Woodland bird declines in the Murray–Darling Basin: are there links with floodplain change?

McGinness, Heather M.; Arthur, Anthony D.; Reid, Jessica

doi:10.1071/rj10016

Cited by 20 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 96 publications

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“…By contrast, natural floodplains usually abound in forests revealing a gradient of vegetation from softwood to hardwood that provide a heterogeneous landscape as well as a large diversity of biological habitats (Petts and Amoros 1996;Ward et al 2002). Research in these floodplain ecosystems has mainly focused on riparian vegetation biodiversity, succession and productivity (Schnitzler-Lenoble 2007) but also on amphibians' biodiversity (Tockner et al 2006), birds (McGinness et al 2010) and mammals (Williams et al 2001). Invertebrates and benthic fauna were also described (Korte et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Earthworm communities in alluvial forests: Influence of altitude, vegetation stages and soil parameters

et al. 2011

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a b s t r a c tIn many terrestrial ecosystems, soil parameters usually regulate the distribution of earthworm communities. In alluvial ecosystems, few studies have investigated the impact of periodic floods and alluvium deposition on soil fauna. In this context, we assumed that earthworm communities may vary depending on altitude (alpine, subalpine, mountain and hill levels), forest successional stage (post-pioneer to mature forests) and some soil parameters. Our results demonstrated that the composition of earthworm communities differed depending on altitudinal gradients. No earthworm was found at the alpine level while maximum density and biomass were observed at the hill level mainly due to the contribution of anecic species. A total of 27 species and subspecies were found over the three sampling sites, and Lumbricus moliboeus was discovered for the first time in carbonated soils. Soil texture had a major effect on epigeics that were often associated with coarse sandy texture in contrast to anecics which preferred deep soils and mature forest stages, which in combination provided the highest carbon content and the finest soil texture. In our study, carbonated fluviosols (Fluvisols according to the World Reference Base) were recorded; fluviosols typiques with well-structured A layers were generally found in mature or intermediate forest stages while most of fluviosols juveniles with heterogeneous texture were observed principally in post-pioneer forests. We conclude that in alluvial ecosystems, earthworm communities were highly dependent first on soil parameters, then altitude and to a lesser extent forest successional stages. Changes in earthworm communities tend to reflect a gradient of alluvial dynamics thus reinforcing the potential role of earthworms as bioindicators in natural and/or semi natural alluvial ecosystems.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Earthworm communities in alluvial forests: Influence of altitude, vegetation stages and soil parameters

et al. 2011

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“…Irrigation and natural flooding may affect birds through local and landscape-scale effects on primary productivity and food resources, habitat quality and configuration or open-water resources for drinking and mud nest construction (McGinness et al, 2010). Irrigation and natural flooding may affect birds through local and landscape-scale effects on primary productivity and food resources, habitat quality and configuration or open-water resources for drinking and mud nest construction (McGinness et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Listed vulnerable or endangered species may also be sensitive to changes in water availability and its direct and indirect effects, and knowledge of their responses could inform conservation efforts (McGinness et al, 2010). Over time, the influence of differences in irrigation land use intensity and site flood frequency upon habitat, food and water availability is likely to be reflected most strongly by the density of resident, sedentary species at a site because these are the species most limited by the availability of local resources.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does landscape water availability influence floodplain woodland bird density?

2014

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Irrigated agriculture in south-east Australia has increased water availability to native flora and fauna by creating artificial open-water habitats and raising water tables across the landscape. However, it has also caused loss of floodplain woodlands and reductions in the frequency, extent and duration with which floodplains are inundated, resulting in habitat degradation. The effects of such changes on floodplain fauna such as woodland birds are poorly understood. This paper explores the hypothesis that water availability at landscape scales influences woodland bird density. It examines the density of selected bird species in remnant floodplain woodlands of two contrasting regions within the same drought-affected catchment and tests two predictions: (1) Increased water availability in the landscape resulting from greater surrounding irrigation land use intensity will be associated with higher bird density in floodplain woodlands and (2) lower flood frequency within a site will be associated with lower bird density in floodplain woodlands. Two contrasting levels of the effect of irrigation land use intensity on woodland bird density were found: firstly, a broad-scale positive relationship between irrigation water availability and bird density at a regional scale and, secondly, a within-region negative effect of very high intensity irrigation land use upon bird density. We suggest that these effects are mediated through the influence of water and land use on both food and habitat availability, and research is needed focusing on links between flood regime, vegetation condition and bird density in the absence of intensive irrigation land use to ascertain the importance of flooding to woodland birds.

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“…Among these species, approximately half were terrestrial birds with more national protected species than waterbirds. Consequently, we should protect all birds in the wetlands (Fairbairn & Dinsmore 2001;McGinness et al 2010).…”

Section: Bird Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bird diversity and the conservation value of a new Ramsar site: Guangdong Haifeng Wetlands, China

Jiang

Zhang

et al. 2011

Integrative Zoology

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Wetlands are critical habitats for birds. However, wetlands are being degraded at an accelerating rate due to global human activity, and a disproportionate fraction of wetland-dependent bird species are in decline. We evaluated the conservation value of a new Ramsar site, Guangdong Haifeng Wetlands, China, for birds, by comparing bird communities (using line transect data) in 3 different districts: Gongping, Dongguan Lian'anwei and Dahu. We recorded 139 species of birds, including 26 species that are protected at a national level. Dahu had the highest species richness and diversity, whereas Dongguan Lian'anwei had the highest abundance of birds and the lowest species diversity. Finally, Gongping had both the lowest species richness and the lowest abundance. The endemism of constituent species differed among districts, and the bird communities were complementary. There were significant seasonal differences in the species richness and the number of individuals. Spring had the highest species richness and diversity. The present study identifies the high conservation value of Haifeng Wetlands for both waterbirds and terrestrial birds. Our findings suggest that conservation efforts in Haifeng Wetlands and other wetlands should focus not only on wintering migratory birds, but also on resident birds. To accomplish effective conservation, we should consider the reserve and surrounding wetlands as a whole, incorporating ecological research, education and local economic development.

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Woodland bird declines in the Murray–Darling Basin: are there links with floodplain change?

Cited by 20 publications

References 96 publications

Earthworm communities in alluvial forests: Influence of altitude, vegetation stages and soil parameters

Earthworm communities in alluvial forests: Influence of altitude, vegetation stages and soil parameters

Does landscape water availability influence floodplain woodland bird density?

Bird diversity and the conservation value of a new Ramsar site: Guangdong Haifeng Wetlands, China

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