Avian Taxonomic and Functional Diversity in Contrasting Habitats: A Comparative Study of Urban and Remote Forests in Arusha, Tanzania
Abstract
Urbanisation globally transforms landscapes, impacting biodiversity significantly. In Arusha, Tanzania, rapid urban expansion accentuates the interplay between urbanisation and avian biodiversity. This study investigates urbanisation's influence on avian communities in two contrasting forested habitats: the urban "Themi River Forest" and the remote "Lake Duluti Forest." We explore taxonomic and functional avian diversity, elucidating underlying mechanisms. Taxonomic diversity analysis reveals "Lake Duluti Forest" with slightly higher species richness and "Themi River Forest" with a more even species distribution, reflecting urbanisation's influence. This aligns with global trends indicating reduced urban species richness due to habitat fragmentation. The urban forest, however, demonstrates avian adaptability to urbanised landscapes. Functional diversity analysis uncovers "Lake Duluti Forest" with greater functional richness, indicating a wider array of ecological roles. In contrast, "Themi River Forest" maintains comparable functional evenness, suggesting ecological balance despite urbanisation. Both forests exhibit distinct ecological niches, highlighting avian community flexibility. These findings hold significance for avian conservation and urban planning in Arusha and similar urbanising regions. Higher taxonomic diversity in remote forests underscores conservation importance. The urban forest showcases avian adaptability, emphasising green spaces in urban planning. Long-term conservation should protect both urban and remote forests, integrating strategies for avian habitat preservation and connectivity. This study advances understanding of urbanisation, forest type, and avian biodiversity's intricate relationship, offering insights for effective conservation in evolving urban landscapes
Downloads
References
Aronson, M. F. J., La Sorte, F. A., Nilon, C. H., Katti, M., Goddard, M. A., Lepczyk, C. A., Warren, P. S., Williams, N. S. G., Cilliers, S., Clarkson, B., Dobbs, C., Dolan, R., Hedblom, M., Klotz, S., Kooijmans, J. L., Kühn, I., Macgregor-Fors, I., Mcdonnell, M., Mörtberg, U., … Winter, M. (2014). A global analysis of the impacts of urbanisation on bird and plant diversity reveals key anthropogenic drivers. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 281(1780). https://doi.org/10.1098/RSPB.2013.3330
Chace, J. F., & Walsh, J. J. (2006). Urban effects on native avifauna: A review. Landscape and Urban Planning, 74(1), 46–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2004.08.007
Corbelli, J. M., Zurita, G. A., Filloy, J., Galvis, J. P., Vespa, N. I., & Bellocq, I. (2015). Integrating taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic beta diversities: Interactive effects with the biome and land use across taxa. PLoS ONE, 10(5). https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0126854
Curzel, F. E., Bellocq, M. I., & Leveau, L. M. (2021). Local and landscape features of wooded streets influenced bird taxonomic and functional diversity. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, 66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127369
Evans, K. L., Chamberlain, D. E., Hatchwell, B. J., Gregory, R. D., & Gaston, K. J. (2011). What makes an urban bird? Global Change Biology, 17(1), 32– 44. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2486.2010.02247.X
Evans, K. L., Hatchwell, B. J., Parnell, M., & Gaston, K. J. (2010). A conceptual framework for the colonisation of urban areas: The blackbird Turdus merula as a case study. Biological Reviews, 85(3), 643–667. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1469-185X.2010.00121.X
Flynn, D. F. B., Gogol-Prokurat, M., Nogeire, T., Molinari, N., Richers, B. T., Lin, B. B., Simpson, N., Mayfield, M. M., & DeClerck, F. (2009). Loss of functional diversity under land use intensification across multiple taxa. Ecology Letters, 12(1), 22–33. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1461-0248.2008.01255.X
Germain, R. R., Feng, S., Buffan, L., Carmona, C. P., Chen, G., Graves, G. R., Tobias, J. A., Rahbek, C., Lei, F., Fjeldså, J., Hosner, P. A., Thomas, M., Zhang, G., & Nogués-Bravo, D. (2023a). Changes in the functional diversity of modern bird species over the last million years. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 120(7). https://doi.org/10.1073/PNAS.2201945119
Hoyo, J. del, & Allen, R. (n.d.). All the birds of the world. 967.
