Avian species functional diversity and habitat use: The role of forest structural attributes and tree diversity in the Midlands Mistbelt Forests of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Autor:	Bitani N; Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg South Africa., Cordier CP; Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg South Africa., Ehlers Smith DA; Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg South Africa., Ehlers Smith YC; Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg South Africa.; Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife Pietermaritzburg South Africa., Downs CT; Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg South Africa.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Ecology and evolution [Ecol Evol] 2023 Aug 31; Vol. 13 (9), pp. e10439. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Aug 31 (Print Publication: 2023).
DOI:	10.1002/ece3.10439
Abstrakt:	Forest transformation has major impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Identifying the influence of forest habitat structure and composition on avian functional communities is important for conserving and managing forest systems. This study investigated the effect of forest structure and composition characteristics on bird species community structure, habitat use and functional diversity in 14 Mistbelt Forest patches of the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. We surveyed bird communities using point counts. We quantified bird functional diversity for each forest patch using three diversity indices: functional richness, functional evenness and functional divergence. We further assessed species-specific responses by focussing on three avian forest specialists, orange ground-thrush Geokichla gurneyi , forest canary Crithagra scotops and Cape parrot Poicephalus robustus . We found that bird community and forest-specialist species responses to forest structure and tree species diversity differed. Also, forest structural complexity, canopy cover and tree species richness were the main forest characteristics better at explaining microhabitat influence on bird functional diversity. Forest patches with relatively high structural complexity and tree species richness had higher functional richness. Different structural characteristics influenced habitat use by the three forest specialists. Tree species diversity influenced C. scotops and G . gurneyi positively, while P. robustus responded negatively to forest patches with high tree species richness. Our study showed that site-scale forest structure and composition characteristics are important for bird species richness and functional richness. Forest patches with high tree species diversity and structural complexity should be maintained to conserve forest specialists, bird species richness and functional richness. Competing Interests: We declare no conflict of interest in connection with the work submitted. (© 2023 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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