Changes in Bird Community Structure on Mount Cameroon Driven by Elevational and Vertical Gradients

Kamga, Solange Mekuate; Tamungang, Simon Awafor; Awa, Taku; Chmel, Kryštof; Ewome, Francis Luma; Molua, Lucas Lyonga; Uceda‐Gómez, Guillermo; Janeček, Štěpán; Mlíkovský, Jiří; Riegert, Jan

doi:10.3390/d15060727

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 53 publications

(77 reference statements)

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“…Elevation represents a global environmental factor linked to decreasing atmospheric pressure and temperature, while abiotic factors such as sunlight and rainfall exhibit localized patterns [1]. Changes in non-living and living factors across elevation gradients can lead to different selection pressures, potentially resulting in local adaptation [2]. For many Diversity 2023, 15, 1081 2 of 18 years, ecologists have studied how species richness varies along elevational gradients, considering how factors such as climate, geographical area, and habitat diversity contribute to these patterns [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity of Indicator and Dominant Plant Species along Elevation Gradients in Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Nature Reserve, KSA

Al-Bakre

2023

Diversity

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It is essential to protect and preserve biodiversity, especially in habitats in which natural resources are scarce. The differing flora and vegetation distribution on the broad, arid landscape at the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nature Reserve has yet to be investigated. Based on GPS coordination and the transitional zone of plant communities, 48 symmetric plots of 50 × 50 m2 were distributed evenly over six elevations. In this study, we recorded 70 species in 33 families and elucidated floristic traits correlated with elevation. High species richness was recorded for the families Fabaceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae, and Chenopodiaceae. High numbers of chamaephyte and phanerophyte species were observed. In the chorotype, the mono-regional component contained 47% of the species, the bi-regional component 35.7%, and multi-regional and worldwide species comprised 10% and 7%, respectively. This study noted the growth habits of 23 herbs, 15 shrubs, 10 trees, and a single species of grass, vine, climber, and mistletoe. Diversity indices, indicator species, dominant plant communities, and soil profiles were compared for the defined zones of elevation. Alpha and beta diversity were high at elevations of ≥1000, 800, and ≤100 ma.s.l., compared to elevations of 600 m, 400 m, and 200 m. The highest species richness and species turnover were recorded at elevations of ≥1000, 800, and ≤100 m, while species evenness was greater at elevations of 600, 400, and 200 m. Vegetation analyses and indicator species (based on relative abundance) showed species variation with elevation. Species domination was influenced by physical soil structure and soil chemistry. Microclimates, including temperature and relative humidity variations, were found to be a significant driver in the ecosystem, resulting in varying plant diversity and species distribution at different elevations. Through canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), we used an autocorrelation of elevations, plant species, and soil properties to identify three phytogeographic categories that were presumed to be a proxy of microclimate change: Category I: elevations 1000 m and 800 m, including Retama raetam, Zilla Spinosa, and Vachellia gerrardii linked with sandy soil; Category II: elevations 600 m and 400 m, including species Haloxylon salicornicum, Rhazya stricta, and Leptadenia pyrotechnica linked with enriched soils containing CaCO3 and HCO3 and having a clay texture; and Category III: elevations 200 m and 100 m, including Zygophyllum coccineum, Tamarix nilotica, and Hyphaene thebaica, which thrived in salinity and silt soils. The spatial vegetation patterns of the xeric environment and its transition zones in Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nature Reserve were also documented. It is recommended that microclimate effects on species nominated for vegetation restoration or afforestation be considered for the optimal management of this important nature reserve.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity of Indicator and Dominant Plant Species along Elevation Gradients in Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Nature Reserve, KSA

Al-Bakre

2023

Diversity

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Food resource partitioning between males and females of Volcano Sunbird (Cinnyris preussi) on Mount Cameroon

Janeček,

Uceda-Gómez,

Janečková

et al. 2024

J Ornithol

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Competition for nectar is expected to result in feeding niche differentiation. Here, we targeted the sexually size-dimorphic Volcano Sunbird (Cinnyris preussi) on Mount Cameroon. We investigated whether males and females feed on different plant species, whether females with shorter bills than males prefer shorter flowers, and whether larger dominant males visit more energetic flowers that produce higher amounts of nectar sugars. We also asked whether feeding niches were spatially separated along the elevation gradient and whether this separation varied between the two contrasting seasons. We collected data on the frequency of visits to individual plant species and analyzed the male-to-female ratios in the mist-netted dataset. In addition, we estimated production of nectar sugar in individual habitats and seasons. Despite the large dataset collected, encompassing 6476 bird–plant interactions, our findings did not provide evidence of differences in the spectra of the visited plant species. In addition, females did not visit flowers with shorter tubes, nor did males visit flowers that produced higher amounts of sugars. However, we observed a sex-specific dispersion of sunbirds during the wet season. During the dry breeding season, both males and females feed mainly in nectar-rich montane and submontane forests. In the wet season, the production of nectar sugar in these habitats decreased dramatically, and females largely disappeared. In contrast, female activity increased in the lowest and highest parts of the altitudinal range. Our findings on elevational movements are important in the current context, in which species face potential threats from habitat destruction and climate change.

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Changes in Bird Community Structure on Mount Cameroon Driven by Elevational and Vertical Gradients

Cited by 2 publications

References 53 publications

Diversity of Indicator and Dominant Plant Species along Elevation Gradients in Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Nature Reserve, KSA

Diversity of Indicator and Dominant Plant Species along Elevation Gradients in Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Nature Reserve, KSA

Food resource partitioning between males and females of Volcano Sunbird (Cinnyris preussi) on Mount Cameroon

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