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Flooding rice (Oryza sativa) agricultural fields during winter to facilitate rice straw decomposition has mitigated the loss of some of the natural wetlands in California’s Central Valley. We conducted bird surveys in 253 rice checks (2,158 ha) within 177 rice fields in the Sacramento Valley during the fall and winter of 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 to evaluate factors that influence bird use of winter-flooded, post-harvest rice fields enrolled in the California Winter Rice Habitat Incentive Program. We counted 143,932 birds from 57 species, including dabbling ducks (86.4%), geese (8.0%), shorebirds (0.9%), wading birds (0.7%), and other birds (4.0%). Extrapolating from the lowest densities observed in rice fields during the 70-day mandatory flooding period, we estimated that properties enrolled in this public–private partnership provided habitat for at least 271,312 birds day-1 (16,248 ha; 2021–2022) and 147,315 birds day-1 (8,448 ha; 2022–2023), totaling >10 million bird-use-days each winter. Water depth had the greatest influence on bird abundance and diversity. Relatively shallow water depths (≤13 cm) had greater abundance of shorebirds, wading birds, and geese, and higher diversity, whereas intermediate depths (~23 cm) resulted in the greatest dabbling duck abundance. Duck, goose, and wading bird abundances were greatest—and species richness and family diversity were highest—8 days after the onset of flooding in rice fields (typically late October), followed by a decline in bird use until 65 to 87 days post-flooding, after which bird use increased slightly. Bird abundance and species diversity were lowest in rice fields with the greatest hunting intensity (≥3 days week-1). We identified several habitat variables that could be managed and prioritized by land-owner incentive programs to increase bird use of winter-flooded rice, including water depth, variation in emergent vegetation height, mudflat habitat availability, rice check shape, hunting intensity, and post-harvest treatment of residual rice straw.

Invasive alien species play a major role in biodiversity decline. We studied the impacts of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) on bird assemblages and their habitats in Jalthal Forest, a biogeographically unique lowland remnant forest in eastern Nepal. We surveyed birds by point counts and quantified environmental variables at 89 sites. Observations of 1,373 individuals of 86 species showed that species richness was the highest in wooded grasslands and floodplains and lowest in sal forests invaded by IAPS, whereas abundance was highest in IAPS-invaded forests. Abundance and richness decreased with increasing cover of IAPS, shrub cover and distance to water. The abundance and richness of every feeding guild except omnivores were negatively correlated with IAPS cover. Our results increase our understanding of the impacts of IAPS on birds and clearly indicate the need of controlling IAPS in Jalthal Forest, and thus, are valuable for forest management and biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We address the relative importance of biogeographic regions (areas of endemism), regional climate and spatial factors on taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic beta diversity of bird assemblages in upland terra‐firme forests in the Amazon. Location: Amazon biome. Taxon: Birds. Methods: We gathered 27,498 occurrence records of 873 bird species for 115 bird assemblages distributed in all nine biogeographic regions delimited by the major Amazonian rivers. Only data from studies surveying whole communities with standard sampling methods and exhaustive sampling effort were included. We partitioned the fractions of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic beta diversity explained by climate, biogeographic regions, spatial factors and the variation shared between them. Results: Across the entire Amazon, we found higher total taxonomic (0.68 ± 0.10) than phylogenetic (0.46 ± 0.08) β‐diversity, and low functional β‐diversity (0.34 ± 0.08). Biogeographic regions showed the highest unique contributions explaining taxonomic and phylogenetic β‐total (7% and 5%, respectively) and turnover components (7% of β‐jtu taxonomic, 7% of β‐jtu phylogenetic), but accounted for only 2% of total functional β‐diversity and trait turnover. Climatic variables explained slightly more trait nestedness (5%) compared with species and lineage turnover (3% each). Species composition was clearly distinct between biogeographical regions limited by the Amazon River, but support for the effect of other rivers was mixed. Main Conclusions: Our study highlights the significant influence of biogeographic regions and climate on species composition in the Amazon. However, our findings also suggest that the Amazon River exerts a more pronounced impact on species distribution compared with other major Amazonian rivers. Species turnover across biogeographical regions is particularly evident at the species level, with minor effects observed in functional traits, suggesting that taxonomic turnover is driven mainly by functionally redundant species. In addition, recent diversification events, occurring predominantly at the tips of the phylogeny without substantial turnover at deeper nodes, are likely responsible for the patchy distribution of species across Amazonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Primary forests provide critical habitat and diverse ecological niches for bird species, which are being seriously threatened by massive anthropogenic activities in the Anthropocene. Conversion from primary forests to secondary forests and plantation forests results in biodiversity loss, reducing ecosystem functioning and services. However, few studies have evaluated bird diversity patterns in different forest types caused by anthropogenic activities at both pantropics and regional scales, especially from taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional perspective simultaneously, as well as from the perspective of both alpha and beta diversity. Location: Pantropics. Methods: We analysed patterns of bird diversity in primary forests, secondary forests and plantation forests at pantropics and regional scales. Number of threatened species, rare species, and generalist species in the three forest types were summarized. Taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity, as well as phylogenetic and functional structure of bird communities among the three forest types, were evaluated through multiple comparisons. Beta diversity of bird communities in the three forest types was also calculated and decomposed into turnover and nestedness‐resultant components, and correlations between environmental factors and beta diversity were examined. Results: The results showed that primary forests harboured more threatened species, more large species and specialist species than secondary forests and plantation forests. In addition, plantation forests had lower phylogenetic alpha diversity but higher functional alpha diversity, and had more clustered phylogenetic structure but more over‐dispersed functional structure. Notably, taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional beta diversity of bird communities was significantly higher in primary forests than in plantation forests, and turnover components showed similar patterns and accounted for major parts of overall beta diversity. Main Conclusions: These findings suggest that primary forests play an important role in protecting bird taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity, and emphasize that future conservation efforts should focus on the strict protection of primary forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization often changes bird species richness and affects the functional diversity. Therefore, understanding these changes helps city planners improve green space design and land use planning. Our study used multiple datasets to explore the effects of landscape patterns and natural environments on the functional diversity of birds in urban parks and campuses in the eastern and northwestern regions of China. Firstly, we used the data to calculate birds of the functional richness (FRic), functional evenness (FEve), and functional divergence (FDiv) of 68 urban spaces in the eastern and northwestern regions of China. Further, we established generalized linear models of natural factors, human factors, and functional diversity. Results showed more bird species with unique traits were in the northwestern region. This may be because the earlier urbanization in the eastern region filtered out urban-sensitive species, leaving behind urban adapters. Moreover, we found that the fractal dimension index was the most significant positive factor of FRic in the eastern region but the most significant negative factor of FDiv. Elevation was the most significant negative influence factor of FEve in the eastern region, but it was the most potent positive influence factor of FRic in the northwestern region. Population density had a significant positive effect on FDiv in the northwestern region. However, green space areas significantly negatively impacted FEve in the northwestern region. In addition, birds in parks in both regions had more functional traits than those on campuses, possibly because of the larger green space in parks, which may contain more fragments of native vegetation and reduce human interference. Our study suggests that preserving more original vegetation and reducing human disturbance in cities can increase the functional diversity of urban birds and improve urban ecosystem functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 lockdown opened an opportunity to assess the response of animal populations to diminished human activities. As coastal dunes face many disturbances caused by increasing human activities, we assessed the effect of reduced human mobility on coastal bird diversity and abundance and on the Least Tern nest failure rate on an island in the southern Gulf of Mexico before, during, and after the lockdown to test the hypothesis that diminished tourism and recreational activities can contribute to the conservation of coastal ecosystems by increasing species richness and abundance and decreasing the nest failure rate. We used data from 2016 to 2021 to estimate nesting failure probabilities using Bernard's cumulative distribution function, Kaplan‒Meier tests, and Cox regression for hazard rates. Bird species richness and abundance were compared using Kruskal‒Wallis rank tests. Factors related to breeding site preference were assessed using the BIOENV method. The lockdown did not affect species richness, but bird abundance was inversely related to pedestrian traffic (rho = − 0.908, p < 0.0001, n = 48). Nest failure decreased during the lockdown in 2020 (p < 0.0001) due to reduced presence of people, which allowed occupancy of sites never used before. During the lockdown, the proportion of nest failure was lower than that in the other sampling years (p < 0.0001, φ range = − 0.445 to − 0.278). Accordingly, diminished pedestrian traffic can increase nest survival (log-rank p < 0.0001). Policies to reduce beach pedestrian traffic will help strengthen wildlife conservation and building coastal resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban areas form a complex, heterogeneous, fragmented mosaic of habitats, including ecosystems in different degrees of alteration. Nevertheless, some species of birds of prey can thrive in cities. But, there is a knowledge gap regarding the species of birds of prey that who inhabit the cities in Chile, especially those that reproduce in it. Hence, we work in Valdivia, a city that preserves an important natural matrix. The object of this study was to characterize the diversity, abundance, and nest sites of diurnal and nocturnal raptors in the urban area of a city in southern Chile. Twelve species of raptor were recorded, seven diurnal and five nocturnal, 63.1% of the species expected for neighboring rural areas. Twenty-seven nesting sites were recorded two of diurnal raptors and four nocturnal raptors. The availability of nesting sites close to feeding sites, distance to houses, and grassland-shrub cover are essential factors for the success of raptor populations. Cities like Valdivia could offer suitable nesting sites for reproduction, helping to restore habitats for birds of prey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing in human population causes expansion of urban areas, which threatens forest lands and the biodiversity they harbor. Greenspaces act a critical role maintaining bird diversity within urban areas. Here, we evaluated the effect of spatial characteristics of urban greenspaces on bird species richness to identify the role of greenspace design on bird diversity in Mexico City's Metropolitan Area. We collected data on bird species richness residing in 44 greenspaces and quantified abiotic, biotic and dispersal attributes of each site. These attributes include size, degree of urbanization within and around the greenspace, vegetation cover, distance between sampled greenspaces, distance to nearby greenspace, distance to the closest natural vegetation patch, distance to city center and distance to periphery of the city. We used Generalized Linear Models to determine the effect of spatial characteristics of urban greenspaces on bird species richness. We then built matrices of beta diversity between greenspaces and assessed bird taxonomic dissimilarity via multivariate Bray-Curtis cluster analysis. Our results showed that bird species richness varies between greenspaces. However, species richness was not correlated with spatial characteristics or biotic attributes (P > 0.05), and we only found marginal correlations between built cover within the greenspace and richness of resident species (P = 0.065) and waterbird species (P = 0.070). Taxonomic similarity between greenspaces was correlated with distance between sampled greenspaces (P < 0.05), however, some dispersal attributes showed no significant effect, such as distance to periphery of the city and distance to the closest natural vegetation patch. Our resultssuggest that distances from areas with greater natural vegetation cover to the innermost parts of the city were too short to function as constraints on the ability of birds to disperse to and colonize urban greenspaces. Our study provides further support for the importance of greenspaces as refuges for conservation of bird diversity in urban areas and shows how urban greenspaces are being used by different bird species within a constantly growing urban landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grazing from megaherbivores such as bison (Bison bison) and periodic fire are 2 important disturbance regimes in grassland ecosystems. In restored tallgrass prairies where these processes were previously removed, prescribed fire application and bison reintroduction are tools used by managers to recreate habitat heterogeneity formed by these disturbances. Tallgrass prairie bird communities may be indirectly affected by these disturbances, as bison and prescribed fire alter the structure of critical breeding habitat for grassland birds. The objectives of this research were to determine the effects of bison and prescribed fire on grassland breeding birds in 2 tallgrass prairie preserves in the Midwest region of the United States. We surveyed bird communities, vegetation structure, and bison activity at an Illinois preserve (n = 20 sites) and an Indiana preserve (n = 27 sites) in 2020 and 2021 and compiled a history of restoration activities (e.g., prescribed fire, planting year) at these sites. Grazing and fire disturbances affected grassland bird diversity and abundances, whereas we found little to no evidence that restoration planting age and spatiotemporal factors affected grassland bird populations. Disturbance effects often corresponded to species‐specific responses to changes in vegetation structure. Grassland‐obligate bird diversity was lower in recently burned and ungrazed management units, in comparison to unburned‐ungrazed and unburned‐grazed sites. Henslow's sparrow (Centronyx henslowii), a species known to be sensitive to recent prescribed fire, exhibited increased abundance with time since fire, an increase that was further amplified with bison presence. These results highlight the importance of applying varying levels of grazing and fire disturbance to provide variable vegetation structure to accommodate the habitat preferences of a diversity of grassland bird species. Moreover, our results indicate that bison may play a role in mediating the differing effects of variable prescribed fire frequencies on grassland bird species of concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Temperature significantly influences the composition and structure of biotic communities at large scales. While its role in shaping taxonomic diversity is well‐documented, its relationship with other facets of biodiversity, like phylogenetic diversity, remains poorly known. Understanding how and to which extent temperature contributes to global patterns of phylogenetic diversity compared to other biodiversity‐structuring factors is crucial for comprehending how bird assemblages are structured worldwide, predicting their response to global‐change drivers and supporting conservation policies focused on preserving bird genetic diversity and evolutionary history. Location: Worldwide. Methods: We analyse the role of temperature in predicting bird regional phylogenetic richness (PD) and divergence (MPD) worldwide, before and after controlling for the effect of species richness (SR). We also assess the shape of this relationship in different biogeographic realms and compare its explanatory power with other key biodiversity‐structuring factors such as elevation, human impact index, net primary productivity and land use diversity. Results: Our findings underscore the high significance and consistency of temperature as a key predictor positively associated with bird PD and MPD across the six main biogeographic realms, even after accounting for SR and latitude, suggesting that temperature modulates the intrinsic capacity of environments to support a diverse array of lineages. In addition, PD and MPD tended to increase at low elevations, but the human‐impact index did not effectively predict bird phylogenetic diversity at this scale. Furthermore, high PD was linked to regions with high primary productivity and high land‐use diversity, although both of these relationships were strongly mediated by SR. Conclusions: This study unveils the key role of temperature in explaining bird phylogenetic diversity worldwide over other key biodiversity‐structuring factors and points to the profound implications that climate change will have on the amount of evolutionary history held in bird assemblages, beyond species extinctions or range shifts alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Long‐term climate stability, contemporary climate and environmental heterogeneity have been linked to bird diversity patterns through their direct impacts on diversification rate, as well as through their indirect effects on plant species richness, which could also directly and indirectly affect bird diversity. This study aimed to quantitatively assess whether these potential drivers could indirectly affect bird species richness through their direct effects on the diversification rate in birds in eastern Asia. Location: Mainland China. Taxon: Birds. Methods: Using the distribution data of 1127 bird species across 320 prefecture cities in China and a phylogenetic tree of these bird species, we analysed the distribution patterns of bird species richness and diversification rate of all birds, passerine birds and non‐passerine birds, respectively. We also investigated their relationships with long‐term climate stability, contemporary climate, elevation range and plant diversity using ordinary least squares regression model and simultaneous autoregressive model. In addition, structural equation model was used to analyse whether these drivers could indirectly affect bird species richness through their direct effects on bird diversification rate. Results: The results showed that bird species richness and diversification rate were highest in southwestern China. Additionally, diversification rate for passerine birds was higher than non‐passerine birds and all birds. Regression analyses revealed that plant species richness was the variable most associated with bird species richness and diversification rate across the three groups. Notably, results from structural equation model indicated that plant species richness, elevation range and glacial–interglacial climate change can indirectly influence bird species richness by directly affecting diversification rates. Main Conclusions: These findings emphasize the importance of considering diversification rate when understanding the geographic distribution patterns of bird diversity. The direct and indirect effects of plant species richness, elevation range and glacial–interglacial climate change on bird diversity highlight the crucial role of mountain regions with higher plant diversity and stable paleoclimate in forming and maintaining biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have investigated bird diversity-environment relationships in agricultural landscapes. While many studies have emphasized the importance of natural/semi-natural elements and their diversity within or surrounding farmlands, it remains unclear how crop diversity impacts birds. There is also a significant gap in our knowledge regarding the effects of temporal changes in crop composition on bird diversity. Using small farmlands in a sub-tropical city of China, we examined how spatial and temporal variation of crops and other local farmland features was linked to species diversity of birds and their traits. In small peri‑urban agricultural areas of Guangzhou, we collected bird and crop/non-crop data approximately bimonthly from December 2021 to October 2022. Overall crop diversity and seasonal crop changes were indexed by alpha diversity (Shannon-Wiener index) and beta diversity, respectively. Both alpha and beta crop diversities were positively associated with Shannon-Wiener diversity of birds. Alpha crop diversity also tended to have a positive impact on species richness. Percent cover of woody vegetation showed a positive effect on all three bird diversity indices, i.e., species richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity, and evenness. Percent cover of rice affected species richness positively and evenness negatively, whereas the effects of percent cover of corn were the opposite. In a fourth-corner analysis, the abundance of plant/seed-eating birds was negatively associated with alpha crop diversity, whereas the abundance of ground-foraging birds was positively associated with beta crop diversity. These patterns indicate that seasonally dynamic crop changes as well as local crop diversity can influence bird diversity and traits in small farmlands. They also suggest that natural/semi-natural woody vegetation, such as trees and shrubs, play a critical role in enhancing species diversity of birds in farmlands dominated by herbaceous edible crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aim Location Taxon Methods Results Main Conclusions Variation in community composition along environmental gradients provides crucial information for identifying zones where species turnover is rapid and to ascertain whether compositional changes occur gradually or rather abruptly. We examined changes in bird community composition along three bioclimatic transects in Australia to test whether drivers of species turnover are consistent, rather than spatially contingent, across biologically contrasting ecosystems. We also detected potential transition zones associated with environmental thresholds and determined whether certain abiotic conditions promote a higher rate of community compositional turnover.Mainland Australia.Terrestrial birds.We applied multivariate community analysis, generalised dissimilarity modelling (GDM) and threshold indicator taxa analysis (TITAN).We observed that environmental variables are better predictors of community composition than spatial distance, which indicates that species sorting, rather than dispersal, plays a key role in structuring Australian avian communities. Annual precipitation constitutes a key driver of species turnover regardless of the analysed transect. The most humid landscapes and those with a higher tree canopy show lower spatial heterogeneity in community composition compared to those with less benign environmental conditions (e.g., dryer environments). TITAN detected significant transition points and supported the results obtained using GDM, which suggests that bird composition change along the gradients is not monotonic.Our results suggest that avian beta diversity increases with increasing environmental harshness, presumably through changes in the relative importance of stochastic versus deterministic processes. The obtained findings show that open forests and woodlands are extremely important ecosystems on this continent and deserve special attention in terms of conservation due to their vulnerability to global change. Lastly, this study exemplifies the value of combining community‐ and taxon‐based analyses to identify and interpret community thresholds, which can serve to pinpoint targets for preserving biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many birds use wetland habitats for all or part of their lives. This study was conducted to investigate the significance of wetlands and associated habitats for bird conservation in the central zone of Tigray, northern Ethiopia, from June 2022 to May 2023. The point count method was used to study the bird assemblage structure and diversity. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index and ANOVA were used to analyze the wetland bird community structure. A total of 4337 individual birds belonging to 120 species, 15 orders, and 41 families were recorded. Among the identified bird species, the Abyssinian catbird, white‐winged cliff chat, Abyssinian longclaw, wattled ibis, and black‐winged lovebird are endemic and near‐endemic species, which are found only in Ethiopia and Eritrea. The Passeriformes order had the greatest number of species (n = 68), followed by the Columbiformes order (n = 9). The​ Mai‐Shigurti Wetland had the greatest abundance of birds (N = 2472), while the Hatsebo Wetland had the least (N = 936). A high abundance of birds was recorded during the wet season (N = 2805), and a low abundance was recorded during the dry season (N = 1532). A significant difference in the abundance of bird species was observed among wetlands and seasons (p < 0.05). The highest species diversity (H′ = 4.13) was recorded in Mai‐Shigurti during the wet season, whereas the lowest was recorded in Hatsebo during the dry season (H′ = 3.2). The highest species evenness was recorded in Hatsebo (E = 0.82) during the dry season, and the lowest was recorded in Mai‐Shigurti (E = 0.72) during the wet season. The results show that wetlands support a high diversity of birds; however, they are highly threatened by anthropogenic threats, including solid waste disposal, erosion, agricultural expansion, human settlement, livestock overgrazing, military camping, and eucalyptus cultivation. Therefore, community‐based conservation initiatives should be implemented to mitigate these threats. Moreover, wetland management policies should be established to safeguard wetlands and their biological resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of seasonal paddy farming activities on the paddy field environment and its composition of birds could be visually observed but has yet to be systematically studied and is still relatively understudied in Malaysian Borneo. Earlier research relied solely on point counts and the failure to use line transects or mist nets for data collection could have resulted in missing and biased findings. Thus, this study aims to evaluate species diversity and evenness of birds in different paddy stages in southwestern Sarawak and compare the data with the findings of previous studies conducted in the region. We obtained higher species richness than previous reports from similar habitats, with 2552 individuals recorded from 94 species of 43 families. Of these, 75.53% and 24.47% were terrestrial birds and waterbirds, respectively. Seven resident taxa are listed as "Near Threatened" or "Vulnerable" according to the 2016-2022 IUCN Red List. The families of Ardeidae and Nectariniidae were most abundant with eight and six species, respectively. The planting and land preparation stages accommodated more diverse and even bird communities in the paddy fields of southwestern Sarawak. Our findings suggest that temporary land-use changes do not necessarily alter paddy field bird diversity and assemblages. Small-patch paddy fields should not be overlooked because they offer additional foraging niches for water-dependent birds and opportunistic feeders, as well as serving as a refuge for migratory waterbirds and vulnerable residents considering their habitat heterogeneity and microhabitat transitions between paddy stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: African tropical regions have a remarkably high bird diversity, yet few studies have tried to unravel the presence of blood parasites in birds found in conservation areas. Knowing which blood parasites are present will help us to prepare for potential disease outbreaks. We test the hypothesis that conservation regions have a high diversity of parasites. Molecular methods were used to screen 1035 blood samples from 55 bird species for blood infections on sites inside and adjacent to the Kruger National Park in South Africa. Overall, 28.41% of birds were found infected with at least one type of blood parasites. Bird malaria of the type Haemoproteus and Plasmodium was found in 17.39% and 4.64% of the birds respectively. Leucocytozoon blood parasite was found in 9.24% of birds. One hundred distinct blood parasite types were detected, of which 56 were new types. Similar bird malaria (Haemoproteus and Plasmodium) infections were found in closely related birds, while Leucocytozoon was found in almost every bird type. Sites with a high bird diversity also had a high parasite diversity. These findings provide insight of how birds can gradually survive their blood parasite infections. Afrotropical regions have high bird diversity, yet few studies have attempted to unravel the prevalence of avian haemosporidia in conservation areas. The diversity and host specificity of parasites in biodiversity hotspots is crucial to understanding parasite distribution and potential disease emergence. We test the hypothesis that biodiverse regions are associated with highly diverse parasites. By targeting the cytochrome b (Cytb) gene, we molecularly screened 1035 blood samples from 55 bird species for avian haemosporidia infections to determine its prevalence and diversity on sites inside and adjacent to the Kruger National Park. Overall infection prevalence was 28.41%. Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, and Plasmodium presented prevalences of 17.39%, 9.24%, and 4.64%, respectively. One hundred distinct parasite lineages were detected, of which 56 were new lineages. Haemoproteus also presented the highest diversity compared to Leucocytozoon and Plasmodium with varying levels of specificity. Haemoproteus lineages were found to be specialists while Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon lineages were generalists. We also found a positive relationship between avian host diversity and parasite diversity, supporting an amplification effect. These findings provide insight data for host–parasite and co-evolutionary relationship models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whereas the latitudinal diversity gradient has been shown for a diverse set of taxa, a related macroecological pattern, the latitudinal specialization gradient (LSG), remains controversial. A classical expectation is that species should present more specialized interactions towards the equator, however, recent studies have provided conflicting evidence for this hypothesis. Here, we tested the LSG in a set of bird–malarial parasite networks across South America. Our analyses comprise 9763 individual birds surveyed in 52 communities, within eight biomes and spanning a gradient of 4700 km. We measured network‐level specialization through indices that account for increasingly comprehensive information. Binary specialization considers the occurrence/absence of interactions between each host–parasite pair; quantitative specialization is also affected by the frequency of interactions between each host–parasite pair; and phylogenetic specialization takes into account the phylogeny and abundances of host species. We found that, while binary specialization increases towards the equator, quantitative specialization decreases. Thus, despite each parasite lineage infecting a more restricted set from the available host species in low latitudes, infections were more evenly distributed among host species, than in higher latitudes. Additionally, using a structural equation model, we show that both direct and indirect effects contribute to this unexpected relationship. Direct effects are weak, and network‐specialization was mostly explained by host species and parasite lineage richness, evidencing that changes in network specialization along latitude are in a large part explained by the latitudinal diversity gradient for birds and malarial‐parasites. In the light of the accumulated evidence over the past years, reinforced by our findings, we suggest that the classical latitudinal specialization hypothesis should be reevaluated, making room for a theoretical framework able to encompass the conflicting results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The department of Caquetá in the Amazon foothills of Colombia is one of the most dynamic in terms of cattle production in the country. Thousands of hectares have been replaced by pasture monoculture with negative consequences for the biodiversity. Silvopastoral systems (SPS) have been promoted in the region as an alternative to improve tree cover, biodiversity and productivity of cattle farms. To analyze the impact of SPS on plant and bird diversity, 22 plots with three silvopastoral arrangements (tree alleys: TA, scattered trees in pastures: STP, intensive silvopastoral systems: iSPS) and pasture monocultures (PM) were sampled using 20 × 50 m quadrats for vegetation and 50 m radius fixed points for birds. A total of 556 individuals of 26 families and 60 plant species were found. TA and STP had significantly higher abundance and richness of vegetation than PM. For bird fauna 2209 individuals belonging to 18 orders, 42 families and 149 species were present. Bird diversity and abundance were significantly higher in TA than PM. The diversity and abundance of plants, as well as vegetation structure had a positive and significant effect on the abundance and richness of birds, and on the richness of frugivorous, insectivorous, and omnivorous birds, and the richness of species with preferences for different habitats. Plant diversity and structure complexity is key to improve diversity of birds, frugivorous and insectivorous species and therefore should be considered when selecting plant species to be introduced in the cattle systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the factors that drive changes in biodiversity is a hot and critically important topic in landscape ecology and biogeography. In this study, semi-structured citizen science data and bird distribution maps were employed to gather data from 2015 to 2020 for the calculation of bird species richness, the Shannon index, and the Pielou index in Anhui Province. These metrics were utilized to assess avian biodiversity and to elucidate the spatial patterns of biodiversity distribution across the region. In this research, a structural equation model (SEM) was utilized to investigate the relationships between the three dimensions of landscape spatial structure, urban development intensity, and environmental factors on bird biodiversity, and a conceptual framework was established to identify the key driving factors. The validity, reliability, and fit of the hypothesized model were substantiated through rigorous testing, demonstrating its reasonableness. The results indicate the following: (1) In landscape spatial structure, landscape composition and configuration play crucial roles in influencing bird diversity. An increased proportion of cultivated land negatively impacts bird diversity, whereas the expansion of forested areas promotes it. At the configuration level, the Largest Patch Index (LPI) significantly enhances bird diversity, serving as the primary driving force. Landscape spatial structure affects bird diversity both directly, through its composition, and indirectly, through its configuration. (2) The dimension of urban development intensity generally shows significant negative impacts; among these, GDP has the greatest comprehensive impact and shows a significant negative impact. (3) Topography has the greatest overall impact on bird diversity among the environmental factors, with a predominantly direct positive effect. (4) Overall, urban landscape spatial structure and urban development intensity are the main driving forces of bird diversity in Anhui Province, the greatest of which is the direct effect of the urban development intensity. These results provide an important scientific basis for landscape planning and ecological protection and provide inspiration for assessing the driving factors of animal and plant diversity in other regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife viewing is growing in popularity, especially among Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC), whose participation has increased dramatically in the last 20 years. We used a nationwide sample of wildlife viewers to examine how identity as a wildlife viewer, the importance of wildlife viewing to one's life, ethnoracial identity and social support influenced the degree of participation in wildlife viewing.We examined data as part of a non‐probabilistic online survey of wildlife viewers (n = 17,104). We were particularly interested in how participation, support, the importance of wildlife viewing, and identity as wildlife viewers varied across ethnoracial groups. Support has been found to influence involvement in various activities, while identity and importance have been shown to drive continued participation, suggesting that these factors may be of great value for encouraging and sustaining behaviour.We found that, compared with White groups, multiple ethnoracial groups identified less as wildlife viewers. However, they indicated that wildlife viewing is more important to their lives. We also found that most ethnoracial groups received more support from friends, family, mentors and peers than White viewers.This research can help understand the participation of Black, Indigenous and people of colour in outdoor recreation. Furthermore, this work demonstrates how legacies of racially motivated discriminatory policies may limit participation among ethnoracially diverse communities. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small wetlands are essential for preserving global biodiversity, yet they are frequently neglected in conservation strategies due to vague definitions and a lack of research attention. In this study, we conducted thirty-six surveys via the point count method in the Xiaohongxiang Wetland, Anning City, Yunnan Province, China, from November 2023 to June 2024. We aimed to evaluate the impact of various habitats surrounding Xiaohongxiang Wetland (wetlands, villages, farmlands, cherry plantations and pine forests) on the taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity of avian species and investigate the significance of these habitats for ecological conservation and restoration efforts. A total of 62 species were recorded. Small wetlands are vital for supporting common waterbirds, but may not safeguard rare species effectively. While cherry plantations and pine forests enhance avian diversity near wetlands, their low functional diversity could limit the ecological niches available to birds. This indicates that monoculture plantations might restrict the habitat variety needed for a diverse bird community. Our study found no clear phylogenetic clustering or overdispersion amongst bird species across habitats, suggesting that community assembly is shaped by competitive exclusion, habitat filtering and neutral processes. Despite a limited sample size, our results highlight a gap between taxonomic and functional diversity, indicating that multidimensional biodiversity metrics are essential for thoroughly evaluating wetland restoration and habitat impacts on bird diversity.

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Many bird species in montane regions display altitudinal migration, but so far, the underlying ecological driving mechanisms are not clear. We studied the altitudinal migration behavior patterns and factors influencing altitudinal migration in the Xiling Snow Mountains, which are part of the Hengduan mountain range in southwest China. We recorded the local bird diversity, the seasonal change of: the average temperature (AT), the average humidity (AH), the average invertebrate biomass (AIB), and the amount of plant food sources (PFS) at two study sites (∼1300 and ∼2100 m a.s.l.) during two migration seasons from September 2022 to May 2023. During our surveys, we recorded 96 bird species in total. Among these, 15 altitudinal migrants were identified. The most common family among altitudinal migrants was Leiothrichidae. AT, AIB, and PFS had a significant positive correlation with the monthly number of individuals (MNI) several bird species, implying that increasing temperatures and an increasing abundance of invertebrates and PFS possibly induced upward migration of altitudinal migrants and vice versa. AH possibly only played a minor role in influencing altitudinal migration, since it exhibited no significant correlation with the MNI. Furthermore, we found that the upward migration temperature range of altitudinal migrants ranged between 9.8°C and 13.9°C during spring and the downward migration temperature range ranged between 12.2°C and 7.9°C during autumn. In conclusion, our study and several other studies revealed that the same environmental factors influenced the altitudinal migration patterns of birds in the Hengduan Mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Artificial reservoirs are alternative habitats for bird diversity, and knowledge of the diversity and abundance of bird species contribute to the management of the ecosystem. This study was conducted to investigate the species diversity and abundance of birds in Mai-Nigus reservoir and its surrounding semi-forest from July 2022 to March 2023. Point count method with a total of fifteen count stations at an interval of 50 m radius was used to study the diversity and abundance of bird species in the semi-forest habitat while total count employed on the reservoir. Results: A total of 123 bird species comprising endemic and globally threatened species were identified. Order Passeriformes had the highest number of species followed by Charadriiformes and Pelecaniformes. Family Scolopacidae was the most abundant followed by Ardeidae, Ploceidae and Anatidae. Bird species richness and abundance were not significantly varied across seasons and habitats (P > 0.05). The highest species diversity (H´=3.96) were recorded in the Semi-forest during the wet season, whereas the least was recorded from reservoir during the dry season (H´=2.66). The highest and lowest species evenness of birds was recorded in Semi-forest (E = 0.725) and reservoir (E = 0.448) during the dry season, respectively. Most birds that inhabited the area had frequent relative abundance followed by uncommon and common species. Conclusion: Mai-Nigus reservoir and surrounding habitat host high bird diversity and this requires critical conservation concerns for the long-term survival of birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a habitat option for the rapidly declining old-growth forests, secondary forest patches will serve as refugia for forest species in the tropics. The present study was carried out to determine the conservational significance of the Upper Hanthana secondary forest patch in Sri Lanka, based on its avifaunal diversity and endemism. The field survey was conducted from March-November 2019. Data were collected using line transects along with point counts. Peak observation hours were during 0700-1000 h and 1500-1800 h in the sites selected by systematic random sampling. Results were compared with those of a nearby village area. According to statistical analysis, the Upper Hanthana secondary forest patch harbours a comparatively higher avifaunal diversity with 87 bird species and remarkable endemism of 17 endemic bird species out of total 34 endemic bird species in Sri Lanka. The present study highlights the significance of the Upper Hanthana forest patch for biodiversity conservation. Further studies are required to evaluate the total biodiversity of this secondary forest patch and assess better conservational measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecologically, the presence of avifauna is a crucial indicator of ecosystem equilibrium. The diversity of bird species and their community structure serves as an essential tool for assessing ecological impacts. This study aimed to evaluate the species composition, evenness, and diversity of wild bird species across different habitats in Egypt from May 2023 to February 2024. The study identified 17,387 individuals from 40 resident bird species belonging to 25 families and 10 orders. The house sparrow exhibited the highest relative abundance among resident bird species, followed by the western cattle egret, barn swallow, house crow, rock pigeon, little egret, hooded crow, laughing dove, and common myna. In terms of migratory birds, 6,050 individuals from 39 species across 22 families and 11 orders were observed. The slender-billed gull, little stint, great cormorant, common ringed plover, the European beeeater, black-winged stilt, and white wagtail had the highest relative abundances among migratory species. The distribution of bird species across different sites revealed that the coastal area (CA) and the Suez Canal & Gulf Suez (SCGS) each harbored 25% of the total number of resident species, followed by the Nile Delta (ND) with 21%, the Nile Valley (NV) with 16%, and the Faiyum (F) area with 13%. For migratory birds, the CA accounted for 48% of all migratory species, followed by the F area at 23%, ND at 13%, SCGS at 11%, and NV at 5%. The highest species richness was recorded in the CA, followed by SCGS, ND, F, and NV. The highest values for the Shannon and Simpson indices were found in the CA, NV, ND, SCGS, and F areas, respectively. It can be concluded that the Egyptian environment, especially aquatic habitats, is a valuable resource for the Egyptian avifauna by providing food sources and nesting sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Grasslands are one of the most threatened terrestrial biomes leading to a loss of grassland biodiversity, including birds. Two important factors contributing to the loss of grasslands and their birds are the expansion of woody vegetation and invasive exotic grasses into native grassland habitats. To be able to protect grassland bird communities, it is essential to know how they are affected by these two threats. In this study, we determined the wintering grassland bird diversity and community structure in two private livestock ranches in the Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico, and related this to vegetation measurements, such as grass cover and height, shrub cover and height, as well as the cover of the invasive exotic natal grass. We found that the amount of bare ground (no vegetation) negatively affected the grassland bird diversity on a local scale. We also found that shrub cover, grass height and natal grass cover affected the grassland bird community composition at the ranch level, indicating that shrub cover and natal grass appeared to negatively affect the presence of grassland specialist bird species in the bird community. The results, therefore, indicated that it is important to halt the invasion of shrubs and natal grass into grasslands because they alter the grassland bird community. Grasslands are one of the most threatened terrestrial biomes leading to a loss of grassland biodiversity, including birds. Here, we studied the wintering grassland bird diversity and community structure in two private livestock ranches in the Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico. We explored how bird communities are related to vegetation structure, including shrub cover and invasive exotic natal grass (Melinis repens), two drivers of grassland bird habitat degradation. We used Hill's numbers to estimate taxonomic species richness and diversity and related these metrics to vegetation covariables using linear models. We employed nonmetric dimensional scaling (NMDS) to explore the importance of vegetation covariates in structuring bird communities. We found that bird species diversity was significantly and negatively related to bare ground cover at a plot level. At the ranch level, shrub cover, grass height and natal grass were important in structuring avian communities, negatively affecting the presence and abundance of grassland specialist bird species. Our results indicated that shrub encroachment and invasive exotic natal grass cover may alter grassland bird communities and should, therefore, be considered in grassland bird conservation management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity metrics have become a ubiquitous component of conservation assessments across scales. However, whilst indices have become increasingly widely used, their ability to perform in the face of different biases has remained largely untested under realistic conditions. Citizen science data are increasingly available, but present new challenges and biases, thus understanding how to use them effectively is essential. Here, we built a virtual world incorporating BirdLife data and accounting for their biases, then explored how well commonly‐used diversity metrics could estimate known values across a suite of representative scenarios. We used predictive modelling to model bird diversity globally and overcome biases using the approaches found most accurate in prior assessments. Performance was highly variable across the different types of biases, but in many instances Simpson's index performed best, followed by Hill numbers, whereas Pielou's index was almost universally worst. From standardised tests, we then applied these metrics to eBird data using 611 520 112 samples of 10 359 species of bird (around 88% of known species), to reconstruct global diversity patterns at five and ten km resolutions. However, when we mapped out diversity using Maxent based on these indices, Simpson's index generally over‐predicted diversity, whereas Hill numbers were more conservative. Based on an average of the better projected indices, one can map out diversity across resolutions and overcome biases accurately predicting diversity patterns even for data‐poor areas, but if a single metric is used, Hill numbers are most robust to bias. Going forward, this workflow will enable standardized best practices for diversity mapping based on a clear understanding of the performance of different metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citizen science data on biodiversity has experienced significant growth, largely driven by advancements in technology that facilitate data sharing. In recent years, mobile applications have provided a substantial boost to both the collection and sharing of this data. While this accessible information is undoubtedly valuable, we must consider the numerous biases present in this data when used for high-quality research. In this study, we analyse citizen science data for the birds of the Iberian Peninsula, comprising over 23 million unique records after filtering for duplicates (i.e., instances where the same observation was uploaded more than once). Using a 10 × 10 km square grid, we present information on well-surveyed cells (completeness) as well as temporal, taxonomic, geographical, and land use coverages. We found that the completeness of information is generally high, with better coverage around densely populated areas such as major cities and coastal regions, as well as popular birding destinations, which are frequently visited. The Mediterranean ecoregion and wetlands exhibit the highest levels of surveying. Furthermore, we observed an increase in temporal coverage since the 1980s and broad taxonomic coverage across all bird orders in the Iberian region. Our results underscore the utility of citizen science for many locations, as expressed in 10 × 10 km cells. However, they also highlight the inadequate data completeness across part of the territory, particularly in forested or sparsely inhabited areas. These findings not only identify cells suitable for bird diversity or conservation studies but also indicate areas where citizen-driven bird recording efforts should be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The distribution of birds among islands is thought to be regulated by island physical geography (i.e. island area, isolation and latitude). In contrast, work on continents indicates that bird diversity is often regulated by plant diversity. Consequently, the (statistical) direct and indirect effects of physical geography on island bird distribution are poorly understood. We investigated the relative roles of physical geography and vegetation in determining island bird diversity in the South West Pacific at two taxonomic scales of resolution: total bird diversity and bird diversity within functional guilds. Location: Eleven archipelagos in the South West Pacific. Taxon: Land birds. Methods: We created a dataset characterising total and functional guild diversity for land birds and seed plants (i.e. Spermatophytes) among archipelagos. We then used mediation analysis to disentangle the direct and indirect (i.e. mediated) effects of physical geography and vegetation on bird diversity. Results: On a broad taxonomic scale, total bird diversity was directly determined by total plant diversity, not the area, isolation or latitude of islands. On a fine taxonomic scale results differed between functional guilds. The diversity of herbivorous and frugivorous birds was directly determined by physical geography rather than plant total and trait diversity. Woody and herbaceous plant species diversity mediated the effect of physical geography on forest‐dwelling, above ground nesting and ground nesting bird diversity. Granivorous, nectarivorous and grassland‐dwelling bird diversities were unrelated to both physical geography and herbaceous plant diversity. Main Conclusions: Physical geography and vegetation can have both direct and indirect effects on island bird diversity. Furthermore, relationships between physical geography, vegetation and bird diversity can vary markedly among functional guilds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2014, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 viruses of clade 2.3.4.4 have been dominating the outbreaks across Europe, causing massive deaths among poultry and wild birds. However, the factors shaping these broad‐scale outbreak patterns, especially those related to waterbird community composition, remain unclear. In particular, we do not know whether these risk factors differ from those of other H5 clades. Addressing this knowledge gap is important for predicting and preventing future HPAI outbreaks. Using extensive waterbird survey datasets from about 6883 sites, we here explored the effect of waterbird community composition on HPAI H5Nx (clade 2.3.4.4) spatial patterns in the 2016/2017 and 2020/2021 epidemics in Europe, and compared it with the 2005/2006 HPAI H5N1 (clade 2.2) epidemic. We showed that HPAI H5 occurrences in wild birds in the three epidemics were strongly associated with very similar waterbird community attributes, which suggested that, in nature, similar interspecific transmission processes operate between the HPAI H5 subtypes or clades. Importantly, community phylogenetic diversity consistently showed a negative association with H5 occurrence in all three epidemics, suggesting a dilution effect of phylogenetic diversity. In contrast, waterbird community variables showed much weaker associations with HPAI H5Nx occurrence in poultry. Our results demonstrate that models based on previous epidemics can predict future HPAI H5 patterns in wild birds, implying that it is important to include waterbird community factors in future HPAI studies to predict outbreaks and improve surveillance activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensively managed viticulture dominates vast landscapes in the Mediterranean, but considerable vineyard abandonment has been observed over the past two decades. The effect of vineyard abandonment on biodiversity is poorly understood, making it difficult to assess the restoration potential of this common land-use change. We assessed biodiversity responses to vineyard abandonment in Vaucluse, Southern France, using birds as indicator group. We compared bird abundance and diversity in a sample of 64 vineyards, pairing 16 currently managed vineyards with 16 recently abandoned and 16 managed with 16 longer abandoned vineyards. We used mixed models and multivariate techniques to establish relationships between bird diversity and structural attributes of the habitats, and we derived management-specific population densities in a distance sampling approach. Long-abandoned vineyards hosted three times more species and showed a 3.6 times higher total bird abundance than managed viticulture. More recently abandoned vineyards had intermediate species numbers and abundance. Species richness patterns were not modulated by landscape composition and configuration, but higher abundances were found in landscapes with intermediate size of land-cover patches (i.e. field size). In managed vineyards, bird abundances were extremely low, with the exception of Woodlark Lullula arborea , which reached its highest abundance in managed vineyards. The bird community on abandoned vineyards shifted towards forest and woodland shrub species, likely driven by secondary succession, namely shrub encroachment and tree establishment. The strongly positive effects of land abandonment might be due to the fact that only single vineyards (not entire landscapes) were abandoned, thereby increasing habitat heterogeneity at the landscape scale. The future state of the old abandoned vineyards is difficult to predict. As of yet, the abandoned vineyards support a comparably diverse community of breeding birds that reach high abundances in comparison to managed vineyards, within an otherwise impoverished agricultural landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban ecological corridors play an important role in facilitating bird migration and maintaining biodiversity in urban landscapes as key connections between habitat patches. However, the effects of built environment characteristics of urban ecological corridors on bird diversity have not been well understood. In this study, we used Minhang District, Shanghai, as an example to describe the built environment of urban ecological corridors through three dimensions (habitat characteristics, degree of surrounding urbanization, and degree of slow-traffic connectivity). We calculated species richness, abundance, Shannon–Wiener index, and Simpson Index to assess bird diversity based on the bird observation dataset from the Citizen Science Data Sharing Platform. The effects of built environment characteristics of urban ecological corridors on bird diversity were quantified by the Generalized Linear Model. The results showed that: (1) There were significant differences in the built environment characteristics of urban ecological corridors, which formed the spatial differentiation pattern of bird diversity. (2) Different built environment features of urban ecological corridors have different impacts on bird diversity. Habitat suitability of urban ecological corridors was positively correlated with bird diversity, with birds preferring to inhabit waters with an area of more than 1 ha. The degree of urbanization was negatively correlated with bird diversity, with distance to the center of the area proving to have the strongest positive effect. The degree of slow-traffic connectivity proved that low-intensity human activities in urban ecological corridors had a lower impact on bird diversity. The above findings can provide scientific reference for the construction of urban and regional ecological networks in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations into how ecotourist resorts and their visitors impact local ecosystems and their wildlife have produced mixed results. One characteristic of ecotourist infrastructure is anthropogenic noise, and especially how fluctuations of visitors contribute to it. Furthermore, we do not understand how these noise levels influence animal species richness and/or assemblages. Here, we used passive acoustic recording over nine months to quantify how variation in weekly and seasonal human activity influence local bird assemblages at a popular ecotourist resort situated on K'gari (Fraser Island), Australia, a UNESCO World Heritage site and an Important Bird Area (Birdlife International). Background noise levels were highest during peak tourist season, especially proximate to main buildings. This noise was primarily associated with machinery and vehicles, but not human voices or music. Bird species richness correlated with noise (levels and detections), but did not appear to be sensitive to peak seasons or human voices. Community composition, however, was influenced by temporal and spatial fluctuations across peak tourist seasons. This study has implications for the development and maintenance of ecotourist infrastructure attempting to support visitors seeking sightings of rare or sensitive bird species and highlights anthropogenic noise as an important consideration for the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Ecology & Rural Environment is the property of Journal of Ecology & Rural Environment Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is exerting growing pressure on natural ecosystems, but its impact on biological interactions remains unclear. This study aimed to assess how ALAN influences leaf functional traits and herbivory in two prevalent street tree species (Styphnolobium japonicum (L.) Schott and Fraxinus pennsylvanica) through field surveys and paired experiments in the urban areas of Beijing, China. We found that ALAN led to increased leaf toughness and decreased levels of leaf herbivory. Additionally, ALAN showed species-specific effects on leaf nutrients, size as well as defense substances. The findings illustrate that ALAN can significantly alter some key functional traits and ecological processes (nutrient cycling, energy flow). In general, we suggest that high ALAN intensity will be detrimental to the energy flow from urban plants to higher trophic levels, posing a potential threat to the maintenance of biodiversity (e.g., arthropod diversity, bird diversity) in urban ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modified production landscapes, biodiversity faces unprecedented pressures from human actions, resulting in significant species declines of plant and animal taxa, including birds. Understanding the underlying mechanisms responsible for such declines is essential to counteract further loss and support practitioners in conserving biodiversity and associated ecosystem function. In this study, we used standardized bird monitoring data collected over 6 years in managed forest and grassland areas across different regions in Germany, Central Europe. We combined these data with morphometric, ecological, behavioral, and acoustic trait data and detailed information on local land use management practices to understand how management decisions affect species and functional diversity, as well as ecological processes shaping local species composition. Our results reveal that the ecosystem and regional context must be considered to understand how management practices affect bird diversity aspects and composition. In forests, regional management decisions related to tree species and stand age affected bird diversity, as well as community and functional composition, and indicated environmental sorting due to ecological and behavioral requirements, biotic interactions, and morphometric constraints. In grasslands, independent of local management practices, increased intensity of land use resulted in an overall loss in bird species richness and functional diversity. Predominantly, constraints due to ecological or behavioral requirements affected bird species assemblage composition. In addition, our results indicated the importance of woody vegetation near managed grasslands and of considering environmental conditions beyond the local scale to support bird diversity and associated ecosystem functions. Our results highlighted that local management decisions can support bird diversity and maintain ecological function. However, this needs a view beyond the local scale of management units. It also demands a joint effort of biologists and land managers to integrate targeted conservation actions into regional management practices and create a network of habitats within production landscapes to protect nature, guard against biotic and functional homogenization, and prevent further degradation of ecosystems in production landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the relationship between landscape features and avian diversity in South Korea, examining both taxonomic and functional diversity. The Korean Peninsula serves as a pivotal habitat for resident bird species and a migratory pathway in the East Asia-Pacific flyway. Using a national dataset with block sizes ranging from 3.5 to 4.5 kilometers per side, we found that less urbanized open plains exhibit higher taxonomic diversity, while coastal regions with diverse water bird populations show higher functional diversity. These findings underscore the significance of conserving the existing land types and qualities in specific regions to substantially impact bird distribution and regional biodiversity. Remarkably, closed forests display diversity patterns akin to urban/built-up areas, despite their disparate land use characteristics. The stability of bird diversity indices across different land use types enables us to predict bird diversity indices based on the particular land use and land cover configurations. This study emphasizes the complementary nature of functional biodiversity indices in comprehending bird distribution patterns alongside taxonomic diversity indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data on bird species elevational distributions from the world's mountain ranges, bird diets, and the distribution of the ant genus Oecophylla, we report that global patterns in bird elevational diversity show signals of competition with ants. Oecophylla is an abundant and effective predator of invertebrates, preying on the same species that invertivorous birds feed on. In mountain ranges with Oecophylla present in the foothills, the maximum species richness of invertivorous birds (but not other trophic guilds) occurs, on average, at 960 m, ca. 450 m higher than in mountain ranges without Oecophylla, resulting in a mid‐elevation peak in bird species richness. Where Oecophylla is absent, bird species richness for all guilds generally show monotonic declines with increasing elevation. We argue that Oecophylla reduces prey density for invertivorous birds and that low prey abundance reduces invertivorous bird density, which in turn is correlated with lower bird species richness. These findngs suggest that competition between distantly related taxa can set range limits, leading to emergent diversity patterns over large scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies of overwintering migratory birds in neotropical environments have found that species co-occur in the same habitats despite high diet overlap. Hence, discovering subtle diet differences within habitats can help explain patterns in bird species diversity. The Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico is an important region for overwintering migratory birds, but little is known about how habitat differences in food resources contribute to bird diversity. To address the knowledge gap, we compared the degree of overlap in the diet of all terrestrial migratory birds within and between mangrove and tropical dry forests on the Yucatan Peninsula's northern coast. We collected data on the consumption of food items through direct observation of birds feeding on four transects in each habitat every week (12 weeks) during the non-breeding season (i.e., overwinter, December-February). We recorded 19 species, 15 species in mangrove and 15 species in forest, with 11 of those found in both habitats. In both habitats, diet overlap was high. However, species present only in the tropical dry forest had less overlap than species occurring in both habitats, indicating that diet specialization might restrict the range of habitats that a species can occupy. On the other hand, species present only in the mangrove had similar diet overlap to species present in both habitats. The diet variation that did exist was greater within than between habitats possibly due to intraspecific diet differences among different geographic locations. Although small, within-habitat diet differences might be key to allowing species to coexist locally in the Yucatan, thus supporting studies demonstrating a similar mechanism in other neotropical regions. More generally, the information we provide on bird diet can be used to discover whether threats like anthropogenic development precipitate species loss via altering the resource base upon which birds rely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Answering many fundamental and applied scientific questions relies on accurate geographic range maps for species, such as those compiled by experts working with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, these maps are resource demanding to produce and only available for a limited number of organisms. Here, we test to what extent standardized, data‐driven methods based on publicly available occurrences can reproduce expert‐based IUCN range maps and the macroecological conclusions drawn from them. Location: Global. Time Period: Present. Taxa: Birds. Materials and Methods: We estimated the geographic ranges for 7385 non‐marine bird species which either were non‐migratory or had spatially connected breeding and wintering ranges from publicly available, georeferenced point occurrences. We then quantified the spatial overlap between these range estimates and the IUCN expert‐derived range estimates. Finally, we compared global species richness patterns and the environmental correlates that emerge from both approaches. Results: We find that range estimates based on point occurrence records overlap on average 52% with expert range estimates for the same species. The global species richness patterns estimated under both approaches are overall similar but show local and regional differences, for example, in the tropical Andes of northern South America and the Central Arc region of Africa. The estimated global drivers of richness are similar. Main Conclusions: Expert‐derived estimates of species distributions are not reproducible by data‐driven approaches relying on currently available public records, even for well‐documented taxa such as birds. However, these discrepancies do not substantially change our macroecological understanding of global drivers of bird diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandothi Wetlands located in district Jhajjar of Haryana, India is about 1000 acres of farmland, serves as a crucial habitat for numerous species of winter migratory birds. From December 2021 to March 2023, fortnightly periodic visits were made to the area by using scan sampling and point-cum-line transect methods. A total of 54 winter migratory birds' species were recorded including 33 genera, 19 families, and 8 orders. Order Charadriiformes was highly diverse with the presence of 17 species in the study area. Feeding guild analysis expressed that Insectivores were the dominant ones among all guilds. As per the IUCN Red List criteria, 48 species were classified as least concern (LC) whereas, 3 species were classified as Near Threatened (NT) i.e., Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata, Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea, and 3 species were classified as Vulnerable (VU) such as Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca, Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga and Common Pochard Aythya ferina globally. Study area holds a significant role in sustaining the diversity of birds and also facing various stress factors thus it needs to be conserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sicilian wetlands (Italy) are seriously threatened by human activities and ongoing climate change. The loss of these wetlands as migratory stepping stones could severely hamper the migratory flow of many bird species along the central Mediterranean. Targeted actions for the conservation of the avifauna require thorough knowledge of the utilization that waterbirds make of these habitats. Aiming to inform planning for more satisfactory bird habitat management and bird diversity preservation along the Mediterranean migratory bird flyway, in this study, we inventoried the avian metacommunity of the coastal wetlands in Sicily during the most critical period of the year (July–September) and used a multilevel analytical framework to explore the spatiotemporal dynamics in bird species assemblages. We recorded 73 bird species, of which almost 90% were migratory and 30 belonged to Annex I of the Birds Directive. At the metacommunity level, we found that all the biodiversity metrics were low in July and approximately doubled in the successive sampling sessions (August–September), where they showed little if any change. At the community level, we detected two main clusters of wetlands with regard to species richness, of which one (wetlands Baronello, Gela, Gornalunga, and Roveto) was characterized by higher levels of species richness in nearly all the sampling dates. The pattern of species richness in the Sicilian wetlands was most similar between the first and second half of August, while July was very dissimilar from all the other sampling dates. At the guild level, we found a significant increase during July–September in the number of the species belonging to the "Mediterranean" migration guild and the "divers from the surface" and "surface feeders" foraging guilds. At the species level, we detected a significant temporal sequence of the occurrence of waterbird species: two species were only early dwellers in July, ten species were only late dwellers in September, and twenty-six species made use of the Sicilian wetlands all summer long. The spatial distribution of the waterbird species differed significantly between any pair of sampling dates. Overall, the Little Grebe, the Spotted Redshank, and the Little Tern were the bird species with the highest site infidelity; by contrast, the Black Stork, the Broad-billed Sandpiper, the European Golden Plover, the Common Shelduck, and the Black-necked Grebe changed their spatial distribution among wetlands the least during July–September. Our study allowed us to detect (1) the wetlands and (2) the waterbird species to which the priority for conservation should be assigned, as well as (3) the exact time span during July–September when conservation measures should be mandatory, and not only advisable. These results provide a broader insight of the space–time patterns in bird species assembly in the coastal wetlands of Sicily during the critical summer period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the spatial heterogeneity of bird community distribution within urban greenways is crucial for optimizing ecological functions and supporting urban biodiversity. While ecological corridors enhance connectivity and biodiversity, specific mechanisms by which landscape composition and configuration influence bird diversity remain unclear. This study examines bird community distribution along the Qingshan Lake Greenway in Hangzhou during autumn and winter, using 17 observation points across wetlands, forests, and mixed habitats. The key findings indicate that wetlands have significantly higher species richness compared to forests and mixed habitats, underscoring wetlands' critical role in supporting diverse bird communities. Greenways primarily facilitate short-distance bird movement with limited permeability between habitats. Additionally, greenway effectiveness in enhancing bird diversity depends heavily on design and structural characteristics. This research highlights the necessity of incorporating microhabitat design and diverse habitat configurations in greenway planning to enhance ecological connectivity and biodiversity. It provides essential insights for urban planners and ecologists, emphasizing detailed landscape composition and configuration analyses. Future research should include year-round studies and advanced ecological monitoring technologies to validate and expand these findings, ultimately contributing to more effective urban biodiversity conservation and sustainable development strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avian species diversity in Southern Africa is remarkably high, yet the mechanisms responsible for that diversity are poorly understood. While this is particularly true with respect to species endemic to the subregion, it is unclear as to how more broadly distributed African species may have colonized southern Africa. One process that may in part account for the high bird species diversity in southern Africa is a “species pump” model, wherein the region was repeatedly colonized by lineages from areas further north: a pattern related to climate cycling and the eastern African arid corridor. Once occupying southern Africa, with its many varied biomes, it is possible that climate cycling further affected lineages by generating genetic diversity in multiple refugia, a pattern recently shown for several southern African bird species. Here, we used mtDNA to address these questions in a widespread, sedentary habitat generalist bird species, the familiar chat (Oenanthe familiaris). The phylogenetic structure suggests a north‐to‐south colonization pattern, supporting the “species pump” model. Haplotype diversity was partitioned into two distinct clusters: southern Africa and Malawi (East Africa). Southern African haplotypes were not geographically partitioned, and we hypothesize that this pattern has arisen because this species is a habitat generalist, and as such resilient to habitat‐altering climate perturbations. Based on our phylogenetic results, we discuss the validity of currently recognized subspecies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian Himalayan Region contributes a rich biodiversity zone in the world. The wetland ecosystems also play major role to enhance the avian diversity in the Uttarakhand. However, various factors influence the distribution, abundance, and diversity of waterbird species. The current study was performed to know the current status and distribution of waterbird species in riverine and water reservoir wetlands of Uttarakhand. Total 22 species along with 1 Vulnerable, 02 near threaten and 01 Endangered waterbird species recorded from the study sites. In our study about 10-30% water migratory bird species contributes to increase the local bird diversity in the wetland area and waterbird changing their habitat due to anthropogenic activity. The maximum waterbird species with their individual reported at manmade wetland. The presence of endangered and threatened species in these wetland emphases on the conservation programme and a regular monitoring requires understanding the waterbird species distribution pattern and influencing factors for waterbird species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds are an important component of the food chain as they support associated fauna and their assemblage is dependent on the type of habitat. Changing environments, such as urbanization severely affects bird diversity and their ecology. However, natural green patches and artificial gardens could support significant bird diversity and help them to survive through. Composition of bird species in green patches of a particular urban area may vary depending on the size of the area and type of the vegetation. Bird diversity of five urban green patches in a metropolitan city, Pune, India was studied. Bird diversity was monitored at four urban sites (Panchawati, Saras Baug, Fergusson College, and Nigdi) and one natural hill forest site (Sinhagad valley). Food grid and residential status of the birds was also analyzed which were observed in all study sites. Bird assemblage at Sinhagad valley was distinct than other urban sites. Among the urban sites, Panchawati harbors the highest number of bird species while at Nigdi, we recorded the lowest number of bird species. All the sites were dominated by Passeriformes birds followed by Accipitriformes birds. All the urban sites support native bird species while Sinhagad valley supports native and migratory birds owing to its large area and natural forest coverage. Irrespective of the habitat, all sites predominantly support insectivore and omnivore birds. The results of the present study along with the other reports are useful for monitoring bird diversity, helpful to understand the impact of urbanization on bird assemblage, and prioritizing future conservation action plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coconut farming contributes to the livelihoods of millions of people in tropical countries but is less frequently considered as a threat to biodiversity compared to other palm commodities such as oil palm. The expansion of coconut farming alongside other smallholder agriculture in Sulawesi, Indonesia, is of potential concern as the region is a centre of species endemism. We studied bird diversity and community structure in forests, coconut palm plantations and mixed farmland in Gorontalo Province, northern Sulawesi. Forest and non-forest sites supported similar numbers of species overall, but compared to agricultural areas, forest sites had communities that were more diverse and more even (i.e. different species were present at similar abundances). We found far fewer endemic species in agricultural areas compared to forests, and the communities in palm plantations and mixed farmland sites were dominated by generalist birds, with few indicator taxa. Nevertheless, there was a higher number of endemic species in coconut palm plantations than in mixed farmland sites. These findings mirror patterns of biotic homogenization documented elsewhere in the Wallacea centre of endemism, and imply that coconut palm plantations have comparable biodiversity value to other farmland systems. Increased protection of lowland forests and improved management of coconut farms could be important for supporting the conservation of the endemic birds of Sulawesi in the long term, but this warrants further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species detections often vary depending on the survey methods employed. Some species may go undetected when using only one approach in community‐level inventory and monitoring programs, which has management and conservation implications. We conducted a comparative study of terrestrial mammal and bird detections in the spring and summer of 2021 by placing camera traps at 30 locations across a large military installation in northern Michigan, USA and testing replicate soil samples from these sites for environmental DNA (eDNA) using an established vertebrate metabarcoding assay. We detected a total of 48 taxa from both survey methods: 26 mammalian taxa (excluding humans, 24 to species and two to genus) and 22 avian taxa (21 to species and one to genus). We detected a relatively even distribution of mammalian taxa on cameras (17) and via eDNA analysis (15), with seven taxa detected from both methods. Most medium‐to‐large carnivores were detected only on cameras, whereas semi‐fossorial small mammals were detected only via eDNA analysis. We detected higher bird diversity with camera traps (18 taxa) compared to eDNA analysis (eight taxa; four taxa were detected with both methods), but cameras alone were most effective at detecting smaller birds that frequently occupy arboreal environments. We also used Bayesian spatial occupancy models for two widely distributed game species (white‐tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, and ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus) that were moderately detected with both survey methods and found species‐specific site use (occupancy) estimates were similar between cameras and eDNA analysis. Concordant with similar studies, our findings suggest that a combination of camera trap and eDNA surveys could be most useful for assessing the composition of terrestrial mammal communities. Camera traps may be most efficient for assessing bird diversity but can be complemented with eDNA analysis, particularly for species that spend considerable time on the ground. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Mountain systems harbour disproportionate biodiversity on Earth. However, the mechanism underlying community assembly along elevational gradients remains unclear due to the complexity of environmental constraints and biotic interactions. Birds play a crucial role in mountain system and are sensitive to environmental changes, making them an ideal taxon for exploring diversity patterns and the underlying assembly processes. We aimed to identify the elevational patterns of multifaceted bird diversity and explore how different ecological processes drive community assembly. Location: A 2600 m elevational gradient on the eastern margin of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. Methods: We identified the elevational patterns and assembly processes of alpha‐ and beta‐diversity in the taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional dimensions. We compared the multidimensional beta‐diversity components and assessed the response of beta‐diversity to variations in elevational and environmental distances. Finally, we examined the roles of spatial and environmental factors in structuring the diversity patterns. Results: We observed bimodal elevational patterns across species richness, phylogenetic diversity, and functional diversity but distinct community structures in terms of mean pairwise phylogenetic, and functional diversity. We detected a linear decline in phylogenetic and functional diversity with increasing elevation after controlling for the confounding effect of species richness. We documented relatively high taxonomic and phylogenetic total beta‐diversity, but low functional total beta‐diversity. Turnover dissimilarity contributed much more to total beta‐diversity than nestedness‐resultant dissimilarity. The elevational patterns of standardised measures indicated that competition exclusion and environmental filtering jointly shaped the community assembly process. In general, mean annual temperature, annual precipitation, and area significantly influenced the majority of diversity measures. Conclusions: Our results revealed incongruent community structures across phylogenetic and functional diversity. Additionally, our results indicated that species with similar ecological performances or distinct lineages may exhibit convergent adaptations to cold and dry environments. These findings provide insights into the mechanistic understanding of the community assembly process and assist in conservation planning in mountain systems by integrating multifaceted diversity across different dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]