Laliberte, E., & Legendre, P. (2010). A distance-based framework for measuring functional diversity from multiple traits. Ecology, 91(1), 299–305. https://doi.org/10.1890/08-2244.1
Legendre, P., & Legendre, L. (2012). Numerical Ecology Ch 6 - Multidimensional qualitative data. Developments in Environmental Modelling, 24, 337–424. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780444538680500083
Magurran, A. E. (2004). Measuring biological diversity. Edition Illustrated. Blackwell Publishing, Massachusetts, 256 p.
Mason, N. W. H., Mouillot, D., Lee, W. G., & Wilson, J. B. (2005). Functional richness, functional evenness and functional divergence: The primary components of functional diversity. Oikos, 111(1), 112–118. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.0030-1299.2005.13886.X
McDonnell, M. J., & Hahs, A. K. (2015). Adaptation and Adaptedness of Organisms to Urban Environments. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, 46, 261– 280. https://doi.org/10.1146/ANNUREV-ECOLSYS-112414-054258
Miller, M. J. (2017). HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World Volume 2: Passerines Josep del Hoyo, Nigel J. Collar. 2016. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, 1013 pages, hundreds of color plates. ISBN 9788496553989. $269 (Hardcover). Journal of Field Ornithology, 88(4), 421–424. https://doi.org/10.1111/JOFO.12232
Morelli, F., Brlík, V., Benedetti, Y., Bussière, R., Moudrá, L., Reif, J., & Svitok, M. (2022). Detection Rate of Bird Species and What It Depends on: Tips for Field Surveys. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/FEVO.2021.671492
Mouillot, D., Graham, N. A. J., Villéger, S., Mason, N. W. H., & Bellwood, D. R. (2013). A functional approach reveals community responses to disturbances. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 28(3), 167–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2012.10.004
Nava-Díaz, R., Zuria, I., & Pineda-López, R. (2022). Taxonomic, Phylogenetic and Functional Diversity of Bird Assemblages in Urban Green Spaces: Null Model Analyses, Temporal Variation and Ecological Drivers. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/FEVO.2021.795913
Riegner, M. F. (2021). All the Birds of the World . Edited by Josep del Hoyo; illustrated by Richard Allen et al. Barcelona (Spain): Lynx Edicions. €65.00. 967 p.; ill.; index. ISBN: 978-84-16728-37-4. [Fundació Mascort and Lynx Edicions working together for nature.] 2020. The Quarterly Review of Biology, 96(2), 136–137. https://doi.org/10.1086/714451
Roswell, M., Dushoff, J., & Winfree, R. (2021). A conceptual guide to measuring species diversity. Oikos, 130(3), 321–338. https://doi.org/10.1111/OIK.07202
Thresher, R. E., & Gunn, J. S. (1986). Comparative analysis of visual census techniques for highly mobile, reef-associated piscivores (Carangidae). Environmental Biology of Fishes, 17(2), 93–116. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001740
van Strien, M. J., Axhausen, K. W., Dubernet, I., Guisan, A., Grêt-Regamey, A., Khiali-Miab, A., Ortiz-Rodríguez, D. O., & Holderegger, R. (2018). Models of coupled settlement and habitat networks for biodiversity conservation: Conceptual framework, implementation and potential applications. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 6(APR). https://doi.org/10.3389/FEVO.2018.00041
Villéger, S., Mason, N. W. H., & Mouillot, D. (2008). New multidimensional functional diversity indices for a multifaceted framework in functional ecology. Ecology, 89(8), 2290–2301. https://doi.org/10.1890/07-1206.1
Violle, C., Navas, M. L., Vile, D., Kazakou, E., Fortunel, C., Hummel, I., & Garnier, E. (2007). Let the concept of trait be functional! Oikos, 116(5), 882– 892. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.0030-1299.2007.15559.X
Wickham, H. (2016). ggpolt2 Elegant Graphics for Data Analysis. Use R! Series, 211.
Copyright (c) 2023 Leonard John Haule, Emanuel Richard Kaking’o, Kerstin Joseph
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
