The influence of urban park characteristics on bird diversity in Nanjing, China

Background:Habitat loss,fragmentation and decrease of habitat quality caused by urbanization have led to a dramatic decline in biodiversity worldwide.For highly urbanized areas,parks have become“islands”or habitat fragments for wildlife.As an important indicator group of urban ecosystem health,the response of birds to urbanization has attracted the global attention of ecologists.Understanding the key factors affecting bird diversity in urbanized environment is crucial to the protection of biodiversity in urban ecosystems.Methods:We used the line-transect method to survey birds in 37 urban parks in Nanjing,China.We also measured a number of park characteristics(area,isolation,shape index,environmental noise,distance to city center,and habitat diversity)that are commonly assumed to influence bird diversity.We then used the information-theoretic multi-model inference approach to determine which park characteristics had significant impacts on bird species richness.Results:We found that park area,habitat diversity and the distance to city center were the best positive predictors of bird species richness in Nanjing urban parks.By contrast,park isolation,park shape and environmental noise had little or no influence on bird diversity.Conclusions:Our study highlights the importance of park area,habitat diversity and the distance to city center in determining bird diversity in Nanjing city parks.Therefore,from a conservation viewpoint,we recommend that large parks with complex and diverse habitats far away from the city center should be retained or constructed to increase bird diversity in urban design and planning.

Bird Diversity and Threaten to Their Habitat in Sathurukondan Birding Site in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka

Sathurukondan situated within the urban area of Batticaloa and adjacent to Batticaloa lagoon. This area lies in the migrant route disperse from the entry points from Eastern and Andaman route. This area is locally notable for their bird diversity as well as being a major habitat in Batticaloa. Blooming of urbanization causing drastic reduction of the mangrove forest is the main threat to these birds diversity due to their habitat loss. Considering that, the objective of this study was to determine the taxonomic composition and abundance of water and wading bird in this area. Point transact method was used to count the birds, and the counting was taken monthly. A total of 8,893 records of 65 species representing 36 families were recorded from July 2015 to July 2016. Simpson＇s diversity index and Shannon index in this area are about 0.95 and 3.34, respectively, showing the high diversity of this area. Migrant birds, such as common sandpiper （Actitis hypoleucos L.）, marsh sandpiper （Tringa stagnatilis B.）, common greenshank （Tringa nebularia G.） and other important species, such as lesser adjutant （Leptoptilos javanicus H.）, spot-bill pelican （Pelecanus philippensis G.） and near threatened jungle owlet （Glaucidium radiatum T.） were noted. This area contributes notably to the local avian biodiversity and has the ecotourism potential. It conceals the need of the conservation of this area.

Birds’Diversity in Kalfou Forest Reserve and Its Peripheral Zone, Far North, Cameroon

The Far North Region of Cameroon is home to a great diversity of bird species, which unfortunately remains very little explored. This work was initiated to establish an inventory of birds and the factors affecting their diversity and distribution for sustainable management in the Kalfou Forest Reserve (KFR) and its periphery. Two methods were used for sampling, linear strip transects from which direct counts and indirect observations were made and the mist netting to complement the first. In total, 2525 birds were observed, including 149 species, belonging to 20 orders and 55 families. Accipitridae had the greatest number of species (11). The species richness was greater in the KFR (117 species) compared to the periphery (95 species). The specific richness was higher in wooded savannah compared to other habitats. Shannon index was significantly higher in the KFR (3.99) compared to that obtained in the periphery (3.80). The value of the Simpson index was higher on the outskirts of the KFR than on the periphery. The indices of species diversity were greater in the wooded savannah compared to other vegetation types. The seasons had no influence on bird diversity. Among the human activities encountered, the pressure indices were more important for grazing (7.3 contacts/km). Human activities have resulted in a significant decrease in specific richness. Six endangered species were encountered, four belonging to the Accipitridae family. The greater bird diversity in the reserve compared to the periphery shows that protected areas are a long-term solution for biodiversity conservation.

Bird Habitats in Urban Environments: A Case from an Urban Landfill in and around Tayba Al Hasanab Landfill, Khartoum, Sudan

Managed open landfill sites can serve as crucial feeding grounds for birds. Studies have demonstrated that garbage dumps offer favorable feeding habitats for various trophic generalist species, including storks and scavenger raptors. This study aimed to assess bird diversity and abundance in and around Tayba Al Hasanab Landfill, Khartoum. A bird census was conducted using block counts in January 2021. A questionnaire complemented field observations, and interviews were conducted with landfill authorities and waste collectors to gather information on bird availability, numbers, and diversity. During the block counts, 23 bird species were recorded inside and around the landfill. These species directly relied on food resources available at and around the landfill, belonging to 8 orders and 11 families. The four most abundant species foraging at the landfill were Sparrow House (Passer domesticus) with 97 individuals, Black kite (Milvus migrans) with 67 individuals, cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) with 42 individuals, and Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) with 36 individuals. This suggests that these species are the primary exploiters of food resources at the landfill. The results indicate that all species are considered least concerned except the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), which is classified as endangered. Most of the interviewed individuals reported seeing birds in the study area. The study recorded instances of dead birds, such as a white stork colliding and being electrocuted with a transition line observed at different sites along transmission lines near the landfill. Surveys around Tayba landfill need to be conducted to identify deadly power lines for replacement or implement possible mitigation measures on power lines running parallel and close to the Tayba landfills. The avian community foraging at the landfill displayed fluctuations in abundance and interspecific interactions across seasons. Given that the substantial influx of birds to landfills can pose various environmental challenges in urban settings, this study underscores the significance of examining the seasonal dynamics of bird communities concerning the location and management of landfills.

Landscape structure and bird's diversity in the rural areas of Taiwan

This study tries to discuss the relationship between landscape structure and organisms in the perspective of landscape architecture. The research hypotheses were then proposed as (1) there are relationships between landscape structure indexes and birds' diversity in the rural areas of Taiwan; (2) the relationships between landscape structure and birds' diversity will be different in different hierarchical levels. In order to increase the bird species, landscape planners could tries to increase the density of water bodies, but decrease the farms and human planted woods. Decrease the density of constructed and human planted grasslands. Increase the area of un-worked acres, natural grasslands, and the area of water bodies and circular the water bodies and natural forest. In order to increase birds' diversity, landscape planners could decrease the concentration of paved areas. Concentrate the human planted trees to increase the core areas of woodlands. Increase the area of natural grassland circular. In order to increase the total number of birds in the planning areas, landscape planners could scattered the paved areas and lengthen the constructed areas. Decreases the core region of the constructed areas. Increase the area of un-worked acres and water bodies. Decrease the disturbance of both the interior area of natural and human planted woodlands and try to increase the density of water bodies.;The analysis results showed that the small grain size indexes are more suitable for the rural areas of Taiwan to capture the influential factors of bird communities. The high fragmentation of land usages in Taiwan lessens the influences of the regional landscape pattern.

Bird Species Diversity and Spatio-temporal Variation in the Sihong Hongze Lake Wetland National Nature Reserve in Eastern China

As an important hub on the East Asian-Australian Flyway(EAAF),Hongze Lake is an important migratory stopover and wintering site for hundreds of thousands of birds.However,research on bird community diversity in this area is still lacking.We conducted a bird survey from July 2020 to June 2021 using the line transect method on the terrestrial habitat,as well as the fixed-point method in the lake wetland at the Sihong Hongze Lake Wetland National Nature Reserve located in northwestern Hongze Lake,and analyzed the temporal-spatial variation in the bird community.The results showed that a total of 170432 detections of 215 bird species belonging to 18 orders and 55 families were recorded.In terms of species composition,the proportion of terrestrial birds was relatively high,followed by waterfowl richness,with high numbers of Anatidae species and shorebirds.For bird species abundance,waterfowl had the highest abundance of common coot(Fulica atra),belonging to the Rallidae family,followed by Anatidae and Ardeidae species.The abundance of shorebirds was extremely low,and that of non-waterfowl was also low.In terms of temporal patterns,the number of bird species and richness index were higher in spring and autumn but lower in winter and summer.The bird abundance was the highest in winter,and the remaining three seasons were similar in terms of bird abundance.The diversity index and evenness index were higher in spring,summer and autumn,and lowest in winter.For the spatial pattern,the open water in the western part of the reserve included the most densely distributed areas for birds,and the number of bird species and their abundance were both the highest in that part.There were significant differences in the bird community structures among the four habitats.The species number and richness index of birds in the reed habitat were the highest,and the bird abundance was also high,but the diversity index and evenness index were low.Although the bird abundance in the lake habitat was much higher than in the other habitats,the diversity index,evenness index and richness index were the lowest.The numbers of bird species and individuals in tourist attraction land and farmland were low,but the diversity index,evenness index and richness index were high.Our results reveal the spatial and temporal patterns of bird species diversity and abundance in Sihong Hongze Lake Wetland National Nature Reserve,and reflect the effects of different habitat types on bird diversity.

Precipitation is the dominant driver for bird species richness,phylogenetic and functional structure in university campuses in northern China

Background:Although urbanization is threatening biodiversity worldwide,the increasing green urban spaces could harbor relatively high biodiversity.Therefore,how to maintain the biodiversity in urban ecosystem is crucial for sustainable urban planning and management,especially in arid and semiarid regions with relatively fragile environment and low biodiversity.Here,for the first time we linked species richness,phylogenetic and functional structure of bird assemblages in university campuses in northern China with plant species richness,glacial-interglacial climate change,contemporary climate,and anthropogenic factors to compare their relative roles in shaping urban bird diversity.Methods:Bird surveys were conducted in 20 university campuses across Inner Mongolia,China.Ordinary least squares models and simultaneous autoregressive models were used to assess the relationships between bird species richness,phylogenetic and functional structure with environmental factors.Structural equation models were used to capture the direct and indirect effects of these factors on the three components of bird diversity.Results:Single-variable simultaneous autoregressive models showed that mean annual precipitation was consistently a significant driver for bird species richness,phylogenetic and functional structure.Meanwhile,mean annual temperature and plant species richness were also significant predictors for bird species richness.Conclusions:This study suggests that campuses with warmer and wetter climate as well as more woody plant species could harbor more bird species.In addition,wetter campuses tended to sustain over-dispersed phylogenetic and functional structure.Our findings emphasize the dominant effect of precipitation on bird diversity distribution in this arid and semiarid region,even in the urban ecosystem.

Impacts of Environmental Factors on the Structure Characteristics of Avian Community in Shanghai Woodlots in Spring

From March to May, 2004, we selected 8 typical parks or green lands in Shanghai downtown as the study sites to conduct a ornithological research. During this study, total 55 species of birds were recorded, which included 31 resident and 24 migratory species. With statistics methodology, we analyzed the avian communities with 10 major environmental factors covering the park area, water percentage, vegetation species, canopy cover, shrub cover, grass cover, hill number, location condition, human quantity, path width, the study results indicated that: (1) the following 7 environmental factors were important to impact the structures of the avian community, they were park area, vegetation species, shrub coverage, grass coverage, hill number, location condition of the parks and path width; (2) the avian community of theses urban parks tended to deteriorate in the bird number and diversity; the man-made lake which was currently promoted in the park designing and planning process would not be good to attract the birds.

冬季森林鸟类对林窗的响应分析

Although forest gap ecology is an important field of study, research remains limited. By plot setting and point counted observation, the response of birds to forest gaps in winter as well as bird distribution patterns in forest gaps and intact canopies were studied in a north tropical monsoon forest of southwestern China from November 2011 to February 2012 in the Fangcheng Golden Camellia National Nature Reserve, Guangxi. The regression equation of bird species diversity to habitat factor was Y1=0.611＋0.002 X13＋0.043 X2＋0.002 X5-0.003 X8＋0.006 X10＋0.008 X1 and the regression equation of bird species dominance index to habitat factor was Y3=0.533＋0.001 X13＋0.019 X2＋0.002 3（3-0.017 X4＋0.002 X1. There were 45 bird species （2 orders and 13 families） recorded in the forest gap, accounting for 84.9% of all birds （n=45）, with an average of 9.6 species （range： 2-22）. Thirty-nine bird species （5 orders and 14 families） were recorded in non-gap areas, accounting for 73.6% of all birds （n=39）, with an average of 5.3 species （range： 1-12）. These results suggested that gap size, arbor average height （10 m from gap margin）, arbor quantity （10 m from gap margin）, shrub quantity （10 m from gap margin）, herbal average coverage （1 m from gap margin） and bare land ratio were the key forest gap factors that influenced bird diversities. On the whole, bird diversity in the forest gap was greater than in the intact canopy. Spatial distributions in the forest gaps were also observed in the bird community. Most birds foraged in the ＂middle＂ and ＂canopy＂ layers in the vertical stratification. In addition, ＂nearly from＂ and ＂close from＂ contained more birds in relation to horizontal stratification. Feeding niche differentiation was suggested as the main reason for these distribution patterns.

Influence of land cover features on avian community and potential conservation priority areas for biodiversity at a Ramsar site in India

Background:Wetlands provide diverse ecological services to sustain rich biodiversity,but they are recklessly exploited around the globe.East Kolkata Wetlands(EKW;Ramsar site No.1208,~125 km^(2))was once very rich in faunal diversity that declined over the years due to various anthropogenic pressures.In such scenarios,effective management plans need to contemplate local and landscape level initiatives and prioritize areas for conservation.Studying the foraging guild structure and spatial patterns of relationship between bird and its environment provides important insight of ecological processes of avifauna.Thus,we carried out extensive surveys in 142 point count stations to explore the diversity and foraging guild structure of birds in EKW.We addressed two important questions that how bird diversity varied from the outer periphery of the city towards the wetlands and how bird diversity is influenced by land cover features at local and landscape level in wetland complex.The goal of this study was to prepare a spatial map of avian diversity and to find the conservation priority areas for birds in this internationally recognized wetland complex.Results:We recorded 94 species of birds and the Shannon diversity index values ranged between 1.249 and 3.189.We found that the avian diversity increased with increasing distance from city periphery.Omnivores and insectivores were the dominant foraging guilds,followed by carnivores,granivores,frugivores and piscivores.Generalized Linear Models revealed that bird communities were positively influenced by areas of wetlands,dikes and banks,agricultural field and emergent vegetation,and negatively influenced by built-up area.In the projected spatial map of species diversity,74.15 km^(2)area has high diversity.Finally,we identified 12.82 km^(2) of top 10%conservation priority areas.Conclusions:Low bird diversity near city periphery is related to habitat degradation due to anthropogenic pressure.Dominance of omnivores and insectivores indicates a possible impact of urbanization in EKW.We suggest that a mix of agricultural field,wetland areas and emergent vegetation helps to sustain a greater avian community.Besides,protection of conservation priority areas,restoration of the degraded habitats and reduction of threats(particularly in the north-eastern parts of EKW near the city periphery)will ensure the conservation of avifauna,and also the overall biodiversity of EKW.

Environmental remediation promotes the restoration of biodiversity in the Shenzhen Bay Estuary,South China

Background:Rapid urbanization has greatly changed land-use patterns in many estuarine areas around the world,including the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area(GBA)resulting in serious water pollution and ecosystem degradation.Shenzhen City has conducted comprehensive ecological management and restoration in the Shenzhen Bay since 2007.The natural vegetation consisting of mangroves,semi-mangroves,wetland plants,and terrestrial plants were restored from the bund to the inner bank of the Fengtang River.Rain and sewage flow diversion systems were established.The non-point source and point-source sewage are now treated in municipal sewage treatment plants,then naturally flow through the constructed wetland,and then through a natural wetland,restored natural embankment,and finally through mangrove communities substantially improving water quality.Result:The restoration of the wetland has increased animal and microbial diversity and has supported the establishment of a complex and stable food web.With water purification and habitat restoration,the number of alien invasive plants in the estuarine ecosystem has decreased,and the diversity of native species of birds,fish,macrobenthos,amphibians,and reptiles has increased.Conclusion:These improvements indicate that human beings and nature can coexist in support of the sustainable development of Shenzhen City.