The contribution of landscape features, climate and topography in shaping taxonomical and functional diversity of avian communities in a heterogeneous Alpine region

Oecologia, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 199(3), P. 499 - 512

Published: Feb. 22, 2022

Understanding the effects of landscape composition and configuration, climate, topography on bird diversity is necessary to identify distribution drivers, potential impacts land use changes, future conservation strategies. We surveyed communities in a study area located Central Alps (Autonomous Province South Tyrol, northeast Italy), by means point counts investigated taxonomic functional at two spatial scales along gradients use/land cover (LULC) intensity elevation. also explored how environmental variables influence traits red-list categories. Models combining drivers different types were highly supported, pointing towards synergetic communities. The model containing only LULC compositional was most supported one among single-group models: plays crucial role shaping local biodiversity hence communities, even across broad gradients. Particularly relevant wetlands, open habitats, agricultural mosaics made up small habitat patches settlements, ecotonal structural elements settings, continuous forests. To conserve Alps, planning management practices promoting maintaining fields, elements, mosaic should be while preserving forests same time. Additionally, pastures, extensively used meadows, wetlands are key conservation. These strategies might mitigate global change other European mountain areas.

Language: Английский

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It’s about Her: Male Within-Season Movements Are Related to Mate Searching in a Songbird

The American Naturalist, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 203(5), P. 562 - 575

Published: Jan. 11, 2024

AbstractIn species with resource-defense mating systems (such as most temperate-breeding songbirds), male dispersal is often considered to be limited in both frequency and spatial extent. When occurs within a breeding season, the favored explanation ecological resource tracking. In contrast, movements of birds associated temporary emigration, such polyterritoriality (i.e., defense an additional location after attracting female initial territory), are usually attributed mate searching. We suggest that functionally related searching may unifying hypothesis for predicting within-season songbirds. Here, we test three key predictions derived from this Wood Warblers (

Language: Английский

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Seasonal and daily movement patterns of an alpine passerine suggest high flexibility in relation to environmental conditions

Journal of Avian Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 52(12)

Published: Oct. 12, 2021

Mountains naturally offer variable habitat conditions, but their biodiversity is currently facing the extra challenge of adapting to rapid environmental shifts that are much more pronounced than in lowlands. Among adaptive responses, intra‐ and inter‐seasonal movements represent potentially important coping strategies for wildlife remain largely unexplored. We investigated seasonal daily ring ouzel Turdus torquatus , a European mountain bird species declining many parts its distribution. tracked individuals breeding Swiss Alps using light‐level geolocators multi‐sensor loggers. Of birds traced non‐breeding grounds, two‐thirds reached Atlas while one‐third stayed Spain, region significant overwintering previously thought. The remained mostly above 1000 m throughout annual cycle, highlighting strict association ouzels with habitats. also evidenced flexible elevational movements, especially upon spring arrival on grounds relation date snowfall occurrence, suggesting potential response variation. This study shows how modern technology can deliver deeper valuable insights into behavioural patterns life‐history relatively little‐studied animal species. By doing so, it paves way refined assessments species' vulnerability ongoing global change providing basic conservation guidance.

Language: Английский

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Trends in weather conditions favor generalist over specialist species in rear‐edge alpine bird communities

Ecosphere, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 13(4)

Published: April 1, 2022

Abstract Rear‐edge alpine biodiversity is expected to suffer one of the largest ecological impacts due current and foreseen climate change. For highly mobile long‐living species, change might operate through a wide spectrum demographic processes influencing population dynamics, which in turn affect local abundance may eventually lead extinctions drifts actual range. Using community six passerine species breeding zone Cantabrian mountains (Northwest Iberian Peninsula), we sought document changes bird across elevational gradient during last decade, evaluate relationship between climatic conditions (i.e., weather conditions), discuss mechanisms by these be mediating observed trends global warming context. We estimated at home range level using point count transects distance sampling season, fitted generalized linear mixed models describe their temporal gradient. used structural equation modeling approach estimate direct, indirect, total effects variables, while considering correlations causal relationships among them with found that generalist had an overall positive trend abundance, specialist negative highest elevations study period. This pattern was partly explained decrease wind speed rising temperature period, seems have stronger effect on this rear‐edge community. The different ecosystems seem mainly related capacity modulate variations habitat quality feeding resources Thus, context, it necessary gain knowledge modulating dynamics specialists delineate conservation practices safeguard biodiversity.

Language: Английский

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Dispersal constrains the biotic connectivity of mountain assemblages

Journal of Biogeography, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 51(7), P. 1230 - 1243

Published: Feb. 23, 2024

Abstract Aim Climate warming is shifting the bioclimatic optima of species towards mountaintops, but ability organisms to track these changes also depends on their dispersal skills. Here, we assessed role over niche‐driven processes in connecting assemblages along mountain slopes and between massifs. Location Cantabrian Mountains, Spain. Taxon Birds (Animalia; Aves) Lichens (Fungi; Ascomycota, Basidiomycota). Methods We examined change with elevation community‐level traits that are proxies (wing shape birds type dispersing propagule lichens) ecological niche (micro‐habitat, substrate, foraging features). then permutate composition within sites massifs create models distribution constrained by processes. These were compared observed disclose relative contribution niche‐based biotic interchange (vertical connectivity) isolated summits (horizontal connectivity). Results Both bird lichen communities formed enhance at high elevations. groups showed similarities elevational patterns diversity, which dropped Dispersal was far dominant assembly mechanism both taxa. Pairwise community comparisons among belts weak vertical connectivity, predominant limitations barriers extremes gradient. Among massifs, horizontal connectivity higher than those from lower Main Conclusion found be systems, even taxa potential. Highland had low functional diversity mobility. This permits and, potentially, colonization other as climate warms. Our framework combining occurrence‐permutation improve understanding mechanisms gradients points limitations, especially low‐middle

Language: Английский

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Disentangling direct and indirect effects of local temperature on abundance of mountain birds and implications for understanding global change impacts

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 9, P. e12560 - e12560

Published: Dec. 3, 2021

Unravelling the environmental factors driving species distribution and abundance is crucial in ecology conservation. Both climatic land cover are often used to describe distribution/abundance, but their interrelations have been scarcely investigated. Climatic may indeed affect both directly indirectly, e.g., by influencing vegetation structure composition. We aimed disentangle direct indirect effects (via vegetation) of local temperature on bird across a wide elevational gradient European Alps, ranging from montane forests high-elevation open areas. In 2018, we surveyed birds using point counts collected fine-scale data 109 sampling points. structural equation modelling estimate climate abundance. obtained sufficient sample for 15 species, characterized broad variety ecological requirements. For all found significant effect temperatures via Direct were less common observed seven woodland/shrubland including only mountain generalists; these cases, showed positive effect, suggesting that average our study area likely colder than thermal optimum those species. The generalized occurrence within set demonstrates importance considering changes obtain more reliable predictions future distribution/abundance. fact, many be largely tracking suitable habitat rather niches, especially among homeotherm organisms like birds.

Language: Английский

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Can microclimate offer refuge to an upland bird species under climate change?

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 35(9), P. 1907 - 1922

Published: July 18, 2020

Language: Английский

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Temporal dynamics of acoustic diversity in managed forests

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: Sept. 24, 2024

Introduction In production forests, management can have cascading effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Acoustic diversity reflects the of vocalizing animals has also considerable recreational value for human well-being, but relationship between acoustic forest remains largely unexplored Method We recorded plots along a gradient silvicultural intensity (SMI) in three regions Germany. explored diurnal seasonal temporal dynamics index (ADI) from March to July using generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs). further investigated interrelation intensity, structural diversity, as well tree bird species richness abundance equation modeling (SEM). Results Silvicultural had significant ADI May June dawn till dusk, variance explained by SMI was low. confirmed our hypothesis that reduced due its abundance. Discussion indices provide valuable insights into how affects activity soniferous communities. discuss this indicate both changes their vocal activity. address potential implications management.

Language: Английский

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Seasonality, niche management and vertical migration in landscapes of relief

Ecography, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 2022(6)

Published: May 29, 2021

Landscapes of vertical relief, such as mountains and continental slopes, intensify ecological climatological variation within narrow spatial windows. Seasonal migrants exploit this during their residence in, movements between, vertically stratified seasonal ranges. Animals in terrestrial, marine even human‐ecological systems undergo similar patterns movements. The diversity arenas which migration evolved lends insight to the factors promoting use landscapes relief. Because animals must contend with both endogenous circannual rhythms exogenous environmental seasonality, may be sensitive inconsistent change across ranges under climate change. To better understand how ongoing future climatic changes are likely impact migrants, we examine context niche tracking switching. Whereas trackers minimize realized conditions throughout movements, switchers transitions space. These strategies mediate relationship between changing environment, can used forecast impacts effectively conserve migration. Niche hindered by or unpredictable along a single axis strata, while switching incongruous spatiotemporal factors. We suggest that will affect environments discontinuously time, space face additional anthropogenic threats interact seasonality. Conservation should prioritize availability of, facilitate movement

Language: Английский

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Finding food in a changing world: Small‐scale foraging habitat preferences of an insectivorous passerine in the Alps

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(5)

Published: May 1, 2023

Organisms living in high-elevation habitats are usually habitat specialists who occupy a narrow ecological niche. To envision the response of alpine species to changing environment, it is fundamental understand their preferences on multiple spatial and temporal scales. However, information small-scale use still widely lacking. We investigated foraging migratory northern wheatear

Language: Английский

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