Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Urban bird community composition influenced by size of urban green spaces, presence of native forest, and urbanization

  • Published:
Urban Ecosystems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Understanding what determines wildlife species richness and community composition in urban green spaces is important for wildlife management and urban planning. Numerous studies have assessed the relationships between attributes of urban green spaces (size, vegetation, isolation, urbanization) and bird species richness, but little is known about how these factors influence community composition. I censused breeding land birds in 93 urban green spaces in Oslo, Norway, and species were grouped according to ecology (habitat preference, nest site, migration, diet, and red-list status). I analysed how species richness and, in particular, how community composition (relative proportion of different ecological groups) was influenced by size of urban green spaces, presence of native forest, isolation (i.e. distance from the periphery of the city) and urban zone (i.e. centre or periphery of city). Species richness increased with size of green spaces and presence of native forest, but did not decrease towards the city centre. Community composition was affected most strongly by presence of native forest, but site size and urbanization affected some ecological groups. Specifically, sensitive ecological groups of birds (in particular forest species, ground-nesters, migratory species, and species with a specialist diet) depended in particular on the presence of native forest in urban green spaces, with additional positive effects of increasing size of urban green spaces and location close to the periphery of the city.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alvey AA (2006) Promoting and preserving biodiversity in the urban forest. Urban For Urban Green 5:195–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Angold PG, Sadler JP, Hill MO, Pullin A, Rushton S, Austin K, Small E, Wood B, Wadsworth R, Sanderson R, Thompson K (2006) Biodiversity in urban habitat patches. Sci Total Environ 360:196–204

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aronson MFJ et al (2014) A global analysis of the impacts of urbanization on bird and plant diversity reveals key anthropogenic drivers. Proc R Soc B 281:20133330

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Baker PJ, Thomas RL, Newson SE, Thompson V, Paling NRD (2010) Habitat associations and breeding bird community composition within the city of Bristol, UK. Bird Study 57:183–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beissinger SR, Osborne DR (1982) Effects of urbanization on avian community organization. Condor 84:75–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blair RB (1996) Land use and avian species diversity along an urban gradient. Ecol Appl 6:506–519

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cam E, Nichols JD, Sauer JR, Hines JE, Flather CH (2000) Relative species richness and community completeness: birds and urbanization in the Mid-Atlantic States. Ecol Appl 10:1196–1210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caula SA, Sirami C, Marty P, Martin J-L (2010) Value of an urban habitat for the native Mediterranean avifauna. Urban Ecosyst 13:73–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chace JF, Walsh JJ (2006) Urban effects on native avifauna: a review. Landsc Urban Plan 74:46–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain DE, Gough S, Vaughn H, Vickery JA, Appleton GF (2007) Determinants of bird species richness in public green spaces. Bird Study 54:87–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain D, Kibuule M, Skeen R, Pomeroy D (2017) Trends in bird species richness, abundance and biomass along a tropical urbanization gradient. Urban Ecosyst 20:629–638

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang C-R, Chien H-F, Shiu H-J, Ko C-J, Lee P-F (2017) Multiscale heterogeneity within and beyond Taipei city greenspaces and their relationship with avian biodiversity. Landsc Urban Plan 157:138–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang H-Y, Lee Y-F (2016) Effects of area size, heterogeneity, isolation, and disturbances on urban park avifauna in a highly populated tropical city. Urban Ecosyst 19:257–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiari C, Dinetti M, Licciardello C, Licitra G, Pautasso M (2010) Urbanization and the more-individuals hypothesis. J Anim Ecol 79:366–371

