黄河三角洲自然保护区东方白鹳的巢址利用

2009年3-5月,在黄河三角洲保护区,运用Vanderploeg和Scavia选择指数和资源选择函数对25个东方白鹳巢址的利用进行了研究。结果表明:东方白鹳偏好选择在芦苇沼泽中的电线杆上筑巢,巢区水面比例较大,样方内水深度>15cm,植被较高,盖度较大,植被密度200-500根/m²,巢址距明水面、芦苇沼泽、树林距离较近,明水面深度<0.5m,距离人为干扰、农田、草地较远。东方白鹳巢址利用的资源选择函数为:logist(p)=-0.206-2.773×距明水面距离+2.200×距公路距离+1.444×距轻度干扰地距离+1.205×距草地距离＋1.191×植被密度,模型正确率:88.6％,R²=0.721。食物、人为干扰和植被密度是影响东方白鹳巢址利用的主要因素。     

陕西黄龙山林区褐马鸡春季觅食地选择

2006年4～5月,在陕西黄龙山林区采用样带法对褐马鸡(Crossoptilon mantchuricum)春季觅食地选择进行了研究.共测定了9条样带上的54个随机样方和54个栖息地利用样方的20个生态因子.结果表明,褐马鸡春季觅食期间偏好利用针阔混交林,避免针叶林和阔叶林;偏向于下坡位,避免上坡位和中坡位;偏向于中等坡度的山坡(10～20°),避免坡度较大和较小的山坡;对坡向没有明显的选择性.对利用样方和随机样方进行比较,发现利用样方具有海拔较低、与林间小路和水源较近、乔木种类较少、乔木密度较小、乔木最大胸径较大、乔木最大高度较高、灌木种类较少、灌木密度较小、食物丰富度较大、灌木层植物盖度较小、乔木层植物盖度较大、隐蔽级较小等特征.逐步判别分析表明,乔木密度、与水源距离、灌木密度、灌木种类、乔木最大高度、海拔具有重要作用,由这6个变量构成的方程在对繁殖季节觅食地利用样方和对照样方进行区分时,正确判别率可以达到97.22%.褐马鸡春季觅食地选择主要与食物条件、隐蔽条件和水源有关.     

鄱阳湖四种水鸟的栖息地利用与水深和食物的关系

为了了解水深和食物资源对水鸟栖息地利用的影响,2012 ~ 2013年越冬期,采用样方法,对鄱阳湖沙湖的白鹤 (Grus leucogeranus)、小天鹅 (Cygnus columbianus)、东方白鹳 (Ciconia boyciana) 和白琵鹭 (Platalea leucorodia) 4种水鸟的数量、觅食地和休息地的水深以及主要食物——沉水植物冬芽的密度和生物量进行了调查。每个样方为150 m? 150 m的栅格,全湖共设置152个样方。结果显示,10月份沉水植物冬芽的平均水深为 (124.2 ± 12.0) cm。4种水鸟觅食地的水深均显著高于其休息地的水深 (白鹤：Z = 11.96, 小天鹅：Z = 4.69, 东方白鹳：Z = 14.44, 白琵鹭：Z = 29.33, 所有P < 0.01);对于2种食冬芽的水鸟,白鹤觅食地的水深、冬芽生物量、取食深度以及休息地水深均显著低于小天鹅 (觅食地水深: Z = 8.56, 冬芽生物量: Z = 2.93, 取食深度: Z = 14.69, 休息地水深: Z = 4.34, 所有P < 0.05),但两者觅食地的冬芽密度差异不显著 (Z = 0.6, P = 0.55);对于2种食鱼性水鸟,东方白鹳觅食地水深、取食深度和休息地水深均显著大于白琵鹭 (觅食地水深: Z = 10.60; 取食深度: Z = 9.35; 休息地水深: Z = 8.47, 所有P < 0.01)。回归分析表明,白鹤、东方白鹳、白琵鹭的觅食个体数量均与水深呈二次项关系,个体数量最大的觅食地水深分别为23.9 cm,33.0 cm和22.6 cm;白鹤、小天鹅的觅食个体数量均与冬芽生物量呈线性关系。3种涉禽均只能分布在一定的水深范围内,且同种食性的水鸟利用不同的水深从而减少在空间生态位的重叠。     

紫水鸡冬季觅食地选择

2006年11月-2007年2月,在广东海丰鸟类自然保护区采用样方法研究了紫水鸡(Porphyrio porphyrio)的冬季觅食地选择。研究结果显示,紫水鸡在冬季对觅食地植被具有明显的选择性,偏爱水葱(Scirpus tabernaemontani)。对62个觅食地样方18个因子的主成分分析表明,草本密度、草本均高、草本盖度、灌木种类、水质和水位这6个因子是冬季觅食地选择的主要因子。判别分析结果表明,枯高、动物性食物丰富度、距大道距离、草本种类、距小道距离、距所处水面边缘距离是区别冬季觅食地和对照地样方的主要参数,判别准确率可达78.1%。紫水鸡冬季多选择在水葱或芦苇(Phragmites communis)等草本植被生长良好、具有特定水位或水质及中等程度的人为干扰的地方觅食。因此,该地区冬季觅食地的恢复和保护对紫水鸡的保护有着重要的意义。     

白眉山鹧鸪冬季觅食地选择

2010年11—12月,在广西九万山国家级自然保护区对白眉山鹧鸪冬季觅食地选择进行研究。发现觅食点34个,设置利用样方和对照样方各25个,测量并分析19个有关参数。结果显示,白眉山鹧鸪对阔叶林、针阔混交林、阔叶摆竹混交林和摆竹林表现为随机利用,对毛竹林和杉木林表现为避开选择;其偏向选择面朝东南方向的山坡,觅食地坡度在20～44°之间,觅食地摆竹灌丛密度和摆竹灌丛盖度、草本密度和草本盖度都显著低于对照样方,落叶盖度显著高于对照样方。逐步判别分析结果表明,落叶盖度、坡度和摆竹灌丛盖度是区分冬季觅食地和对照样方的主要参数,判别准确率达86.0%。白眉山鹧鸪冬季对觅食地的选择与食物资源和躲避危险有关。因此,建议在保护白眉山鹧鸪时应着重关注这两个因素。     

新疆巴音布鲁克繁殖期大天鹅的生境选择

2011年和2012年的6-8月,考察了分布于巴音布鲁克自然保护区的大天鹅(Cygnus cygnus)种群,分析了大天鹅巢址选择特征和育雏期生境选择特征。在野外共记录到了26个大天鹅巢址。与对照样方比较发现,植被高度、水深、所在水域面积、距干扰源距离和安全等级存在显著差异。进一步逻辑斯蒂回归分析表明,植被高度、水深和安全等级是影响大天鹅巢址选择的最主要的3种生境因子。采用样线法对育雏期大天鹅的生境选择进行了调查,发现大天鹅对沼泽湿地表现出正选择性,对草地表现出负选择性。样方法调查中,利用样方与对照样方比较发现,9种生境因子均存在显著差异,逻辑斯蒂回归分析表明,距干扰源距离和安全等级是影响大天鹅育雏期生境选择的最重要的两种因子。这样的选择机制有利于大天鹅更好的躲避敌害,顺利完成孵化和育雏工作。     

扎龙保护区春季丹顶鹤觅食的农田生境利用分析

为了更深入地了解候鸟丹顶鹤春季利用的农田生境情况,以期为后续的该时期鹤类监测及觅食农田而产生的补偿评估奠定基础并制定相应的管理策略,2002—2015年的5月采用定点观察法、二维坐标法、样方法、GPS定位和因子分析等方法,对扎龙保护区丹顶鹤春季利用的农田生境特征进行了调查。分析结果表明:(1)春季,丹顶鹤觅食偏好选择的农作物为玉米(100%),偏好选择2—5片叶(94.32%)、回避1片叶和超过6片叶(100%)的玉米苗;(2)丹顶鹤觅食利用的农田生境通过有效食物因子和干扰因子进行判定;(3)有效食物因子包括作物高度、作物密度、作物面积、距明水面距离、距芦苇沼泽距离等;其中,选择的作物密度约为8—10株/m~2、作物高度为6—7cm,作物面积4—50hm~2大小不等、距明水面和芦苇沼泽距离相似约为0.4km左右;(4)干扰因子包括季节性弱干扰因子如道路等和强干扰因子如居民区等,针对弱干扰因子丹顶鹤采取不排斥的忽视方式,约保持在0.20km以上;针对强干扰因子丹顶鹤采取远离的方式进行回避,保持在1.20km以上。基于上述分析,建议扎龙保护区在春季巡护时应对人为活动区和农田给予更多的关注。     

