Ecological drivers of avian diversity in a subtropical landscape: Effects of habitat diversity, primary productivity and anthropogenic disturbance

Abstract

Understanding the roles of ecological drivers in shaping biodiversity is fundamental for conservation practice. In this study, we explored the effects of elevation, conservation status, primary productivity, habitat diversity and anthropogenic disturbance (represented by human population density and birding history) on taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional avian diversity in a subtropical landscape in southeastern China. We conducted bird surveys using 1‐km transects across a total of 30 sites, of which 10 sites were located within a natural reserve. Metrics of functional diversity were calculated based on six functional traits (body mass, clutch size, dispersal ratio, sociality, diet and foraging stratum). We built simultaneous autoregression models to assess the association between the ecological factors and diversity of the local avian communities. Local avian diversity generally increased with increasing habitat diversity, human population density and primary productivity. We also detected phylogenetic and functional clustering in these communities, suggesting that the avian assemblages were structured mainly by environmental filtering, rather than interspecific competition. Compared with sites outside the natural reserve, sites within the natural reserve had relatively lower avian diversity but a higher level of phylogenetic heterogeneity.

The Ectomycorrhizal Fungi and Soil Bacterial Communities of the Five Typical Tree Species in the Junzifeng National Nature Reserve, Southeast China

“…The diversity and abundance of potassium-solubilizing bacteria in plantation soil are lower than in forest soil, implying that the available K in plantation decreases, which leads to soil acidification and reduced forest productivity and pathogen resistance [31]. The Junzifeng National Nature Reserve is the only primeval subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest with a large area, which plays a key role in providing biodiversity and functional diversity, as well as maintaining forest ecosystem stability [24,25]. Therefore, to understand the role of soil microorganisms in maintaining stable forest ecosystems, it is critical to explore soil microbial species and their ecological function among different tree species in forest ecosystems.…”

“…The Junzifeng National Nature Reserve is located in Fujian Province, China. It is the only primeval subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest with a large area (1730 km 2 ) and low-latitude distribution [24]. The Junzifeng National Nature Reserve has an extremely rich biodiversity, with a total of 219 families and 779 genera of vascular plants [25].…”