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Belder DJ, Pierson JC, Rudder AC, Lindenmayer DB. Ongoing declines of woodland birds: Are restoration plantings making a difference? ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e2268. [PMID: 33237571 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Woodland birds are a species assemblage of conservation concern, and their persistence in fragmented agricultural landscapes is dependent on both the preservation of existing woodland remnants and the implementation of restoration plantings. However, little is known about the habitat-use and persistence of birds in fragmented agricultural landscapes. We present a detailed, population-oriented study of woodland birds in temperate eucalypt woodland restoration plantings and remnant woodland patches in the South-west Slopes bioregion of New South Wales, Australia. First, we undertook a 3-yr mark-recapture project to assess annual survival and site fidelity in restoration plantings and woodland remnants. We supplemented our recapture efforts with resightings of color-banded individuals. Second, we tracked individual birds of two species, Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) and Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), and documented snapshots of their home ranges and movement patterns during the breeding season. Annual survival in the woodland bird assemblage was lower than expected (51%). Home ranges of the Superb Fairywren were positively correlated with patch size, and were constrained by patch edges in linear sites. Superb Fairywrens and Willie Wagtails were more likely to travel longer distances between substrates while foraging in linear sites. Willie Wagtails engaged in significant gap-crossing (up to 400 m) between adjacent habitat patches. Our findings indicate that (1) patch isolation and certain patch configurations place resident birds at an energetic disadvantage, and (2) in our study area, woodland bird populations are continuing to decline. We recommend landscape-scale habitat restoration programs aim to address ongoing population declines. Studies such as ours conducted over longer time periods would provide a deeper understanding of habitat use and population processes of woodland birds in fragmented agricultural landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna J Belder
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
- National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy, PO Box 8070, Subiaco East, Western Australia, 6008, Australia
| | - Jennifer C Pierson
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
- ACT Parks and Conservation Service, Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate, ACT Government, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2602, Australia
| | - Ashwin C Rudder
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy, PO Box 8070, Subiaco East, Western Australia, 6008, Australia
| | - David B Lindenmayer
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
- National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
- Sustainable Farms, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
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Van Schmidt ND, Beissinger SR. The rescue effect and inference from isolation-extinction relationships. Ecol Lett 2020; 23:598-606. [PMID: 31981448 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The rescue effect in metapopulations hypothesises that less isolated patches are unlikely to go extinct because recolonisation may occur between breeding seasons ('recolonisation rescue'), or immigrants may sufficiently bolster population size to prevent extinction altogether ('demographic rescue'). These mechanisms have rarely been demonstrated directly, and most evidence of the rescue effect is from relationships between isolation and extinction. We determined the frequency of recolonisation rescue for metapopulations of black rails (Laterallus jamaicensis) and Virginia rails (Rallus limicola) from occupancy surveys conducted during and between breeding seasons, and assessed the reliability of inferences about the occurrence of rescue drawn from isolation-extinction relationships, including autologistic isolation measures that corrected for unsurveyed patches and imperfect detection. Recolonisation rescue occurred at expected rates, but was elevated during periods of disturbance that resulted in non-equilibrium metapopulation dynamics. Inferences from extinction-isolation relationships were unreliable, particularly for autologistic measures and for the more vagile Virginia rail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan D Van Schmidt
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California - Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Steven R Beissinger
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California - Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California - Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
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Saether BE, Grøtan V, Engen S, Noble DG, Freckleton RP. Rarity, life history and scaling of the dynamics in time and space of British birds. J Anim Ecol 2010; 80:215-24. [PMID: 20840608 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2010.01751.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bernt-Erik Saether
- Centre for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway.
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Conservation of forest birds: evidence of a shifting baseline in community structure. PLoS One 2010; 5:e11938. [PMID: 20689854 PMCID: PMC2914041 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2010] [Accepted: 07/01/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Quantifying changes in forest bird diversity is an essential task for developing effective conservation actions. When subtle changes in diversity accumulate over time, annual comparisons may offer an incomplete perspective of changes in diversity. In this case, progressive change, the comparison of changes in diversity from a baseline condition, may offer greater insight because changes in diversity are assessed over longer periods of times. Our objectives were to determine how forest bird diversity has changed over time and whether those changes were associated with forest disturbance. Methodology/Principal Findings We used North American Breeding Bird Survey data, a time series of Landsat images classified with respect to land cover change, and mixed-effects models to associate changes in forest bird community structure with forest disturbance, latitude, and longitude in the conterminous United States for the years 1985 to 2006. We document a significant divergence from the baseline structure for all birds of similar migratory habit and nest location, and all forest birds as a group from 1985 to 2006. Unexpectedly, decreases in progressive similarity resulted from small changes in richness (<1 species per route for the 22-year study period) and modest losses in abundance (−28.7–−10.2 individuals per route) that varied by migratory habit and nest location. Forest disturbance increased progressive similarity for Neotropical migrants, permanent residents, ground nesting, and cavity nesting species. We also documented highest progressive similarity in the eastern United States. Conclusions/Significance Contemporary forest bird community structure is changing rapidly over a relatively short period of time (e.g., ∼22 years). Forest disturbance and forest regeneration are primary factors associated with contemporary forest bird community structure, longitude and latitude are secondary factors, and forest loss is a tertiary factor. Importantly, these findings suggest some regions of the United States may already fall below the habitat amount threshold where fragmentation effects become important predictors of forest bird community structure.
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Battisti C, Luiselli L, Frank B, Lorenzetti E. Should fragment area reduction be considered a stress for forest bird assemblages? Evidence from diversity/dominance diagrams. COMMUNITY ECOL 2009. [DOI: 10.1556/comec.10.2009.2.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Menéndez R, Thomas CD. Metapopulation structure depends on spatial scale in the host-specific moth Wheeleria spilodactylus (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae). J Anim Ecol 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2000.00449.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Hames RS, Rosenberg KV, Lowe JD, Dhondt AA. Site reoccupation in fragmented landscapes: testing predictions of metapopulation theory. J Anim Ecol 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2001.00482.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Battisti C, Ukmar E, Luiselli L, Bologna M. Diversity/dominance diagrams show that fire disrupts the evenness in Mediterranean pinewood forest bird assemblages. COMMUNITY ECOL 2008. [DOI: 10.1556/comec.9.2008.1.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Smith PGR. Characteristics of urban natural areas influencing winter bird use in southern Ontario, Canada. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2007; 39:338-52. [PMID: 17203341 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-005-0028-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2005] [Accepted: 08/18/2006] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Characteristics of urban natural areas and surrounding landscapes were identified that best explain winter bird use for 28 urban natural areas in southern Ontario, Canada. The research confirms for winter birds the importance of area (size) and natural vegetation, rather than managed, horticultural parkland, within urban natural areas as well as percent urban land use and natural habitat in surrounding landscapes. Alien bird density and percent ground feeding species increased with percent surrounding urban land use. Higher percent forest cover was associated with higher percentages of forest, bark feeding, small (<20 g) and insectivorous species. Natural area size (ha) was related to higher species richness, lower evenness and higher percentages of insectivorous, forest interior, area-sensitive, upper canopy, bark feeding, and non-resident species. Higher number of habitat types within natural areas and percent natural habitat in surrounding landscapes were also associated with higher species richness. Common, resident bird species dominated small areas (<6.5 ha), while less common non-residents increased with area, indicative of a nested distribution. Areas at least 6.5 ha and more generally >20 ha start to support some area-sensitive species. Areas similar to rural forests had >25% insectivores, >25% forest interior species, >25% small species, and <5% alien species. Indicator species separated urban natural areas from rural habitats and ordination placed urban natural areas along a gradient between urban development and undisturbed, rural forests. More attention is needed on issues of winter bird conservation in urban landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul G R Smith
- Environmental Policy and Programs Branch, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 1 Stone Road West, 3rd floor, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 4Y2.
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Husté A, Boulinier T. Determinants of local extinction and turnover rates in urban bird communities. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2007; 17:168-80. [PMID: 17479843 DOI: 10.1890/1051-0761(2007)017[0168:doleat]2.0.co;2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Studying the effects of urbanization on the dynamics of communities has become a priority for biodiversity conservation. The consequences of urbanization are mainly an increased fragmentation of the original landscapes associated with a decrease in the amount of favorable habitats and an increased pressure of human activities on the remaining patches suitable for wildlife. Patterns of bird species richness have been studied at different levels of urbanization, but little is known about the temporal dynamics of animal communities in urban landscapes. In particular, urbanization is expected to have stronger negative effects on migratory breeding bird communities than on sedentary ones, which should lead to different patterns of change in composition. Using an estimation method accounting for heterogeneity in species detection probability and data collected between 2001 and 2003 within a suburban area near the city of Paris, France, we tested whether these communities differ in their local extinction and turnover rates. We considered the potential effects of patch size and distance to Paris' center as a measure of the degree of urbanization around the patches. As expected, local rates of extinction and turnover were higher for migratory than for sedentary species, and they were negatively related to patch size for migratory species. Mean species richness of the sedentary species increased during the study period and their local turnover rate was negatively related to the distance to the urban core, showing a trend to colonize the most urban patches. These results highlight the very dynamic nature of the composition of some local bird communities in fragmented habitats and help to identify factors affecting colonization and extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Husté
- Laboratoire Fonctionnement et Evolution des Systèmes Ecologiques, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Unité Mixte de Recherche 7625, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 7 quai St Bernard, case 237, 75252 Paris, France.
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The use of spatial concepts as a basis for designing a viable-habitat network: Conserving redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) populations in Sherwood Forest, England. J Nat Conserv 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2005.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Matthies D, Bräuer I, Maibom W, Tscharntke T. Population size and the risk of local extinction: empirical evidence from rare plants. OIKOS 2004. [DOI: 10.1111/j.0030-1299.2004.12800.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 261] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Livezey BC. Evolution of Flightlessness in Rails (Gruiformes: Rallidae): Phylogenetic, Ecomorphological, and Ontogenetic Perspectives. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2003. [DOI: 10.2307/40168337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Hames RS, Rosenberg KV, Lowe JD, Dhondt AA. Site reoccupation in fragmented landscapes: testing predictions of metapopulation theory. J Anim Ecol 2001. [DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2656.2001.00482.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Metzger JP. Effects of deforestation pattern and private nature reserves on the forest conservation in settlement areas of the Brazilian Amazon. BIOTA NEOTROPICA 2001. [DOI: 10.1590/s1676-06032001000100003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The effects of deforestation patterns, private nature-reserve extents and agricultural fallow periods on forest conservation were simulated for settlement projects in the Brazilian Amazon that produce a fish-bone pattern of occupation and where slash-and-burn agriculture is predominantly used. Data for simulation was obtained from previous work at the Bragantina region, the oldest agricultural frontier in the Brazilian Amazon. Forest conservation was evaluated using the size of remnant forest fragments, the amount of interior habitat, the connectivity among fragments and the extent of fragmentation. Results showed that the best scenario for forest conservation is the maintenance of 80% of the lot as privatereserve using deforestation pattern that allow to group the reserves from different farmers at the end of the lot. When private-reserve coverage is bellow 80% of the landscape, forest conservation status will be influenced by the deforestation pattern. Some patterns (e.g. random location of deforestation plots) will then be particularly deleterious, producing a highly fragmented landscape, while other patterns (e.g., progressive deforestation from one edge) can allow the maintenance of large forest fragments. To get forest conservation in these cases, private-reserve extent and deforestation pattern should be considered together. Considering both forest conservation and agricultural use, progressive patterns of deforestation (or land use) in a lot of 2,000m by 500m, with private nature-reserves covering 50% of the landscape seems to be the best compromise. To guarantee the private forest preservation, these forests should be pre-established when settlements are planned and grouped at the end of the lots.
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Pakeman RJ, Pakeman RJ, Hinsley SA, Hinsley SA, Bellamy PE, Bellamy PE. Do assembly rules for bird communities operate in small, fragmented woodlands in an agricultural landscape? COMMUNITY ECOL 2001. [DOI: 10.1556/comec.1.2000.2.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Menendez R, Thomas CD. Metapopulation structure depends on spatial scale in the host-specific moth Wheeleria spilodactylus (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae). J Anim Ecol 2000. [DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2656.2000.00449.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Boulinier T, Nichols JD, Hines JE, Sauer JR, Flather CH, Pollock KH. Higher temporal variability of forest breeding bird communities in fragmented landscapes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1998; 95:7497-501. [PMID: 9636178 PMCID: PMC22664 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.95.13.7497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the relationship between animal community dynamics and landscape structure has become a priority for biodiversity conservation. In particular, predicting the effects of habitat destruction that confine species to networks of small patches is an important prerequisite to conservation plan development. Theoretical models that predict the occurrence of species in fragmented landscapes, and relationships between stability and diversity do exist. However, reliable empirical investigations of the dynamics of biodiversity have been prevented by differences in species detection probabilities among landscapes. Using long-term data sampled at a large spatial scale in conjunction with a capture-recapture approach, we developed estimates of parameters of community changes over a 22-year period for forest breeding birds in selected areas of the eastern United States. We show that forest fragmentation was associated not only with a reduced number of forest bird species, but also with increased temporal variability in the number of species. This higher temporal variability was associated with higher local extinction and turnover rates. These results have major conservation implications. Moreover, the approach used provides a practical tool for the study of the dynamics of biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Boulinier
- North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
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