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Diversity
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Avian Diversity in Forest and Grassland
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Avian Diversity in Forest and Grassland

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Diversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024 | Viewed by 3091

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Grzegorz Kopij

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Vertebrate Ecology, Wrocław University of Environmental & Life Scinces, Wrocław, Poland
Interests: ornithology; zoology; ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Throughout the world, forest is a major biome, while its most attractive components are birds. Despite intensive research on their diversity, population density, habitat selection, population changes, and other aspects of ecology, there is still an urgent need for further studies. This Special Issue is an excellent opportunity to report on recent research on ecological aspects of forest birds. Authors are encouraged to submit reviews, synthesis work as well as specific case studies with broad implications. Emphasis in this Special Issue is on: 1) the impact of environmental changes (e.g. forest fragmentation, forests edge, climate change, nest-boxes, habitat structure) on diversity, population density and population dynamics of forests birds; 2) comparison of avian communities between natural and cultivated forests, and between urban and exurban woodlands; 3) birds (woodpeckers, raptors, hole-nesting passerines) as indicators of forest condition. If you are interested in this opportunity please do not hesitate to contact us.

Prof. Dr. Grzegorz Kopij
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • avian community
  • avian diversity
  • environmental changes
  • forest fragmentation
  • population density and dynamics
  • conservation of forest birds
  • nest box studies
  • effect of habitat structure and floral composition
  • urbanized versus natural woodlands
  • natural versus cultivated forests

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 2951 KiB  
Article
Habitat Selection of Three Neotropical Grassland Birds Is Dependent on Vegetation Structure and Resources
by Jo Peacock, Ross Macleod, G. Matt Davies, Tjalle Boorsma and Christopher M. Tonra
Diversity 2024, 16(4), 229; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16040229 - 10 Apr 2024
Viewed by 618
Abstract
Grassland birds are globally imperiled. Those of endemic Neotropical savannas may be particularly threatened as knowledge of the ecology of many species is lacking, restricting our ability to take decisive conservation action. During the dry (non-breeding) season of 2010, we studied the population [...] Read more.
Grassland birds are globally imperiled. Those of endemic Neotropical savannas may be particularly threatened as knowledge of the ecology of many species is lacking, restricting our ability to take decisive conservation action. During the dry (non-breeding) season of 2010, we studied the population size, distribution, and habitat associations of the Cock-tailed Tyrant (Alectrurus tricolor), Black-masked Finch (Coryphaspiza melanotis), and Wedge-tailed Grass-finch (Emberiziodes herbicola) across a disturbance-mediated savanna–grassland gradient in Beni, Bolivia. We used distance sampling and surveyed structural and resource-specific habitat features at plots where birds were present versus random locations. Occupancy models identified fine-scale habitat associations. Cock-tailed Tyrant (7.1 ind./km2) specialized on open habitats in areas expected to be heavily inundated in the wet season, avoided trees, and selected tall grassy swards. Black-masked Finch (25.1 ind./km2) occurred across the gradient, associating with tall, forb-rich swards, sparse shrubs, and low levels of fruiting and seeding vegetation. Wedge-tailed Grass-finch (27.9 ind./km2) also occurred across the gradient, particularly associated with tall, forb-rich swards, abundant seeding grasses, and sparse shrubs. Our results offer the first quantitative abundance estimates for these species in Beni, provide vital baselines for future monitoring, and improve knowledge of the ecology and conservation management needs of these species. Importantly, our results suggest that populations of these three grassland birds may be best maintained in heterogenous, mosaic landscapes that can be produced by carefully managed burning and grazing. Further research in the breeding season would facilitate making stronger, more specific management recommendations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Diversity in Forest and Grassland)
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17 pages, 5030 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Rainfall on the Population Densities and Community Structure of Birds in an Urbanized Zambezi Riparian Forest
by Grzegorz Kopij
Diversity 2023, 15(11), 1126; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15111126 - 31 Oct 2023
Viewed by 945
Abstract
The species which make up the avian community are governed by a multitude of environmental and internal influences, and the crucial role of community ecology is to discern and explain the patterns arising from these influences. Some such influences are habitat structure and [...] Read more.
The species which make up the avian community are governed by a multitude of environmental and internal influences, and the crucial role of community ecology is to discern and explain the patterns arising from these influences. Some such influences are habitat structure and seasonality. This study aimed to investigate the structure of the avian community and population densities of birds in relation to habitat changes made by man, and in relation to differential rainfall. The study was set up in an urbanized riparian forest on the Zambezi River, NE Namibia. The forest close to the river bank has been slightly altered by human activities, while the one laying further afield has been highly modified by human settlements. The avian community was quantified using the mapping method. Counts were conducted in two wet seasons in 2013/14 and 2015/16. The rainfall was higher in the 2013/14 (428 mm) than the 2014/15 (262 mm) rainy season. In both seasons, 113 bird species were recorded. However, in particular, 91 species were recorded in 2013/14 and 101 in 2015/16. The Sorensen Index of Similarity between those two seasons was I = 0.89. Also, the proportion of dominant species was similar in both seasons, and the group was composed of the Dark-capped Bulbul, Red-eyed Dove, Laughing Dove, Blue Waxbill, and Grey-headed Sparrow. The Community Dominance was identical in both seasons when compared. Also, the diversity indices were very similar in both seasons. Also, all three diversity indices were almost identical in both seasons. The overall density was only slightly higher in 2015/16 than in 2013/14. The proportions of particular nesting, feeding, habitat, and residency guilds were very similar in both seasons when compared. The overall density was slightly higher in 2015/16 than in 2013/14, but the difference was not statistically significant. Also, for any particular bird species, the differences in population density between the two seasons were not statistically significant. Several bird species showed, however, statistically significant differences in their population densities between the natural and transformed portions of the riparian forest. The avian assemblage is probably stable over the years in regard to the number of breeding species and their densities, irrespective of year-to-year differences in rainfall, as water is not a limiting factor in this habitat. Bird species classified as forest specialists appear to be negatively affected by habitat transformation, while generalists (ecotone species) probably benefit from this transformation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Diversity in Forest and Grassland)
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9 pages, 1430 KiB  
Article
Plumage Variation and Sex Ratio in the Brown-Backed Parrotlet (Touit melanonotus; Psittacidae)
by Marina Vivianne Carcassola, Fernanda Bocalini, Mercival Roberto Francisco and Luís Fábio Silveira
Diversity 2023, 15(10), 1055; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15101055 - 30 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1247
Abstract
The Brown-backed Parrotlet, Touit melanonotus, is a rare endemic bird to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, currently considered as “Vulnerable” in the Brazilian Red List of Threatened Species. We estimated the sex ratio of a wild flock of T. melanonotus using molecular markers, [...] Read more.
The Brown-backed Parrotlet, Touit melanonotus, is a rare endemic bird to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, currently considered as “Vulnerable” in the Brazilian Red List of Threatened Species. We estimated the sex ratio of a wild flock of T. melanonotus using molecular markers, examined morphological variation in 34 museum specimens to test for sexual dimorphism, and conducted a literature review about sex ratio in Psittacidae for comparative purposes. We found a sex ratio of 0.8:1 (male/female; n = 29) in T. melanonotus, and a χ2 Goodness-of-fit test showed no significant difference from equality (p > 0.05). We describe three main categories in plumage: the first (and most common) comprises uniformly lime green birds, slightly darker on the head. The second is composed of individuals who are overall lighter, with the breast feathers washed with light greenish gray, and feathers of the head being dark lime green, presenting a sharp contrast with the breast feathers. The third and the rarest one is composed of birds with light greenish gray underparts with emerald green and darker upper parts. T. melanonotus has no apparent sexual dimorphism. We found no evidence of geographic variation. Sex ratio deviation may not be a parameter increasing the vulnerability of the species. Data like these represent a big leap in the knowledge of the species and has the potential to help and inform conservation efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Diversity in Forest and Grassland)
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