狗獾秋季对生境的选择——以黑龙江省方正林业局为例

在黑龙江省方正林业局新风林场利用痕迹检验法和洞穴辨别法对狗獾秋季生境选择进行研究。通过在选定的15个林班的23条样线进行调查,共测定了106个利用样方和106个对照样方的19种生态因子。结果表明,狗獾秋季利用样方和对照样方在优势乔木、坡向、灌木密度和灌木高度4种生态因子上差异极显著(P0.001),在灌木距离上差异显著(P0.05),其余的生态因子无显著差异(P0.05),相对于对照样方而言,狗獾秋季更偏爱选择位于阳坡,优势乔木为紫椴和黄菠萝,灌木密度大、高度高、距离近的生境。在典则系数的直方图上可以看出秋季狗獾的利用样方与对照样方存在一定的重叠,但是Wilk’sλ值显示秋季狗獾的利用样方与对照样方具有较高的差异性(Wilk’sλ=0.507,χ2=141.524,df=3,P0.001),较高比例的(84.0%)正确判别率也支持了这种差异性。逐步判别分析表明在区分秋季狗獾的利用样方与对照样方方面有3个生态因子发挥作用,依照贡献值的大小依次为:郁闭度、灌木密度和植被盖度。     

莫莫格自然保护区白鹤秋季迁徙停歇期觅食生境选择

2008年秋季(10月8日—20日)及2009年秋季(9月20日—10月16日),通过样方法对觅食生境11个生态因子进行调查,利用卡方检验、资源选择指数和资源选择函数在莫莫格保护区对秋季迁徙停歇期白鹤觅食生境选择进行研究。结果表明,白鹤对距人为干扰源距离、植被密度、盖度、高度、植物性食物密度以及水深均具有选择性,但对宏观尺度干扰因子的选择性较低。其偏好觅食生境的特点为:距一级路>5000m,>二级路1500m以上,>三级路1000m以上,>居民点1000m以上,农田>1000m;植被密度20~50株/m2,盖度<10%,高度<20cm,扁杆藨草密度1~50株/m2,藨草密度1~10株/m2,水深40~60cm。白鹤秋季觅食生境资源选择函数为Logistic(P)=0.663+0.565×与一级道路距离+0.042×与二级道路距离+0.519×与三级道路距离+0.353×与居民点距离+0.169×与农田距离–0.455×植被密度–0.618×植被盖度–0.548×植被高度–0.158×扁杆藨草密度–0.404×藨草密度+0.920×水深,T(x)=eLogistic(p)/[1+eLogistic(p)],模型正确预测率为82.9%。     

贺兰山蓝马鸡越冬期栖息地的选择

2003年11～12月,在贺兰山采用样带法对蓝马鸡(Crossoptilon auritum)的栖息地选择进行了研究。共测定了25条样带上的62个蓝马鸡栖息地利用样方和50个任意样方的13个生态因子,结果表明,蓝马鸡偏好利用山地针叶林带,避免选择山地草原带、山地疏林草原带、亚高山灌丛和草甸带;偏好利用油松和青海云杉占优势的生境,避免选择山杨、杜松占优势和无树的生境;偏好阳坡和阴坡,避免利用半阳坡和半阴坡。对利用样方和任意样方进行Mann—Whitey U检验,发现利用样方以乔木密度高、灌木密度高、坡度大、隐蔽程度高、雪覆盖浅、高海拔为主要特征。逐步判别分析表明,隐蔽级、灌木密度、乔木密度、距水源距离和坡度具有重要作用,由这5个变量构成的方程对利用样方和任意样方进行正确区分的概率达到91．7％。蓝马鸡的栖息地选择主要与食物条件和隐蔽性有关。     

挠力河流域东方白鹳生境质量变化景观模拟

挠力河流域是濒危水禽东方白鹳主要繁殖区域。基于东方白鹳主要生境因子与景观植被类型之间的关系,利用GIS技术,以其生境类型图为基础,通过建立HSI模型,模拟评价了近40年来东方白鹳生境质量变化过程。结果显示（1）该流域湿地面积丧失了87％;（2）两种重要生境类型完全丧失,湖泊数量丧失93％左右,岛状林湿地数量丧失66％;（3）湿地景观的这些变化以及地理隔离导致了东方白鹳最佳适宜生境面积减少了95％,最小繁殖生境面积减少了97％;（4）东方白鹳种群数量迅速下降,20世纪80年代后其繁殖种群逐渐消失;（5）研究也显示,东方白鹳潜在的生境质量使该区依然具有恢复一定种群数量的能力。     

Reedbed structure and habitat preference of reed passerines during the post-breeding period

Post-breeding habitats of nine passerine species were studied in the permanently flooded reed beds of ponds near the village Pusté úlany (SW Slovakia) in 2002. Structural features of reed beds and the abundance of all birds studied were sampled at two sites and eight study plots. The reed bed structure and abundance of four passerines differed considerably between the individual study plots. The variations in vegetation structure were also caused by winter reed burning in the SE part of study area. Stems in burnt reed beds were smaller and thinner than unburnt. Abundance of the reed warbler and to a lesser extent sedge warbler was higher in tall reed beds, while the bearded tit preferred thick reed stems. Position of reed beds along the shore — open water gradient was an important factor in terms of abundance at the study plots in the case of the reed bunting. This species showed a strong preference for the reed bed edge with open water. Horizontal distribution of other species seems to be random, however, the birds with the exception of Savi’s warbler preferred the upper stratum of reed bed in vertical distribution. Our field data corroborate with those found in experimental studies concerning with ecomorphological characteristics of birds. Some inconsistencies, however, could also be caused by other factors (e.g. foraging preferences). Comparison of breeding and post-breeding habitat requirements of the studied bird species confirmed a more or less random distribution of the majority of species in the post-breeding period. Some variation was found in the cases of only the reed warbler and bearded tit.     

Salt Marsh Restoration in Connecticut: 20 Years of Science and Management

In 1980 the State of Connecticut began a tidal marsh restoration program targeting systems degraded by tidal restrictions and impoundments. Such marshes become dominated by common reed grass (Phragmites australis) and cattail (Typha angustifolia and T. latifolia), with little ecological connection to Long Island Sound. The management and scientific hypothesis was that returning tidal action, reconnecting marshes to Long Island Sound, would set these systems on a recovery trajectory. Specific restoration targets (i.e., pre‐disturbance conditions or particular reference marshes) were considered unrealistic. However, it was expected that with time restored tides would return ecological functions and attributes characteristic of fully functioning tidal salt marshes. Here we report results of this program at nine separate sites within six marsh systems along 110 km of Long Island Sound shoreline, with restoration times of 5 to 21 years. Biotic parameters assessed include vegetation, macroinvertebrates, and use by fish and birds. Abiotic factors studied were soil salinity, elevation and tidal flooding, and soil water table depth. Sites fell into two categories of vegetation recovery: slow, ca. 0.5%, or fast, more than 5% of total area per year. Although total cover and frequency of salt marsh angiosperms was positively related to soil salinity, and reed grass stand parameters negatively so, fast versus slow recovery rates could not be attributed to salinity. Instead, rates appear to reflect differences in tidal flooding. Rapid recovery was characterized by lower elevations, greater hydroperiods, and higher soil water tables. Recovery of other biotic attributes and functions does not necessarily parallel those for vegetation. At the longest studied system (rapid vegetation recovery) the high marsh snail Melampus bidentatus took two decades to reach densities comparable with a nearby reference marsh, whereas the amphipod Orchestia grillus was well established on a slow‐recovery marsh, reed grass dominated after 9 years. Typical fish species assemblages were found in restoration site creeks and ditches within 5 years. Gut contents of fish in ditches and on the high marsh suggest that use of restored marsh as foraging areas may require up to 15 years to reach equivalence with reference sites. Bird species that specialize in salt marshes require appropriate vegetation; on the oldest restoration site, breeding populations comparable with reference marshland had become established after 15 years. Use of restoration sites by birds considered marsh generalists was initially high and was still nearly twice that of reference areas even after 20 years. Herons, egrets, and migratory shorebirds used restoration areas extensively. These results support our prediction that returning tides will set degraded marshes on trajectories that can bring essentially full restoration of ecological functions. This can occur within two decades, although reduced tidal action can delay restoration of some functions. With this success, Connecticut's Department of Environmental Protection established a dedicated Wetland Restoration Unit. As of 1999 tides have been restored at 57 separate sites along the Connecticut coast.     

