Responses of avian assemblages to spatiotemporal landscape dynamics in urban ecosystems

Abstract

Context Urbanization and its associated impacts on biodiversity are increasing globally. There is a need to enhance our understanding of species responses to inform strategies for sustainable urbanization. Objectives Three extensive bird monitoring campaigns took place over the last three decades in the city of Naples, Italy, providing a comprehensive longitudinal dataset to analyse occurrence trends of urban birds. We aimed to assess both species-specific and assemblage-level changes in urban birds according to land cover dynamics. Methods We extracted bird data for the periods 1990–95, 2000–05, and 2014–18, and explored the spatial and temporal relationships between bird presence/avian assemblage composition, and land cover variation. Results The species richness of breeding birds remained stable over time, despite a notable species turnover, influenced by changes in the species’ key land cover classes. Species associated with forest and urban land cover tended to colonise the area, while those dependent on abandoned and cultivated areas decreased or went locally extinct. Birds changed their degree of dependence upon their key habitat type over time, as species from marginal and open habitat types needed larger amounts of habitat to persist within the area, while forest species showed an opposite trend. Conclusions Habitat-driven changes in avian assemblages within the urban landscape led to an increase in forest-associated species, and a decrease in birds associated with declining habitat types. Our findings may inform urban planning to promote more wildlife-friendly cities, which for our study area should prioritise open and marginal habitats.

Biodiversity protection against anthropogenic climate change: Conservation prioritization of Castanea sativa in the South Caucasus based on genetic and ecological metrics

“…However, the capability of forests to store carbon depends much on their permanence, which may be compromised by current climate change (Anderegg et al, 2020; Forzieri et al, 2021). Forests are also the most important reservoirs of terrestrial biodiversity (Fraissinet et al, 2023). Thus, their protection is an object within the Aichi Target 11, which aims at preventing biodiversity decline.…”

No city for wetland species: habitat associations affect mammal persistence in urban areas

“…Yet, we still know little on the role of habitat preferences in mammal adaptation to urban environments. Conversely, several studies on birds disclose that habitat-related traits such as nesting substrate or preferred habitat type deeply influence the probability of species to thrive in cities around the world [10,48,49]. As an example, bird species naturally associated with forest and rocky/cliff habitats are usually the 'winners' when urbanization occurs, a phenomenon consistent across biomes and geographical regions [50,51].…”

“…by highly affecting time of persistence and spread of species within an area, as already evidenced for plants and birds in Mediterranean urban contexts (e.g. [9,10]).…”

“…Recent studies agree in highlighting that wildlife extinction patterns in human-modified areas are not random, with a clear effect of traits mostly related to the ability of species to persist in highly fragmented landscapes [7], or to adapt to natural environments whose conditions somehow resemble those of anthropogenic habitats. As an example, Fraissinet et al [10] found that forest-adapted birds seem to thrive in urban habitats, showing disproportionate increases in their local occupancy in recent times if compared with species associated with open habitats. This result, supported by similar examples across Europe, may probably stem from both the use of cavities-a key resource for breeding birds-that are highly available in urban areas, and the increase of wooded cover in both urban and non-urban areas in Europe [11].…”

“…As an example, Fraissinet et al . [10] found that forest-adapted birds seem to thrive in urban habitats, showing disproportionate increases in their local occupancy in recent times if compared with species associated with open habitats. This result, supported by similar examples across Europe, may probably stem from both the use of cavities—a key resource for breeding birds—that are highly available in urban areas, and the increase of wooded cover in both urban and non-urban areas in Europe [11].…”