Landscape pattern and census area as determinants of the diversity of farmland avifauna in Estonia

Landscape structure affects farmland bird species richness and diversity at different scales. We develop a predictive, metric-based model for farmland bird species richness in different bird guilds and study how the research area size influences the relationship between bird diversity and landscape metrics. Thirty research locations (randomly selected, each containing four counting points) were located in three counties of Estonia. In early summer 2002 and 2004, two bird counts per point were carried out in each research location. Three landscape metrics (patch density, edge density and Shannon’s diversity index) were calculated at three spatial scales: 100- and 200-m buffer zones around the count points and in a 1 km² at 1 m × 1 m grain size. Using generalized additive mixed models with repeated measures, we found in most cases that the proportion of variance explained between the bird variables and landscape metrics increased with an increased study area thus demonstrating the effect of scale. Thus, a larger research area is recommended for landscape metrics. At large scales, however, all used landscape metrics were equally good predictors for bird species richness.     

1990~2013年来洞庭湖区鸟类生物多样性热点区时空动态及变动机理

评估与确定生物多样性分布格局与热点区是建立保护区、制定生物保护决策的基础。洞庭湖地区位处长江中游，是我国重要的淡水湖泊湿地生态系统，为中国乃至亚洲较大的鸟类越冬地之一。以洞庭湖地区14种Ⅰ、Ⅱ级重点保护鸟类为指示物种，基于1990~2013年间的多期遥感影像，运用物种生境分布MAXENT模型，选取地形、水系、植被、气候及人类干扰等共35个影响因子，对其进行生境适宜性评价及生物多样性热点区的筛选与制图，并对热点区时空动态特征进行分析。结果表明：（1）鸟类生物多样性热点区的分布范围呈现出组团状特征，1990~2013年来，热点区面积呈下降趋势；（2）鸟类栖息生境景观格局总体上趋于破碎，生境形状向简单且扁平化形态转变，生境格局呈复杂化；（3）经济与社会发展因素对研究区的鸟类生物多样性热点区变化影响显著，而自然因素产生的影响不明显。研究结果在制定区域生物多样性保护规划方案中可体现较好应用价值。     

上海郊区三类典型生境的两栖类分布特征

上海郊区农田,林地,湿地(池塘)三类典型生境是两栖类最主要的栖息地,生境的差异以及两栖类生态特征的不同造成了两栖类在分布上的差异。2014年和2016年5~8月对上海郊区三类典型生境的30个研究样点两栖类生物多样性进行调查,并运用单因素方差分析对三类生境的两栖类群落结构进行比较,通过层次聚类法分析不同生境的两栖类组成相似性。结果显示:(1)两年间共记录到上海郊区两栖类动物1目4科4属5种5 397只,其中泽陆蛙(Fejervarya multistriata),金线侧褶蛙(Pelophylax plancyi)为优势种。黑斑侧褶蛙(Pelophylax nigromaculata),中华蟾蜍(Bufo gargarizans),饰纹姬蛙(Microhyla fissipes)为常见种。这5种两栖类都为广型分布种。(2)三类生境的两栖类物种丰富度无显著性差异,而两栖类多度差异显著。(3)泽陆蛙,饰纹姬蛙的种群密度在三类生境中差异显著,且在农田生境中最高。黑斑侧褶蛙,金线侧褶蛙的种群密度在三类生境中差异显著且在池塘生境中最高。中华蟾蜍在三类生境中的种群密度无显著性差异。(4)聚类结果为30个研究样点中林地生境与池塘生境被聚为一类,农田生境被单独聚为一类。建议通过对不同生境的保护与恢复达到对上海郊区两栖类生物多样性保护的目的。     

Dynamics of Habitat Distribution in Birds Differing in the Level of Site Tenacity

The dynamics of habitat distribution in two bird species differing in the level of site tenacity—willow warbler (relatively tenacious) and little bunting (more flexible)—were studied at the boundary of the northern taiga and forest–tundra zones over ten years. The distribution pattern proved to be more uniform in the willow warbler than in the little bunting. Both species occupied their habitats according to a well-known scheme: initially, the birds settled in their favorable floodplain habitats and later; when their abundance increased, in less preferable habitats (terraces above the floodplain, moss bogs, and the tundra). In the case of willow warbler, the process of occupying the floodplain was stepwise: bird density increased sharply, remained at the same level in the next year, then increased again, etc. In the case of little bunting, the degree of floodplain occupation by birds remained high, except for the years when high spring floods interfered with bird settling.     

Cropland patchiness strongest agricultural predictor of bird diversity for multiple guilds in landscapes of Ontario,Canada

The potential for agricultural landscapes to support biodiversity may vary greatly based on agricultural land use. Current knowledge suggests that agricultural composition and intensity are dominant drivers of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, with variable effects of agricultural configuration and landscape diversity. The aim of this study was to determine the relative effects of agricultural composition, intensity, configuration, and landscape diversity on the species diversity of six distinct bird guilds on the landscape scale in a large and complex landscape in Ontario, Canada. We found that agricultural configuration, specifically patchiness of croplands, and to a lesser degree forage lands, was the strongest predictor of bird diversity for three of the six bird guilds considered (forest, shrubland, and town). The effects of increased cropland patchiness were variable, with forest and shrubland bird diversity increasing from small to moderate patchiness, and town bird diversity declining from moderate to high patchiness. Grassland birds, a group of considerable conservation concern, increased near linearly with increased agricultural land cover in the landscape, highlighting the need to consider agricultural lands in conservation planning for this species group. Woodland bird diversity declined significantly with all increasing measures of agricultural intensity, including the proportion of high-intensity agriculture and larger patches of agricultural land. Wetland birds were unique from the other guilds, showing primarily a strong association between diversity of land cover types and guild-level bird diversity. Surprisingly, increased cover of agricultural lands, which we predicted to be a dominant driver of guild-level bird diversity declines due to habitat loss, had weak, non-significant effects relative to the other land use variable being tested, except for the positive association with grassland birds. Our findings suggest that a mix of management strategies should be employed to consider the varying effects of agricultural lands on different bird guilds, such as the inclusion of agricultural land in conservation strategies for grassland species and further managing the configuration of agricultural lands to enhance biodiversity of agricultural landscapes.     

武汉市金银湖水鸟多样性及其与水环境关系的初步研究

2007年11月～2009年3月对金银湖越冬期和迁徙期水鸟进行了调查研究，共计水鸟34种，隶属于8目11科，其中冬候鸟21种，夏候鸟6种，留鸟5种，旅鸟2种；古北种21种，东洋种2种，广布种11种；列入国家重点保护Ⅱ级鸟类和中国濒危动物红皮书名录的有白琵鹭（Platalea leucorodia）1种，省级保护鸟类10种。按食性分，主食鱼虾类水鸟种数占优势，而主食水生植物类水鸟生物量较大。水质测试结果表明金银湖为劣Ⅴ类水体。通过分析不同季节以及栖息地环境改变前后水鸟多样性指数的变化，认为重建湿生植被和通过调节水位改变滩涂与水域的面积可提高水鸟多样性。武汉城市湖泊与远郊湖泊的水鸟多样性及环境条件的比较结果显示：水鸟多样性与水体污染程度呈负相关，与水域面积呈明显正相关，因此应严禁湿地的过度开发和蚕食湿地的行为，同时改善湖泊水质迫在眉睫。     

Patterns of the formation of bird population in the lake-river system of the Asian Subarctic mountains based on the example of the Putorana Plateau

This paper analyzes the patterns of the formation of the aquatic and semiaquatic bird species population under the conditions of the altitudinal zonality of the Putorana Plateau. The population density and abundance of a number of background species was ascertained to decrease from the subalpine belt towards the forest and alpine belt. The bird population density in all the considered aquatic and semiaquatic habitats was revealed to change in a rather narrow range of values: the maximal population density indicator in aquatic and semiaquatic habitats is only 1.9 times higher than the minimal indicator. In the mountainous Subarctic region with a radial macrosymmetry, the spatial dynamics of abundance has a concentrically centrifugal nature in many aquatic and semiaquatic bird species.     

Population of birds in the boreal mountain-valley landscape disturbed by gold mining

The article characterizes the changes in the species composition and population of birds of the boreal mountain-valley landscape in connection with disturbances caused by extraction of gold (based on researched material in the Bureya Mountains, Far East). It displays the ratio of faunal assemblages and layered bird groupings in the technogenic habitats (lixiviation and open-pit dump sites of 1–5 years of age and 35–40 years of age) and undisturbed sites of river valleys. On the basis of coefficient of inclusion and similarity, we compared the populations of birds of different habitats either on species composition or taking into account the density of species.     

上海崇明东滩人工湿地冬春季水鸟的生境因子分析

为了解围垦后不同土地利用方式对水鸟的影响,于2011年11月~2012年5月对上海市崇明东滩湿地公园、北八滧鱼塘、98大堤内抛荒鱼塘、以及捕鱼港互花米草控制示范区的芦苇塘4类人工湿地开展水鸟调查,在冬季共统计到水鸟20 050只,隶属于5目9科34种,春季共统计到水鸟5 080只,隶属于6目7科47种。方差分析表明,冬、春季4类人工湿地水鸟种类、密度、多样性均有显著差异。运用相关分析对水鸟种类、密度、物种多样性、均匀性指数等群落特征及调查样方内明水面面积、平均水位、人为干扰、裸露浅滩面积、植被面积等环境因子进行水鸟生境因子选择分析,结果表明,冬季水鸟种类、多样性与明水面面积呈极显著正相关,水鸟种类与植被面积呈极显著负相关;春季种类、密度、多样性都与裸露浅滩面积呈极显著正相关。崇明东滩人工湿地在水鸟保育中起到了重要的作用,根据不同水鸟对生境因子的要求,冬季应保持较大的明水面面积和一定的水深,为雁鸭类建立合适的栖息地。春季应保持一定的裸露浅滩面积,为鸻鹬类提供良好的避难所。因此,水位调控成为崇明东滩人工湿地自然保育的重要手段     

金沙江下游鱼类栖息地评估和保护优先级研究

为了给受金沙江下游水电开发影响的鱼类筛选合适的支流进行栖息地保护，对金沙江下游12条支流进行了鱼类栖息地评估和保护优先级的研究。通过河段分类-河段样方调查-河流整体评估的路线评估了支流栖息地质量；通过2次流动调查，结合历史资料获取了各支流的特有鱼类种数；最后，结合栖息地评估结果、各支流的特有鱼类种数、年径流量和水电开发强度，运用分层排序法，得出了各支流的保护优先级，由高到低依次为：牛栏江>西溪河>黑水河>普渡河>龙川江>鲹鱼河>西宁河>美姑河>以礼河>普隆河>勐果河>小江。建议将乌东德库区的龙川江和鲹鱼河、白鹤滩库区的黑水河和普渡河、溪洛渡库区的牛栏江和西溪河，以及向家坝库区的西宁河作为金沙江下游鱼类优先保护支流     

Ant species composition and richness in different types of semi-natural grasslands

The distribution of ant species was studied across different types of semi-natural grasslands in a mosaic landscape in which data on land use history and conservation values were available. The twenty-nine grasslands selected were non-fertilised and had an uninterrupted history of management, but they differed from each other in soil texture and grazing practices and were therefore sub-divided into six different types. Species abundance of mound-building ants were investigated in these grasslands in 2003. Additionally, ants were sampled using the pitfall trapping method in 13 semi-natural grasslands (in 2003 and 2005). Ant species richness and nest frequency of individual ant species differed between the different types of grassland and was associated with soil texture and grazing practices. The results also showed that even small grasslands have a very high ant species richness. This study showed that for the conservation of ants, habitat diversity and heterogeneity rather than habitat size are of great importance. I conclude that different types of semi-natural grassland contribute to heterogeneity in the farmland landscape and, thus, support higher ant diversity at the landscape scale.     

Specific features of bird community formation depending on the degree of anthropogenic impact

The population density and relative abundance of some bird species reach the highest values in the communities of habitats with a high degree of anthropogenic transformation. The species diversity of birds shows an inverse correlation with the index of anthropogenic impact (in grades) calculated with regard to a number of parameters. Relevant correlations change periodically, with the correlation coefficient reaching the highest values in the nesting period and decreasing to a minimum during the flight period.     

鄱阳湖越冬鸟类种群动态与保护研究

目前为止缺少对鄱阳湖全湖冬候鸟的种群动态和群落方面的研究分析，拟通过对鄱阳湖冬候鸟群落多样性和种群动态的分析，为该地区冬候鸟及其栖息地保护提出建设性建议。2010～2012年冬季，通过采用直接计数法和样线法调查鄱阳湖湿地冬季碟形湖内的越冬鸟类群落结构。总共记录到越冬鸟类88种，另有29种属于文献报道但本次调查中未发现的种类。总共117种鸟类分别属于目、鹈形目、鹳形目、雁形目、鹤形目、鸻行目和佛法僧目。在鄱阳湖，种类和数量分布最多的是冬候鸟，达到78种。小天鹅、鸿雁、豆雁、白额雁、绿翅鸭和斑嘴鸭是鄱阳湖湿地越冬鸟类中的绝对优势种，鸟类个体数量最多的冬季蝶形湖泊主要包括鄱阳湖自然保护区的蚌湖、大湖池、沙湖和大汊湖，都昌县的黄金嘴，南矶山湿地自然保护区的白沙湖，余干县的林充湖和南湖，以及鄱阳县的珠湖。各种越冬鸟类在鄱阳湖湿地的种群数量分布差异主要是与各碟形湖水位的高低和食物的分布密切相关。只有在冬季开始后，使碟形湖洼地的水位逐渐降低，越冬鸟类才能够更有效的利用湖泊中的食物     

Response of the Avifauna to Technogenic Environmental Pollution in the Southern Taiga Zone of the Middle Urals

The results of original studies and published data are used for evaluating the main responses of the avifauna of boreal forests to the combined effect of sulfur dioxide and heavy metals. It is shown that environmental pollution results in the reduction of species richness, biomass, and stability of the nesting bird fauna. In degraded areas, the structure of the bird community changes: (1) typical forest species are replaced by the species of open habitats, and (2) the proportion of species nesting in the upper tree layer decreases, whereas that of ground-nesting species increases.     

长江口滩涂湿地景观变化对典型水鸟生境适宜性的影响

近年来在海平面上升、长江水沙变化、植被演替等自然因素以及促淤圈围工程、深水航道建设等人为因素的共同作用下，长江口滩涂湿地水鸟适宜生境发生了巨大变化。针对长江口滩涂湿地典型水鸟中的鸻鹬类(Charadriiformes)与雁鸭类(Anseriformes)，采用空间多样性指数、人为干扰度等指标研究1980～2010年长江口滩涂湿地景观变化对两类水鸟生境适宜性的影响。结果表明：两类水鸟的不适宜生境、边缘生境、次级生境面积均呈增长趋势，鸻鹬类共增加682 km2，雁鸭类共增加314 km2。而核心生境面积却呈不同的变化趋势，鸻鹬类减少136 km2，雁鸭类增加232 km2，但鸻鹬类和雁鸭类核心生境面积百分比均分别减少566%和194%。1980～2010年鸻鹬类生境适宜性综合评价指数由092下降到053，雁鸭类由089下降到070，鸻鹬类降幅大于雁鸭类。通过定量分析人为干扰度对水鸟生境的影响，发现鸻鹬类对人类干扰更加敏感，中等强度的人类干扰在一定程度上扩大了雁鸭类的适宜生境面积     

Avian species distribution in different elevation zone forest (Sal, Pine Mixed And Oak) in nainital district of uttarakhand, India

The present study were made to estimate the avian fauna in terms of species richness and diversity and guild structure in forest habitats of Nainital district of Uttarakhand (350–2.450 m asl; 29° N). Field studies were conducted during January 2007 to December 2008. Total 43, 62 and 42 species were recorded from, Haldwani, Bhowali and Nainital forest habitats. Results indicate the species relationship between Bird species richness (BSR) and elevation sections (forest habitats) was not decline simultaneously along elevation; it shows hump shaped. BSR varied considerably along elevational gradient (43 to 62 species), was highest (62 species) at mid elevation (Mixed pine forest, 1.350–1.700 m asl) and decreased (20 species) at high elevation (Conifer forest, 1900–2450 m asl). It seems that mid altitude bulge is not caused by the presence of a group of mid altitude specialists but rather that there is an overlap in the distribution of low land and high elevation specialists at this altitude. A checklist of 79 avian species has also produced of Nainital district forest habitats. It is suggested that this study provide a base line structure for further study on species distribution in different forest habitats and along different elevation section in Western Himalayas (India).     

