Bird-habitat associations predict population trends in central European forest and farmland birds

Recent studies show differences in population trends between groups of species occupying different habitats. In Czech birds, as well as in many other European countries, populations of forest species have increased, whereas populations of farmland species have declined. The aim of our study was to test whether population trends of particular species were related to finer bird-habitat associations within farmland and forest birds. We assessed bird-habitat associations using canonical correspondence analysis based on data from a 400 km long transect across the Czech Republic. We calculated population trends of 62 bird species using log-linear models based on data from a large-scale annual monitoring scheme, which covers the time series from 1982 to 2005. Within forest birds, species with a closer association with lowland broad-leaved forest have had more positive population trends, whereas species with a closer association with montane and coniferous forest revealed more negative population trends. We attribute these opposite trends to the gradual replacement of coniferous forests by deciduous ones, which took place in the Czech Republic during recent decades. Our analyses revealed a hump-shaped relationship within farmland birds, species most closely associated with farmland habitat revealing the most negative trends, whereas species with intermediate association to farmland habitat showed the most positive population trends. Such a pattern can be explained by the abandonment of previously cultivated areas followed by the spread of unmanaged meadows and scrubland. Changes in quantity or quality of preferred habitats may thus represent major drivers of observed bird population changes.     

Reproductive potential of balsam fir (Abies balsamea), white spruce (Picea glauca), and black spruce (P. mariana) at the ecotone between mixedwood and coniferous forests in the boreal zone of western Quebec

The reproductive potentials of balsam fir and white spruce (co-dominants in mixedwood forests) and black spruce (dominant in coniferous forests) were studied to explain the location of the ecotone between the two forest types in the boreal zone of Quebec. Four sites were selected along a latitudinal gradient crossing the ecotone. Cone crop, number of seeds per cone, percentage filled seeds, and percentage germination were measured for each species. Balsam fir and white spruce cone crops were significantly lower in the coniferous than in the mixedwood forest, while black spruce had greater crop constancy and regularity between both forest types. Mast years were more frequent for black spruce than for balsam fir in both forest types (mast year data not available for white spruce). The number of seeds per cone was more related to cone size than to forest type for all species. Black spruce produced more filled seeds in the coniferous forest than balsam fir or white spruce. The sum of growing degree-days and the maximum temperature of the warmest month (both for the year prior to cone production) significantly affected balsam fir cone production. The climate-related northward decrease in reproductive potential of balsam fir and white spruce could partly explain the position of the northern limit of the mixedwood forest. This could change drastically, however, as the ongoing climate warming might cancel this competitive advantage of black spruce.     

Geographic variation in the population trends of common breeding birds across central Europe

Recent declines of many European bird species have been linked with various environmental changes, especially land-use change and climate change. Since the intensity of these environmental changes varies among different countries, we can expect geographic variation in bird population trends. Here, we compared the population trends of bird species among neighbouring countries within central Europe (Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland) between 1990 and 2016 and examined trait-associations with population trends at both national and international scales. We found that Denmark had the highest proportion of declining species while Switzerland had the lowest. Species associated with farmland had negative trends, but the effect size tended to differ among countries. A preference for higher temperature was positively associated with population trends and its effect size was similar among countries. Species that were increasing across all four countries were associated with forest; while species that were decreasing across all countries were long-distance migrants or farmland birds. Our results suggest that land-use change tends to be a more regionally variable driver of common bird population trends than climate change in central Europe. For species declining across all countries, international action plans could provide a framework for more efficient conservation. However, farmland birds likely need both, coordinated international action (e.g. through a green agricultural policy) to tackle their widespread declines as well as regionally different approaches to address varying national effect trajectories.     

