Ecological and Functional Traits in 99 Bird Species over a Large-Scale Gradient in Germany

Renner, Swen C.; Hoesel, Willem van

doi:10.3390/data2020012

Cited by 11 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…We selected key functional traits of the bird species to quantify functional diversity with respect to habitat use and resource requirements. Data were extracted from Renner and Hoesel (2017) and Bauer et al (2012). Body mass was chosen as a proxy of individual energy demand, clutch size and broods per year as indicators of population‐level energy demands.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree mixtures mediate negative effects of introduced tree species on bird taxonomic and functional diversity

Schuldt

Huke

Glatthorn

et al. 2022

Journal of Applied Ecology

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1. Recent biodiversity loss has emphasized the necessity to critically evaluate the consequences of human alterations of forest ecosystems. Stand diversification via tree species mixtures and the use of non-native trees are two such alterations currently gaining importance as climate change adaptations. However, the effects of local versus regional tree mixing on associated biodiversity and notably the modifying role of tree species growing outside their natural range remain poorly understood.2. We assessed how monocultures and mixtures of native and introduced tree species influence the taxonomic and functional diversity of bird communities at stand and landscape scales in north-west Germany. We focused on the dominant natural tree species (Fagus sylvatica) and economically important conifer species planted outside their natural range (the native Picea abies and non-native Pseudotsuga menziesii).3. We found that bird species richness and functional diversity were generally higher in pure and mixed stands of native F. sylvatica than in pure conifer stands, especially in comparison to non-native P. menziesii. These differences were particularly strong at the landscape scale. Pure conifer stands harboured only a reduced set of functionally similar bird species. Structural diversity based on tree microhabitat availability emerged as a key predictor of bird diversity. Synthesis and applications.Our study suggests that tree species mixtures do not necessarily increase bird diversity compared to pure stands of native trees, but can promote bird diversity relative to pure stands of species planted outside their natural range. Moreover, local mixtures, rather than a mosaic of pure stands, may promote bird diversity also at the landscape scale. By contrast, pure stands of tree species planted outside their natural range can increase biotic homogenization of forest birds. Promoting structural diversity of microhabitats via tree retention and ensuring that non-native trees are planted in mixtures

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree mixtures mediate negative effects of introduced tree species on bird taxonomic and functional diversity

Schuldt

Huke

Glatthorn

et al. 2022

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…We sampled seven separate plots within each of the following three a priori determined forest categories: (a) unmanaged beech stands (unmanaged for >60 years), (b) age class young and (c) age class old. Dividing managed forest stands into the two age classes was based on the median age of the respective region (Northeast: 138 years; Southwest: 90 years), e.g., age class young was assigned when the stand age was lower than the median age 35,36 . Each plot covers an area of 100 × 100 meters and is surrounded by the same forest type by a buffer fringe of at least 30 m 35 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management of ecosystems alters vector dynamics and haemosporidian infections

Hoesel

Marzal

Magallanes

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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The presence of insect vectors is a key prerequisite for transmission of vector-borne disease such as avian haemosporidians. In general, the effects of land use change on Diptera vectors are not well studied; the response of vectors to forest management depends on vector species, as has been shown previously for the birds. We tested if abundance of insects from different Diptera families and haemosporidian infection are affected through alteration of habitat structural variables (measured by LiDAR) and forest management intensities. We identified higher large-scale variation of female insect abundance in northeastern than in southwestern Germany. Unmanaged forest stands had higher Diptera insect abundances. We found that abundance of female Diptera increased with the amount of forest gaps but decreased in forest plots with more south facing aspect, higher habitat structural heterogeneity, temperature and humidity. We found that haemosporidian infections in Diptera insects increased with increased management intensity and more canopy structural diversity (e.g., amount of edge habitat), but decreased with a denser shrub layer, deeper leaf litter and higher humidity (characteristics for unmanaged forest stands). Although higher forest management intensity decreased vector abundance, the haemosporidian infections in the vectors increased, indicating a significant effect of forest management on disease dynamics.

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“…Birds were sampled three times in 2014 and two times in 2015 on each plot from April until June-with at least 14 days in-between sampling visits of the same plot [65]. We captured birds from April until June using eight mist nets of 9 m × 2.5 m (mesh size 16 mm, nylon, Ecotone), placed at four locations within each experimental plot.…”

Section: Bird Sampling and Blood Smear Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of forest structure on the interaction between avian hosts, dipteran vectors and haemosporidian parasites

et al. 2020

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Background: Forest habitats are important biodiversity refuges for a wide variety of bird species. Parasitism may modulate host species presence and abundance, and parasite effects can change according to forest management practices. Such processes are not well studied in vector-borne avian haemosporidians. We analyzed the effects of forest management on bird-dipteran-haemosporidian interactions, using seven common bird species in managed and unmanaged beech forest habitats in northeastern Germany. We assumed that forest structural heterogeneity affects parasite population parameters in avian hosts (i.e., prevalence and parasitemia), through its effect on the condition of the avian host but also through varying vector abundances. Results: Parasite prevalence was high (about 80%) and homogeneous across different beech forest categories (i.e., young, old, unmanaged) and for all bird species, except Erithacus rubecula (35%). Parasitemia varied across bird species but not across forest categories within each avian species (lowest parasitemia were found in E. rubecula, Turdus merula, and Turdus philomelos). In our study system, we found that vector abundance was not the main driver of parasite dynamics. We found that forest structure affects parasite infection probability directly and potentially host condition via available resources that have to be used either to combat infections (i.e., high parasitemia) or to maintain a good body condition. Conclusions: The effects of each of the predictors were bird species-specific, and we found that Diptera vectors were not the foremost influence in our host-vector-parasite system. Effects of forest habitat variables indicated that for most bird species in this study, habitat regulation of infection probability was more likely (i.e., E. rubecula, Fringilla coelebs, Sylvia atricapilla), whereas for Parus major habitat characteristics impacted first individuals' body condition and subsequently the probability of infection. Our findings emphasize the need of species-specific analyses and to use continuous forest structural parameters (e.g., the proportion of gap, south facing aspect) to better understand habitat and land use effects on host-vector-parasite dynamics.

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Ecological and Functional Traits in 99 Bird Species over a Large-Scale Gradient in Germany

Cited by 11 publications

References 28 publications

Tree mixtures mediate negative effects of introduced tree species on bird taxonomic and functional diversity

Tree mixtures mediate negative effects of introduced tree species on bird taxonomic and functional diversity

Management of ecosystems alters vector dynamics and haemosporidian infections

Effects of forest structure on the interaction between avian hosts, dipteran vectors and haemosporidian parasites

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