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Elliot Noe E, Innes J, Barnes A, Joshi C, Clarkson BD. Habitat provision is a major driver of native bird communities in restored urban forests. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:1444-1457. [PMID: 35396865 PMCID: PMC9541441 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Urbanization, and the drastic loss of habitat it entails, poses a major threat to global avian biodiversity. Ecological restoration of urban forests is therefore increasingly vital for native bird conservation, but control of invasive predators may also be needed to sustain native bird populations in cities where species invasions have been particularly severe. We evaluated restoration success by investigating changes in native bird communities along a restoration chronosequence of 25 restored urban forests representing 72 years of forest development, which we compared to two target reference systems and a control system. We hypothesized that total species richness and relative abundance of native forest birds would increase with the age of restoration planting. We further hypothesized that relative abundance of rats, possums and cats would negatively impact native birds, while amount of native forest in the surrounding landscape would have a positive effect. We used structural equation modelling (SEM) to investigate the relative influence of forest structure (complexity index, tree height, canopy openness, basal area, species richness and density), landscape attributes (patch area, perimeter length, landscape composition within three buffer zones, distance to the nearest road and water source) and invasive mammalian predator indices of relative abundance on total species richness and relative abundance of native forest birds. Species richness increased with age of restoration planting, with community composition progressing towards that found in target reference systems. SEM revealed that years restored was a direct driver of bird species richness but an indirect driver of abundance, which was directly driven by canopy openness. Contrary to our predictions, invasive mammals had no significant effect on native bird species richness or abundance. Our results demonstrate that provision and improvement of habitat quantity and quality through restoration is the vital first step to re‐establishing native forest bird communities in cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Elliot Noe
- University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - J Innes
- Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Private Bag 3127, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - A Barnes
- University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - C Joshi
- University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - B D Clarkson
- University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
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Hariharan P, Raman TRS. Active restoration fosters better recovery of tropical rainforest birds than natural regeneration in degraded forest fragments. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Hariharan
- Nature Conservation Foundation Mysuru Karnataka India
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
- School of Natural Resources and Environment University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
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Werema C. Does the use of exotic and native tree species in rehabilitation attract birds equally? The case of Golden Pride Gold Mine, Tanzania. Afr J Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chacha Werema
- Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation University of Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam Tanzania
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Birds and their habitat conditions in reed marshes with different cutting intervals at Chongming Dongtan along China’s coasts. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Melo MA, Silva MAGDA, Piratelli AJ. Improvement of vegetation structure enhances bird functional traits and habitat resilience in an area of ongoing restoration in the Atlantic Forest. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2020; 92:e20191241. [PMID: 33174914 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202020191241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecological restoration is a traditional option for recovering biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Birds perform pollination, seed dispersal, and pest-control services, which catalyze increases in habitat structure. Habitat complexity changes bird composition, but there is little evidence of its effects on bird functional diversity in Neotropical restorations. We tested whether bird functional diversity and composition respond to increased habitat complexity. Point-counts were performed (January-December 2015) in an area undergoing restoration (536 ha) in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, in restorations with less and more structured vegetation and pastures and forest-fragments. The functional bird traits considered were diet, habitat, biomass, environmental sensitivity, and foraging strata. Increased habitat complexity was evaluated using plant characteristics (exotic grass, canopy, herbaceous cover, and diameter at breast height). A total of 172 bird species (5% endemic; 12% migratory) were recorded. Increased vegetation structure in both restored sites and forest-fragments drove a reorganization and addition of functional bird traits, which positively influenced functional richness, dispersion, and evenness. Shifts in plant-characteristics rearranged bird functional traits (diet-forest-dependence and diet-strata-foraging). The rapid development of vegetation structure is a key factor for restoration because it provides additional habitat for semi-dependent forest birds and enhances resilience and sustainability in new man-made forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos AntÔnio Melo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Conservação da Fauna, Universidade Federal de São Carlos/UFSCar, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Rodovia Washington Luiz, Km 235, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Marco AurÉlio G DA Silva
