Seasonal Abundance and Species Richness of Birds in Common Reed Habitats in Lake Erie

Abstract

Common reed (Phragmites australis) forms dense stands with deep layers of residual organic matter that negatively affects plant diversity and possibly habitat use by wetland birds. We sought to determine whether seasonal relative abundance and species richness of birds varied among 3 habitat types in Great Lakes coastal wetland complexes recently invaded by common reed. We used fixed‐distance point counts to determine species relative abundances and species richness in edge and interior locales within common reed, cattail (Typha spp.), and meadow marsh habitats of various sizes during 2 summers (2001 and 2002) and 1 autumn (2001) at Long Point, Lake Erie, Ontario, Canada. We found that total relative abundance and species richness of birds were greater in common reed habitat compared to cattail or meadow marsh habitats. However, we also found that relative abundance of marsh‐nesting birds was greater in meadow marsh habitat than in cattail and common reed during summer. Lastly, we found that, irrespective of habitat type, habitat edges had higher total relative abundance and species richness of birds than did habitat interiors. Our results show that common reed provides suitable habitat for a diversity of landbirds during summer and autumn but only limited habitat for many marsh‐nesting birds during summer. Based on these results, we recommend restoration of meadow marsh habitat through reduction of common reed in Great Lakes wetlands where providing habitat for breeding marsh‐nesting birds is an objective. Managers also might consider reducing the size of nonnative common reed stands to increase edge effect and use by birds, possibly including wetland birds.

Genes to ecosystems: exploring the frontiers of ecology with one of the smallest biological units

“…Studies of the impacts of common reed on other taxa have shown decreased fish abundance (Able et al, 2003), but minimal impacts on macroinvertebrate diversity (Holomuzki & Klarer, 2010). In some cases, common reed may benefit native species, such as land birds (Meyer et al, 2010).…”

Cascade of ecological consequences for West Nile virus transmission when aquatic macrophytes invade stormwater habitats

“…For many mosquito species, dense plant growth is a preferred adult resting site (Schreiber et al 1989 , Irby andApperson 1992 ), and host-seeking females typically forage within or along the interface of these habitats (Bidlingmayer 1971 , Lothrop andReisen 2001 ). Cattail and phragmites stands also provide nesting and food resources for many urban-tolerant bird species (Bernstein and McLean 1980, Holt and Buchsbaum 2000, Sparling et al 2007, Meyer et al 2010, Kiviat 2013, including important WNVamplifying hosts such as the House Sparrow ( Passer domesticus ) and the American Robin ( Turdus migratorius ) (Kilpatrick et al 2006, Hamer et al 2009 ). Following the breeding season, phragmites and cattail stands may host dense aggregations of American Robins, European Starlings ( Sturnus vulgaris ), Common Grackles ( Quiscalus quiscula ), Red-winged Blackbirds ( Agelaius phoeniceus ), or other communal roosting species (Johnson and Caslick 1982, Caccamise and Fischl 1985, Linz et al 1991, Diuk-Wasser et al 2010, Kiviat 2013.…”

Do avian communities vary with season in highly urbanized Hong Kong?

“…Seasonal changes and functional and structural responses by bird communities is an important research focus for community ecology, and many studies have been conducted in natural habitats and agroecosystems (Loiselle and Blake 1992, Kwok 1996, Kwok and Corlett 1999, Isacch et al 2003, Meyer et al 2010. Few studies have discussed the effects of season on birds in urban areas, and some conducted in Europe and North America have found that season affects species richness of urban bird communities and the nestedness pattern that occurs when species assemblages in relatively species-poor patches comprise successive subsets of the species present at richer sites (Patterson 1987, Suhonen and Jokimäki 1988, Wright and Reeves 1992, Jokimäki et al 1996, Caula et al 2008, Murgui 2010.…”