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This thesis describes aspects of the ecology of West Nile virus (WNV) including factors contributing to the distribution of WNV, possible future distribution, and effects of WNV on host abundance in the Canadian prairies provinces: Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Using mosquito surveillance data collected between 2005 and 2008, models integrating abiotic and biotic factors were constructed to predict the weekly and monthly scales of WNV infection rate in Culex tarsalis, which is the primary vector of WNV in the Canadian prairies. At the weekly scale, the WNV infection rate in Cx. tarsalis increased with increasing Cx. tarsalis abundance and mean temperature lagged from 1 to 8 weeks, but decreased with an increasing mean precipitation lagged from 2 to 6 weeks. Furthermore, precipitation was a ‘distorter variable’ which altered the association between Cx. tarsalis abundance and the WNV infection rate. Study at the monthly scale showed that higher mean temperature and time lagged mean temperature elevated were associated with increased numbers of Cx. tarsalis and higher WNV infection rates. However, increasing precipitation was associated with higher abundance of Cx. tarsalis and lower WNV infection rate. In addition, this study found that increased temperature fluctuation and wetland land cover were associated with decreased WNV infection rate in Cx. tarsalis. Climate change could drive dramatic alterations in the spatial and temporal distribution and overall incidence of vector-borne diseases. The constructed models and biological thresholds were used to predict the distribution of Cx. tarsalis and WNV infection rate in the prairie provinces under a range of potential future climate and habitat conditions. In the current endemic regions, the projected WNV infection rate under the median outcome scenario in 2050 was 18 times higher than under current climate conditions. Seasonal occurence of Cx. tarsalis infected with WNV extended from June to August to include May and September. Moreover, models predicted northward range expansion for Cx. tarsalis and WNV. The declines of susceptible bird abundance caused by WNV may further influence the bird community composition and, in turn, affect the incidence of WNV through a dilution effect. The North American Breeding Bird Survey data was used to evaluate the effect of WNV on the abundance of selected birds in the Canadian prairies, as well as the effects of bird community composition on the WNV risk. There was no significant decline in bird abundances of selected birds following the emergence of WNV. These findings suggest that the effect of WNV on selected bird abundance and bird community composition is insignificant. In addition, there is no evidence to support the association between bird community composition and WNV infection rate in Cx.tarsalis in the Canadian prairies. Lastly, findings in this thesis and current knowledge were integrated to create a decision making flowchart for the prevention of WNV infection in the prairie provinces.

Boreal forests in Europe are intensively managed for timber and pulp production, resulting in decreased biodiversity, and in the long-term leading to a reduced number of functioning ecosystem services. To develop a more sustainable forest management it is important to investigate what features and habitat types are needed to preserve a high diversity of species within the forestry landscapes. Birds are a suitable study taxon since their ecology is well known and their diversity often mirrors the diversity of other taxa. This study investigated how different habitat types, for example, forest stand composition and age of forest etc., influence the diversity, species richness and abundance of forest bird species in boreal forestry landscapes in Sweden. I expected that the percentage of deciduous forests and older forests would increase the diversity and richness of forest birds, while spruce forests and young forests would have negative effects. Further, I expected mixed forest stands to be more diverse regarding forest birds than pure forest stands. The sites for this study consisted of fiveforestry landscapes in south Sweden, with both active forestry and multifunctional forestry areas. The results showed positive effects of the percentage of deciduous forests, wetlands, older forests, mixed coniferous forests, and pine forests on species richness, abundance, and diversity of forest bird species. However, deciduous forests and older forests had the strongestpositive influence on species richness and diversity. Furthermore, I did not find evidence that mixed forest stands have a higher diversity or species richness than monocultures of only spruce and pine respectively.

Bottomland hardwood forests (BHF) are a disappearing habitat of importance to numerous migratory and non-migratory birds of conservation concern. Thus, understanding variables of bottomland hardwood forests that affect avian assemblage patterns are of great interest. I examined factors influencing avian assemblage and guild patterns in BHF of Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge in east-central Mississippi by conducting winter and spring fixed-radius avian point counts and vegetation surveys from 2002 ? 2004. The goals of this project were to 1) determine effects of greentree reservoir (GTR) management on breeding and wintering non-game bird community structure, 2) test hypotheses regarding plant structural complexity and avian assemblage patterns, and 3) examine the effects of landscapes on local bird assemblages within BHF. Greentree reservoirs have subtle effects on avian communities. Sites within GTRs, sites in BHF adjacent to GTRs, and random, unimpounded BHF sites differed significantly in breeding bird diversity, richness, and evenness. However, the patterns exhibited were a decreasing continuum of these variables with sites peripheral to GTRs demonstrating intermediate values. No differences were found among abundance, conservation status, or habitat specialization of breeding birds. Guild parameters did not differ except for a decreasing continuum in species richness among unimpounded BHF, BHF to GTRs, and GTR sites. The canopy nesting and ground gleaning foraging guilds were the only guilds found to differ among sites. Patterns could indicate that given the inherent structural variation of BHF, GTRs are within the expected range of variation, or GTR management could be indirectly affecting the surrounding landscape. GTR management did not affect community parameters for wintering birds, and only the bark gleaning foraging guild varied among sites (higher in GTRs). These results reflect the ubiquitous nature of wintering birds in east-central Mississippi forests. There was direct support for the structural vertical heterogeneity hypothesis; however, regression analyses of principal component scores derived from sixty structural descriptor metrics suggest that avian communities and guilds are more directly influenced by overall local plant structural complexity, as predicted by the spatial heterogeneity hypothesis. Avian community and guild parameters did not differ among the three landscape contexts defined by 1,000 and 1,500m buffers.

Worldwide degradation and conversion of tropical forests affects many species and their provided ecosystem services. Among them are birds, responsible for pollination, seed dispersal, pest control and scavenging. This study, conducted in southwest Ethiopia, compares species composition and bird functional diversity between forest and homegardens close to and far from forest, both in terms of species numbers and bird abundances. Point counts and mist netting were used to obtain data. While the former method detected more species, abundance data from the latter revealed patterns not observed by just comparing species numbers. I found that species diversity was lower in forest compared to gardens and that the species composition of both communities was significantly distinct. Whereas forest had more forest specialists, gardens held more forest visitors and species of open country. Close and far gardens did not differ in any aspect, except that abundances of forest generalist birds were somewhat higher close to forest. Regarding bird feeding guilds, I found that granivores and nectarivores were more numerous in gardens, while frugivores were more common in forest. Carnivores and omnivores showed no effect. Insectivore proportions were the same for forest and farmland, but their numbers (including those of all sub-guilds) were higher in gardens. The Ethiopian forest avifauna is poor in comparison with other Afromontane regions, lacking several, mostly insectivorous genera. This could be the result of an extinction after which its geographic isolation made recolonization difficult, especially for dispersal-limited understory species. Nonetheless, and despite their impoverished state, the results suggest that forest remnants are important for forest-dependent species, being a stronghold for forest specialists and supporting higher numbers of forest generalists in nearby gardens. However, future forest regrowth might be at stake with ongoing agricultural encroachment, because gardens hold fewer frugivores, especially forest specialists, which might affect seed dispersal. / Många arter påverkas negativt av avskogning och annan mänsklig påverkan på tropiska skogar, vilket också kan få konsekvenser för de ekosystemtjänster dessa arter levererar. En viktig artgrupp i detta avseende är fåglar, som kan ha betydelse för pollination, fröspridning, naturlig skadedjurskontroll och som asätare. Denna studie, utförd i sydvästra Etiopien, jämför artsammansättning och funktionell diversitet hos fåglar i skogar och trädgårdar både nära och långt ifrån skogen. Både antal arter och antal individer har undersökts. Data materialet bygger både på observationer från punktinventering och fåglar fångade med slöjnät. Med den första metoden noterade jag fler arter, medan abundansvärden från den andra metoden gjorde att jag såg mönster som inte syntes vid endast jämförelser av artrikedom. Jag fann att artrikedomen var lägre i skogen i jämförelse med trädgårdarna, men att artsammansättningen var signifikant skiljd däremellan. Skogarna hade fler skogsspecialister medan trädgårdarna hade fler arter från öppna marker och tillfälliga skogsbesökande arter. Trädgårdar som låg nära eller långt ifrån skogen skiljde sig inte på något sätt utom att individtätheten av skogsgeneralister var något högre i trädgårdar nära skogen. När det gäller uppdelningen av fåglarna utifrån vad de äter så fann jag att fröätande och nektarätande arter var vanligare i trädgårdar medan fruktätande arter var vanligare i skogen. Rovfåglar och allätare uppvisade inget tydligt mönster. Proportionen insektsätande fåglelarter var samma i skogen och trädgårdarna, men det absoluta antalet arter (inklusive alla olika underkategorier) var högre i trädgårdarna. Den etiopiska skogsfågelfaunan är artfattig i förhållande till andra bergstrakter i Afrika och saknar flera släkten av framförallt insektsätande fåglar. Detta skulle kunna bero på ett tidigare utdöende varefter en senare återkolonisering varit svår på grund av den geografiska isoleringen, speciellt för insektsätande fåglar som huvudsakligen finns i undervegetationen. Trots den relativa artfattigdomen så visar resultatet från min studie hursomhelst på att skogarna är viktiga för skogsberoende fåglar. Den största betydelsen har de för skogsspecialister där, men även genom en positiv effekt på abundansen av skogsgeneralister i närliggande trädgårdar. Dock kan framtida återväxt av skogar bli problematisk på grund av en pågående omvandling av skogar till trädgårdar, eftersom trädgårdar hyser färre fruktätande fåglar, vilket kan påverka fröspridning över landskapet. / Examining mismatches between management and the supply of ecosystem services in Ethiopian agroecosystems across scales in space and time

Forest management contributes to the changes in forest structure by turning heterogenous forests of varied age into homogenous forests of similar age and thus affect bird species depending on different structures or habitats which are lost during forestry. In this report, a study was made to investigate how the amount of decidious trees, dead wood and variation in tree diameter affect bird diversity. The purpose of this study was to be able to give forest management guidelines to increase bird diversity. This study was conducted by investigating 65 transects in forests of different structure south of Linköping, Sweden. Along the 65 transects, birds were inventoried as well as the vegetation. The trees were measured in 5 circles along each transect. The data from the investigations both on birds and vegetation were analysed by using generalized linear models. The results showed that amount of deadwood and variation in tree diameter had the strongest effects on bird diversity, and to some extent the amount of decidious trees. By applying this knowledge of the positivt effects on birds when increasning the amount of deadwood, decidious trees and variation in tree diameter in the forests, it is possible to create better conditions for maintaining species richness and diversity.

Altitudinal gradients represent useful tool for investigating diversity patterns and processes affecting species richness and turnover along steep gradient of conditions at relatively small scale. The aim of my study was to compile a complete checklist of birds for elevational gradient of Mt. Cameroon rainforests (300 - 2300 m a.s.l.) and to analyse distribution of species diversity, species turnover, elevational ranges and relationships between elevational distribution of species and their range size, body weight or diet type. Species richness on the elevational gradient of Mt. Cameroon decline monotonically with some plateau at 600 - 1000 m a.s.l. Changes of community composition along the gradient are caused mainly by species turnover at low elevations, which contrast to pattern above 1200 m a.s.l. where the betadiversity is influenced mainly by continual species loss (nestedness). Species elevational ranges increase with increasing elevation, which is in agreement with elevational Rapoport's rule. Species breeding at higher elevations have smaller geographical ranges, restricted to isolated islands of montane rainforests. Numbers of insectivorous species are rapidly decreasing with increasing elevation, proportion of nectarivorous species is rather invariable and number of granivorous species...

Como ampliar a oferta de serviços ecossistêmicos em áreas de produção agrícola tem sido um debate bastante atual, já que as áreas protegidas parecem não serem suficientes para garantir, por exemplo, a conservação da biodiversidade. Dentre as comunidades biológicas afetadas pelas áreas de produção, estão as aves, as quais demonstram rápida resposta às mudanças na paisagem. Este estudo teve como objetivo compreender como o planejamento da paisagem em áreas de florestas plantadas de rápido crescimento pode influenciar a diversidade funcional da assembleia de aves. Para tanto, áreas com matriz composta por florestas plantadas de eucalipto no Estado do Espírito Santo e sul da Bahia, foram divididas em Unidades de Planejamento da Paisagem (UPP). Dados secundários de levantamentos de aves realizados durante os anos de 2005 a 2010 foram utilizados. As espécies de aves registradas foram caracterizadas por quatro traços funcionais, a guilda trófica, o extrato de forrageio, o habitat e a massa corporal média. A partir de então, foram calculadas três índices independentes para representar a diversidade funcional: riqueza funcional (FRic), equitabilidade funcional (FEve) e divergência funcional (FDiv). Para a obtenção das métricas da paisagem, foi empregado o mapa de uso do solo referente ao ano de 2010, com base no qual calculou-se a diversidade de clones (IDCL) e de idades (IDID) para as áreas de florestas plantadas, e, para as áreas destinadas à conservação, a diversidade de tipologias vegetais (IDNAT), a proporção de áreas destinadas à conservação (IPANP), a densidade de borda (IDBRD), a proporção de área nuclear (IPAC), a proximidade da vegetação nativa (IPNAT) e o valor de importância ecológica (IVAN). Posteriormente, a estes dois grupos de variáveis, diversidade funcional e métricas da paisagem, foram aplicados a análise de correlação e regressão linear simples. Os levantamentos de aves registraram 218 espécies, as quais totalizaram 3455 indivíduos. Os insetívoros foram os indivíduos mais expressivos para a guilda trófica, para o traço estrato de forrageio, os indivíduos que utilizam exclusivamente o dossel foram os mais abundantes e o hábito de vida exclusivamente florestal predominou nas paisagens estudadas. Foi encontrada relação significativa entre os índices de diversidade funcional de aves e, ao menos, uma das métricas da paisagem. Assim, quanto maior o IPAC maior é a diversidade de funções desempenhadas pela assembleia de aves na paisagem (FRic). O IDNAT mostrou-se negativamente correlacionado com FEve, o que indica que uma maior diversidade de áreas destinadas à conservação proporciona uma variedade desproporcional entre funções e abundâncias na assembleia de aves. Ainda, as assembleias de aves são mais divergentes (FDiv), havendo menor competição por recursos, quando os fragmentos florestais estão mais próximos (IPNAT) e possuem maior importância ecológica (IVAN). Dentro desse contexto, os componentes da diversidade funcional da assembleia de aves são influenciados pela estrutura da paisagem com matriz composta por florestas plantadas de rápido crescimento, e, as ações que promovam a diversidade funcional de aves deve se dar na escala da paisagem, de forma que produção e conservação estejam presentes em uma mesma unidade de paisagem complexa. / How to expand the supply of ecosystem services in agricultural production areas has been a very current debate, as protected areas do not seem to be sufficient to ensure, for example, the conservation of biodiversity. Birds, for example, are one of biological communities affected by the production which respond rapidly to changes in the landscape. This study aimed to understand how landscape planning of fast growing planted forests can influence bird assembly functional diversity. Therefore, landscapes composed by eucalyptus plantations located at Espírito Santo and southern Bahia, were organized into Landscape Planning Units (UPP). Secondary data from bird surveys conducted from 2005 to 2010 were used. Bird species were characterized into four functional traits: trophic guild, forage extract, habitat and average body mass. Three independent metrics were then calculated to represent functional diversity: functional richness (FRic), functional evenness (FEve) and functional divergence (FDiv). In order to obtain landscape metrics it was used the 2010 land-use map. Based on this map, the diversity of clones (IDCL) and ages (IDID) of forest plantation were calculated, and, for conservation areas, diversity of vegetation typologies (IDNAT), proportion of areas intended for conservation (IPANP), edge density (IDBRD), proportion of nuclear area (IPAC), proximity to native vegetation (IPNAT) and ecological importance value (IVAN). Subsequently, correlation analysis and simple linear regression were applied to these two groups of variables (functional diversity and landscape metrics). Birds surveys registered 218 species and 3455 individuals. The insectivores were the most expressive individuals for the trophic guild. For the forage stratum trait, canopy individuals were the most abundant and forest habitat birds predominated at studied landscapes. A significant relationship was found between the rates of functional diversity of birds and at least one of the landscape metrics. Thus, IPAC was directly related to diversity of functions performed by the bird assembly in the landscape (FRic). IDNAT was negatively related to FEve, indicating that a greater diversity of conservation areas provides a disproportionate variety of functions and abundances in the bird assembly Also, bird assemblages are more divergent (FDiv), having less competition for resources, when the forest fragments are structured connected (IPNAT) and have greater ecological importance (IVAN). In this context, components of bird assembly functional diversity are influenced by the landscape structure in matrix composed by fast-growing planted forests, and, actions that enhance birds functional diversity should be given at the landscape scale in order to keep production and conservation present in the same complex landscape unit.

Como ampliar a oferta de serviços ecossistêmicos em áreas de produção agrícola tem sido um debate bastante atual, já que as áreas protegidas parecem não serem suficientes para garantir, por exemplo, a conservação da biodiversidade. Dentre as comunidades biológicas afetadas pelas áreas de produção, estão as aves, as quais demonstram rápida resposta às mudanças na paisagem. Este estudo teve como objetivo compreender como o planejamento da paisagem em áreas de florestas plantadas de rápido crescimento pode influenciar a diversidade funcional da assembleia de aves. Para tanto, áreas com matriz composta por florestas plantadas de eucalipto no Estado do Espírito Santo e sul da Bahia, foram divididas em Unidades de Planejamento da Paisagem (UPP). Dados secundários de levantamentos de aves realizados durante os anos de 2005 a 2010 foram utilizados. As espécies de aves registradas foram caracterizadas por quatro traços funcionais, a guilda trófica, o extrato de forrageio, o habitat e a massa corporal média. A partir de então, foram calculadas três índices independentes para representar a diversidade funcional: riqueza funcional (FRic), equitabilidade funcional (FEve) e divergência funcional (FDiv). Para a obtenção das métricas da paisagem, foi empregado o mapa de uso do solo referente ao ano de 2010, com base no qual calculou-se a diversidade de clones (IDCL) e de idades (IDID) para as áreas de florestas plantadas, e, para as áreas destinadas à conservação, a diversidade de tipologias vegetais (IDNAT), a proporção de áreas destinadas à conservação (IPANP), a densidade de borda (IDBRD), a proporção de área nuclear (IPAC), a proximidade da vegetação nativa (IPNAT) e o valor de importância ecológica (IVAN). Posteriormente, a estes dois grupos de variáveis, diversidade funcional e métricas da paisagem, foram aplicados a análise de correlação e regressão linear simples. Os levantamentos de aves registraram 218 espécies, as quais totalizaram 3455 indivíduos. Os insetívoros foram os indivíduos mais expressivos para a guilda trófica, para o traço estrato de forrageio, os indivíduos que utilizam exclusivamente o dossel foram os mais abundantes e o hábito de vida exclusivamente florestal predominou nas paisagens estudadas. Foi encontrada relação significativa entre os índices de diversidade funcional de aves e, ao menos, uma das métricas da paisagem. Assim, quanto maior o IPAC maior é a diversidade de funções desempenhadas pela assembleia de aves na paisagem (FRic). O IDNAT mostrou-se negativamente correlacionado com FEve, o que indica que uma maior diversidade de áreas destinadas à conservação proporciona uma variedade desproporcional entre funções e abundâncias na assembleia de aves. Ainda, as assembleias de aves são mais divergentes (FDiv), havendo menor competição por recursos, quando os fragmentos florestais estão mais próximos (IPNAT) e possuem maior importância ecológica (IVAN). Dentro desse contexto, os componentes da diversidade funcional da assembleia de aves são influenciados pela estrutura da paisagem com matriz composta por florestas plantadas de rápido crescimento, e, as ações que promovam a diversidade funcional de aves deve se dar na escala da paisagem, de forma que produção e conservação estejam presentes em uma mesma unidade de paisagem complexa. / How to expand the supply of ecosystem services in agricultural production areas has been a very current debate, as protected areas do not seem to be sufficient to ensure, for example, the conservation of biodiversity. Birds, for example, are one of biological communities affected by the production which respond rapidly to changes in the landscape. This study aimed to understand how landscape planning of fast growing planted forests can influence bird assembly functional diversity. Therefore, landscapes composed by eucalyptus plantations located at Espírito Santo and southern Bahia, were organized into Landscape Planning Units (UPP). Secondary data from bird surveys conducted from 2005 to 2010 were used. Bird species were characterized into four functional traits: trophic guild, forage extract, habitat and average body mass. Three independent metrics were then calculated to represent functional diversity: functional richness (FRic), functional evenness (FEve) and functional divergence (FDiv). In order to obtain landscape metrics it was used the 2010 land-use map. Based on this map, the diversity of clones (IDCL) and ages (IDID) of forest plantation were calculated, and, for conservation areas, diversity of vegetation typologies (IDNAT), proportion of areas intended for conservation (IPANP), edge density (IDBRD), proportion of nuclear area (IPAC), proximity to native vegetation (IPNAT) and ecological importance value (IVAN). Subsequently, correlation analysis and simple linear regression were applied to these two groups of variables (functional diversity and landscape metrics). Birds surveys registered 218 species and 3455 individuals. The insectivores were the most expressive individuals for the trophic guild. For the forage stratum trait, canopy individuals were the most abundant and forest habitat birds predominated at studied landscapes. A significant relationship was found between the rates of functional diversity of birds and at least one of the landscape metrics. Thus, IPAC was directly related to diversity of functions performed by the bird assembly in the landscape (FRic). IDNAT was negatively related to FEve, indicating that a greater diversity of conservation areas provides a disproportionate variety of functions and abundances in the bird assembly Also, bird assemblages are more divergent (FDiv), having less competition for resources, when the forest fragments are structured connected (IPNAT) and have greater ecological importance (IVAN). In this context, components of bird assembly functional diversity are influenced by the landscape structure in matrix composed by fast-growing planted forests, and, actions that enhance birds functional diversity should be given at the landscape scale in order to keep production and conservation present in the same complex landscape unit.

No description available.