- Save Brasil - Sociedade para a Conservação das Aves do Brasil, Rua Fernão Dias, 219, 05427-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Augusto JoÃo Piratelli
- Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologia para a Sustentabilidade, Departamento de Ciências Ambientais, Rodovia João Leme dos Santos Km 110, Itinga, 18052-780 Sorocaba, SP, Brazil
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Hagger V, Wilson K, England JR, Dwyer JM. Water availability drives aboveground biomass and bird richness in forest restoration plantings to achieve carbon and biodiversity cobenefits. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:14379-14393. [PMID: 31938526 PMCID: PMC6953662 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 10/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
To combat global warming and biodiversity loss, we require effective forest restoration that encourages recovery of species diversity and ecosystem function to deliver essential ecosystem services, such as biomass accumulation. Further, understanding how and where to undertake restoration to achieve carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation would provide an opportunity to finance ecosystem restoration under carbon markets. We surveyed 30 native mixed-species plantings in subtropical forests and woodlands in Australia and used structural equation modeling to determine vegetation, soil, and climate variables most likely driving aboveground biomass accrual and bird richness and investigate the relationships between plant diversity, aboveground biomass accrual, and bird diversity. We focussed on woodland and forest-dependent birds, and functional groups at risk of decline (insectivorous, understorey-nesting, and small-bodied birds). We found that mean moisture availability strongly limits aboveground biomass accrual and bird richness in restoration plantings, indicating potential synergies in choosing sites for carbon and biodiversity purposes. Counter to theory, woody plant richness was a poor direct predictor of aboveground biomass accrual, but was indirectly related via significant, positive effects of stand density. We also found no direct relationship between aboveground biomass accrual and bird richness, likely because of the strong effects of moisture availability on both variables. Instead, moisture availability and patch size strongly and positively influenced the richness of woodland and forest-dependent birds. For understorey-nesting birds, however, shrub cover and patch size predicted richness. Stand age or area of native vegetation surrounding the patch did not influence bird richness. Our results suggest that in subtropical biomes, planting larger patches to higher densities, ideally using a diversity of trees and shrubs (characteristics of ecological plantings) in more mesic locations will enhance the provision of carbon and biodiversity cobenefits. Further, ecological plantings will aid the rapid recovery of woodland and forest bird richness, with comparable aboveground biomass accrual to less diverse forestry plantations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Hagger
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQldAustralia
| | - Kerrie Wilson
- Institute for Future EnvironmentsQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQldAustralia
| | | | - John M. Dwyer
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQldAustralia
- CSIRO Land and WaterBrisbaneQldAustralia
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How predictable are the responses of ant and dung beetle assemblages to patch and landscape attributes in fragmented tropical forest landscapes? LANDSCAPE AND ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11355-018-0367-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Bird Functional Traits Respond to Forest Structure in Riparian Areas Undergoing Active Restoration. DIVERSITY-BASEL 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/d10030090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring wildlife responses is essential to assess restoration projects. Birds are widely used as bioindicators of ecosystem restoration, but most studies use only taxonomic descriptors to compare categories of reference and restoring sites. Here, we used forest structure as a continuous predictor variable to evaluate avifaunal taxonomic and functional indicators in riparian forest reference and restoration sites on southeastern Brazil. Reference sites were riparian forest remnants, and restoration sites were pasture before seedling reintroduction. Forest structure variables (mean tree height, canopy depth, mean diameter at breast height, basal area, tree layering, tree density, and grass cover) were reduced into two axes using a Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Forest Axis 1 (tree biomass vs. grass cover) and Forest Axis 2 (canopy depth vs. tree density). Bird species were classified in relation to five functional categories (i.e., diet, foraging stratum, nest height, cavity dependence for nesting, and forest dependence). Forest Axis 1 influenced the functional diversity of bird assemblages and the relative abundance within levels of each functional category (except for nest height). The relative abundance of all functional categories combined was also affected by Forest Axis 2. Therefore, forest structure affected the predominant functional traits of bird species in riparian sites under restoration. Sites with higher tree biomass were the richest, with canopy birds that were insectivores and frugivores of high forest dependence, whereas more open sites were associated with birds of low forest dependence and ground-foraging insectivores. Forest structures of similar-aged sites were strongly variable, due to natural and anthropic disturbances, so restoration age was a poor indicator of forest development. These unpredictable disturbances can change the development of sites under restoration, so that forest structure can be a better descriptor of the trajectory of these ecosystems.
