Temporal dynamic of the phylogenetic diversity of the bird community of agricultural lands in Ukrainian steppe drylands

Abstract

This study discussed the importance of the phylogenetic components in the structure of bird communities of anthropogenically transformed ecosystems. The investigation was conducted in the landscapes of the south and south-east of Ukraine in the nesting seasons 1988–2018. The bird community in the agricultural landscape was found to be presented by 10 species. The number of species was closely correlated with its phylogenetic analogue – Faith’s index. Both indices were stationary over time, as they do not show a statistically significant time trend. The two axes were extracted as a result of the DPCOA procedure and the permutation test showed their statistical significance. The axis 1 was the most sensitive to the opposite dynamics of the abundance of Coturnix coturnix and Burhinus oedicnemus on the one hand and Alauda arvensis and Melanocorypha calandra on the other. The axis 2 is the most sensitive to the opposite dynamics of Corvus monedula and Melanocorypha calandra on the one hand and Coturnix coturnix and Motacilla flava on the other. Based on phylogenetic diversity, the years can be clustered with the extraction of four relatively homogeneous phylogenetic structures of bird communities. The indicator of the initial period of dynamics (1988–1992) was Burhinus oedicnemus. Sowing or mechanical weeding may be considered as a major factor of nest destruction of Burhinus oedicnemus. The decreasing of the abundance of the trophic recourses because of agricultural activity may have caused the monotonous negative trend over time of the Burhinus oedicnemus populations. The period 1993–2003 was a transitional one, for which there were no clear indicators, as a characteristic feature of this period was the processes of bird community restructuring. The period 2004–2013 was characterized by the loss of Burhinus oedicnemus from the community and a sharp increase in the abundance of Corvus monedula. These species are distinguished by their phylogenetic specificity and are located on the periphery relative to the phylogenetic core of the community. There was growing importance in the community of such species as Alauda arvensis, Anthus campestris, and Melanocorypha calandra between 2014 and 2018. Our results also confirm the assumption that phylogenetic overdispersion is an important requirement for the stability of the bird community in anthropogenically transformed landscapes.

Predicting organic carbon in European soils: Only in Southern Ukraine can we expect an increase in humus content

“…Rising temperatures will stimulate net losses of soil carbon to the atmosphere, leading to a positive feedback between soil carbon and climate, which may accelerate climate change (Crowther et al, 2016). The forecast is based on the fact that the dependence spaces in a certain period of time can be extended to the dynamics of processes in time (Koshelev et al, 2020). Such an assumption can be considered valid if the model is based on the current equilibrium state of the system, and the system will also reach the equilibrium state by the projected time (Kunakh & Kovalenko 2019).…”

Bioclimatic projection of the ecological niche of curly mallow (Malva verticillata) based on the forecast of the dynamics of the geographical range in the context of global climate change

“…The projections of extreme temperatures are more reliable than projections of extreme precipitation because the mean climate is better understood than climate variability (van der Wiel & Bintanja, 2021). In the dynamics of precipitation in the context of the global climate change, the most important trend is the change in their rhythmicity during the year, and the annual amount of precipitation may not change or even increase (Koshelev et al, 2020). The global climate change induces a significant redistribution of precipitation during the year, causing increase in the amount of extremely intense precipitation increases and prolongation of periods with no precipitation (Sarkar & Maity, 2021).…”

The main factors and prospects for the restoration of biodiversity in technogenic territories (on the example of the Poltava Mining and Processing Plant)

“…On the one hand, the processes of vegetation cover succession depend on the diversity of birds in the environment (Borthwick & Wang, 2015). On the other hand, phytocenoses and their successions determine nesting ornithocenoses: abundance and species composition (Slankard et al, 2018;Koshelev et al, 2020a). Therefore, the analysis of the avifauna is a fairly reliable bioindication method for the restoration of transformed areas that are subject to technogenic impact (Lehikoinen, 2013;Catarino et al, 2016).…”