered due to the variety of types of moisturizing various irrigation methods for soils. Protected steppe area, which is an indigenous prairie biogeocoenoses and buffer zone of the reserve devoid of any irrigation. Dendroparks and the area of a typical land reserve is the only territory where we registered waterbirds in artificial plantations. This phenomenon is described in detail in the literature.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Artificially created temporary pond (puddle) significantly enrich nesting avifauna in tree plantations. Internal cessation of irrigation, which contirubute to the shift of bird species from the category like "water" in fresh and significantly intensifies adjustment in quantitative and qualitative composition of the breeding avifauna of the reserve. Changes among other options moisturizing shades avifauna respond usually quantitative structure rearrangements of existing species.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Key words: typology, &lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;humidification, gradient of factor, structural genesis, biosphere reserve.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

English

This study aimed to show impacts of land use and land cover change (LULCC) and climate on waterbird community structure of Lake Zeway and the surrounding areas. Purposive sampling techniques were used to collect primary data. Based on the purposive sampling techniques, 12 key informants and 12 focus group discussants were selected. A semi-structured questionnaire prepared in English and translated into Afan Oromo was used to interview the focus groups. The key informants participated in the interview under close inspection of the researcher. Field observations and literatures searches were also carried out on the impacts of LULCC, climate changes, lake hydrodynamics and biodiversity. Most (92%) of the discussants indicated decreases in the level and width of Lake Zeway during the last 3-4 decades. The lake water withdrawal for irrigated agricultural activities in the surrounding areas was the main reason for decreases. Eleven groups (92%) reported temperature increases and lower and unpredictable rainfall patterns as cause for the decreases. These changes reportedly resulted in decreased waterbird species diversity and abundance and changed distribution patterns across the lake and the surrounding areas. The FGD identified fish production and irrigated farm and bird habitat as the three most important values of the lake. The discussants also reported the combination of land-use and climate, or climate changes, as important drivers that altered the lake water level, wetland habitats and bird community structure. Urgent conservation measures that could reduce the impacts are needed to conserve the bird species at the lake. Key words: Bird community, climate, changes, impacts, irrigated agriculture, land use.

Environmental and Anthropogenic Impacts on Avifaunal Assemblages in an Urban Parkland, 1976 to 2007.

Simple SummaryOver 32 years, the bird species assemblage in the parklands of Adelaide showed a uniform decline. Surprisingly, both introduced and native species declined, suggesting that even urban exploiters are affected by changes in the structure of cities. Climate and anthropogenic factors also cause short term changes in the species mix. In the case of Adelaide, the drought of 2005–2007 and associated water restrictions profoundly impacted the avian assemblage using the city parklands.Urban environments are unique, rapidly changing habitats in which almost half of the world’s human population resides. The effects of urbanisation, such as habitat (vegetation) removal, pollution and modification of natural areas, commonly cause biodiversity loss. Long-term ecological monitoring of urban environments is vital to determine the composition and long-term trends of faunal communities. This paper provides a detailed view of long-term changes in avifaunal assemblages of the Adelaide City parklands and discusses the anthropogenic and environmental factors that contributed to the changes between 1976 and 2007. The Adelaide City parklands (ACP) comprise 760 ha of land surrounding Adelaide’s central business district. Naturalist Robert Whatmough completed a 32-year survey of the ACP to determine the structure of the urban bird community residing there. Annual species richness and the abundance of birds in March and September months were analysed. Linear regression analysis was applied to species richness and abundance data of each assemblage. Resident parkland birds demonstrated significant declines in abundance. Native and introduced species also exhibited long-term declines in species richness and abundance throughout the 32-year period. Cycles of varying time periods indicated fluctuations in avian biodiversity demonstrating the need for future monitoring and statistical analyses on bird communities in the Adelaide City parklands.

Do bird species richness and community structure vary with mistletoe flowering and fruiting in Western Australia?

Worldwide, mistletoes act as a keystone resource, providing food (nectar, fruit and foliage) and structural (nesting sites) resources to hundreds of fauna species. In Australia, loranthaceous mistletoes depend on birds for pollination and dispersal, and provide important nectar and fruit resources to a large number of nectarivorous and frugivorous species of bird. We investigated whether avian species richness and community structure varies with flowering and fruiting of two common mistletoe species (Loranthaceae: Wireleaf Mistletoe, Amyema preissii; and Box Mistletoe, A. miquelii), conducting monthly surveys of both birds and mistletoes over 1 year at five sites in south-western Western Australia (WA). Flowering and fruiting periods were distinct and differed both among sites and between mistletoe species. Nectar and ripe fruit were available for up to 5 months (Box Mistletoe) or 6–7 months (Wireleaf Mistletoe) at individual sites, but were available every month of the year across all sites. The presence of fruiting, but not flowering, mistletoe was associated with changes in bird community structure. Mistletoebirds (Dicaeum hirundinaceum) were significantly more likely to be recorded during months when ripe mistletoe fruit was present and the overall bird species richness was higher for these survey months. Mistletoes provide important resources, but further investigation is required to assess whether they act as a keystone resource in south-western WA.