Influence of livestock grazing on meadow pipit foraging behaviour in upland grassland

Changes in grazing management are believed to be responsible for declines in populations of birds breeding in grassland over the last decades. The relationships between grazing management regimes, vegetation structure and composition and the availability of invertebrate food resources to passerine birds remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the foraging site selection of meadow pipits (Anthus pratensis L.) breeding in high intensity sheep-grazed plots or low intensity mixed (i.e. sheep and cattle)-grazed plots. We sampled above-ground invertebrates, measured vegetation height and density and conducted a vegetation survey in areas where meadow pipits were observed to forage and areas that were randomly selected. Birds foraged in areas with a lower vegetation height and density and in areas containing a lower proportion of the dominant, tussock-forming grass species Molinia caerulea. They did not forage in areas with a total higher invertebrate biomass but at areas with preferred vegetation characteristics invertebrate biomass tended to be higher in foraging sites than random sites. The foraging distance of meadow pipits was higher in the intensively grazed plots. Our findings support the hypothesis that resource-independent factors such as food accessibility and forager mobility may determine patch selection and are of more importance as selection criteria than food abundance per se. Food accessibility seems to become an even more important selection criterion under high grazing intensity, where prey abundance and size decrease. In our upland grazing system, a low intensity, mixed grazing regime seems to provide a more suitable combination of sward height, plant diversity, structural heterogeneity and food supply for meadow pipit foraging activity compared to a more intensive grazing regime dominated by sheep.     

天山盘羊夏季采食地和卧息地生境选择

2010年7-8月采用样线调查法及直接观察法对天山中部古仁郭楞高山区的盘羊天山亚种采食地和卧息地生境进行了研究。共调查5条沟系的12条样线,测量天山盘羊147个采食地和136个卧息地样方,分析了13类生态因子对天山盘羊采食地和卧息地选择的影响。研究结果表明,天山盘羊夏季采食地与卧息地在坡位、坡向、地貌类型、海拔高度、距最近家畜距离、距道路距离和距居民点距离差异极显著（P < 0.01）,植被高度差异显著（P < 0.05）,而其它生态因子差异性不显著（P > 0.05）;相对卧息地的选择而言,夏季盘羊采食地的选择更偏爱海拔较低,植被高度低,距离道路、居民点和最近家畜距离近的半阴半阳坡,山体中下位的高山草甸缓坡生境。逐步判别分析表明,距道路距离、距居民点距离、植被高度、距家畜距离4个生态因子可以用于判别夏季天山盘羊采食地与卧息地生境,正确区分率达到90.6%。     

Importance of communal foraging grounds outside the reed marsh for breeding great reed warblers

Foraging habitat selection of breeding great reed warblers was studied at a shore of Lake Biwa. The foraging grounds of parent warblers during the nesting period were not restricted to the breeding territory of the reed marsh, their nestling habitat. The paddy field outside the reed marsh was used communally by them throughout the breeding season. Females with early stage nestlings did not visit the paddy field whereas when nestlings were older than 3 days, more than half of their total food was collected there. Females with nests adjacent to the paddy field tended to exploit the paddy field more often than those with nests distant from it. Monogamously mated females tended to exploit the paddy field more often than polygynously mated females. Food collected in the paddy field was larger than that in the reed marsh and parent birds were prepared to travel longer distances to exploit the rich source of food in the paddy field. The importance of the communal foraging ground outside the reed marsh as a background of the polygynous mating system of this species is discussed.     

