Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Are bird density, species richness and community structure similar between native woodlands and non-native plantations in an area with a generalist bird fauna?

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Biodiversity and Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study compared the bird assemblages of native semi-natural woodlands and non-native Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) plantations in Ireland to identify what vegetation variables most influenced birds and to identify management targets in plantations to maximise future bird conservation. Point counts were conducted in 10 Oak (Quercus spp.) and 10 Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) native woodlands and in five Mid-rotation (20–30 years old) and five Mature (30–50 years old) Sitka spruce plantations. Ordination was used to characterise woodland types according to their constituent bird species. Total bird density (calculated using Distance software) and species richness were assessed for the different woodland types. Oak and Ash woodland bird assemblages were separated from Mid-rotation and Mature plantations by the ordination. There was no difference in total bird density between any of the woodland types. Oak woodlands had significantly higher species richness than either Mid-rotation or Mature Sitka spruce plantations. Ash had higher species richness than Mature Sitka spruce plantations. Understorey vegetation was negatively associated with total bird density, which also varied with survey year. Understorey vegetation was positively associated with species richness. Reasons for the relationships between vegetation and bird assemblages are discussed. Management should seek to increase shrub and understorey vegetation in the Mid-rotation phase to improve the contribution of plantations to bird conservation.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alldredge MW, Simons TR, Pollock KH (2007) Factors affecting aural detections of songbirds. Ecol Appl 17:948–955

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barlow J, Gardner TA, Araujo IS et al (2007a) Quantifying the biodiversity value of tropical primary, secondary, and plantation forests. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 104:18555–18560

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barlow J, Mestre LAM, Gardner TA et al (2007b) The value of primary, secondary and plantation forests for Amazonian birds. Biol Conserv 136:212–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bibby CJ, Aston N, Bellamy PE (1989) Effects of broadleaved trees on birds of upland conifer plantations in North Wales. Biol Conserv 49:17–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bibby CJ, Burgess ND, Hill DA (2000) Bird census techniques. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Birks HJB (1980) British trees and insects: a test of the time hypothesis over the last 13, 000 years. Am Nat 115:600

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brockerhoff E, Jactel H, Parrotta J et al (2008) Plantation forests and biodiversity: oxymoron or opportunity? Biodivers Conserv 17:925–951

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buckland ST, Anderson DR, Burnham KP et al (2001) Introduction to Distance Sampling: estimating abundance of biological populations. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Calladine J, Humphreys EM, Strachan F et al (2009) Forestry thinning in commercial conifer plantations has little effect on bird species richness and breeding abundance. Bird Study 56:137–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cherkaoui I, Selmi S, Boukhriss J et al (2009) Factors affecting bird richness in a fragmented cork oak forest in Morocco. Acta Oecol 35:197–205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colwell RK (2006) EstimateS: statistical estimation of species richness and shared species from samples. User’s Guide and application. http://purl.oclc.org/estimates

  • Coombes RH (2009) Woodpeckers move in. In: Wings 55, Winter 2009

  • Cross JR (1998) An outline and map of the potential natural vegetation of Ireland. Appl Veg Sci 1:241–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ding T-S, Liao H-C, Yuan H-W (2008) Breeding bird community composition in different successional vegetation in the montane coniferous forests zone of Taiwan. Forest Ecol Manag 255:2038–2048

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donald PF, Fuller RJ, Evans AD et al (1998) Effects of forest management and grazing on breeding bird communities in plantations of broadleaved and coniferous trees in western England. Biol Conserv 85:183–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dufrene M, Legendre P (1997) Species assemblages and indicator species: the need for a flexible asymmetrical approach. Ecol Monogr 67:345–366

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2007). State of the World’s forests 2007. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations

  • Farwig N, Sajita N, Böhning-Gaese K (2008) Conservation value of forest plantations for bird communities in western Kenya. Forest Ecol Manag 255:3885–3892

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fennessy GJ, Kelly TC (2006) Breeding densities of Robin Erithacus rubecula in different habitats: the importance of hedgerow structure. Bird Study 53:97–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferris R, Peace AJ, Humphrey JW et al (2000) Relationships between vegetation, site type and stand structure in coniferous plantations in Britain. Forest Ecol Manag 136:35–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forest Service (2007) National Forest Inventory—Republic of Ireland, Forest Service. Johnstown Castle Estate Co, Wexford

    Google Scholar 

  • Fossitt JA (2000) A guide to the habitats of Ireland. The Heritage Council, Kilkenny

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuller RJ (1995) Bird life of woodland and forest. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuller RJ, Browne S (2003) Effects of plantation structure and management on birds. In: Humphrey J, Ferris R, Quine C (eds) Biodiversity in Britain’s planted forests. Results from the Forestry Commission’s biodiversity assessment project. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh, pp 93–99

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuller RJ, Noble DG, Smith KW et al (2005) Recent declines in populations of woodland birds in Britain: a review of possible causes. Br Birds 98:116–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuller RJ, Smith KW, Grice PV et al (2007) Habitat change and woodland birds in Britain: implications for management and future research. Ibis 149:261–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gill RMA, Fuller RJ (2007) The effects of deer browsing on woodland structure and songbirds in lowland Britain. Ibis 149:119–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gregory RD, Vorisek P, Van Strien A et al (2007) Population trends of widespread woodland birds in Europe. Ibis 149:78–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hewson CM, Amar A, Lindsell JA et al (2007) Recent changes in bird populations in British broadleaved woodland. Ibis 149:14–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Highland Statistics LTD (2007). Brodgar. Software package for data exploration, univariate analysis, multivariate analysis and time series analysis.Aberdeenshire, Scotland

