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Simple Summary: The conservation of biodiversity depends on the viability of management regimes. In most cases, it is well established that government-managed lands aid in the conservation of biodiversity; however, little is known regarding the conservation effectiveness of community-managed areas (e.g., community forests) in relation to government-managed areas. In the mid-hill region of Nepal, we evaluate the effectiveness of community-managed and protected forests in supporting avian diversity. We discovered greater bird diversity, richness, and abundance in the community-managed forest compared to the protected forest. In addition, the turnover of bird species was greater in the community-managed forest compared to the protected forest. Our study demonstrates that community-managed forests can have a greater diversity and abundance of bird species than government-managed protected forest. Forest management practice plays a critical role in conserving biodiversity. However, there are few studies on how forest management practice affects bird communities. Here, we compare the effectiveness of the Panchase Protection Forest (PPF; protected forest with government administration) and the Tibrekot Community Forest (TCF; community forest with community forest users' group administration) in hosting bird diversity in the mid-hills of Nepal. We examined 96 point count stations during summer and winter in 2019 and recorded 160 species of birds with three globally threatened vultures (red-headed vulture Sarcogyps calvus, slender-billed vulture Gyps tenuirostris, and white-rumped vulture Gyps bengalensis). Forest management practice, season, and elevation all influenced the richness and abundance of birds. The diversity, richness, and abundance of birds and the most common feeding guilds (insectivore, omnivore, and carnivore) were higher in TCF than in PPF; however, globally threatened species were only recorded in PPF. We also recorded a higher bird species turnover (beta diversity) in TCF than in PPF. Our study indicates that community-managed forests can also provide quality habitats similar to those of protected forests managed by the government, and provide refuge to various bird species and guilds. However, we recommend more comparative studies in other tropical and sub-tropical areas to understand how different forest management practices influence bird diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Madagascar hosts a great diversity of bird species. This study focuses on the description of the diversity and prevalence of blood parasites (Haemosporida, trypanosomes and filarioid nematodes) in 131 blood samples of 14 species of Corvoidea, namely vangas (Vangidae), Coracina cinerea (Campephagidae), Dicrurus forficatus (Dicruridae) and Terpsiphone mutata (Monarchidae) found in primary rainforests on Madagascar. Blood parasites were detected using both molecular and microscopic methods. Multiplex PCR was used to detect mixed haemosporidian infections and nested PCR was used to describe a 479 bp fragment of the haemosporidian cytochrome b (cytb) gene. Furthermore, a 770 bp SSU rRNA fragment of trypanosomes, and, for microfilariae, a 690 bp fragment of 28S rRNA, as well as a 770 bp fragment of 28S rRNA, were amplified for identification using nested PCRs. Phylogenetic analyses were carried out for all sequences obtained from all blood parasite taxa. Over half of the samples (54.2%; n = 71) were infected with Haemosporida, whereas only 21.4% (n = 28) were infected with Trypanosoma and 5.3% (n = 7) contained filarioid nematode DNA. Fourteen of 56 blood smears contained some of the above-mentioned parasite taxa. The results corroborate the great diversity of blood parasites in the different bird species studied, especially in vangas. Vangas had the greatest diversity of parasites found, as well as the highest number of multiple infections, which may be due to their morphological diversity and resulting habitat use. Fifteen haemosporidian lineages, seven Trypanosoma and five filarioid nematode isolates were newly discovered in the avian species studied, particularly in the vangas. Members of the other Corvoidea families on Madagascar showed a lower susceptibility for avian haemosporidian parasites than vangas, which could be attributed to possible resistance against those parasites. The study confirmed the host specificity of some Haemosporida and microfilariae; however, it demonstrated that this was not the case for Trypanosoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species recovery programs are increasingly using genomic data to measure neutral genetic diversity and calculate metrics like relatedness. While these measures can inform conservation management, determining the mechanisms underlying inbreeding depression requires information about functional genes associated with adaptive or maladaptive traits. Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) are one family of functional genes, which play a crucial role in recognition of pathogens and activation of the immune system. Previously, these genes have been analysed using species‐specific primers and PCR. Here, we leverage an existing short‐read reference genome, whole‐genome resequencing population data set, and bioinformatic tools to characterize TLR gene diversity in captive and wild tchūriwat'/tūturuatu/shore plover (Thinornis novaeseelandiae), a threatened bird endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand. Our results show that TLR gene diversity in tchūriwat'/tūturuatu is low, and forms two distinct captive and wild genetic clusters. The bioinformatic approach presented here has broad applicability to other threatened species with existing genomic resources in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widespread afforestation is a crucial component of climate mitigation strategies worldwide. This presents a significant opportunity for biodiversity conservation if forests are appropriately managed. Within forests, structural and habitat diversity are known to be critical for biodiversity but pragmatic management recommendations are lacking. We make a comprehensive assessment of the effects of habitat variables on bird populations using data from over 4000 ha of forested landscape. We combine high‐resolution remote sensing data with comprehensive management databases to classify habitat attributes and measure the response of six taxonomic and functional diversity metrics: species richness, Shannon diversity, functional richness, functional evenness, functional divergence, and functional dispersion. We use a novel approach that combines hierarchical partitioning analysis with linear models to determine the relative importance of different habitat variables for each bird diversity metric. The age class of forest stands was consistently the most important variable across all bird diversity metrics, outperforming other structural measures such as horizontal and vertical heterogeneity and canopy density. Shrub density and gap fraction were each significantly associated with one bird diversity metric. In contrast, variables describing within‐stand structural heterogeneity (vertical and horizontal) were generally less important while tree species identity (e.g., conifer or broadleaved) was not significant for any bird diversity metric. Each of the six bird diversity metrics had different patterns of independent variable importance and significance, emphasizing the need to consider multiple diversity metrics in biodiversity assessments. Similarly, the optimal resolution for remote sensing metrics varied between structural variables and bird diversity metrics, suggesting that the use of remote sensing data in biodiversity studies could be greatly improved by first exploring different resolutions and data aggregations. Based on the results from this comprehensive study, we recommend that managers focus on creating habitat diversity at the