西天目山低山地区人工与自然生境夏季鸟类群落比较

为了研究西天目山低山地区人类活动对鸟类群落的影响,于2007年7月对该地区两种自然生境(常绿乔木林和灌丛)与两种人工生境(苗圃和公园)中鸟类的种类、数量及鸟类群落的相似性进行比较.结果表明,常绿乔木林与灌丛中的鸟类物种数最多,常绿乔木林中的鸟类密度显著高于灌丛中的鸟类密度.苗圃和公园中鸟类物种数及密度都显著低于常绿乔木林和灌丛.两种人工生境中鸟类群落相似性最高,广性分布物种是这两种生境中鸟类群落的主要组成部分,而狭性分布物种仅在常绿乔木林和灌丛中分布.以上结果表明,人类活动所造成的生境改变对鸟类多样性有不利影响.     

乌鲁木齐市不同生境繁殖期的鸟类群落多样性及功能集团分析

2016—2019年对乌鲁木齐市7种生境(高寒草甸、针叶林-灌丛、草原、农田、荒漠、湿地和城市公园)的繁殖期鸟类进行实地调查。共记录鸟类178种,隶属19目45科,其中雀形目Passeriformes最具代表性,共86种(占48.3%);居留型以夏候鸟和留鸟为主,共153种(占86.0%);分布型以古北型为主,共82种(占46.1%);珍稀濒危和重点保护物种共33种(占18.5%)。鸟类群落物种数及个体数最多的为湿地生境,荒漠、针叶林-灌丛生境次之,各生境物种数(H=30.628,P0.001)存在显著性差异。湿地生境鸟类的Shannon-Wiener多样性指数最高,高寒草甸生境的最低;草原生境的Pielou均匀度指数最高,高寒草甸生境的最低;高寒草甸生境的Simpson优势度指数最高,草原生境的最低;针叶林-灌丛生境的物种丰富度指数最高,荒漠生境的最低。草原与针叶林-灌丛生境之间的Sorensen相似性系数最高(0.59),高寒草甸与荒漠之间的最低(0)。湿地生境鸟类群落的捕食集团以食虫性为主,其他生境以杂食性为主。湿地生境中鸟类营地面巢的居多,高寒草甸生境中鸟类营洞巢的居多,其他生境中鸟类营编织巢的居多。上述结果表明,乌鲁木齐市周围的湿地生境应该得到优先保护。     

角百灵和小云雀的孵化行为

鸟类的个体发育是在双亲、雏鸟及巢组成的一种特殊环境中完成的,稳定的热环境是它们完成孵化和雏鸟生长发育的必要条件(White et al., 1974; Purdue, 1976; Ellis, 1982; Haftorn, 1983; Morton et al., 1985; Schnace et al., 1991; Vatnick et al., 1998; 张晓爱等,1995).因此亲鸟的伴巢行为及时间花费在保证繁殖成功中起重要作用.伴巢行为是指亲鸟在繁殖期间,为筑巢、防御、抱卵、孵雏及递食而出现在巢中或附近的所有行为(Oppenhaim, 1972).亲鸟拌巢的时间分配与巢环境有密切关系,已有大量的报道(如Purdue, 1976; Ellis,1982; Schnace et al., 1991;张晓爱等, 1995). 张晓爱等(1995)比较了高寒草甸地区的地面、灌丛及洞穴3种不同营巢类型亲鸟的伴巢时间分配模式,但是对亲缘关系较近,营巢生境相同鸟类之间的伴巢时间分配模式,以及坐巢行为与巢环境之间关系没有报道,国外对这方面的报道也甚少.本项研究选择高寒草甸的两种百灵科鸟:角百灵(Eremophila alpestris)和小云雀(Alauda gulgula)作为研究对象来比较亲鸟在孵化期坐巢行为与巢址微环境的关系,对研究鸟类繁殖行为与环境关系及从生活史进化角度研究相似种的共存机制提供理论依据.     

Fruit types and seed dispersal modes of plants in different communities in Shilin Geopark,Yunnan, China

喀斯特植物群落果实类型和种子散布特征的研究, 对于理解喀斯特植物群落更新与拓展特征, 进而揭示喀斯特石漠化地区恢复植被的自然扩展机制及制定植被恢复规划具有重要意义。该研究以石林地质公园不同群落类型为对象, 研究不同群落的果实类型谱与种子散布谱, 以揭示果实类型与种子散布方式对恢复植被的影响。采用石林地质公园不同群落各1 hm ²样地记名计数法调查的维管束物种名录, 依据Flora of China对物种果实的描述确定其果实类型; 根据文献、数据库以及果实、种子形态性状确定种子散布方式。结果表明: (1)石林地质公园282种维管束植物共16种果实类型(含孢子), 其中瘦果、蒴果、浆果和核果的物种比例均大于10%。木本植物、草本植物、藤本植物的优势果实类型分别为核果、瘦果和浆果。石林地质公园各群落的木本植物、草本植物和藤本植物的果实类型谱差异不显著。在原生林、次生林、灌丛、灌草丛和人工辅助云南松林不同群落中, 浆果和核果的物种比例减少, 瘦果、颖果和蒴果的物种比例增加。(2)石林地质公园植物种子以动物传播为主, 其次为风传播。在原生林、次生林、灌丛、灌草丛和人工辅助云南松林不同群落中, 风传播的物种比例增加了73%-87%, 动物传播(包括鸟类传播)减少了31%-36%。(3)物种的种子散布方式直接影响到植被恢复物种和恢复策略的选择。基于恢复目标, 选择自然传播能力强的乡土物种或地带性植被关键种, 辅以传播廊道, 有助于喀斯特的植被恢复。     

石林地质公园不同群落类型植物果实组成与种子散布特征

喀斯特植物群落果实类型和种子散布特征的研究,对于理解喀斯特植物群落更新与拓展特征,进而揭示喀斯特石漠化地区恢复植被的自然扩展机制及制定植被恢复规划具有重要意义。该研究以石林地质公园不同群落类型为对象,研究不同群落的果实类型谱与种子散布谱,以揭示果实类型与种子散布方式对恢复植被的影响。采用石林地质公园不同群落各1 hm2样地记名计数法调查的维管束物种名录,依据Flora of China对物种果实的描述确定其果实类型;根据文献、数据库以及果实、种子形态性状确定种子散布方式。结果表明:(1)石林地质公园282种维管束植物共16种果实类型(含孢子),其中瘦果、蒴果、浆果和核果的物种比例均大于10%。木本植物、草本植物、藤本植物的优势果实类型分别为核果、瘦果和浆果。石林地质公园各群落的木本植物、草本植物和藤本植物的果实类型谱差异不显著。在原生林、次生林、灌丛、灌草丛和人工辅助云南松林不同群落中,浆果和核果的物种比例减少,瘦果、颖果和蒴果的物种比例增加。(2)石林地质公园植物种子以动物传播为主,其次为风传播。在原生林、次生林、灌丛、灌草丛和人工辅助云南松林不同群落中,风传播的物种比例增加了73%–87%,动物传播(包括鸟类传播)减少了31%–36%。(3)物种的种子散布方式直接影响到植被恢复物种和恢复策略的选择。基于恢复目标,选择自然传播能力强的乡土物种或地带性植被关键种,辅以传播廊道,有助于喀斯特的植被恢复。     

高寒草甸几种雀形目鸟类的卵反射率分析

于2010~2013年的繁殖季节,在中国科学院海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站收集了9种青藏高原常见雀形目鸟类的卵,分别进行了反射率测量。测量光谱范围为可见光(400~750 nm)和短波近红外(750~1050 nm)。卵在两个波段光谱的反射率分别是0.066和0.123,二者差异极显著。在可见光范围内,除赭红尾鸲Phoenicurus ochruros的波峰在绿色光范围内,其他物种都在黄色光范围内;在短波近红外范围内,反射率明显分为3个组,以角百灵和小云雀的地面开放巢较高,黄嘴朱顶雀和黄腹柳莺的灌丛巢较低,其他种居中;开放巢及封闭巢的卵反射率在可见光范围无显著差异,但在短波近红外范围有显著差异。我们认为,在青藏高原高寒草甸生态系统中,植被郁闭度低,地面营巢环境不利于巢与卵的遮阳,造成营开放度高的地面巢的鸟卵近红外反射率相对较高,而灌丛巢和封闭巢的雀形目鸟类鸟卵相对较低,但对可见光谱的卵反射率各物种差异不显著。     

鸟类筑巢的智慧与本能(上)

自然界中绝大多数鸟类在其繁殖季节,都有筑巢的习性,由于各种鸟的生境、生活方式及进化不同,不同种的鸟的营巢地点、选用材料、筑巢方式,巢的大小、形状、造型、结构等也各异。游禽、涉禽常用芦苇、水草等筑成水面浮巢或靠近水域的地面巢;攀禽及一些森林鸟类和海鸟常利用树洞、岩隙、石缝之类筑成洞巢;地栖类走禽在地面扒一个坑或再填上些草茎、树叶、羽毛之类即能成巢;而雀形目的一些鸟类即使营地面巢也能编织得十分精巧,更多的却是用树枝、草茎、各种纤维、毛发、羽毛等为材料编织或建造成别致而又风格各异的巢。各种各样的鸟巢或在树上、洞中,或在檐下、地表,有的十分简陋,有的却非常精致。但无论在什么条件下,鸟类总是能把巢建得与环境相适应。自     

三峡重庆库区不同鸟类群落的物种组成及多样性研究

1996～1997年,对三峡工程重庆库区的鸟类群落物种组成和种群数量进行了调查,共调查记录库区鸟类15目48科226种,数量18929只。用鸟类数量级划分、Sorensen相似性指数、Shannon-Wiener指数和Pielou指数分析库区各种生境鸟类群落物组成和物种多样性结果表明：1）库区天然林、人工林、灌草丛和水域生境中鸟类群落的组成与农田生境具有较高的相似性,尤以人工林和农田的相似性最高;2）库区人工林生境鸟类群落物种多样性最高;3）库区由于长期以来人类活动的影响,生境日趋单一,已逐渐形成一种以农田灌丛鸟类为主的鸟类生态系统。     

潜在洞巢资源差异对次级洞巢鸟及繁殖鸟类群落的影响

为了解次生林中潜在洞巢资源(包括各种啄木鸟的啄洞和人工巢箱)的多寡对次级洞巢鸟集团及繁殖鸟类群落结构的影响, 2007年11月至2008年7月, 我们在吉林省吉林市大岗林场选择洞巢密度不同的样地, 对其次级洞巢鸟及鸟类群落结构进行了比较研究。根据洞巢资源密度我们将9块样地分为3组, 即巢箱区(啄洞密度最低, 悬挂人工巢箱使其潜在洞巢资源总密度大幅提高)、低密度区(啄洞密度较低, 无巢箱)和高密度区(啄洞密度较高, 无巢箱), 调查了3组样地内鸟类的组成和密度、潜在洞巢资源的利用情况等。3组样地中均调查到4种初级洞巢鸟, 其种类组成略有不同; 4种次级洞巢鸟在3组样地广泛分布, 分别为白眉姬鹟(Ficedula zanthopygia)、大山雀(Parus major)、沼泽山雀(P. palustris)和普通鳾(Sitta europaea)。巢箱区和高密度区的次级洞巢鸟总密度显著高于低密度区。巢箱区同高密度区一样, 大山雀和白眉姬鹟的密度显著高于低密度区, 这是由于大山雀和白眉姬鹟是人工巢箱的主要利用鸟种, 而沼泽山雀和普通鳾的密度在三组样地间差异不显著。初级洞巢鸟总密度与啄洞密度、次级洞巢鸟总密度与潜在洞巢资源总密度都呈显著正相关关系。潜在洞巢资源丰富的样地中鸟类群落多样性指数显著高于潜在洞巢资源贫乏样地中的鸟类群落多样性指数, 人为增加洞巢资源可以改变鸟类群落组成并显著提高群落的多样性指数。三组样地中鸟类群落的均匀性、丰富度指数和种间相遇率没有显著差异, 群落相似性指数也相近。高密度区和低密度区鸟类群落集团结构相似。次级洞巢鸟密度的增加短时期内未对群落内其他主要鸟种的密度产生显著影响。研究结果显示, 初级洞巢鸟的密度决定了啄洞的丰富程度, 而洞巢资源的差异会对次级洞巢鸟集团的分布模式产生影响, 进而影响整个繁殖鸟类群落的结构。     

人类休闲活动对森林鸟类群落无有害影响

我们对西班牙马德里森林深处(未受到人类干扰)、森林小路沿线(间或有徒步旅行者经过)以及森林野餐区(有较持久干扰)的鸟类进行了调查,以查明人类休闲活动对该地区鸟类群落的分布和多度的影响.结合样方法对以上3类区域鸟类群落的总体特征(如:鸟类的多度、物种的丰富度和多样性)、不同鸟类群体的特征(如:鸦科鸟类的多度,营巢或者取食集团的特征)、各鸟种的多度等参数进行了比较.结果表明:小路沿线和野餐区样方内鸟类的多度和物种丰富度比森林深处更高,已查明14种鸟类的多度在人为干扰区域比森林深处高,只有5种鸟类的多度在森林深处更高一些;在树冠层筑巢的鸟类、在树干和地面觅食的鸟类及鸦科鸟类在休闲活动区有更高的多度;地巢性鸟类在休闲区的多度较低,这种差别尤以阔叶落叶林中加明显.而森林小路的鸟类群落结构与森林内部非常相似,说明人类休闲活动对这些林区鸟类群落的影响更多缘自野餐.原因是野餐区常常具有以下特点:具有高大的乔木、中层植被稀疏、有较多的洞和缝隙以及野餐后会遗留下一些垃圾.以上结论与研究的预期目标正好相反,人类的这些休闲活动可能会降低地巢性鸟类的适宜度,但是对大多数鸟的类栖息地没有不利影响.     

Effects of Tamarix removal on the community dynamics of riparian birds in a semiarid grassland

Invasion of riparian habitats by non‐native plants is a global problem that requires an understanding of community‐level responses by native plants and animals. In the Great Plains, resource managers have initiated efforts to control the eastward incursion of Tamarix as a non‐native bottomland plant (Tamarix ramosissima) along the Cimarron River in southwestern Kansas, United States. To understand how native avifauna interact with non‐native plants, we studied the effects of Tamarix removal on riparian bird communities. We compared avian site occupancy of three foraging guilds, abundance of four nesting guilds, and assessed community dynamics with dynamic, multiseason occupancy models across three replicated treatments. Community parameters were estimated for Tamarix‐dominated sites (untreated), Tamarix‐removal sites (treated), and reference sites with native cottonwood sites (Populus deltoides). Estimates of initial occupancy (ψ₂₀₀₆) for the ground‐to‐shrub foraging guild tended to be highest at Tamarix‐dominated sites, while initial occupancy of the upper‐canopy foraging and mid‐canopy foraging guilds were highest in the treated and reference sites, respectively. Estimates of relative abundance for four nesting guilds indicated that the reference habitat supported the highest relative abundance of birds overall, although the untreated habitat had higher abundance of shrub‐nesters than treated or reference habitats. Riparian sites where invasive Tamarix is dominant in the Great Plains can provide nesting habitat for some native bird species, with avian abundance and diversity that are comparable to remnant riparian sites with native vegetation. Moreover, presence of some native vegetation in Tamarix‐dominated and Tamarix‐removal sites may increase abundance of riparian birds such as cavity‐nesters. Overall, our study demonstrates that Tamarix may substitute for native flora in providing nesting habitat for riparian birds at the eastern edge of its North American range.     

Guild-specific responses of avian species richness to LiDAR-derived habitat heterogeneity

Ecological niche theory implies that more heterogeneous habitats have the potential to support greater biodiversity. Positive heterogeneity-diversity relationships have been found for most studies investigating animal taxa, although negative relationships also occur and the scale dependence of heterogeneity-diversity relationships is little known. We investigated multi-scale, heterogeneity-diversity relationships for bird communities in a semi-arid riparian landscape, using airborne LiDAR data to derive key measures of structural habitat complexity. Habitat heterogeneity-diversity relationships were generally positive, although the overall strength of relationships varied across avian life history guilds (R² range: 0.03–0.41). Best predicted were the species richness indices of cavity nesters, habitat generalists, woodland specialists, and foliage foragers. Heterogeneity-diversity relationships were also strongly scale-dependent, with strongest associations at the 200-m scale (4 ha) and weakest associations at the 50-m scale (0.25 ha). Our results underscore the value of LiDAR data for fine-grained quantification of habitat structure, as well as the need for biodiversity studies to incorporate variation among life-history guilds and to simultaneously consider multiple guild functional types (e.g. nesting, foraging, habitat). Results suggest that certain life-history guilds (foliage foragers, cavity nesters, woodland specialists) are more susceptible than others (ground foragers, ground nesters, low nesters) to experiencing declines in local species richness if functional elements of habitat heterogeneity are lost. Positive heterogeneity-diversity relationships imply that riparian conservation efforts need to not only provide high-quality riparian habitat locally, but also to provide habitat heterogeneity across multiple scales.     

Happy to breed in the city? Urban food resources limit reproductive output in Western Jackdaws

Urban areas expand worldwide, transforming landscapes and creating new challenging habitats. Some bird species, mainly omnivorous feeding on human waste and cavity nesters, commonly breed in these habitats and are, therefore, regarded as urban‐adapted. Although urban areas may provide new nesting sites and abundant human waste, the low breeding success found in some of these species suggests that the poor protein content in human waste might limit breeding parameters. We investigated whether the breeding success of a cavity nester and omnivorous species commonly breeding in urban areas, the Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), depended on the availability of good‐quality non‐urban food. We approached the objective by combining a literature review and experiments in the field. With the literature review, we compared jackdaw populations in different habitats across Europe and found that clutch size and number of fledglings per pair decreased with distance to non‐urban foraging grounds, even after controlling for the effect of colony size, latitude, and climate. In two experiments, we tested whether the breeding success of urban pairs could be increased by supplementing high‐quality food, first only during egg formation and second also until chick fledging. Food supplementation during egg formation led to larger eggs and higher hatching success than in urban control nests, but this did not result in higher chick survival. However, when food supplementation was prolonged until fledging in the second experiment, we observed a significant increase of nestling survival. These findings highlight that research and management actions should not only focus on species displaced by urbanization, but also on “urban‐adapted” species, as they might be suffering from a mismatch between availability of nesting sites in buildings and adequate non‐urban food resources. In these cases, nest sites should be provided in or close to adequate food resources.     

Are house sparrow populations limited by the lack of cavities in urbanized landscapes? An experimental test

Current urban policies are associated with deep changes in urban structures, which may impoverish urban biodiversity. A major concern is the disappearance of nesting sites for wild vertebrate species living in urban areas. New urban structures without any cracks or cavities may especially preclude cavity nesters from breeding in cities and they may cause population declines. In that context, we experimentally investigated this question in an urban exploiter bird species (the house sparrow Passer domesticus), which is dramatically declining in most European cities. To test if the lack of cavities is limiting house sparrow populations in urban areas, we equipped 11 sites along an urbanization gradient with nest boxes and we then evaluated the rate of occupancy of these nest‐boxes. This urbanization gradient was characterized by very rural places (isolated farms) and moderately urbanized areas (town of medium size, i.e. 60 000 inhabitants). Surprisingly, rural nest boxes were more occupied than urban ones, suggesting that cavity availability is probably more constraining in rural areas relative to urban ones. Therefore, our study suggests that urban house sparrow populations are probably not constrained by a lack of nesting sites in medium size cities with urban designs similar to our city of interest (Niort, western France). This hypothesis definitely needs now to be tested in further urban landscapes (e.g. large cities and urban landscapes with other architecture and management policies).     

城市公园植被特征对陆生鸟类集团的影响

城市公共绿地是城市生态系统中重要的鸟类栖息地,其植被特征对鸟类集团存在显著影响。在通过分析植被特征对陆生鸟类集团的作用,从而为公园合理配置植被来提高其作为野生动物栖息地的生态服务功能提供理论基础。2009年10月至2011年10月,采用样线法对上海滨江森林公园进行鸟类调查,利用主成分分析划分鸟类集团,用高度定义植被层次,用卡方检验分析鸟类行为在植被层次上的差异。结果表明,滨江森林公园陆生鸟类群落在乔木层的栖息行为和运动行为频次显著多于其在灌木层和地被层的行为频次,在地被层的取食行为频次显著多于其在乔木层和灌木层的行为频次。陆生鸟类可划分为8个鸟类集团,鸟类集团之间存在栖息、运动和取食空间生态位的重叠。食虫拾取集团、杂食拾取集团、食肉飞取集团和植食拾取集团在栖息、运动和取食空间生态位上均存在较高的重叠度,其通过食性分离各自空间生态位。食虫探取集团和食虫飞取集团互为栖息空间生态位重叠度最高集团,其通过取食方式的不同来实现生态位的分离。根据公园植被特征对鸟类集团的影响结果对上海市公园绿地植被配置提出了建议。     

Relationship between Survival Rate of Avian Artificial Nests and Forest Vegetation Structure along a Tropical Altitudinal Gradient on Mount Cameroon

Nest predation is assumed to be an important factor driving avian life histories. Altitudinal gradients offer valuable study systems to investigate how avian nest predation risk varies between bird populations. In this study, a hypothesis postulating an increase in avian nest survival rate with elevation as a result of decreasing predation pressure was experimentally tested along an altitudinal gradient (300‐2250 m) in West‐Central Africa. Three types of artificial nests (cup‐shrub, cup‐ground and bare‐ground) were used along the altitudinal gradient. Overall, elevation had no effect on the daily survival rate (DSR) of the artificial nests. However, there was a significant elevation‐nest type interaction. Daily survival rate for cup‐shrub nests decreased significantly with elevation, but for cup‐ground and bare‐ground nests, elevation had no significant effect. We tested the effects of the same vegetation parameters (tree density, herb and shrub layer coverage, and canopy openness) on the DSR of different nest types to understand how different vegetation layers or combinations of them affect DSR. Daily survival rate for bare‐ground nests significantly decreased with increasing canopy openness, and was positively influenced by coverage of herb layer and tree density. For cup‐shrub nests, DSR increased significantly with increasing shrub layer coverage. Finally, for cup‐ground nests, we found a positive effect of shrub coverage and canopy openness on DSR. In summary, we found that different forest vegetation layers affect predation risk of different nest types along elevations on Mt. Cameroon.     

Secondhand homes: The multilayered influence of woodpeckers as ecosystem engineers

Ecosystem engineers alter, and can be influenced in turn by, the ecosystems they live in. Woodpeckers choose foraging and nesting sites based, in part, on food availability. Once abandoned, these cavities, particularly within areas of high forage, may be crucial to secondary cavity‐nesting birds otherwise limited by cavities formed through decay. Our study examined factors that influence the nesting success of primary cavity nesters and the subsequent impact on secondary cavity‐nesting birds. Using 5 years of point count data, we monitored the outcomes of cavity‐nesting birds in South Texas. We used logistic‐exposure models to predict daily survival rates based on cavity metrics and used woodpecker foraging trends and insect surveys to determine if nesting where woodpeckers actively forage benefits secondary cavity‐nesting birds. Both woodpeckers and secondary cavity nesters shared predictors of daily survival; nests were more successful in cavities with small openings in minimally decayed trees. All secondary cavity nesters had higher probabilities of success when nesting in an abandoned woodpecker cavity, opposed to ones formed by decay. Woodpeckers tended to forage in areas with higher‐than‐average levels of the insect orders Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Orthoptera, and secondary cavity nesters had higher rates of success when nesting in these areas. Our results suggest abandoned woodpecker cavities may be constructed in a way that directly benefit secondary cavity nesters. Additionally, we suggest an interplay between these ecosystem engineers, food availability, and secondary cavity nesters: Woodpeckers engineer superior nesting cavities in areas where food is more abundant, and the resultant cavities in areas of high forage may benefit local secondary cavity nesters. Our findings indicate that there is still much to be explored in the role of ecosystem engineers, and how they influence local communities on multiple trophic levels.     

Assessing the effects of selective logging on birds in Neotropical piedmont and cloud montane forests

In tropical and subtropical forests there is limited information about how to integrate sustainable timber management with the conservation of biodiversity. We examined the effect of selective logging on the bird community to help develop management guidelines to assure the conservation of biodiversity in forests managed for timber production. The study design consisted of control and harvested plots in piedmont and cloud forests of the subtropical montane forests of the Andes in northwestern Argentina. We conducted bird point-count surveys combined with distance estimation. Breeding season bird community composition was more similar between control and logged forest in both the cloud forest and piedmont, than between the two elevations, probably because Neotropical bird communities change dramatically along elevational gradients. Within each elevation zone, community composition changed significantly between harvested and control forests. Both between and within each elevation zone no significant differences in bird density were detected. Similarly, when we analyzed bird density according to diet guilds no general pattern could be extracted. However, we found a significantly greater density of cavity nesters and lower of non-cavity nesters in control plots, probably because most trees that can develop suitable cavities were extracted in logged plots and these plots had a greater structural diversity enabling more nesting resources. Grouping species according to their nesting habitat requirements has rarely been used in the neotropics and other tropical and subtropical forests, but focusing management attention on cavity nesters might address the most sensitive portion of the avian community as well as other species dependent on trees likely to hold cavities.     

Effect of Urbanization and Seasonality in Bird Communities of Kathmandu Valley,Nepal

Kathmandu Valley, Nepal is undergoing rapid urbanization but its effects on the bird communities have not been reported till date. Kathmandu Valley was categorized into urban, sub-urban and rural to study the impact of urbanization in bird communities. By mobilizing volunteers, we monitored 24 transects each with one km long in summer and winter seasons of 2016. A total of 13,749 individuals of birds belonging to 102 species were recorded. Species richness and diversity of all birds declined from rural to urban areas and showed significant variation along urban–rural gradients. Insectivore was the most species-rich guild while nectarivore the least. The richness of insectivore, frugivore and carnivore guilds showed significant variations along the urban–rural gradients and higher preference towards the rural areas. Similarly, species richness of all birds and richness of insectivore and carnivore guilds showed significant seasonal variation and were higher in the winter season. Our results indicate that richness, diversity and feeding guilds of birds show different response towards the urbanization gradients and seasons. Sub-urban areas can function as bird refugia, however, habitat enrichments (like increasing green spaces, setting up new parks and gardens, plantation of native fruiting trees etc.) are utmost necessary to support the bird communities in urban areas of Kathmandu Valley.