4种不同演替阶段森林群落物种组成和多样性的比较研究

通过空间变化代替时间差异和样方法等手段,对浙江省马尾松林针叶（针叶林）、马尾松针阔叶混交林、中龄常绿阔叶林和近熟常绿阔叶林4种不同演替阶段森林群落的物种组成和多样性、群落间相似性进行了研究。结果表明,23个样地共记录维管植物53科105属170种。随着演替的进行,群落物种数、各层次的Shannon-Wiener多样性指数基本上呈现先下降后上升的趋势,并以针阔叶混交林最低,估计跟先锋物种的消失和后期物种的出现这一更替有关。随着演替的进行,各群落间的Jaccard相似性系数逐渐降低,其中针阔叶混交林和中龄常绿阔叶林之间的相似性系数最高,马尾松与近熟常绿阔叶林之间的相似性系数最低。群落主成分分析也得出相似的结果。群落之间的差异主要体现在物种组成尤其是乔木层的组成上;针阔叶混交林是物种丰富度和物种多样性较低的一个群落,但它与其它群落间的相似性较高,并已储存了常绿阔叶林中的大部分物种,对演替起着承前启后的作用。     

Climate change,woodpeckers, and forests: Current trends and future modeling needs

The structure and composition of forest ecosystems are expected to shift with climate‐induced changes in precipitation, temperature, fire, carbon mitigation strategies, and biological disturbance. These factors are likely to have biodiversity implications. However, climate‐driven forest ecosystem models used to predict changes to forest structure and composition are not coupled to models used to predict changes to biodiversity. We proposed integrating woodpecker response (biodiversity indicator) with forest ecosystem models. Woodpeckers are a good indicator species of forest ecosystem dynamics, because they are ecologically constrained by landscape‐scale forest components, such as composition, structure, disturbance regimes, and management activities. In addition, they are correlated with forest avifauna community diversity. In this study, we explore integrating woodpecker and forest ecosystem climate models. We review climate–woodpecker models and compare the predicted responses to observed climate‐induced changes. We identify inconsistencies between observed and predicted responses, explore the modeling causes, and identify the models pertinent to integration that address the inconsistencies. We found that predictions in the short term are not in agreement with observed trends for 7 of 15 evaluated species. Because niche constraints associated with woodpeckers are a result of complex interactions between climate, vegetation, and disturbance, we hypothesize that the lack of adequate representation of these processes in the current broad‐scale climate–woodpecker models results in model–data mismatch. As a first step toward improvement, we suggest a conceptual model of climate–woodpecker–forest modeling for integration. The integration model provides climate‐driven forest ecosystem modeling with a measure of biodiversity while retaining the feedback between climate and vegetation in woodpecker climate change modeling.     

Do increases in the availability of standing dead trees affect the abundance,nest-site use,and niche partitioning of great spotted and middle spotted woodpeckers in riverine forests?

Standing dead trees may be a limited resource for woodpeckers in managed forests, especially for species that rely on dead wood for their nest or roost cavity, and as foraging sites. Effective conservation strategies for woodpeckers require a detailed knowledge of species’ responses to dead wood availability. To investigate the importance of standing dead wood (snags) for the abundance and nest-site use of the great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major and middle spotted woodpecker Leiopicus medius in mature riverine forests, we compared the responses of birds between two periods—before mass mortality, and during a pulse in standing dead trees. The density of standing dead trees available for cavity excavation by the great spotted woodpecker and the middle spotted woodpecker increased significantly during the study period: 37-fold and 4-fold, respectively. Temporal trends in the abundance of both woodpecker species from 2000 to 2015 were not significant. Great spotted woodpeckers were significantly more likely to use dead trees and places with wounds in species other than oak and ash during the outbreak period than in the pre-outbreak period. Middle spotted woodpeckers were significantly less likely to excavate cavities in tree species other than oak and ash in the outbreak period, but dead trees were more likely selected. An interspecific comparison suggests that the probability of a nest-hole having been excavated by a middle spotted woodpecker increased with a nest-hole sited in ash, in a dead tree, in a limb/branch, and decreased with a nest-hole in a closed forest. These findings suggest that woodpecker species, especially weak excavators, may benefit from an increase in dead wood availability leading to nest niche shifts into more favorable substrates for cavity excavation. However, a strong increase in dead wood availability does not modify the general pattern of niche partitioning between great spotted and middle spotted woodpeckers. Conservation plans for the specialized middle spotted woodpecker must consider the preference for dead and decaying trees. The decreasing number of large ashes and oaks, and the lack of natural regeneration of the latter species, may negatively affect the middle spotted woodpecker in the future.     

