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4 pages, 177 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Avian Ecology and Diversity, Population Monitoring and Conservation: Introduction to the Special Issue

by Huw Lloyd

Diversity 2023, 15(4), 520; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15040520 - 04 Apr 2023

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Abstract

Birds represent one of the most widely recognised and well-studied taxa [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Ecology and Diversity, Population Monitoring and Conservation: Recent Advances and New Challenges)

Research

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19 pages, 2535 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Density Estimates and Habitat Preferences of Two Sympatric Bird Species as Potential Bioindicators of Tropical Forest Alterations

by Dayron Lopez, Federica Fonda, Flavio Monti and Matteo Dal Zotto

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020208 - 02 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2256

Abstract

Forestry management can shape the structure of habitat types and have important biological consequences on the composition of biodiversity. This study focused on Momotus lessonii and Eumomota superciliosa, two potential bioindicators of local and wide scale tropical forest alterations. The study took [...] Read more.

Forestry management can shape the structure of habitat types and have important biological consequences on the composition of biodiversity. This study focused on Momotus lessonii and Eumomota superciliosa, two potential bioindicators of local and wide scale tropical forest alterations. The study took place in the Karen Mogensen Wildlife Refuge (Costa Rica), a protected area characterized by two main forest habitats where the two species coexist, i.e., primary moist and second-growth dry forest. A distance sampling method was used to obtain density estimates for each species. A spot mapping approach showed an apparent partitioning of the two species at the site. The Kilometric Abundance Index (KAI) and statistical analyses revealed significant differences between the two habitats, i.e., E. superciliosa tended to be more abundant and preferred the dry forest, whilst M. lessonii favored moist environments. The development of arid and semi-arid environments characterized by open areas will probably lead to a numerical increase in E. superciliosa with a consequent expansion, while the decline of moister and homogeneously forested environments will likely affect negatively M. lessonii. We argue that these birds will act as bioindicators of local and global environmental changes, and their monitoring will enable appropriate forest management decisions for conservation purposes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Ecology and Diversity, Population Monitoring and Conservation: Recent Advances and New Challenges)

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18 pages, 4726 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Exploring Old Data with New Tricks: Long-Term Monitoring Indicates Spatial and Temporal Changes in Populations of Sympatric Prairie Grouse in the Nebraska Sandhills

by Danielle J. Berger, Jeffrey J. Lusk, Larkin A. Powell and John P. Carroll

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010114 - 13 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2091

Abstract

The contiguous grasslands of the Sandhills region in Nebraska, USA, provide habitat for two sympatric, grassland-obligate species of grouse, the greater prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus) and the plains sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus jamesi). Collectively referred to as prairie grouse, [...] Read more.

The contiguous grasslands of the Sandhills region in Nebraska, USA, provide habitat for two sympatric, grassland-obligate species of grouse, the greater prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus) and the plains sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus jamesi). Collectively referred to as prairie grouse, these birds are monitored and managed jointly by wildlife practitioners who face the novel challenge of conserving historically allopatric species in shared range. We reconstructed region-wide and route-specific prairie grouse population trends in the Sandhills, using a 63-year timeseries of breeding ground counts aggregated from old reports and paper archives. Our objective was to repurpose historical data collected for harvest management to address questions pertinent to the conservation of prairie grouse, species whose populations have declined precipitously throughout their respective ranges. Because we cannot change the sampling protocol of historical data to answer new questions, we applied 3 different methods of data analysis—traditional regional mean counts used to adjust harvest regulations, spatially implicit, site-specific counts, and spatially explicit trends. Prairie-chicken populations have increased since the 1950s, whereas sharp-tailed grouse populations have remained stable or slightly declined. However, each species exhibited unique shifts in abundance and distribution over time, and regional indices masked important aspects of population change. Our findings indicate that legacy data have the capacity to tell new stories apart from the questions they were collected to answer. By integrating concepts from landscape ecology—a discipline that emerged decades after the collection of our count data began—we demonstrate the potential of historical data to address questions of modern-day conservation concern, using prairie grouse as a case study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Ecology and Diversity, Population Monitoring and Conservation: Recent Advances and New Challenges)