  • Hopkins JJ, Kirby KJ (2007) Ecological change in British broadleaved woodland since 1947. Ibis 149:29–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy CEJ, Southwood TRE (1984) The number of species of insects associated with British trees: a re-analysis. J Appl Ecol 53:455–478

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerr G (1999) The use of silvicultural systems to enhance the biological diversity of plantation forests in Britain. Forestry 72:191–205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lantschner M, Rusch V, Peyrou C (2008) Bird assemblages in pine plantations replacing native ecosystems in NW Patagonia. Biodivers Conserv 17:969–989

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindenmayer DB, Cunningham RB, Donnelly CF et al (2002) Effects of forest fragmentation on bird assemblages in a novel landscape context. Ecol Monogr 72:1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luck GW, Korodaj TN (2008) Stand and landscape-level factors related to bird assemblages in exotic pine plantations: implications for forest management. Forest Ecol Manag 255:2688–2697

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lynas P, Newton SF, Robinson JA (2007) The status of birds in Ireland: an analysis of conservation concern 2008–2013. Irish Birds 8:149–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Magura T, Báldi A, Horváth R (2008) Breakdown of the species–area relationship in exotic but not in native forest patches. Acta Oecol 33:272–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mänd R, Leivits A, Leivits M et al (2009) Provision of nestboxes raises the breeding density of Great Tits Parus major equally in coniferous and deciduous woodland. Ibis 151:487–492

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marsden SJ, Whiffin M, Galetti M (2001) Bird diversity and abundance in forest fragments and Eucalyptus plantations around an Atlantic forest reserve, Brazil. Biodivers Conserv 10:737–751

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCune B, Mefford MJ (2006) PC-ORD. Multivariate analysis of ecological data. MjM Software Gleneden Beach, Oregon, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Met Éireann (2010). http://www.met.ie/climate/monthly-summary.asp

  • Mitchell F (2006) Where did Ireland’s trees come from? Biol Environ 106:251–259

    Google Scholar 

  • Newton I (1994) The role of nest sites in limiting the numbers of hole-nesting birds: a review. Biol Conserv 70:265–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nikolov SC (2009) Effect of stand age on bird communities in late-successional Macedonian pine forests in Bulgaria. Forest Ecol Manag 257:580–587

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paritsis J, Aizen MA (2008) Effects of exotic conifer plantations on the biodiversity of understory plants, epigeal beetles and birds in Nothofagus dombeyi forests. Forest Ecol Manag 255:1575–1583

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quine CP, Fuller RJ, Smith KW et al (2007) Stand management: a threat or opportunity for birds in British woodland? Ibis 149:161–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sax DF (2002) Equal diversity in disparate species assemblages: a comparison of native and exotic woodlands in California. Global Ecol Biogeogr 11:49–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith G, Gittings T, Wilson M et al (2008) Identifying practical indicators of biodiversity for stand-level management of plantation forests. Biodivers Conserv 17:991–1015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snow DW, Perrins CM (1998) The birds of the Western Palearctic: concise edition. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Straw N, Fielding N, Green G et al (2006) Seasonal changes in the distribution of green spruce aphid Elatobium abietinum (Walker) (Homoptera: Aphididae) in the canopy of Sitka spruce. Agric For Entomol 8:139–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas L, Laake JL, Strindberg S et al (2006) Distance 5.0. Release 2. Research unit for wildlife population assessment. University of St. Andrews, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • The Woodland Trust (2007) Back on the map: an inventory of ancient and long-established woodland for Northern Ireland. Preliminary report. The Woodland Trust, Bangor

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson MW, Pithon J, Gittings T et al (2006) Effects of growth stage and tree species composition on breeding bird assemblages of plantation forests. Bird Study 53:225–236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson MW, Gittings T, Kelly TC et al (2010) The importance of non-crop vegetation for bird diversity in Sitka spruce plantations in Ireland. Bird Study 57:116–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zurita GA, Rey N, Varela DM et al (2006) Conversion of the Atlantic Forest into native and exotic tree plantations: effects on bird communities from the local and regional perspectives. Forest Ecol Manag 235:164–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This project was funded by COFORD under the National Development Plan 2007–2013. Our thanks go to Coillte Teoranta, the Forest Service of Northern Ireland and the National Parks and Wildlife Service for allowing access to forests. Several private landowners also kindly permitted access to forests on their land. Thanks to Linda Coote and Karen Moore for access to unpublished data, and to several post-graduate students, post-docs and an anonymous reviewer whose suggestions greatly improved the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. PLANFORBIO Programme, Department of Zoology, Ecology and Plant Science, University College Cork, Distillery Fields, North Mall, Cork, Ireland

    Oisín F. McD. Sweeney, Mark W. Wilson, Sandra Irwin, Thomas C. Kelly & John O’Halloran

  2. Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    John O’Halloran

Authors
  1. Oisín F. McD. Sweeney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mark W. Wilson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sandra Irwin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Thomas C. Kelly
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. John O’Halloran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Oisín F. McD. Sweeney.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sweeney, O.F.M., Wilson, M.W., Irwin, S. et al. Are bird density, species richness and community structure similar between native woodlands and non-native plantations in an area with a generalist bird fauna?. Biodivers Conserv 19, 2329–2342 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-010-9844-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-010-9844-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation