Rodent-avoidance, topography and forest structure shape territory selection of a forest bird

BMC Ecology

Research Article

Michael Gerber¹  Raphaël Arlettaz²  Gilberto Pasinelli³  Alex Grendelmeier⁴ 

[1] Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland;Schweizer Vogelschutz SVS/BirdLife Schweiz, Zurich, Switzerland;Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland;Swiss Ornithological Institute, Valais Field Station, Sion, Switzerland;Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland;Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland;Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland;Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland;

关键词: Habitat;    Ecological niche;    Forestry;    AICc model selection;    Aves;    Passeriformes;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12898-016-0078-8

 received in 2015-12-01, accepted in 2016-04-15,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundUnderstanding the factors underlying habitat selection is important in ecological and evolutionary contexts, and crucial for developing targeted conservation action in threatened species. However, the key factors associated to habitat selection often remain poorly known. We evaluated hypotheses related to abiotic and biotic factors thought to affect territory selection of the wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix, a passerine living in an unpredictable environment owing to irregular rodent outbreaks and showing long-term declines particularly in Western Europe.ResultsComparing breeding territories to unoccupied areas located close-by revealed that territory occupancy in north-western Switzerland was positively related to slope steepness (topographic hypothesis supported) as well as to numbers of tussocks and trees, respectively, while it showed a unimodal relationship to cover of herb layer (forest structure hypothesis supported). Furthermore, a strong negative correlation between breeding territory occupancy and rodent numbers was found, suggesting that wood warblers avoid areas with high rodent densities (rodent-avoidance hypothesis supported). Comparing breeding territories to abandoned territories showed that breeding territories were located on steeper slopes (topography hypothesis supported), at larger distance from the forest edge (anthropogenic disturbance hypothesis supported) and harboured more trees (forest structure hypothesis supported) than abandoned territories.ConclusionsAside from structural and topographic features of the habitat, wood warblers are affected by rodent numbers when settling, making habitat selection unpredictable from year to year. Forestry practices promoting relatively high tree densities, few bushes and an intermediate low-growing ground vegetation cover would enhance habitat quality for this declining passerine. In contrast, forestry practices aiming at increasing light in forests (selective thinning, group-felling) or keeping forest stands permanently covered with shrubs, bushes and trees of various sizes (continuous cover forestry) do not benefit the wood warbler.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Pasinelli et al. 2016