Abstract:
Agricultural intensification is a persistent and growing threat to biodiversity worldwide. Olive groves cover extensive areasin the Mediterranean basin and play a fundamental role as refuge and wintering quarters for many bird species, but the effectsof their current intensification on bird communities remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the response of wintering birdsto the management of olive groves with different degrees of intensification (traditional, intensive and superintensive manage-ment) in central Spain. Based on two bird censuses conducted in 25 groves in early and late winter, we examined the influenceof habitat structure and composition at different spatial scales on species richness and abundance of the entire farmland birdcommunity, and of the dietbased functional groups. Total species richness tended to decrease with intensive olive grove management, probably due to reduced habitat heterogeneity, whereas total abundance did not, indicating the capacity of intensiveand super-intensive olive groves to sustain large numbers of wintering birds. The negative effect of intensification was particu-larly evident in frugivore species richness, while frugivore abundance was positively (but marginally) associated with olive fruitavailability. Granivorous species were positively associated with lower vegetation cover, but insectivorous species did notrespond to intensification gradients. Species richness and abundance (total and by diet-based functional groups) also decreasedfrom early to late winter, which may be due to the effect of olive harvest, but also to an extreme cold event. Overall, our find-ings show how olive grove intensification and the associated management practices result in significant changes in habitatstructure and composition at different spatial scales, thus affecting wintering bird communities.
Citación recomendada (normas APA)
Catalina; Acebes Pérez García, "Olive grove intensification negatively affects wintering bird communities in central Spain", Colombia:Basic and Applied Ecology, 2023. Consultado en línea en la Biblioteca Digital de Bogotá (https://www.bibliotecadigitaldebogota.gov.co/resources/3711946/), el día 2025-05-06.
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