1. Winter Bird Assemblages in Rural and Urban Environments: A National Survey
- Author
-
Piotr Tryjanowski, Tim H Sparks, Waldemar Biaduń, Tomasz Brauze, Tomasz Hetmański, Rafał Martyka, Piotr Skórka, Piotr Indykiewicz, Łukasz Myczko, Przemysław Kunysz, Piotr Kawa, Stanisław Czyż, Paweł Czechowski, Michał Polakowski, Piotr Zduniak, Leszek Jerzak, Tomasz Janiszewski, Artur Goławski, Leszek Duduś, Jacek J Nowakowski, Andrzej Wuczyński, Dariusz Wysocki, Tryjanowski Piotr, Institute of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Sparks Tim H., Institute of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Biaduń Waldemar, Department of Zoology and Invertebrate Ecology, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Brauze Tomasz, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Hetmański Tomasz, Department of Zoology, Pomeranian University, Martyka Rafał, Institute of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Skórka Piotr, Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Indykiewicz Piotr, Department of Zoology and Landscaping, University of Technology and Life Sciences, Myczko Łukasz, Institute of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Kunysz Przemysław, Przemysl Ornithological Society, Kawa Piotr, Institute of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Czyż Stanisław, Upper Silesian Ornithological Society, Czechowski Paweł, Institute for Tourism and Recreation, State Higher Vocational School in Sulechów, Polakowski Michał, Department of Environmental Protection and Management, Bialystok University of Technology, Zduniak Piotr, Department of Avian Biology & Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Jerzak Leszek, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, Janiszewski Tomasz, Department of Teacher Training and Biodiversity Studies, University of Łódz, Goławski Artur, Department of Zoology, University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Siedlce, Dudu Leszek, 5 Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lower-Silesian Field Station, Nowakowski Jacek J., Department of Ecology & Environmental Protection, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Wuczyński Andrzej, 5 Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lower-Silesian Field Station, and Wysocki Dariusz, Department of Vertebrate Anatomy and Zoology, University of Szczecin
- Subjects
Science ,Biodiversity ,Environment ,Urban area ,Birds ,Abundance (ecology) ,Urban planning ,Animals ,Humans ,Cities ,Population Density ,Multidisciplinary ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,Ecology ,Species diversity ,Geography ,Habitat ,Linear Models ,Medicine ,Species richness ,Poland ,Seasons ,Rural area ,Animal Distribution ,Research Article - Abstract
Urban development has a marked effect on the ecological and behavioural traits of many living organisms, including birds. In this paper, we analysed differences in the numbers of wintering birds between rural and urban areas in Poland. We also analysed species richness and abundance in relation to longitude, latitude, human population size, and landscape structure. All these parameters were analysed using modern statistical techniques incorporating species detectability. We counted birds in 156 squares (0.25 km2 each) in December 2012 and again in January 2013 in locations in and around 26 urban areas across Poland (in each urban area we surveyed 3 squares and 3 squares in nearby rural areas). The influence of twelve potential environmental variables on species abundance and richness was assessed with Generalized Linear Mixed Models, Principal Components and Detrended Correspondence Analyses. Totals of 72 bird species and 89,710 individual birds were recorded in this study. On average (± SE) 13.3 ± 0.3 species and 288 ± 14 individuals were recorded in each square in each survey. A formal comparison of rural and urban areas revealed that 27 species had a significant preference; 17 to rural areas and 10 to urban areas. Moreover, overall abundance in urban areas was more than double that of rural areas. There was almost a complete separation of rural and urban bird communities. Significantly more birds and more bird species were recorded in January compared to December. We conclude that differences between rural and urban areas in terms of winter conditions and the availability of resources are reflected in different bird communities in the two environments.
- Published
- 2015