Improvement of vegetation structure enhances bird functional traits and habitat resilience in an area of ongoing restoration in the Atlantic Forest

Abstract

Ecological restoration is a traditional option for recovering biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Birds perform pollination, seed dispersal, and pest-control services, which catalyze increases in habitat structure. Habitat complexity changes bird composition, but there is little evidence of its effects on bird functional diversity in Neotropical restorations. We tested whether bird functional diversity and composition respond to increased habitat complexity. Point-counts were performed (January-December 2015) in an area undergoing restoration (536 ha) in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, in restorations with less and more structured vegetation and pastures and forest-fragments. The functional bird traits considered were diet, habitat, biomass, environmental sensitivity, and foraging strata. Increased habitat complexity was evaluated using plant characteristics (exotic grass, canopy, herbaceous cover, and diameter at breast height). A total of 172 bird species (5% endemic; 12% migratory) were recorded. Increased vegetation structure in both restored sites and forest-fragments drove a reorganization and addition of functional bird traits, which positively influenced functional richness, dispersion, and evenness. Shifts in plant-characteristics rearranged bird functional traits (diet-forest-dependence and diet-strata-foraging). The rapid development of vegetation structure is a key factor for restoration because it provides additional habitat for semi-dependent forest birds and enhances resilience and sustainability in new man-made forests.

Influence of habitat type and distance from source area on bird taxonomic and functional diversity in a Neotropical megacity

“…Additionally, maximum height of trees was also responsible for increasing species richness. Our study agrees with the habitat complexity hypothesis (MacArthur and Macarthur 1961), which predicted that diverse green characteristics would improve functional niche space for birds, and consequently the ecosystem functions they perform (Batisteli et al 2018;Melo et al 2020). Herbs, shrubs, and trees are important green characteristics for increasing the vegetation structure of forests, from the ground to the canopy (Crouzeilles et al 2016).…”

Keanekaragaman Jenis Burung di Kecamatan Sukamakmur Kabupaten Bogor Provinsi Jawa Barat

“…Kelimpahan burung akan lebih tinggi di habitat dengan kemampuan menyediakan pakan lebih banyak (Ortega-álvarez & Casas, 2022;Shochat et al, 2015;Tryjanowski et al, 2015) serta habitat dengan keanekaragan tipe habitat lebih tinggi (Sasaki et al, 2020;Thongsoulin et al, 2019). Burung termasuk satwa yang sensitif terhadap perubahan struktur dan kompoisi habitat (Melo et al, 2020;Blinkova & Shupova, 2017). Kelimpahan burung menurun sebagai akibat modernisasi usaha pertanian di pedesaan (Rosin et al, 2021) maupun urbanisasi lanskap pedesaan (Marcacci et al, 2021).…”

Increase in size and shrub cover improves bird functional diversity in Neotropical urban green spaces

“…These findings confirm our prediction that increased shrub cover would selectively drive functional traits related to bird guilds with some (dietary, habitat, nesting, and/or foraging strategy) specialization. Shrub plants provide additional foraging resources, shelter, and nesting sites for urban birds (Ikin, Beaty, et al, 2013; Melles et al, 2003; Savard et al, 2000), thus improving functional niche space for functional traits related to insectivores and frugivores‐nectarivores, as also seen in an Atlantic Forest habitat undergoing restoration (Melo et al, 2020). Large‐sized area and high shrub cover at urban green spaces may be considered interesting parameters for the management of functional niche space for insectivorous and frugivorous‐nectarivorous birds and their ecosystem services (i.e.…”