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17 pages, 1588 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bioclimatic Preferences of the Great Bustard in a Steppe Region

by Beatrix Ottó and Zsolt Végvári

Diversity 2022, 14(12), 1138; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121138 - 18 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1847

Abstract

(1) The intercorrelated effects of climatic processes and anthropogenic land use changes have been shown to govern the population declines in several bird species, which have led to global extinctions. Ground-nesting birds are especially sensitive to modifications in spatial as well as temporal [...] Read more.

(1) The intercorrelated effects of climatic processes and anthropogenic land use changes have been shown to govern the population declines in several bird species, which have led to global extinctions. Ground-nesting birds are especially sensitive to modifications in spatial as well as temporal patterns of climatic change. The Great Bustard (Otis tarda) is one of the most endangered species, which has suffered considerable range contractions and population declines in extensive areas of its historical distribution. (2) Here, we aim to (i) identify the key climatic predictors governing the historical distribution of the Great Bustard within the Carpathian Basin during the past three decades, (ii) provide spatial predictions for the historical range of the study species, and (iii) identify areas where species-specific conservation planning initiatives need to focus on by predicting the distribution of the Great Bustard for future time periods. To do so, here we apply bioclimatic niche modeling implemented in the MaxEnt software package, which is fitted on historical occurrence locations as a function of potential bioclimatic predictors. (3) We show that (i) the most important bioclimatic predictors governing the distribution of the Great Bustard are the annual mean temperature, mean temperatures of the wettest and driest quarters, as well as the annual precipitation; (ii) all lowland areas of the Carpathian Basin were suitable for the Great Bustard during historical time periods; (iii) the SDM predictions show the historical suitability of the Muntenia and Dobrodgea regions and the Upper Thracian Plain; and (iv) the future projections show a substantial decrease in the core distribution area, whereas the boundary areas are expected to remain stable. In summary, our study emphasizes that the distribution modeling of endangered taxa using historical records can strongly support species-specific conservation planning initiatives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Ecology and Diversity, Population Monitoring and Conservation: Recent Advances and New Challenges)

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14 pages, 2585 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Prey Composition in Eurasian Reed Warblers’ Acrocephalus scirpaceus Droppings at Four Breeding Sites in Italy

by Renzo Ientile, Beniamino Tuliozi, Daniela Campobello, Stefano Borghi, Luigi Sala, Matteo Dal Zotto and Bruno Massa

Diversity 2022, 14(12), 1134; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121134 - 17 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1875

Abstract

Our aim was to investigate the among-populations diversity of prey composition in Eurasian Reed Warblers’ diets via their droppings, both to assess the ecological validity of this sampling method and to test whether the prey species most abundant in fecal samples were also [...] Read more.

Our aim was to investigate the among-populations diversity of prey composition in Eurasian Reed Warblers’ diets via their droppings, both to assess the ecological validity of this sampling method and to test whether the prey species most abundant in fecal samples were also the most present in the Italian study site. We collected fecal samples at four sites throughout Italy, for a total of 144 samples. Within reedbeds, the breeding habitat of the Eurasian Reed Warbler, we also collected arthropods by carrying out entomological sweepings at one of the study sites. Within the fecal samples, we identified dozens of prey species, belonging mainly to Araneae, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Aphidoidea taxa, whose compositions were not statistically different among sites. The commonest prey species were Coleoptera in the droppings (68.5%) and Diptera in the reedbeds (31.3%), although the latter was less numerous in the fecal samples. The diets of different Italian populations of Eurasian Reed Warbler emerging from our study underline a strong Coleopteran presence, without differences across Italy. Fecal samples appear to be an exhaustive method to study variation in Eurasian Reed Warbler diet and its ecological importance; however, although potential caveats do exist, such as the possible under-representation of Diptera. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Ecology and Diversity, Population Monitoring and Conservation: Recent Advances and New Challenges)

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9 pages, 1391 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Winter Territoriality of the American Redstart in Oil Palm Plantations

by Samuel L. Oliveira, David J. Flaspohler and Jared D. Wolfe

Diversity 2022, 14(12), 1079; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121079 - 07 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1273

Abstract

Aspects of territorial behavior of Nearctic-neotropical migratory birds during the nonbreeding period are poorly studied. Information about territoriality, site persistence, between-year site fidelity, and territory sizes are not available for most birds, especially in tropical agroecosystems. Given the rapid expansion of oil palm [...] Read more.

Aspects of territorial behavior of Nearctic-neotropical migratory birds during the nonbreeding period are poorly studied. Information about territoriality, site persistence, between-year site fidelity, and territory sizes are not available for most birds, especially in tropical agroecosystems. Given the rapid expansion of oil palm in the neotropics, determining how oil palm affects the territorial behaviors of overwintering migratory birds is an important line of inquiry with conservation implications. The American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) is considered a model species for the study of population dynamics in the neotropics; however, territory size for American Redstart has only been assessed in native habitats. In this study, we outfitted individual redstarts with radio tags, across two winter seasons, to determine variation in territory sizes across oil palm plantations and native forest patches in the State of Tabasco, Mexico. Average redstart territory size was 0.29 ha in oil palm plantations and 0.17 ha in native forest. Albeit presenting larger territories in oil palm plantations, which could indicate poorer habitat quality, the difference between both habitats was not statistically significant. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that American Redstarts hold territories in oil palm plantations and that territory size may serve as an important indicator of relative habitat quality for redstart populations in tropical working landscapes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Ecology and Diversity, Population Monitoring and Conservation: Recent Advances and New Challenges)

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15 pages, 5709 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Habitat Suitability of Eastern Sarus Crane (Antigone Antigone sharpii) in Ayeyarwady Delta, the Union of Myanmar

by Tin Nwe Latt, Rattanawat Chaiyarat, Sansanee Choowaew, Nikorn Thongtip and Thomas Neal Stewart

Diversity 2022, 14(12), 1076; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121076 - 06 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1677

Abstract

The eastern sarus crane (Antigone antigone sharpii; ESC) is a species related to wetland ecosystems in Southeast Asia. The habitat suitability of the eastern sarus crane in Ayeyarwady Delta was surveyed between March 2018 and February 2019. Eastern sarus cranes were [...] Read more.

The eastern sarus crane (Antigone antigone sharpii; ESC) is a species related to wetland ecosystems in Southeast Asia. The habitat suitability of the eastern sarus crane in Ayeyarwady Delta was surveyed between March 2018 and February 2019. Eastern sarus cranes were found at 73 locations and Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) was used to classify the habitat suitability among different seasons. MaxEnt showed the largest total area of highly suitable habitat was in the winter season (2450 km², AUC = 0.968), while the least amount of available suitable habitat was evident during the rainy season (1028.7 km², AUC = 0.979). A difference in the assessment of home range areas using the Minimum Convex Polygon (95% MPC) and the Kernel Density Estimate (95% KDE) was found. The total area in the winter season was highest at 95% KDE (13,839.5 km²) and lowest in the rainy season (1238.1 km²), while 95% MCP was highest in the rainy season (7892.9 km²) and lowest in the summer season (7014.6 km²). Analysis of the environmental parameters indicated that low temperature in the summer season and high precipitation in the rainy season and winter season are important for ESC habitat suitability. These climatic parameters were important for ESC in all seasons (AUC > 0.9). Important parameters influencing ESC habitat suitability were elevation, slope, distance to road in the summer season, elevation, distance to road and village and slope in the rainy season, and elevation and slope in the winter season. Annual precipitation was the main parameter influencing ESC habitat suitability in both summer and winter, while in the rainy season it was mean diurnal range (>90%). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Ecology and Diversity, Population Monitoring and Conservation: Recent Advances and New Challenges)

