Birds in the matrix: the role of agriculture in avian conservation in the Taita Hills, Kenya

Abstract

Agricultural conversion of tropical forests is a major driver of biodiversity loss. Slowing rates of deforestation is a conservation priority, but it is also useful to consider how species diversity is retained across the agricultural matrix. Here we assess how bird diversity varies in relation to land use in the Taita Hills, Kenya. We used point counts to survey birds along a land-use gradient that included primary forest, secondary vegetation, agroforest, timber plantation and cropland. We found that the agricultural matrix supports an abundant and diverse bird community with high levels of species turnover, but that forest specialists are confined predominantly to primary forest, with the matrix dominated by forest visitors. Ordination analyses showed that representation of forest specialists decreases with distance from primary forest. With the exception of forest generalists, bird abundance and diversity are lowest in timber plantations. Contrary to expectation, we found feeding guilds at similar abundances in all land-use types. We conclude that while the agricultural matrix, and agroforest in particular, makes a strong contribution to observed bird diversity at the landscape scale, intact primary forest is essential for maintaining this diversity, especially among species of conservation concern. Chalcomitra amethystina Amethyst sunbird NECT. f Cinnyris mediocris Eastern double-collared sunbird NECT. F Cinnyris venustus Variable sunbird NECT. f Cyanomitra olivacea Olive sunbird NECT. FF Phylloscopus ruficapilla Yellow-throated woodland warbler INSECT. FF Phylloscopus trochilus Willow warbler INSECT. f Pycnonotus barbatus Common bulbul FRUG. f Andropadus importunus Sombre greenbul FRUG. f

Local factors mediate the response of biodiversity to land use on two African mountains

“…Our survey captured local diversity with total sampling effort comparable to similar studies in the African‐wide dataset [24 h on Kilimanjaro and 25 h on Taita Hills, compared with an average of 35.15 ± 15.92 ( sd ) sampling hours in the African‐wide dataset]. Seasonal changes in the abundance of certain bird species might introduce bias into our field study; however, a resurvey of some of the sites in the Taita Hills in a different climatic season showed similar responses of avian diversity to land use (Norfolk et al ., in press). Species identity was determined following commonly used visual taxonomic guides and assisted by audio recordings from freely available bird‐sound databases (Stevenson & Fanshawe, ; http://www.xeno-canto.org).…”

Views from two mountains: exploring climate change impacts on traditional farming communities of Eastern Africa highlands through participatory scenarios

“…Most land in the middle and middle-high zones is already in use and parcelled in small plots, except the small forest patches hosting endemic and specialist species (Norfolk et al 2017a). In the business as usual scenario, a concentration of human presence and activities in a relatively small area could trigger a vicious circle of soil degradation and deforestation, and feedback effects on water availability, crop productivity, biodiversity and social conflicts.…”

Effect of landscape heterogeneity on diurnal raptor community richness and diversity in JammuShiwaliks, Jammu and Kashmir

“…This may be attributed to the heterogeneity of landscapes supporting an array of habitats comprising of intact forest patches, protected areas (Jasrota, Nandini, and Surinsar-Mansar Wildlife sanctuaries), rocky ridges, vast fallows and agricultural fields, water bodies (rivers, streams, and ponds), floodplains and urban habitats infused with green belt parks, urban forests and green corridors that provide favorable space for nesting, breeding, perching and roosting and thus high raptor richness and abundance [3,81–84]. Landscape attributes play an important role in determining avian richness and abundance [85–86] which is high in mosaic lands [87–89] limited by suitable breeding habitat and specific nest-site requirements [1,3]. Raptors which have large home ranges encompass a wide range of habitats [90].…”

“…Landscape attributes play an important role in determining avian richness and abundance [85][86] which is high in mosaic lands [87][88][89] limited by suitable breeding habitat and specific nestsite requirements [1,3]. Raptors which have large home ranges encompass a wide range of habitats [90].…”