Communities of phyllophagous insects in young birch greeneries of northern cities

Phyllophagous insect assemblages on birch trees have been studied in greeneries of the cities of Labytnangi and Salekhard and natural habitats in the environs of these cities in 2007, 2010, and 2013. The 44 recorded species were dominated by insects of the orders Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera (18 and 12 species, respectively); regarding feeding ecology and mode of life, they were dominated by open-living chewing phyllophages and miners (19 and 10 species). The urban greeneries and sparse birch forests were colonized by the same species, but the density of many species in the cities was considerably higher. The species composition of the communities changed considerably from year to year. The species richness and similarity of insect assemblages at the studied sites were the highest in 2013. The basic pests of birch in the northern cities were chewing phyllophages, especially Tenthredinidae sawflies.     

Projecting current and potential future distribution of the Fire-bellied toad Bombina bombina under climate change in north-eastern Germany

Environmental change is likely to have a strong impact on biodiversity, and many species may shift their distribution in response. In this study, we aimed at projecting the availability of suitable habitat for an endangered amphibian species, the Fire-bellied toad Bombina bombina, in Brandenburg (north-eastern Germany). We modelled a potential habitat distribution map based on (1) a database with 10,581 presence records for Bombina from the years 1990 to 2009, (2) current estimates for ecogeographical variables (EGVs) and (3) the future projection of these EGVs according to the statistical regional model, respectively, the soil and water integrated model, applying the maximum entropy approach (Maxent). By comparing current and potential future distributions, we evaluated the projected change in distribution of suitable habitats and identified the environmental variables most associated with habitat suitability that turned out to be climatic variables related to the hydrological cycle. Under the applied scenario, our results indicate increasing habitat suitability in many areas and an extended range of suitable habitats. However, even if the environmental conditions in Brandenburg may change as predicted, it is questionable whether the Fire-bellied toad will truly benefit, as dispersal abilities of amphibian species are limited and strongly influenced by anthropogenic disturbances, that is, intensive agriculture, habitat destruction and fragmentation. Furthermore, agronomic pressure is likely to increase on productive areas with fertile soils and high water retention capacities, indeed those areas suitable for B. bombina. All these changes may affect temporary pond hydrology as well as the reproductive success and breeding phenology of toads.     

长江上游向家坝库区鸟类多样性研究及生境价值评估

2011年利用样线法对长江上游向家坝库区夏、秋季鸟类进行了实地考察，共记录110种鸟类，隶属15目39科。通过5个调查点、2个对照点不同生境鸟类的多样性研究发现：（1）夏、秋季库区不同生境鸟类的Shannon Wiener 指数较低，几乎均未超过1.5，鸟类物种多样性相对贫乏；（2）库区各生境鸟类Pielou指数均超过了0.75，说明库区环境虽以人工植被为主，但并不单调；（3）阶地疏林灌丛、竹林与常绿落叶阔叶混交林的鸟类相似性差异最小〖JP2〗，而二者与芦苇、荩草丛滩地的差异最大，库区鸟类在不同生境中的分布存在着显著不同。在上述研究的基础上，从物种多样性和河流景观保护的角度，对库区鸟类的不同生境类型进行多要素综合分析，结果显示: 山地森林生境的物种多样性相对丰富，生态价值最高，而河滩和阶地疏林灌丛、竹林生境具备一定的景观特色,也有相当的生态价值     

江西大鄣山夏季鸟类群落多样性研究

2009年6月至2010年8月采用样线法对江西大鄣山夏季鸟类资源及其生境分布状况进行调查，并计算其物种多样性、均匀性、优势度及不同生境群落间的相似性。共记录江西大鄣山夏季鸟类13目31科78种，其中留鸟45种，夏候鸟21种，冬候鸟7种，旅鸟5种；其中国家二级保护鸟类6种，省级保护鸟类22种；结果表明：东洋种鸟类占有明显优势（500%），古北种次之（282%），广布种占218%。白头鹎（〖WTBX〗Pycnonotus sinensis）和白腰文鸟（Lonchura striata〖WTBZ〗）为当季优势种。6种群落类型中，Shannon Weiner指数与Simpson指数排序均为：阔叶林>农田居民区>针阔混交林>溪流水域>灌木草丛>针叶林。Pielou指数排序为:针阔混交林>溪流水域>阔叶林>农田居民区>灌木草丛>针叶林。Sorenson指数中阔叶林 针阔混交林（〖WTBX〗S〖WTBZ〗=048）为最高。研究结果可为当地森林管理和鸟类保护提供依据