between‐, rather than exclusively within‐stand scale, such as by creating a matrix of different age classes, to maximize bird diversity. This recommendation for forest managers is powerful yet pragmatic in its simplicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetland diversity metrics are critical indicators of habitat carrying capacity and anthropogenic disturbance on ecosystem health. This study aimed at comparing the composition and ecological features of bird communities across gradients of habitat effects within wetland areas of freshwater tropical lakes. For this study, the total number, diversity, and dominance of bird communities (n = 519; 29 species) within a 1 km radius riparian area of four tropical lakes were measured and compared alongside habitat effect variables. Three categories of habitat effect variables i.e., lake morphology (surface area of lake, lake perimeter, shape index i.e., form factor); landscape structure (vegetation density within 1 km radius measured using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index [NDVI]), and human disturbance/urbanization features (distance to major road, distance to residential area) were assessed across the four lake wetlands. The multivariate relationship of variables was described using non-metric multidimentional scaling (NMDS) of six habitat effect variables alongside Hill numbers diversity as dependent variables showed that variation in bird species composition was strongly negatively correlated with lake shape index, and positively correlated with vegetation density (NDVI) and distance to the road (indicating complementary effects). This implies that wetlands with heterogeneously shaped lakes alongside greater vegetation density (NDVI), and increased furtherance from major highways (urbanization features) were more likely to attract and accommodate more diverse bird communities. Furthermore, the habitat-specific avian guild structure highlighted the carrying capacity of the different lake wetlands. The study findings imply that the conservation of wetland avifauna will require emphasis on habitat-specific variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands are sensitive to hydrological conditions and human influence. The Abras de Mantequilla wetland (AdM) located at the centre of the Guayas River Basin (Western Ecuador), was declared a Ramsar site (2000) due to its important role in the conservation of bird fauna diversity. The wetland also supports significant populations of fish, including endemic species. The area exhibits two seasons: (i) a wet season (January–May); and (ii) a dry season (June–December). For the area of interest data is scarce, and a hydrodynamic model did not exist. In order to evaluate the interannual hydrodynamics and inundation patterns variability of this wetland system, a 2D hydrodynamic model was developed using the Delft3D software suite. Local knowledge was combined with field observations and expert elicitation to construct an appropriate model for the area. Results show that the Abras de Mantequilla is a river-wetland system that experiences extreme variations in hydrodynamic conditions from low water depths and almost stagnant conditions during the dry season, to a very dynamic behaviour during the rainy season. The inundation area ranges between 5 to 27 km2, water depths vary from 0.4 to 9 m and flow velocities from 0.0 up to 0.9 m/s. The "Nuevo River" is the main inflow to the wetland, with an overall contribution of about 85–90%, with peak discharges during February and March. A numerical tracer analysis indicated that the wetland can be divided into three main areas (upper, middle and low), with higher residence times found in the middle area. Overall, based on numerical hydrodynamic simulations it was possible to obtain adequate indications of the relative importance of the different river inflow conditions, as well as spatial and temporal inundation patterns, velocities and residence times under hydrological conditions varying from dry to extremely wet years. Furthermore, the hydrodynamic model provides a basis for other studies such as water quality assessment and primary production dynamics, as well as for determining the habitat suitability for fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A diverse landscape can support a more diverse range of species and allow for more complex community structures. In forested habitats, openings and changes in tree composition allow for a higher species richness due to the greater chance of niche occupancy. Knowledge about these relationships may be useful for adapting forest harvesting strategies to, for example, support bird diversity conservation and studies are required to understand how different harvesting strategies influence forest structure and bird diversity. Here, we used Autonomous Recording Units (ARU) to record dawn signalling of forest birds between two forest-harvesting treatment types (complete clear-cuts and hardwood-retention patches) vs control forest patches in the John Prince Research Forest, British Columbia, Canada. We compared Species Richness and Shannon diversity as detected through identifying species in audio recordings, across treatments. The observed Species Richness and Shannon diversity did differ between the Retention treatment and Forest controls when controlling for number of individuals sampled, but both had higher Species Richness and Shannon diversity of passerine species than the Clear-cut treatments. When comparing species composition, we found that forest-associated species were disproportionately detected in Forest controls compared to Clear-cut treatments but detected at intermediate levels in Retention treatments. Species associated with early-seral habitats, though, had disproportionate detection in Clear-cut treatments compared to Forest controls, but also showed expected detections in Retention treatments. These results suggest that partial harvesting and retention of non-commercial hardwoods, can help retain forest-associated species while also helping attract early-seral avian species; this can help increase the overall diversity of the landscape while still making logging profitable. Further research should be conducted to determine the value of this retained habitat at different spatial scales to understand the impacts that it may have for larger-scale deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bird diversity is often used as surrogates for other species diversity, but there is a limited understanding of the extent of this surrogate in identifying representative priority conservation areas (PCAs). We used Yunnan Province in China as a case to measure the surrogacy of birds in systematic conservation planning. Here, we collected distribution records of mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds from public databases and literature, and applied systematic conservation planning methods to identify PCAs. We targeted four taxonomic groups at conservation targets of 17%, 31%, and 50% of the total study area, and used the Jaccard similarity index to evaluate the surrogate extent of bird PCAs for the other three groups. Then, we overlapped different portfolios of PCAs with six categories of protected areas (PAs) in Yunnan, calculated the protection rates, and evaluated the effect of sustainable-use PAs on improving the protection rate of strict Nature Reserves. The results showed that bird PCAs generally had the highest surrogacy for representing PCAs of the other three taxa. At the 50% conservation target, the Jaccard indices between birds and the other taxa reached about 0.50. Moreover, amphibian PCAs had a good surrogacy for conserving reptiles, with a Jaccard index of 0.30, 0.44 and 0.51 at the 17%, 31% and 50% conservation targets, respectively. The existing PA system had quite low coverages for PCAs of these four taxa, and the average protection rates were 22.97%, 19.78% and 16.52% at the three levels of conservation targets, respectively. The