Effects of exotic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spartina alterniflora</Emphasis> on the habitat patch associations of breeding saltmarsh birds at Chongming Dongtan in the Yangtze River estuary,China |
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Authors: | Zhijun Ma Xiaojing Gan Yinting Cai Jiakuan Chen Bo Li |
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Institution: | (1) Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of Yangtze River Estuary, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Biodiversity Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, No. 220 Handan Road, 200433 Shanghai, People’s. Republic of China |
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Abstract: | Smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) is one of the most invasive exotic plants of saltmarshes worldwide. To understand the effects of smooth cordgrass invasion
on the habitat use and selection by breeding saltmarsh birds, we compared species number and abundance of breeding birds in
native reed (Phragmites australis) and smooth cordgrass-invaded habitats (reed-cordgrass mixed habitats and cordgrass monocultures) at Chongming Dongtan in
the Yangtze River estuary, China. We further examined the similarity of bird communities in different habitats and habitat
selection by dominant bird species. For saltmarsh generalists, species number and abundance did not differ among the habitats.
For saltmarsh specialists, species number and abundance did not differ in reed monocultures and reed-cordgrass mixed habitats
but were significantly lower in cordgrass monocultures than in reed monocultures and reed-cordgrass mixed habitats. ANOSIM
indicated that the difference in bird communities was larger between cordgrass monocultures and the habitats with reed than
between the habitats with reed. The saltmarsh specialists preferred reed monocultures, while saltmarsh generalists avoided
reed monocultures. Most species indicated no selection (neither preferred nor avoided) on reed-cordgrass mixed habitats, and
no species preferred the cordgrass monocultures. The use of cordgrass monocultures by the common saltmarsh birds was negatively
related to their body size. This study suggests that the spread of exotic smooth cordgrass has greatly affected the species
composition and structure of local bird communities and has been especially disadvantageous to the saltmarsh specialists. |
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