Factors affecting the density of the middle spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos medius: a macrohabitat approach

The main goals of this study were to investigate the relationships between densities of the breeding population of the middle spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos medius obtained on 19 large-scale plots, and the share of different habitats and age of forest stands. An average crude density based on an area defined arbitrarily by observers was 0.66±0.43 territories/10 ha, while the ecological density based on an area including habitats potentially used by organisms reached 1.09±0.64 territories/10 ha. Stepwise multiple regression indicated that the crude density was negatively affected by the share of coniferous forest thereby explaining 50% of variation. The ecological density was negatively correlated with the percentage of young deciduous stands (0–40 years old). This variable explained 36% of the total variation. These results suggest that on the level of macrohabitat analysis, the share of unsuitable forest stands seem to play a major role in determining the density of the middle spotted woodpecker.     

海拔对高山峡谷区土壤微生物生物量和酶活性的影响

为了解土壤微生物生物量和酶活性随海拔的变化特征,以川西海拔1563 m到3994 m的高山峡谷区的干旱河谷、干旱河谷-山地森林交错带、亚高山针叶林、高山森林和高山草甸土壤为研究对象,采用原位培养法研究了5种不同海拔生态系统中有机层(0～15 cm)和矿质层(15～30 cm)土壤微生物生物量碳氮、土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶及酸性磷酸酶活性的变化.结果表明:有机层土壤中微生物生物量碳氮和3种土壤酶活性呈现出先增加后减少再增加的变化特征,从2158 m开始不断增加,到3028 m左右达到峰值后减少,在3593 m出现最小值后,逆势增加直到3994 m后再次减少;矿质层土壤的微生物生物量碳氮和3种土壤酶活性表现为亚高山针叶林(3028 m)>高山草甸(3994 m)>干旱河谷-山地森林交错带(2158 m)>高山森林(3593 m)>干旱河谷(1563 m).各海拔梯度土壤有机层的微生物生物量和酶活性显著高于矿质层.高山峡谷区土壤微生物生物量与土壤酶活性呈极显著正相关.土壤微生物生物量和土壤酶与土壤含水量、有机碳和全氮呈极显著正相关,土壤蔗糖酶与土壤全磷含量呈极显著正相关,土壤酸性磷酸酶与土壤全磷和土壤温度呈极显著正相关.可见,高山峡谷区海拔变化引起的植被和其他环境因子的变化显著影响了土壤生化特性.     

Food conditions, competitive regime, and female social relationships in Japanese macaques: within-population variation on Yakushima

Feeding conditions, competitive regime, and female social relationships of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) on Yakushima were compared between the two habitats at two different altitudes (coniferous forest, 1,000–1,200 m and coastal forest, 0–200 m). Fruit availability was higher in the coastal forest. There was no consistent difference in the frequency of agonistic interactions within a group during feeding between the two habitats. The coastal forest evoked stronger inter-group contest competition compared to the coniferous forest as evidenced by a higher inter-group encounter rate and a higher proportion of aggressive encounters to non-aggressive ones. Birth rate was higher in larger groups compared to smaller ones in the coastal forest, but did not differ in the coniferous forest. In spite of these differences in competitive regime, no variation in female social relationships was observed, such as direction and concentration on particular individuals in grooming, linearity in dominance rank, counter-attack, and support of juvenile kin during agonistic interactions. The present results indicate that the female social relationships of Japanese macaques are robust and do not change according to changes in the current environment.     

柴河林区小型啮齿动物群落格局变化

为阐明柴河林区小型啮齿动物群落结构与格局的形成原因,掌握林区啮齿动物群落动态及发展趋势。于2012至2015年在柴河林区的新房子、大青沟和二道河子地区,对针阔混交林、阔叶林、草甸、沿河林和农田5种生境类型,采用铗日法对小型啮齿动物进行了调查。结果表明,棕背?（Clethrionomys rufocanus）和大林姬鼠（Apodemus peninsulae）为柴河林区小型啮齿动物的优势物种,针阔混交林为棕背?最适生境,阔叶林为大林姬鼠最适生境;黑线姬鼠（A. agrarius）和大仓鼠（Cricetulus triton）为农田优势物种,东方田鼠（Microtus fortis）仅在草甸中发现。随生境垂直分布区海拔高度的降低,总捕获率逐渐减低,其中棕背?的种群变化起主要作用;大林姬鼠的捕获率逐渐增加,其对农业经济的干扰适应性更强;褐家鼠（Rattus norvegicus）的分布规律受居民点分布比例影响;红背?（Clethrionomys rutilus）主要分布于海拔相对较高的针阔混交林。通过与孙儒泳等20世纪60年代在此地区的研究结果的比较,最后认为近几十年原始森林的破坏,伴生的次生林和人工林,致柴河林区的针阔混交林向阔叶林的过渡失去先前的典型特征。并发现小型啮齿动物的群落格局变化,虽呈现出自然条件的垂直变化和农业活动影响的规律,但同时存在生境变化的适应性改变,也表现出各地区的区域生境特征对取样点微生境啮齿动物分布的巨大影响。     

The white-backed woodpecker: umbrella species for forest conservation planning?

In northern Europe, a long history of land use has led to profound changes within forest ecosystems. The white-backed woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos) is one of several specialised forest species whose populations have declined. Conservation management directed at this species’ habitat has made it a de facto umbrella species for conservation of the biodiversity associated with forests rich in deciduous trees and dead wood. We assessed empirically the value of the white-backed woodpecker as an indicator and umbrella species in central Sweden. Occurrence of the woodpecker in breeding bird atlas squares (5 × 5 km²) indicated high species richness of forest birds, particularly species of special conservation concern, which included on average 13% more species in squares with than without the woodpecker. The number of red-listed cryptogam species expected to benefit from conservation actions directed at white-backed woodpecker habitats was higher in squares where the woodpecker bred compared to where is was absent. However, no such pattern was found for red-listed beetles, a group with very few records in the studied squares. White-backed woodpecker occurrence was positively associated with the current area of deciduous and mixed forest of high conservation value. Considering its indicator value, its specialised habitat requirements and its potential as a communication tool, using the white-backed woodpecker as an umbrella species may provide a coarse filter for the conservation of several other deciduous forest species. However, focusing solely on white-backed woodpecker habitat may not provide for the conservation of all such species, which stresses the need for a suite of complementary planning approaches.     

Predation on artificial nests in relation to forest type: contrasting the use of quail and plasticine eggs

Previous studies of avian nest predation have focused on how human-induced changes in the landscape influence the frequency of predation However, natural variation in the abundance of predators due to their choice of habitat can also influence predation rate To determine if predation on artificial nests was influenced by forest stand type, we placed ground and shrub nests containing quail and plasticine eggs in contiguous coniferous, mixedwood and deciduous stands in the southern boreal mixedwood forest of central Canada Nest predators were identified using remotely triggered cameras and marks left in plasticine eggs, while the relative abundance of nest predators such as squirrels and corvids were estimated using acoustic-visual surveys Using the fate of quail eggs to calculate predation rate, we found that predation was significantly higher in coniferous (67%) than in deciduous (17%) or mixedwood (25%) forest, with similar predation on ground (37%) and shrub (29%) nests Using plasticine eggs to calculate predation rate, nests in coniferous forest still suffered higher rates of predation, although predation rates were 15–20% higher, and ground nests suffered significantly higher rates of predation than shrub nests Quail eggs seemed to suffer lower rates of predation because small mammals were unable to penetrate the shell, but could leave marks on plasticine eggs The higher predation rate in coniferous forest was likely caused by higher abundance of red squirrels Tamiasciurus hudsonicus , the presence of fishers Martes pennanti and a simplified understory which may have made it easier for predators to find nests relative to the deciduous and mixedwood forest Plasucine eggs provide new insights into nest predation by identifying predation events by smaller predators such as mice that are missed when using quail eggs     

山西霍山森林群落林下物种多样性研究

在野外获得样方的基础上,采用多样性指数、丰富度指数、均匀度指数等对山西霍山森林群落林下灌木层和草本层的物种多样性进行了研究,结果表明,多数森林群落林下灌木层多样性指数和均匀度指数均高于草本层,而丰富度指数则相反。灌木层和草本层物种多样性指数的顺序为:针阔叶混交林>针叶林>落叶阔叶林,主要是由于针阔叶混交林兼有针叶林和落叶阔叶林的共同特征,因而具有较高的多样性。灌木层和草本层多样性指数、丰富度指数和均匀度指数在海拔梯度上呈单峰曲线变化趋势,即中海拔(1500 m)高度上物种多样性最大,这主要是由于在这一海拔范围内水热条件组合较好,人类活动干扰较少所致。     

2000-2008年中国东北地区植被净初级生产力的模拟及季节变化

利用GLOPEM-CEVSA模型模拟并分析了中国东北地区2000-2008年植被净初级生产力(NPP)时空分布格局及其影响因素,并以4个森林生态站点(大兴安岭、老爷岭、凉水和长白山森林生态站)为例研究了东北地区森林NPP季节变化特征及其环境驱动.结果表明:2000-2008年,东北地区植被年均NPP为445 g C·m-2·a-1;整个研究区沿长白山山脉到小兴安岭山脉地区以及三江平原部分地区的NPP最高,沿长白山山脉到小兴安岭山脉西侧的辽河平原、松嫩平原东部、三江平原和大兴安岭地区次之,西部稀疏草原和荒漠地区的NPP最低.东北地区森林生态系统年均NPP最高,其次为灌丛、农田和草地,荒漠最低.森林生态系统中,针阔混交林年均NPP最大(722 g C·m-2·a-1),落叶针叶林年均NPP最小(451 g C·m-2·a-1).研究期间,森林NPP无显著年际变化,其中2007、2008年较往年NPP大幅增加,很可能与该地区期间气温上升有关(较往年偏高1 ℃=～2℃).东北地区森林自北向南生长季开始时间逐渐提前,生长季变长.     

水鹿冬季生境选择性的初步分析

1996年10月至12月,用样带法对井冈山水鹿冬季生境选择进行了研究,分析和讨论了林型、隐蔽程度、坡度、离水源距离、人为干扰程度、坡向、坡位、海拔这8类生态因子对水鹿生境选择的作用。发现井冈山水鹿冬季以针叶林、常绿阔叶林和针阔混交林为主要生境。     

百山祖自然保护区主要植被类型概述

对近20年来多次调查的资料进行系统整理,将百山祖植被主要划分成6个植被类型：常绿阔叶林、常绿落叶阔叶混交林、针阔叶混交林、针叶林、山地矮林和山地灌草丛,其下可分为22个群系：同时对群落的种类组成、结构和演替趋势作了概述。。     

Forest Management Considerations for Conservation of Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius and White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos Populations in Quinto Real (Spanish Western Pyrenees)

The woodlands of Quinto Real (Quinto Real, Erreguerena and Legua Acotada) are a 3,000 hectare beech (Fagus sylvatica) forest managed by the shelterwood system applied to even-aged (regular) stands. This study analyses how forest management determines the local distribution of the white-backed woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos) and black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) and its relationship with the type, structure and size of the stands used for nesting by both species, as well as their dead wood requirements. The most suitable nesting habitat of both species is the mature forest (stands of regular large final crop trees), but the size of the mature fragments and a minimum quantity of dead wood is also important.     

浙江西天目山主要森林类型的苔藓多样性比较

苔藓是森林的重要组分, 是森林保护区的重要保护对象, 在物种资源和生态系统功能维护中有重要作用。该研究以浙江西天目山国家自然保护区内7种主要森林类型(落叶矮林、落叶阔叶林、常绿-落叶阔叶混交林、常绿阔叶林、针阔混交林、针叶林和竹林)内的苔藓植物为对象, 调查了32个10 m × 10 m的样地, 记录地面生苔藓植物盖度和树附生苔藓植物多度, 采用重要值、相似性系数、多样性指数分析了森林类型间的苔藓植物多样性差异。共采集969份标本, 隶属41科84属142种, 其中苔类植物13科18属33种, 藓类植物28科66属109种, 优势科为灰藓科、青藓科和羽藓科。2种混交林(常绿-落叶阔叶混交林和针阔混交林)的物种丰富度和多样性指数均高于其余5种森林, 其中物种丰富度以针阔混交林最高, 苔藓植物多样性则以常绿-落叶阔叶混交林最高, 竹林两者均为最低。海拔等环境因子较为接近的植被类型的苔藓植物多样性相似性较高, 常绿阔叶林与针叶林相似性最高, 而落叶矮林和竹林相似性最小。     

Crown dieback events as key processes creating cavity habitat for magellanic woodpeckers

Abstract Woodpeckers are considered keystone species for webs of cavity nesters and habitat and resource specialists that strongly depend on availability of trees suitable for cavity excavation. Most studies carried out in northern hemisphere temperate coniferous forests emphasize the importance of old growth stages of forests or large dead trees as habitat for cavity builders. We present a study of Nothofagus pumilio tree selection by the magellanic woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus) that incorporates dendroecological data on long‐term growth trends of trees that provides new insights into the processes that create suitable habitat for cavity excavating species. We analysed 351 cavity and neighbouring control trees in terms of age and radial growth patterns, as well as external tree characteristics. In addition, from a subsample of these trees we developed tree‐ring chronologies for each group using standard methods in order to analyse potential differences in radial growth patterns between cavity and non‐cavity trees. Multivariate models that account for differences between paired cavities versus control trees indicated that growth decline and the degree of crown dieback were the primary variables explaining magellanic woodpecker tree selection for cavity building. In contrast to previous work, neither diameter (above a certain threshold) nor age, were important determinants of selection. Furthermore, trees that became present cavity are those that had synchronously declined in radial growth during the 1943–44 and 1956–57 droughts and the 1985–86 massive caterpillar defoliation. Insect outbreaks and extreme climatic events may episodically reduce vigour, induce partial crown mortality, trigger increased fungal attack and heart rot formation at different tree heights on the bole in a group of trees and thus increase availability of soft substrate and their likelihood of cavity excavation by the magellanic woodpecker. These results underscore the importance of drought/biotically‐induced canopy dieback events in creating habitat for woodpeckers and their dependent cavity users.     

Habitat selection as a hierarchical spatial process: the green woodpecker at the northern edge of its distribution range

Habitat selection can be envisaged as a hierarchical spatial process, from choice of home range to choice of dietary item. The green woodpecker (Picus viridis) is described as being closely bound to cultivated land and deciduous forests, mainly due to its summer diet composed of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) found on meadows and pastures. To explore possible responses of this woodpecker to recent changes in land use practice, we studied home ranges, feeding habitats and food selection of a marginal population (four radio-marked males and five females) in a 30,000-ha conifer-dominated landscape at the northern edge of its distribution range in south-central Scandinavia. We asked: (1) Is the green woodpecker confined to areas with cultivated land and deciduous forest? (2) If so, are important food items (ants) particularly abundant or exclusively found there? (3) Can clearcuts and young plantations substitute for cultivated land as feeding habitat? Home ranges (mean=100 ha) were invariably confined to the parts of the landscape that contained cultivated land (<1% of the total area). In summer, birds preferred to feed in cultivated land, presumably due to a higher overall biomass of ants compared to forest habitats. They avoided clearcuts, but preyed extensively upon soil-dwelling ants in young conifer stands (16–30 years old). We failed to find preferences for particular ant groups (Lasius niger and L. flavus) associated with cultivated land. The principal summer food was Serviformica, an ant group that was equally abundant in cultivated land and forest habitat. A positive correlation between ant body mass and a preference index suggests that the birds selected the larger ant species independent of habitat type. In winter, birds fed exclusively on mound-building Formica rufa-ants in closed-canopy, older forest stands. Our results indicate that the green woodpecker successfully utilizes young conifer plantations as feeding habitat. At a larger scale, we hypothesize that green woodpecker populations fail to establish in managed forest tracts, not because of food shortage, but because the landscapes lack cultivated land serving as a key stimulus encouraging individuals to settle.