sustainable-use PAs can greatly complement the strict Nature Reserves by achieving average increased PA coverages of 10.00%, 9.20% and 7.90% at the three conservation targets. Our findings provide a basis for surrogate-based conservation planning for areas with insufficient biodiversity information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Riparian zones are biodiversity hotspots in montane ecosystems and are of critical conservation concern. However, studies on longitudinal diversity patterns and environmental drivers have been restricted to aquatic fauna, while the animals that rely on both river and riparian resources have been of much less concern. Here, we examined the multifaceted diversity distribution of riparian birds along longitudinal gradients and analyzed the importance of environmental factors in shaping these patterns in the Changbai Mountains. Hump‐shaped relationships between elevation and taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity, as well as with the conservation value index, were evident along each of the classic submontane rivers. Forest cover, vegetation height variation, and land cover patches positively affected the taxonomic diversity indices. In addition to the species richness, fluvial geomorphology variables (river sinuosity and gravel bar) were significantly related to the phylogenetic diversity. However, there was no statistical evidence for a relationship between functional diversity and the environmental variables examined. This study emphasized the necessity of including multiple diversity measures beyond taxonomic diversity and demonstrated the importance of both terrestrial and aquatic components in shaping the multifaceted biodiversity pattern of riparian organisms living in riparian zones. The results suggested that conservation priority should be given to both rivers and banks in the middle reaches and that riparian birds could be good candidate indicators of environmental change in the submontane river‐forest ecotone.

The construction of the Three Gorges Dam Project had changed the forest landscapes and threatened the bird diversity of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) area. For restoring degraded ecosystems and protecting biodiversity, the government has carried out a series of ecological projects in recent years, which has significantly restored the forest of the TGR area. However, the fragmentation of forest landscapes in the TGR area was not clearly improved by these ecological projects, and we were concerned that some birds might be impacted. Therefore, in this research, we studied the effects of forest amount and fragmentation on diversity of different bird guilds, to develop the effective strategies of forest restoration for bird preservation in the TGR area. We first selected a series of forest landscapes where forest amount and fragmentation were independent of each other to conduct bird surveys, and then used structural equation models to examine their direct and indirect effects on species richness and relative abundance of four bird guilds (vertical-profile generalists, understory birds, edge users and ground users). The results showed that forest amount had direct positive effects on diversity of all bird guilds, and fragmentation had indirect negative effects on diversity of vertical-profile generalists and understory birds that was mediated through vegetation condition. We believe that to increase forest amount in the landscapes undoubtedly plays an important role in bird conservation. Meanwhile, we also need to be alert to the threats that fragmentation may pose to birds by reducing forest quality. We suggest that optimizing landscape configuration and improving forest quality should both be emphasized while restoring the forest. For example, restoring the areas between forest patches preferentially to increase connectivity in the landscapes, and transforming the degraded mono-specific forests into mixed forests through replanting to optimize the stand structure.

Simple Summary: The complexity of urban green space vegetation is an extremely vital influential factor and predictor of biodiversity, and vegetation habitat factors have been shown to explain more variation in bird diversity than other environmental factors. In this study, we explored the characteristics and differences in bird diversity among vegetation habitats in five typical urban mountain parks in coastal areas of southeast China. Our study showed that: (1) Sparse forest supports more bird species and higher bird diversity. (2) Tree diversity significantly affects bird diversity in urban mountain parks. (3) The average subbranch height of trees has a significant effect on the evenness of birds. (4) The number of tourists and predators has little impact on bird diversity. This study could provide suggestions for the rational allocation of vegetation in urban mountain parks in southeast coastal areas to improve local ecological service functions as habitats for urban wildlife, especially wild birds. The coastal areas of southeast China have typical high-density urbanization characteristics, and urban mountain parks are important green spaces in these urban green space systems. Our study was conducted in five typical urban mountain parks in Fuzhou, China. The bird survey was carried out in 25 transects of different vegetation habitats for 10 months, and the vegetation survey was conducted in 25 habitats to investigate the characteristics of bird communities in different vegetation habitats and the causes of their differences. The results showed: (1) From 1 October 2021 to 15 July 2022, we recorded a total of 90 bird species in 8 orders, 37 families, and 64 genera, with 1879 individuals in five vegetation habitats in the urban mountain parks. (2) Abundance and diversity of trees are vegetation variables affecting bird diversity (bird species richness, abundance, and Shannon diversity) in urban mountain parks, and the average branch height under trees has a significant effect on bird evenness. (3) We found more bird species and higher bird diversity in both sparse and dense forest habitats, but fewer bird species in waterfront, shrub, and grassland habitats; (4) Average tree height (AVE_HEIt) was only present in the best model of bird abundance and evenness. However, none of the best models found a significant effect of the number of tourists and predators on bird diversity. Our results could provide a theoretical basis and guidance for the future improvement of ecological service functions of bird habitats in urban mountain parks in subtropical coastal areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Understanding the ecological processes involved in establishing a metacommunity, a collection of small communities linked by species dispersal, could help with biodiversity conservation. In this work, we examine how local community connectivity affects the distributional patterns of various bird species across metacommunities in the strikingly different Altai landscapes. We discovered that connectivity was most important for determining community composition in metacommunities. High beta diversity and a high turnover component in the research region showed that regional-scale conservation efforts should consider overall biodiversity. Although they are not part of the Altai-Sayan biodiversity ecoregion, the riparian and desert landscapes are essential to the birds that reside in the mountain ranges and should be regarded as integral parts of the ecoregion, and high connectivity stepping-stone habitats in these landscapes should be protected. Located on the southwest slope and plain areas of the Altai Mountains in China, this study aims to explore bird composition variation (beta diversity) in mountain landscape (metacommunity M), riparian landscape (metacommunity R), desert landscape (metacommunity D) and across the three landscapes (metacommunity A), and to assess how patch connectivity with environmental and spatial factors influence species distributional patterns across multiple metacommunities. In 78 transect lines over the study area, 9724 detections of 139 bird species were detected. We calculated the beta diversity, its turnover and nestedness components in four metacommunities. We used the variation partitioning method to investigate the relative importance between the environment, spatial variation and locality connectivity in driving bird community composition variation. We found high beta diversities with a small contribution of nestedness components in all four metacommunities. When only a single set of predictors is contained in the model, the predictor that best explains the variation of bird community composition is connectivity in metacommunity M, R and D and spatial predictor in metacommunity A. In all three sets of predictors, 73.8~85.4% of variations of community composition can be explained in the four metacommunities, and connectivity always contributed the most. High beta diversity and a high turnover component imply that regional-scale conservation efforts should be thought of as preserving overall biodiversity. A conservation strategy is to keep stepping-stone habitats with good connectivity in the middle of the riparian landscape. Along with the Altai-Sayan biodiversity ecoregion, the desert and riparian environments are essential for birds residing in the mountainous terrain. Furthermore, they should be regarded as integral parts of the ecoregion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenspace or green cover is one of the major factors affecting urban avian diversity. In China, small farmlands producing vegetables are relatively common in cities. Although these farmlands could be a part of greenspaces, their habitat value for birds is rarely known. I investigated how these farmlands influenced winter bird community in two cities of southern China, using the multivariate latent variable model. I considered three green cover types: crop (mostly vegetables), weed (pioneer spontaneous vegetation), and wood (tree/shrub). I calculated the percentage of each green cover at local (50 m radius circular area) and landscape (500 m radius circular area) scales. Of 30 bird species, the abundance of 13 species decreased as crop cover decreased with increasing woody cover at the local scale, whereas the abundance of only two bird species increased with decreasing crop cover. Habitat preference of species mediated these responses, leading to a strong association between the open habit trait and the negative responses. Open habitat bird species richness was also negatively affected by decreasing local crop cover. Tree/shrub bird species richness showed a positive response to decreasing crop cover but the explanatory power of the local scale model was low. Variables at the landscape scale were rarely associated with species abundance or richness. These results suggest that small vegetable‐dominant farmlands can serve as open habitat for birds in urban areas where greenspace largely consists of tree/shrub vegetation. The results also indicate that urban bird diversity is more influenced by local habitat features than landscape‐scale features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Shifting cultivation is a widespread land‐use in many tropical countries that also harbours significant levels of biodiversity. Increasing frequency of cultivation cycles and expansion into old‐growth forests have intensified the impacts of shifting cultivation on biodiversity and carbon sequestration. We assessed how bird diversity responds to shifting cultivation and the potential for co‐benefits for both biodiversity and carbon in such landscapes to inform carbon‐based payments for ecosystem service (PES) schemes. Location: Nagaland, Northeast India. Methods: We surveyed above‐ground carbon stocks and bird communities across various stages of a shifting cultivation system and old‐growth forest using composite carbon sampling plots and repeated point counts directly overlaying the carbon plots in both summer and winter. We assessed species diversity using species accumulation and rarefaction curves based on Hill numbers. We fitted a linear mixed‐effect model to assess the relationship between species richness and fallow age. We also examined possible co‐benefits between carbon and biodiversity from fallow regeneration in terms of relative community similarity to old‐growth forest across carbons stocks. Results: Farmland and secondary forests regenerating on fallowed land had similar bird species richness to old‐growth forests in summer and relatively higher species richness in winter. Within regenerating fallows, we did not find any strong evidence that fallow age influenced bird species richness. Bird community resemblance to old‐growth forest increased with secondary forest maturity, correlating also with carbon stocks in summer. However, bird community assemblage did not show a strong association with habitat types and carbon stocks during winter. Main conclusions: This study underscores the important role of traditional non‐intensive shifting cultivation in providing refuges for biodiversity within heterogeneous habitat mosaics. Effectively managing these landscapes is crucial for both biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration in the subtropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to provide information to support the recognition of Imbak Canyon Conservation Area as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) as part of the Heart of Borneo initiative in Sabah, Malaysia. Inventory and monitoring of birds was conducted in the pristine lowland dipterocarp forest of Imbak Canyon between 2018 and 2021 to assess whether the area meets the Global IBAs criteria. Line transect and point count methods employed in this study recorded 133 species of birds from 39 families. This brings the total number of bird species recorded in Imbak Canyon to 258 species by consolidating the data from current and previous studies. Of the 258 bird species, 81 species are of high conservation concern, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. The rare Helmeted Hornbill, Greater Green Leafbird, Large Green Pigeon, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Blue-headed Pitta and Bornean Bristlehead were some notable bird species recorded. The results of this study showed that Imbak Canyon meets the Global IBAs criteria and is well qualified to be an IBA in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study focused on the bird's species richness and diversity in Okomu National Park, Nigeria. The studies was undertaken to derive information on the species of birds utilizing the Okomu National Park as well as determine the relative abundance and diversity of birds in area. The methodology employed in the study includes the use of direct method of census. Line transects was used. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics (tables). The result gathered revealed that the national park is rich in birds species. A total number of 706 birds' species in 23 families were also inventoried in all the ranges. The highest families Accipitridae, Alcedinidae, Bucerotidae, Muscicapidae, and Ploceidae has 3 represented species each, followed by families Meropidae, Nectariniidae, Picidae and Sturnidae having 2 represented species each. Birds were found in all the selected habitats. The park areas are under constant threat from unsustainable poaching, logging practices, and land conversion to agricultural uses. This logging and land use change have impacted Okomu National Park forests and the forest ability to withstand the effect or to become 'resilient' might be difficult due to the effects of climate change, and deforestation. Therefore there is need to include both the local indigenes and staff who knows the park area boundaries very well to be involved in the protection of the park resources. This will help in discouraging the killings of bird's species by local poachers and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shin color diversity is a widespread phenomenon in birds. In this study, ducks were assessed to identify candidate genes for yellow, black, and spotted tibiae. For this purpose, we performed whole-genome resequencing of an F2 population consisting of 275 ducks crossed between Runzhou crested-white ducks and Cherry Valley ducks. We obtained 12.6 Mb of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data, and the three shin colors were subsequently genotyped. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) were performed to identify candidate and potential SNPs for the three shin colors. According to the results, 2947 and 3451 significant SNPs were associated with black and yellow shins, respectively, and six potential SNPs were associated with spotted shins. Based on the SNP annotations, the MITF, EDNRB2, POU family members, and the SLC superfamily were the candidate genes regulating pigmentation. In addition, the isoforms of EDNRB2, TYR, TYRP1, and MITF-M were significantly different between the black and yellow tibiae. MITF and EDNRB2 may have synergistic roles in the regulation of melanin synthesis, and their mutations may lead to phenotypic differences in the melanin deposition between individuals. This study provides new insights into the genetic factors that may influence tibia color diversity in birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is a major threat to global biodiversity. A common claim is that large‐scale agro‐industrial farming is mainly responsible for the biodiversity decline, while smaller family farms are more wildlife friendly. Here we leverage a natural experiment along the former inner German border to estimate the causal impact of farm size on biodiversity. We combine land cover data with bird diversity data to establish the mechanisms through which farm size affects bird diversity. Our main results show that the increase in farm size at the former inner German border reduces bird diversity by 15%. The results suggest further that the decline is the result of land cover simplification rather than land use intensification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In a diverse microbial world immune function of animals is essential. Diverse microbial environments may contribute to extensive variation in immunological phenotypes of vertebrates, among and within species and individuals. As maternal effects benefit offspring development and survival, whether females use cues about their microbial environment to prime offspring immune function is unclear. To provide microbial environmental context to maternal effects, we asked if the bacterial diversity of the living environment of female zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata shapes maternal effects on egg immune function. We manipulated environmental bacterial diversity of birds and tested if females increased immunological investment in eggs in an environment with high bacterial diversity (untreated soil) versus low (gamma-sterilized soil). We quantified lysozyme and ovotransferrin in egg albumen and IgY in egg yolk and in female blood, and we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to profile maternal cloacal and eggshell microbiotas. Results: We found a maternal effect on egg IgY concentration that reflected environmental microbial diversity: females who experienced high diversity deposited more IgY in their eggs, but only if maternal plasma IgY levels were relatively high. We found no effects on lysozyme and ovotransferrin concentrations in albumen. Moreover, we uncovered that variation in egg immune traits could be significantly attributed to differences among females: for IgY concentration in yolk repeatability R = 0.80; for lysozyme concentration in albumen R = 0.27. Furthermore, a partial least squares path model (PLS-PM) linking immune parameters of females and eggs, which included maternal and eggshell microbiota structures and female body condition, recapitulated the treatment-dependent yolk IgY response. The PLS-PM additionally suggested that the microbiota and physical condition of females contributed to shaping maternal effects on egg immune function, and that (non-specific) innate egg immunity was prioritized in the environment with low bacterial diversity. Conclusions: The microbial environment of birds can shape maternal effects on egg immune function. Since immunological priming of eggs benefits offspring, we highlight that non-genetic maternal effects on yolk IgY levels based on cues from the parental microbial environment may prove important for offspring to thrive in the microbial environment that they are expected to face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of host-parasite interactions as host lineages colonize new geographic regions and diversify over evolutionary time is poorly understood. To assess whether haemosporidian parasite diversity has changed during the diversification of an avian host, we surveyed the diversity and prevalence of blood parasite lineages (genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon) across the range of the songbird genus Junco, which has diversified recently as it recolonized North America following the last glacial maximum ~18,000 years ago. We report the diversity and prevalence of parasites in junco taxa sampled from Costa Rica to Canada, and examine the influence of local avian species richness in the prevalence and diversity of parasites in junco samples. We screened for parasites in each individual by sequencing a fragment of their cytochrome b gene, identifying the different lineages, and quantifying the prevalence per junco taxon and locality. Of 304 juncos sampled, 178 tested positive for 1 or more parasite genera (58.5% overall prevalence). We found high parasite diversity in genera Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon and much lower diversity in Plasmodium. Among the 63 parasite lineages detected, 32 of which have not been previously described, we found generalist lineages with widespread but low prevalence in Junco, but also some that appear to have remained specialized on this genus as it diversified across North America over thousands of years. Our results suggest a range of parasitic strategies, ranging from specialized to generalist lineages within single parasite genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the effects of landscape composition and configuration, climate, and topography on bird diversity is necessary to identify distribution drivers, potential impacts of land use changes, and future conservation strategies. We surveyed bird communities in a study area located in the Central Alps (Autonomous Province of South Tyrol, northeast Italy), by means of point counts and investigated taxonomic and functional diversity at two spatial scales along gradients of land use/land cover (LULC) intensity and elevation. We also explored how environmental variables influence bird traits and red-list categories. Models combining drivers of different types were highly supported, pointing towards synergetic effects of different types of environmental variables on bird communities. The model containing only LULC compositional variables was the most supported one among the single-group models: LULC composition plays a crucial role in shaping local biodiversity and hence bird communities, even across broad landscape gradients. Particularly relevant were wetlands, open habitats, agricultural mosaics made up of small habitat patches and settlements, ecotonal and structural elements in agricultural settings, and continuous forests. To conserve bird diversity in the Alps, planning and management practices promoting and maintaining small fields, structural elements, and a mosaic of different LULC types should be supported, while preserving continuous forests at the same time. Additionally, pastures, extensively used meadows, and wetlands are key to conservation. These strategies might mitigate the impacts of global change on bird diversity in the Alps and in other European mountain areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biodiversity in mountainous ecosystems is high but is threatened by rapid environmental change. Urbanization and other anthropogenic factors in the mountains can affect land use and spatial fragmentation. Moreover, patterns of habitat are closely related to elevation and have a major effect on montane biodiversity. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of spatial fragmentation on the vertical distribution pattern of bird diversity by characterizing the structure of the bird community, species diversity, and landscape factors at different altitudes. From 2016 to 2019, this study made a four years of continuous monitoring of the breeding birds. The result indicated that Mount Tai harbored a high bird diversity. Bird richness, abundance, and Shannon‐Wiener index decreased with latitude in Mount Tai monotonically. Moreover, the structure of bird communities varied along altitudinal gradients, and some special species were supported in different elevational bands due to the environmental filtering. Road density, number of habitat patches, patch density, and the percentage of forest were significantly related to bird diversity. Sufficient habitat and more patches in the low‐mountain belt supported higher bird diversity. The middle‐mountain belt and high‐mountain belt showed contrasting patterns. Our results highlight the effects of on‐going urbanization and human activities on montane biodiversity and emphasize the need for artificial habitats in the mountains to be managed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of human activity, ecological shifts always occur in nature. Being an indicator of ecosystem birds are important objects to monitor regularly. We conducted research on the bird species composition in the Marmarik reservoir area, Kotayk Marz, Armenia where the renovating and construction was conducted. For our research we used transect and mist net methods and collected literature data referring to bird biodiversity in our study area for the last years. The results revealed that the reconstruction of Marmarik reservoir affected bird species composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platform mounds during the Woodland period (ca. 200 BCE to 600 CE) of the American Southeast were integrative structures that included elevated stages for communal food consumption (feasting). While this pattern appears consistent across inland mound sites, food remains from contemporaneous coastal platform mounds have not been adequately studied and the activities associated with these monuments are poorly understood. To address this lacuna, we present results of zooarchaeological analysis of assemblages from a platform (Mound II) and contemporaneous domestic midden at the Garden Patch site, a civic-ceremonial center on the northern Gulf coast of peninsular Florida. One difficulty arising from the coastal context comes from the building material used to construct mounds, which often included redeposited midden originally associated with daily refuse. Our study navigates this difficulty through multiple lines of evidence showing that mound constituents include remains from special events that occurred mostly during the winter. The faunal assemblage from the platform mound is broadly similar to the midden except in the prevalence of toadfish (Opsanus sp.) and in the high diversity of migratory birds. Different proportions of these fauna in each context may reflect seasonal availability, preferences for particular taxa at feasts, or both. Ultimately, the feasts at coastal platform mounds appear to have been the maritime version of their inland counterparts, supplied with local foods at particular times of the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This ornithological study presents data on the diversity of bird species recorded on the territory of Gârleni Reservoir, on the lower sector of Bistrița River, starting from the winter of 2014-2015 until the winter of 2021-2022. We identified 151 bird species, part of them being vagrant species with only one or two observations in the area during our study. We also present quantitative data for the observed bird species. The typical forest species and passerines are dominant by diversity but the aquatic birds present significant populations all time during the year. We notice the relevance of this territory as a breeding site, a migration stopover point and a wintering area for the bird fauna in the lower sector of the Bistrița River, emphasizing the importance of connecting it with the neighbouring ROSPA0063 Buhuși - Bacău - Berești Reservoirs. We identified 30 bird species that appear in Annex 1 to the Birds Directive, respectively, 18 bird species included in the Romanian Red Book of Vertebrates during our monitoring activity in the investigated perimeter. Our study supports the importance of including this perimeter in the Natura 2000 Romanian Network, as an individual site or as a part of the ROSPA0063 Buhuși - Bacău - Berești Reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rural municipality of Barekot in Jajarkot district is an Important Bird Area (IBA) in Western Nepal. In recent years, illegal hunting and trapping have increased in this area. Additionally, a hydropower project with a capacity of 410 MW is being constructed within Barekot. The present study aims to update the preliminary checklist of birds and to identify the underlying threats to the bird populations in this region. The bird survey was conducted in Barekot over four days in the late winter / early spring of 2021. Direct field observation, surveys of key informants, a literature review and photography were the main tools used for data collection. The study revealed 87 bird species belonging to 10 orders and 34 families. The birds most commonly recorded belong to the Muscicapidae family, order Passeriformes. Among the recorded species, two are on the IUCN Red List of Nationally Vulnerable species, five are listed in CITES Appendix II, and one species features in CITES Appendix I. Approximately 82% of the bird species recorded were of resident types. Despite a decline in bird diversity, Barekot's unique geographical location still makes it an important IBA in Nepal. Bird numbers have plummeted due to human intrusion and disturbance, and modifications to natural systems. Based on our findings, we recommend landscape-level research on the impacts of hydropower projects, roads, poaching, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Future conservation efforts should also emphasize the prevention of habitat fragmentation and raising public awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Forest loss and fragmentation are major drivers of biodiversity decline globally. However, with the widely recognised notion that biodiversity is multifaceted, few studies have assessed the responses of different diversity metrics to forest landscape changes. Objectives: Here, we used a multifaceted approach to assess the effects of landscape composition, forest fragmentation (patch-level) and local habitat heterogeneity on avian alpha-diversity (taxonomic, functional, phylogenetic and functional-phylogenetic diversity) of different ecological groups. Methods: We conducted fixed-radius point-count surveys across 32 Southern Mistbelt Forest fragments of southern KwaZulu-Natal and northern Eastern Cape, South Africa. Using linear mixed-effect models, we related multiple facets of bird diversity to landscape composition (i.e., matrix quality), habitat fragmentation (i.e., isolation distance and fragment-size) and local habitat heterogeneity (i.e., forest-structural complexity). Results: Matrix quality was a significant positive predictor of functional (FRic, sesFRic) and phylogenetic (sesPD) diversity of forest-dependent (forest specialist) species and functional diversity (FRic) of the whole community. Habitat fragmentation had significantly negative effects (i.e. increasing isolation distance and decreasing fragment size) on multiple diversity facets of all ecological groups, but non-forest-dependent (forest generalist) species showed no responses to isolation distance. Unexpectedly, diversity facets of forest-dependent species declined with increasing local vegetation complexity. Conclusions: Large and connected forest fragments are vital for maintaining avian diversity facets and promoting local vegetation complexity could contribute to the loss of forest-dependent species (forest specialists) in the naturally fragmented Southern Mistbelt Forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decomposition of taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional beta diversity into their turnover and nestedness components could provide novel insights into biodiversity conservation, e.g., provide implications for the Single Large Or Several Small reserves debate (SLOSS debate). Due to dramatic climate change and massive anthropogenic activities in recent decades in North China, the wetlands and the associated biodiversity in this region have declined significantly. This study applied the taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional beta diversity decomposition for the first time in wetland bird communities in North China, aiming to propose scientific and comprehensive suggestions for bird diversity conservation in this region. A paired t-test was used to compare the differences between taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional turnover, and their nestedness components. In addition, a spearman correlation analysis was used to assess the associations between each explanatory variable (differences in mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation, as well as spatial distances) and each beta diversity index. A total of 546 bird species were found in 38 wetlands in North China, with three critically endangered species, 19 endangered species, 22 vulnerable species, and 61 near threatened species. The number of threatened species (critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable) found in these lakes was about 30% of all threatened species in China. The results showed that taxonomic and phylogenetic beta diversity among wetland bird communities in North China was mainly dominated by turnover, while functional beta diversity was mainly dominated by nestedness. Importantly, the phylogenetic and functional results showed similar patterns even after controlling for the effects of taxonomic beta diversity. In addition, the taxonomic and phylogenetic turnover was more associated with both climate variables and spatial distances than other components. The contrasting patterns among the taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional decompositions of wetland bird communities in North China indicate that distinctive conservation strategies should be considered for different biodiversity dimensions. Specifically, the conservation of taxonomic and phylogenetic bird diversity in this region should focus on multiple wetlands, while the conservation of bird functional diversity should focus on a single wetland with high functional diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is conducted to document the species richness and abundance of the migratory and resident birds at Raghagan dam district Bajaur. Raghagan dam is situated N 34.800307°, E71.580137° in tehsil salarzai of district Bajaur which is located at the extreme end of Himalayan range and creates variations in the monsoon rainfall from month to month and year to year. The dam support population of migratory bird and important stopover for migratory and native birds. The study is conducted in the month of March 2022 through direct focal observations and binoculars, therein 13 migratory species and 25 resident species are recorded with total numbers 895 and 711 respectively. The highest relative abundance among migratory birds species is family Anatidae followed by phalacrocoracid and the highest relative abundance among resident bird species is family Accipitridae followed by Columbidae. The area has potential for avian biodiversity thus concrete efforts are required to protect the birds diversity. Presence of ferruginous duck species in the month of May shows food richness, further research is required to know the causes and factors behind the presences of such duck species Effective management and monitoring of the dam should be in priority actions. Illegal hunting is another harmful factor for the killing of birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds are important indicators of the local environmental conditions of an area. Wetlands are important ecosystems used by resident and migratory birds for various purposes. The objective of the study was to assess the seasonal variation in avifaunal diversity of different wetlands in Haryana. Sampling was done in four different wetlands from three districts of the state. The required information on avifauna was gathered from winter 2018 to summer 2020, with the help of point count and line transect methods. A total number of 102 species belonging to 17 orders and 42 families were observed. Data showed that bird diversity significantly varied with the change in seasons. The winter season had more avifaunal diversity as compared to the summer season, S1 (Bhindawas wetland) observed the maximum bird diversity, and the lowest was seen at S3 (Vidkyar wetland). Similarity or distance analysis (Bray-Curtis) showed that site S2 (Dighal wetland) and site S4 (Kaushlya dam) are similar in terms of their bird diversity and S1 & S3 are far different from one another. Omnivores and Carnivores were the dominant groups recorded from the study areas. Most of the study areas had a rich number of resident birds along with migratory avifauna that uses wetlands as nesting, feeding, and resting places. Migratory birds contributed a significant number in all the four sites with S1 representing 30%, S2 (52%), S3 (26%) and S4 with 51% of the migratory birds when compared with the total number of birds. Seven of the species belonged to the Near-threatened category and three species under the vulnerable category as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN 2020-1). Bhindawas has the highest bird diversity which might be due to more habitat suitability and low anthropogenic activities as compared to the Vidkyar study site which recorded the lowest species richness because of its high anthropogenic activity. These wetlands require immediate conservation measures to protect the native and migratory species of the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for energy, coupled with the imperative to curtail the combustion of natural raw materials and mitigate global warming, necessitates the exploitation of alternative energy sources. Renewable energy sources include solar energy plants (PV), however research on the effects of utility-scale plants on fauna has been limited. Most studies have focused on extensive PV in natural habitats like savanna or deserts, so these studies are not directly applicable to European contexts where many PV are placed in farmland. Our study involved an analysis of avifauna diversity within PV and the impact of these plants on more common bird species in farmland in Poland. We conducted surveys at 43 PV with an area not exceeding 5.3 ha and 43 control sites, finding that PV generally enhanced avifauna diversity. Notably, the Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra) and Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) occurred in significantly bigger numbers on PV. Conversely, only the Skylark (Alauda arvensis) exhibited a significant negative reaction to the presence of PV. The PV probably provide safe breeding sites, grassy areas that are mown late in the season or left unmown, and fences that serve as observation points, foraging sites, and singing perches for birds. Our results are specific to relatively small, isolated PV that are typical in Poland and central Europe; further research is warranted to assess the impact of larger PV on avian populations and on particular aspects of bird life traits as well as presence and density. [Display omitted] • PV farms are believed to have a negative impact on avifauna. • Small PV farms in Poland show higher avifauna diversity compared to control areas. • Features of PV farms like safe breeding areas and fences support bird presence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Urbanization is a serious threat to biodiversity worldwide. • However, the loss of species and ecological functions might not occur immediately. • We found taxonomic but not functional diversity extinction debt in bird assemblages. • The extent of urbanized land in 2000 was the strongest driver of species richness. Land use changes can drive distinct spatial and temporal shifts in community structure. In urban areas, the historical trajectory of land use changes can create a time lag between landscape modification and their impact on species, potentially leading to an extinction debt. The detection of an extinction debt may be crucial for mitigating taxonomic and functional diversity losses in the future. Here, we investigated the effect of historical changes in landscape composition on bird assemblages in a city from central-west Brazil (Campo Grande). We evaluated whether taxonomic (species richness) and functional diversity (functional divergence) of bird assemblages are explained by present-day and/or past landscape composition. We used a dataset of birds sampled in 61 local landscapes, each of them with 16 ha, during the months of February and March 2016. We quantified the proportions of native forest and urban infrastructure for three different years (1985, 2000 and 2016). Then, we selected 30 local landscapes that have experienced an increase in urbanization throughout the years. Bird species richness was explained by the percentage of urban infrastructure in the past (year 2000), suggesting the presence of a taxonomic extinction debt in Campo Grande. On the other hand, we didn't find evidence of an extinction debt for bird functional diversity, as the null model was as plausible as the other selected models. The protection and restoration of native vegetation may improve the quality of urban areas and prevent the payment of this extinction debt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Urban park bird communities were surveyed in six Argentinian cities. • Urban bird metacommunities had a clementsian structure. • Both environmental and spatial factors molded bird composition. • Habitat management and connectivity are needed for bird conservation. Metacommunities are the set of local communities that are linked by the dispersion of potentially interacting species. The study of metacommunities is important to elucidate the relationship between processes that occur at different spatial scales. However, bird metacommunities in urban parks have been little studied. The objectives of this study were: 1) to analyze the relative role of species dispersal, environmental selection, and stochastic processes shaping urban bird metacommunities; and 2) to analyze the structure of the metacommunities of birds in urban parks. Bird surveys were made in 51 parks of six cities in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. To obtain the metacommunity structure, three elements were analyzed: coherence, turnover, and boundary clumping. We found that the metacommunity conforms to a clementsian structure, in which groups of species respond in a similar way to environmental gradients. The environmental and connectivity variables explained a greater proportion of the variance than the spatial variable. The composition of species was related to the location of the cities, the distance to the rural area, the distance to the urban center, the number of cars passing near parks, and habitat diversity. Due to the clementsian structure of metacommunities, they probably were structured under a species sorting and mass effect process. The number of cars and habitat diversity in the parks would be acting as environmental filters for bird species, while the distance to rural areas and the distance to the urban center would affect species dispersal to the parks. These findings emphasize the importance of maintaining and improving park connectivity and habitat diversity for bird species, managing them as cities grow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying proper surrogate species or groups is a challenging but critical step in the application of surrogate species approaches in biodiversity conservation because their effectiveness can vary according to biological communities. Recently, the brood parasitic common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus, has been suggested as a surrogate for describing biodiversity, primarily based on its strong parasitic relationship with other host species. However, the efficiency of cuckoo surrogates has been challenged because of the potential limitations of the methodological approaches. Furthermore, its generality rarely has been explicitly tested in other parasitic species with local biodiversity data collected through conventional schemes such as grid-based sampling. Using bird survey data obtained from a grid-based sampling scheme in South Korea, we evaluated the surrogate efficiency of five cuckoo species for bird diversity (species richness and phylogenetic diversity) and generated surrogate species groups. We found that among the five parasitic cuckoo species breeding in South Korea, the common cuckoo and the Indian cuckoo C. micropterus were effective surrogate species. Among these, only the common cuckoo belonged to the best surrogate species group together with its major host species; the Indian cuckoo showed less effective surrogate efficiency than the common cuckoo. In conclusion, our study shows that the common cuckoo, as a single species and a member of a species assemblage, is an effective indicator species for bird diversity in grid-based survey data. However, the result that not all parasitic cuckoo species performed a surrogate role effectively implies that multiple functions may be associated with the surrogate efficiency of brood parasitic cuckoos, along with the importance of host-parasite relationships.

Abstract The biodiversity in mountainous ecosystems is high but is threatened by rapid environmental change. Urbanization and other anthropogenic factors in the mountains can affect land use and spatial fragmentation. Moreover, patterns of habitat are closely related to elevation and have a major effect on montane biodiversity. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of spatial fragmentation on the vertical distribution pattern of bird diversity by characterizing the structure of the bird community, species diversity, and landscape factors at different altitudes. From 2016 to 2019, this study made a four years of continuous monitoring of the breeding birds. The result indicated that Mount Tai harbored a high bird diversity. Bird richness, abundance, and Shannon‐Wiener index decreased with latitude in Mount Tai monotonically. Moreover, the structure of bird communities varied along altitudinal gradients, and some special species were supported in different elevational bands due to the environmental filtering. Road density, number of habitat patches, patch density, and the percentage of forest were significantly related to bird diversity. Sufficient habitat and more patches in the low‐mountain belt supported higher bird diversity. The middle‐mountain belt and high‐mountain belt showed contrasting patterns. Our results highlight the effects of on‐going urbanization and human activities on montane biodiversity and emphasize the need for artificial habitats in the mountains to be managed.