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Influence of urban landscape structure on bird fauna: a case study across seasons in the city of Valencia (Spain)

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Abstract

Studies on bird fauna of urban environments have had a long history, but the potential of studies mapping the distribution of birds in cities probably has not fully developed. The bird fauna of the municipality of Valencia (Spain) was studied to determine the influence of urbanization on bird species richness and abundance. Birds were censused during winter and the breeding season of years 1997–1998 in 197 squares measuring 49 ha each from a rural and an urbanized area. Across seasons the number of species decreased around 40% in the city compared with the rural landscape surrounding it. Such pattern could be attributed to the low number of farmland species capable to use the habitats inside the city, and the limited ability of urban parks in attracting woodland species. In the urban landscape, the influence of the dimensions and spatial arrangement of habitat patches was outweighed by the amount of each habitat per square. Bird richness and the abundance of most species were negatively related with the amount of built-up habitat per square and positively with the amount of urban parks, and of habitat diversity. Conversely, bird fauna was largely independent of mean park size per square especially during winter, indicating that at the landscape scale even small patches of habitat could play an ecological role. Conservation of urban bird diversity could benefit of two complementary strategies: (i) the protection of the surrounding rural landscape from urban development; (ii) habitat enhancement within the city. Particularly, a proper design and habitat management of urban parks could improve their suitability for urban bird fauna.

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Acknowledgements

I am very grateful to Su Gough, Robbert Snep, Will Turner, and Klaus Witt for their helpful comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript. Paige Warren and three anonymous referees provided additional valuable comments. Thanks are also due to Su Gough for improving the English translation.

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  1. Grupo para el Estudio de las Aves, G.V. Marqués del Turia 28, 46005, Valencia, Spain

    Enrique Murgui

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Correspondence to Enrique Murgui.

Appendix 1. Bird species names

Appendix 1. Bird species names

Blackbird Turdus merula

House Sparrow Passer domesticus

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

Black Redstart Phoenicuros ochruros

Melodius Warbler Hippolais polyglotta

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

Robin Erithacus rubecula

Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

Rock Pigeon Columba livia

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala

Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos

Serin Serinus serinus

European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla

European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris

Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor

Great Tit Parus major

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

White Wagtail Motacilla alba

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Murgui, E. Influence of urban landscape structure on bird fauna: a case study across seasons in the city of Valencia (Spain). Urban Ecosyst 12, 249–263 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-009-0092-0

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