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15 pages, 3001 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Human Imposed Pressure on Pheasants of Western Himalayas, Pakistan: Implication for Monitoring and Conservation

by Muhammad Azhar Jameel, Muhammad Sajid Nadeem, Shahzad Aslam, Waheed Ullah, Didar Ahmad, Muhammad Naeem Awan, Waliullah Masroor, Tariq Mahmood, Rafi Ullah, Muhammad Zubair Anjum, Kishwar Ali, David Aaron Jones, Muhammad Ezaz Hasan Khan and Azad Ashraf

Diversity 2022, 14(9), 752; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090752 - 11 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3325

Abstract

Pheasants play a distinctive and significant role in high altitudinal ecosystems. These are good indicators of environmental changes, and their presence determines the health and balance of the bio-network. Recent human pressure continues to degrade their populations, and some pheasant species are already [...] Read more.

Pheasants play a distinctive and significant role in high altitudinal ecosystems. These are good indicators of environmental changes, and their presence determines the health and balance of the bio-network. Recent human pressure continues to degrade their populations, and some pheasant species are already extinct. Therefore, the current study focuses on pheasant abundance and emerging conservation issues. The pheasant population was assessed using “Call count methods” and analyzed by DISTANCE software. The results revealed that the valleys where human interference is minimum had significantly higher encounter rates and densities of pheasants. At the same time, the pheasant population was severely affected, whether found at lower or higher altitudes, showing seasonal migration toward human settlements. The habitat suitability modeling was performed using the MaxEnt model and showed that human activities overlap with the suitable natural habitats of pheasants. The threats were identified using a systematic questionnaire survey from the nearest villages of the potential habitat, and particular attention was paid to valleys where human pressures were found to be high. Major infrastructure development projects, illegal hunting, and deforestation were identified as the major threats to the pheasant population. The study concluded that proper conservation measures are required to protect pheasants in their potential habitats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Ecology and Diversity, Population Monitoring and Conservation: Recent Advances and New Challenges)

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11 pages, 1262 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Landscape Configuration on the Body Condition of Migratory and Resident Tropical Birds

by Dimas A. Molina-Marin, Juan C. Rodas-Rua, Carlos E. Lara, Fredy A. Rivera-Páez, Francisco E. Fontúrbel and Gabriel J. Castaño-Villa

Diversity 2022, 14(6), 432; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14060432 - 27 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2118

Abstract

Landscape structure and configuration may affect bird body condition, with contrasting effects on resident and migratory species. There is little empirical evidence to support this hypothesis in tropical regions, where land-use change poses a major threat to biodiversity. We aimed to assess the [...] Read more.

Landscape structure and configuration may affect bird body condition, with contrasting effects on resident and migratory species. There is little empirical evidence to support this hypothesis in tropical regions, where land-use change poses a major threat to biodiversity. We aimed to assess the effects of landscape structure and configuration on the body condition of neotropical migrant and resident bird species. We compiled body condition data (using the scaled mass index) of nine bird species (five resident and four migratory). We characterized landscape structure and configuration at 26 localities. We evaluated the effects of landscape metrics on bird body condition using Bayesian linear mixed models. The landscapes in our study largely varied in forest, crop, and grassland cover, as well as in landscape metrics. When we examined migrant birds, we found a positive effect of landscape connectivity and crop cover on body condition. Similarly, body condition of resident birds was positively affected by connectivity and crop cover, but also by forest patch area and capture day. Changes in landscape structure and configuration may indirectly alter the access to resources, causing additional energy expenditures, leading to a deteriorated body condition. Conversely, landscape heterogeneity may have a positive effect on bird body condition. Therefore, we recommend maintaining connectivity and complementary resources in the landscape. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Ecology and Diversity, Population Monitoring and Conservation: Recent Advances and New Challenges)

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14 pages, 1971 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Do Citizen Science Methods Identify Regions of High Avian Biodiversity?

by Christopher J. Butler, Chad King and Dan L. Reinking

Diversity 2021, 13(12), 656; https://doi.org/10.3390/d13120656 - 10 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2907

Abstract

Citizen science may offer a way to improve our knowledge of the spatial distribution of biodiversity and endemism, as the data collected by this method can be integrated into existing data sources to provide a more robust understanding of broad scale patterns of [...] Read more.

Citizen science may offer a way to improve our knowledge of the spatial distribution of biodiversity and endemism, as the data collected by this method can be integrated into existing data sources to provide a more robust understanding of broad scale patterns of species richness. We explored whether data collected by citizen scientists agree on identifying regions of high avian species richness in a well-studied state. We compiled and examined the number of bird species detected in each of the 77 counties of Oklahoma based on published range maps, museum collections, and by five citizen science methods: the USGS Breeding Bird Survey, the Oklahoma Breeding Bird Atlas, eBird, the Oklahoma Winter Bird Atlas, and National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Counts. We also quantified the number of species of conservation concern recorded by each method in each county. A total of 460 species were reported across the state, with the total number of species detected by each method ranging from 40% of this total (Winter Bird Atlas) to 94% of this total (eBird). In general, species totals were poorly correlated across methods, with only six of 21 combinations (28.6%) showing significant correlations. Total species numbers recorded in each county were correlated with human population density and county area, but not with mean annual temperature or precipitation. The total number of species of conservation concern was correlated with the total number of species detected, county area, and precipitation. Most of the citizen science methods examined in this study were not explicitly designed to identify regions of high biodiversity and so efforts to use these methods for this purpose should be employed only cautiously and with a thorough understanding of potential biases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Ecology and Diversity, Population Monitoring and Conservation: Recent Advances and New Challenges)

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60 pages, 3948 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Remains of Scandiavis mikkelseni Inform Avian Phylogenetic Relationships and Brain Evolution

by Miriam Heingård, Grace Musser, Stephen A. Hall and Julia A. Clarke

Diversity 2021, 13(12), 651; https://doi.org/10.3390/d13120651 - 07 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4627

Abstract

Although an increasing number of studies are combining skeletal and neural morphology data in a phylogenetic context, most studies do not include extinct taxa due to the rarity of preserved endocasts. The early Eocene avifauna of the Fur Formation of Denmark presents an [...] Read more.

Although an increasing number of studies are combining skeletal and neural morphology data in a phylogenetic context, most studies do not include extinct taxa due to the rarity of preserved endocasts. The early Eocene avifauna of the Fur Formation of Denmark presents an excellent opportunity for further study of extinct osteological and endocranial morphology as fossils are often exceptionally preserved in three dimensions. Here, we use X-ray computed tomography to present additional material of the previously described taxon Scandiavis mikkelseni and reassess its phylogenetic placement using a previously published dataset. The new specimen provides novel insights into the osteological morphology and brain anatomy of Scandiavis. The virtual endocast exhibits a morphology comparable to that of modern avian species. Endocranial evaluation shows that it was remarkably similar to that of certain extant Charadriiformes, yet also possessed a novel combination of traits. This may mean that traits previously proposed to be the result of shifts in ecology later in the evolutionary history of Charadriiformes may instead show a more complex distribution in stem Charadriiformes and/or Gruiformes depending on the interrelationships of these important clades. Evaluation of skeletal and endocranial character state changes within a previously published phylogeny confirms both S. mikkelseni and a putative extinct charadriiform, Nahmavis grandei, as charadriiform. Results bolster the likelihood that both taxa are critical fossils for divergence dating and highlight a biogeographic pattern similar to that of Gruiformes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Ecology and Diversity, Population Monitoring and Conservation: Recent Advances and New Challenges)

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