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clergeau P, Savard J-PL, Mennechez G, Falardeau G (1998) Bird abundance and diversity along an urban-rural gradient: a comparative study between two cities on different continents. Condor 100:413–425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clergeau P, Jokimäki J, Savard J-PL (2001) Are urban bird communities influenced by the bird diversity of adjacent landscapes? J Appl Ecol 38:1122–1134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clergeau P, Croci S, Jokimäki J, Kaisanlahti-Jokimäki M-L, Dinetti M (2006) Avifauna homogenisation by urbanisation: analysis at different European latitudes. Biol Conserv 127:336–344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Croci S, Butet A, Georges A, Aguejdad R, Clergeau P (2008a) Small urban woodlands as biodiversity conservation hot-spot: a multi-taxon approach. Landsc Ecol 23:1171–1186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Croci S, Butet A, Clergeau P (2008b) Does urbanization filter birds on the basis of their biological traits. Condor 110:223–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crooks KR, Suarez AV, Bolger DT (2004) Avian assemblages along a gradient of urbanization in a highly fragmented landscape. Biol Conserv 115:451–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dale S, Andersen GS, Eie K, Bergan M, Stensland P (2001) Guide til fuglelivet i Oslo og Akershus. Norsk Ornitologisk Forening, avdeling Oslo og Akershus, Oslo

  • Dale S, Lifjeld JT, Rowe M (2015) Commonness and ecology, but not bigger brains, predict urban living in birds. BMC Ecol 15:12

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • de Toledo MCB, Donatelli RJ, Batista GT (2012) Relation between green spaces and bird community structure in an urban area in Southeast Brazil. Urban Ecosyst 15:111–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donald PF, Sanderson FJ, Burfield IJ, van Bommel FPJ (2006) Further evidence of continent-wide impacts of agricultural intensification on European farmland birds, 1990–2000. Agric Ecosyst Environ 116:189–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans KL, Chamberlain DE, Hatchwell BJ, Gregory RD, Gaston KJ (2011) What makes an urban bird? Glob Chang Biol 17:32–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferenc M (2017) Bird communities in urban green spaces: effects of habitat patch size, vegetation structure and urbanization gradient. Thesis, Charles University in Prague

  • Fernández-Juricic E (2000) Bird community composition patterns in urban parks of Madrid: the role of age, size and isolation. Ecol Res 15:373–383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández-Juricic E (2004) Spatial and temporal analysis of the distribution of forest specialists in an urban-fragmented landscape (Madrid, Spain). Landsc Urban Plan 69:17–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gavareski CA (1976) Relation of park size and vegetation to urban bird populations in Seattle, Washington. Condor 78:375–382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goddard MA, Dougill AJ, Benton TG (2010) Scaling up from gardens: biodiversity conservation in urban environments. Trends Ecol Evol 25:90–98

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gregory RD, Baillie SR (1998) Large-scale habitat use of some declining British birds. J Appl Ecol 35:785–799

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gregory RD, Vorisek P, van Strien A, Gmelig Meyling AW, Jiguet F, Fornasari L, Reif J, Chylarecki P, Burfield IJ (2007) Population trends of widespread woodland birds in Europe. Ibis 149(Suppl 2):78–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haftorn S (1971) Norges Fugler. Universitetsforlaget, Oslo

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedblom M, Söderström B (2010) Landscape effects on birds in urban woodlands: an analysis of 34 Swedish cities. J Biogeogr 37:1302–1316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hohtola E (1978) Differential changes in bird community structure with urbanisation: a study in Central Finland. Ornis Scand 9:94–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Husté A, Boulinier T (2011) Determinants of bird community composition on patches in the suburbs of Paris, France. Biol Conserv 144:243–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Imai H, Nakashizuka T (2010) Environmental factors affecting the composition and diversity of avian community in mid- to late breeding season in urban parks and green spaces. Landsc Urban Plan 96:183–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jokimäki J (1999) Occurrence of breeding bird species in urban parks: Effects of park structure and broad-scale variables. Urban Ecosyst 3:21–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jokimäki J, Suhonen J (1993) Effects of urbanization on the breeding bird species richness in Finland: a biogeographical comparison. Ornis Fennica 70:71–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Jokimäki J, Suhonen J, Jokimäki-Kaisanlahti M-L, Carbó-Ramírez P (2016) Effects of urbanization on breeding birds in European towns: impacts of species traits. Urban Ecosyst 19:1565–1577

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kark S, Iwaniuk A, Schalimtzek A, Banker E (2007) Living in the city: can anyone become an 'urban exploiter'? J Biogeogr 34:638–651

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kowarik I (2011) Novel urban ecosystems, biodiversity, and conservation. Environ Pollut 159:1974–1983

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kålås JA, Dale S, Gjershaug JO, Husby M, Lislevand T, Strann K-B, Strøm H (2015) Norsk Rødliste for arter 2015. Fugler Aves Artsdatabanken, Trondheim

    Google Scholar 

  • Lancaster RK, Rees WE (1979) Bird communities and the structure of urban habitats. Can J Zool 57:2358–2368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leveau LM (2013) Bird traits in urban–rural gradients: how many functional groups are there? J Ornithol 154:655–662

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lim HC, Sodhi NS (2004) Responses of avian guilds to urbanisation in a tropical city. Landsc Urban Plan 66:199–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Litteral J, Shochat E (2017) The role of landscape-scale factors in shaping urban bird communities. In: Murgui E, Hedblom M (eds) Ecology and conservation of birds in urban environments. Springer, Cham, pp 135–159

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • MacGregor-Fors I, Ortega-Álvarez R (2011) Fading from the forest: bird community shifts related to urban park site-specific and landscape traits. Urban For Urban Green 10:239–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mason CF (2000) Thrushes now largely restricted to the built environment in eastern England. Divers Distrib 6:189–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matthies SA, Rüter S, Schaarschmidt F, Prasse R (2017) Determinants of species richness within and across taxonomic groups in urban green spaces. Urban Ecosyst. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-017-0642-9

  • Møller AP (2009) Successful city dwellers: a comparative study of the ecological characteristics of urban birds in the Western Palearctic. Oecologia 159:849–858

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mörtberg U, Wallentinus H-G (2000) Red-listed forest bird species in an urban environment - assessment of green space corridors. Landsc Urban Plan 50:215–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen AB, van den Bosch M, Maruthaveeran S, van den Bosch CK (2014) Species richness in urban parks and its drivers: A review of empirical evidence. Urban Ecosyst 17:305–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliver AJ, Hong-Wa C, Devonshire J, Olea KR, Rivas GF, Gahl MK (2011) Avifauna richness enhanced in large, isolated urban parks. Landsc Urban Plan 102:215–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oslo Kommune (2011) Byøkologisk program 2011–2026. Oslo Kommune, Oslo

    Google Scholar 

  • Palomino D, Carrascal LM (2006) Urban influence on birds at a regional scale: A case study with the avifauna of northern Madrid province. Landsc Urban Plan 77:276–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rega-Brodsky CC, Nilon CH (2016) Forest cover is important across multiple scales for bird communities in vacant lots. Urban Ecosyst 20:561–571

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rolando A, Maffei G, Pulcher C, Giuso A (1997) Avian community structure along an urbanization gradient. Ital J Zool 64:341–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sandström UG, Angelstam P, Mikusinski G (2006) Ecological diversity of birds in relation to the structure of urban green space. Landsc Urban Plan 77:39–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shochat E, Warren PS, Faeth SH, McIntyre NE, Hope D (2006) From patterns to emerging processes in mechanistic urban ecology. Trends Ecol Evol 21:186–191

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sorace A (2002) High density of bird and pest species in urban habitats and the role of predator abundance. Ornis Fenn 79:60–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorace A, Gustin M (2010) Bird species of conservation concern along urban gradients in Italy. Biodivers Conserv 19:205–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorén KH (2008) De grønne lungene som forsvant. Om tap av grønnstruktur i byer og tettsteder. In: Berntsen B, Hågvar S (eds) Norsk natur - farvel? En illustrert historie. Unipub, Oslo, pp 223–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Vergnes A, Le Viol I, Clergeau P (2012) Green corridors in urban landscapes affect the arthropod communities of domestic gardens. Biol Conserv 145:171–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

I thank one anonymous reviewer for comments on the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432, Ås, Norway

    Svein Dale

Authors
  1. Svein Dale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Svein Dale.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The author declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(DOCX 131 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Dale, S. Urban bird community composition influenced by size of urban green spaces, presence of native forest, and urbanization. Urban Ecosyst 21, 1–14 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-017-0706-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-017-0706-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation