Thesis (M.A.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2000. / Title from title screen (site viewed on Feb. 4, 2008). Digitized (PDF) and posted [2007]. Includes bibliographical references (p. 130-138). Also available in paper format.

Thesis (M. S.)--Ohio State University, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 140-157).

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The destruction of tropical forests is the most concerning current threat to biodiversity. Although protected areas have long been used as the primary tool for biodiversity conservation, there is an increasing need to find suitable conservation strategies for the growing area of human-modified land. This thesis addresses three themes that have been identified as the most pressing areas for research in human-modified landscapes: biodiversity conservation beyond protected areas, forest restoration, and the human–environment relationship. By studying the interactions between birds, plants, and people with isolated Ficus (Moraceae) trees in Assam, India, this thesis reports several important findings: 1) isolated Ficus trees are extraordinarily important to frugivorous bird communities that inhabit human-modified landscapes; 2) the frugivores visiting these isolated trees still sustained the majority of ecological function found in trees close to the forest edge; 3) isolated Ficus trees are also exceptionally important feeding sites for insectivorous birds in human-modified landscapes, compared to other trees; 4) Ficus trees are better restoration nuclei than other isolated trees; 5) although the sacred status of Ficus trees in Assam has a major influence on their abundance and distribution, faith-based values are insufficient in ensuring their conservation. In conclusion, this thesis finds that isolated Ficus trees are critically important micro-sites for conservation in human-modified landscapes, the loss of which may lead to avifaunal collapse and a reduction in restoration potential. However, by stressing their ecological and cultural properties, it may be possible to build a strong case for the conservation of isolated Ficus trees in Assam and elsewhere.

For migrant birds, the non-breeding season can greatly influence survival and future reproductive success. Knowledge of annual and overwinter survival, the degree of site fidelity and habitat use in the non-breeding season, migration ecology, routes and stopovers, and whether these differ with age or sex is fundamental to understanding population dynamics, vulnerability to anthropogenic habitat degradation, and consequently for understanding the severe widespread declines of migrant bird species. The degree to which a migrant is a winter specialist or generalist is likely to be central to understanding population dynamics. I studied survival rates and the wintering and migration ecology of a declining Palearctic migrant, the whinchat Saxicola rubetra, wintering in West Africa, to establish how the non-breeding season may influence migrant population dynamics. Whinchats were extremely site faithful to both within and between years, holding distinct winter territories and returning to those territories in subsequent winters, despite the opportunity to relocate. Overwinter survival was very high and annual survival was comparable to or higher than that reported on the breeding grounds. Because our power to detect resident and dispersing birds was high, survival rates likely estimated true survival well. Habitat characteristics varied widely across territories and territories were smaller if more perching shrubs and maize were present. Most individuals showed a tolerance or even preference for human modified habitats. Some individuals may have multiple wintering sites. There was no evidence of dominance-based habitat occupancy or any differences in winter ecology, site fidelity, survival and most aspects of migratory behaviour between age and sex classes. Migratory connectivity occurred only on a large-scale and individual migratory behaviour was also varied. Fundamentally, the results suggest a generalist strategy in the non-breeding season within their wintering habitat of open savannah, most likely as an adaption to stochastic site selection within the wintering range for juveniles undertaking their first migration plus changing and unpredictable conditions both within and between years. Consequently, wintering conditions may not significantly limit whinchat populations and mortality is probably highest during active migration. Notably, non-specialist migrants such as whinchats may have some resilience at the population-level to the increasing anthropogenic habitat modification occurring in Africa, suggesting that conditions during migration and in Europe may be driving declines; yet establishing the currently unknown thresholds of any resilience is likely to be fundamental for the future conservation migrants.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Ecology and Biodiversity / Master / Master of Philosophy

No description available.

Birds are one of the best studied animal groups in the world but are also amongst the most endangered. The wealth of ecological information has shown habitat protection to be vital to bird biodiversity, but habitat loss and degradation continue to defeat conservationists. / Community-based biodiversity conservation efforts have been recently recognized as an important option for safeguarding ecosystems while reducing land use conflicts arising from the material, cultural and spiritual needs of local inhabitants. Community involvement is particularly critical for conservation in anthropogenic habitats. Few studies have linked the ecological impacts of community land use practices with the auto-ecological requirements of dependent bird species. In this study I examine the conservation possibilities for the endangered Sierra Madre sparrow (Xenospiza baileyi) by considering three basic elements: the ecological requirements of the bird, the effects of traditional land use practices in shaping the habitat, and the economic and social conditions that influence current and future land use decisions. I draw on ecological field studies, on traditional ecological knowledge systems, and studies of the political ecological context that influences local practices. / The studies were carried out from 2000-2003 and employed a combination of ethnographic, participative and spatial-ecological approaches to address human-land interactions and their impacts on the sparrow habitat. Social data were obtained through nine workshops which included site visits, transect walks, participatory mapping, oral histories and semi-structured interviews. Ecological data were obtained from landscape ecology analysis, vegetation post-disturbance assessments and detailed bird's nest-site selection analysis. / Results indicate that local people, principally herders, hold a rich knowledge of fire use to achieve diverse purposes, including pasture renewal, grassland maintenance and grass species selection, and prevention of dangerous fires. In order to accomplish their goals, herders have established rotational fire and grazing regimes that consider timing, frequency, location and extent of these disturbance-based practices. This rotational system was found to benefit the Sierra Madre sparrow by maintaining the grassland at the scales needed by the sparrow for nesting. Multiscale habitat recommendations for the species' conservation were derived from this socio-ecological interaction and dynamics. / Unfortunately, external conservation perspectives and interests and internal land tenure conflicts have altered this rotational regime and local perspectives on resource management that threaten the resilience of this social-ecological system. Consequently, traditional ecological knowledge on grassland management can be on risk of disappearing and, with it, important native grasses and grasslands are being made vulnerable. The survival of the Sierra Madre sparrow in particular and of associated biodiversity in general, is in peril if these conflicts are not solved in a relatively short time. A community-based fire co-management program is recommended to promote integrative bird conservation-local development scenarios.