Wetland development in early stages of volcanic succession

Abstract. Wetland vegetation developed in the crater of Mount Usu, northern Japan, soon after the 1977–1978 eruptions which destroyed the vegetation. The cover of each species was measured in 1994 in 118 50 cm × 50 cm plots situated in transects and related to environmental factors (elevation, water depth, soil texture, soil compaction, soil organic matter, and soil pH) to clarify vegetation development. Five vegetation types were recognized dominated by Eleocharis kamtschatica, Equisetum arvense, Lythrum salicaria, Juncus fauriensis and Phragmites australis respectively. Sedge/grass marsh and reed swamp dominated deep-water sites; willow swamp and wet meadow vegetation characterized shallow-water sites, indicating that vegetation zonation developed soon after the eruption. Since those wetland plants were derived neither from seed banks nor from vegetative propagules, they had to immigrate from outside the summit areas. However, except for willows, most species lack the ability for long-distance dispersal. Late successional species, such as P. australis established in the early stages of the primary succession. The water depth varied by 27.5 cm among the plots. Coarse soil particles accumulated, and pH (5.22–6.55) was low on the elevated sites. Organic matter ranged from 2.8 % to 19.1 %, and was high on the elevated sites. Water depth was responsible for the establishment of large-scale vegetation patterns, while edaphic factors, i.e. soil compaction, pH, and organic matter, were determinants of small-scale vegetation patterns. Among the edaphic factors, soil compaction appeared to have a strong influence on vegetation development.     

扎龙湿地丹顶鹤和白枕鹤求偶期觅食生境对比分析

在2003～2004年3～4月,利用定点观察法、GPS定位法、样方法、因子测定法,对扎龙保护区繁殖的丹顶鹤和白枕鹤求偶期的觅食生境进行了对比研究.结果表明,在扎龙湿地,求偶期丹顶鹤与白枕鹤对觅食生境的选择具有显著差异.丹顶鹤觅食生境比较单一,主要集中水域觅食(如芦苇沼泽),微生境选择以食物因素为主,其次是隐蔽因素、水因素和标识因素;白枕鹤觅食生境比较多样化,主要集中于陆地(如苔草沼泽、农田和火烧地),微生境选择要求严格,以“有效食物”因素为主,干扰因素和水因素是次要因素.     

云南元江上游石羊江河谷绿孔雀不同季节觅食地选择

我们于2007年3-4月和10-11月在云南元江上游石羊江河谷绿孔雀(Pavo muticus imperator)的分布区内, 采用样线法和样方法调查了绿孔雀的觅食生境, 测定了21个生态因子。结果表明, 春季的觅食地利用样方距小路距离、乔木种类和藤本密度与对照样方存在显著差异, 而秋季的则不显著。生态因子比较和逻辑斯谛回归分析结果表明, 春、秋季绿孔雀均选择落果多、接近水源、坡度小、乔木的盖度和胸径大的地区作为觅食地。乔木和草本盖度, 距小路、居民点和林缘距离等是影响判别春、秋季觅食地选择的关键因子。概率和空间分布分析结果表明, 春、秋季绿孔雀在研究区内的概率分布呈明显的斑块状, 不同季节觅食活动位点均趋向于聚集分布, 分布区存在分离, 但有部分重叠。生态因子的主成分分析结果表明, 人为干扰对绿孔雀的影响大于安全和食物需求对它们自身的影响。隐蔽条件、食物和水源等关键性生态因子的配置和可获得性决定了绿孔雀的觅食地选择行为, 它对觅食地利用的不均匀是由于可利用资源分布不均匀所致, 而人为干扰压缩了可利用的适宜生境, 降低了利用程度。     

Habitat use by three Acrocephalus warblers in an intensively used farmland area: the influence of breeding patch and its surroundings

Habitat use by the sedge warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, reed warbler A. scirpaceus and marsh warbler A. palustris was studied during 1998–2000 in an intensively cultivated agricultural landscape in western Poland. The birds occupied mid-field marsh patches (0.05–9.84 ha) and drainage ditches. Using logistic regression models, habitat preferences for particular patch type, characteristics of breeding patch vegetation and surrounding crop type were investigated. All habitat measurements were done within 50-m radius circles around breeding territory centers. The most important factors that influenced species distributions were the proportions of particular habitats within patch area and the type of surrounding crops. Sedge and reed warblers preferred areas with a high proportion of reeds and meadows. Marsh warblers avoided emergents other than reeds, and favored herbaceous vegetation and bushes. Open water areas positively affected reed warbler distribution. Crop type had a significant influence on within-year territory distribution and changes in between-year occupation pattern. In general, birds preferred to settle near fields of oil seed rape, while root crops and spring cereals were avoided. Breeding patch type and structure of reedbeds had relatively little influence on the distribution of breeding territories. The results obtained show that the surrounding landscape may significantly influence habitat use of species breeding in habitat islands in farmland. Depending on their structure and food resources, crops might have different value to the birds.