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Belder DJ, Pierson JC, Ikin K, Lindenmayer DB. Beyond pattern to process: current themes and future directions for the conservation of woodland birds through restoration plantings. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/wr17156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Habitat loss as a result of land conversion for agriculture is a leading cause of global biodiversity loss and altered ecosystem processes. Restoration plantings are an increasingly common strategy to address habitat loss in fragmented agricultural landscapes. However, the capacity of restoration plantings to support reproducing populations of native plants and animals is rarely measured or monitored. This review focuses on avifaunal response to revegetation in Australian temperate woodlands, one of the world’s most heavily altered biomes. Woodland birds are a species assemblage of conservation concern, but only limited research to date has gone beyond pattern data and occupancy trends to examine whether they persist and breed in restoration plantings. Moreover, habitat quality and resource availability, including food, nesting sites and adequate protection from predation, remain largely unquantified. Several studies have found that some bird species, including species of conservation concern, will preferentially occupy restoration plantings relative to remnant woodland patches. However, detailed empirical research to verify long-term population growth, colonisation and extinction dynamics is lacking. If restoration plantings are preferentially occupied but fail to provide sufficient quality habitat for woodland birds to form breeding populations, they may act as ecological traps, exacerbating population declines. Monitoring breeding success and site fidelity are under-utilised pathways to understanding which, if any, bird species are being supported by restoration plantings in the long term. There has been limited research on these topics internationally, and almost none in Australian temperate woodland systems. Key knowledge gaps centre on provision of food resources, formation of optimal foraging patterns, nest-predation levels and the prevalence of primary predators, the role of brood parasitism, and the effects of patch size and isolation on resource availability and population dynamics in a restoration context. To ensure that restoration plantings benefit woodland birds and are cost-effective as conservation strategies, the knowledge gaps identified by this review should be investigated as priorities in future research.
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Foster KR, Godwin CM, Pyle P, Saracco JF. Reclamation and habitat-disturbance effects on landbird abundance and productivity indices in the oil sands region of northeastern Alberta, Canada. Restor Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth R. Foster
- Owl Moon Environmental, Inc.; 324 Killdeer Way Fort McMurray Alberta T9K 0R3 Canada
| | - Christine M. Godwin
- Owl Moon Environmental, Inc.; 324 Killdeer Way Fort McMurray Alberta T9K 0R3 Canada
| | - Peter Pyle
- The Institute for Bird Populations; PO Box 1346 Point Reyes Station CA 94956 U.S.A
| | - James F. Saracco
- The Institute for Bird Populations; PO Box 1346 Point Reyes Station CA 94956 U.S.A
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Klimaszewski K, Pacholik E, Snopek A. Can we enhance amphibians' habitat restoration in the post-mining areas? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 23:16941-16945. [PMID: 26330313 PMCID: PMC5010623 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-5279-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2015] [Accepted: 08/19/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The study was aimed to evaluate the selected improvements of nature restoration in a depleted gravel pit. The study site consisted of four water reservoirs of different shapes and sizes, flooded after the gravel extraction ended. Ecological succession monitoring, conducted by the Warsaw University of Life Sciences students associated in the Student Scientific Association of Animal Sciences Faculty since the completion of mining, have focused on amphibians. A twofold approach upheld amphibian species population dynamics, as well as selected habitat elements. The restoration practices dedicated to habitat conditions enhancing have been proved to be definitely effective and useful for similar sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Klimaszewski
- Department of Animal Environment Biology, Animal Sciences Faculty, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Ciszewskiego st. 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Pacholik
- Department of Animal Environment Biology, Animal Sciences Faculty, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Ciszewskiego st. 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Adam Snopek
- Department of Geoecology, Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw, Krakowskie Przedmieście 30, 00-927 Warsaw, Poland
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