Skip to main content

Urban birds: population, community, and landscape approaches

  • Chapter
Avian Ecology and Conservation in an Urbanizing World

Abstract

A simple conceptual framework is presented that begins with a consideration of patterns of bird abundance in urbanized landscapes. The framework includes a consideration of two levels of mechanisms which combine to produce the observed patterns: demographic and ecological. The framework is employed to review research conducted on urban-induced fragmentation and edge effects in coastal southern California.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Alberts, A. C., A. D. Richman, D. Tran, R. Sauvajot, C. McCalvin, and D. T. Bolger. 1993. Effects of habitat fragmentation on populations of native and exotic plants in southern California coastal scrub, p. 103–110. In J.E. Keely [ED.], Interface between ecology and land development in California. Southern California Academy of Science, Los Angeles, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Atwood, J. L. 1993. California gnatcatchers and coastal sage scrub: The biological basis for endangered species listing, p. 149–169. In J. E. Keely [ED.], Interface between ecology and land development in California. Southern California Academy of Science, Los Angeles, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Atwood, J. L., and R. F. Noss. 1994. Gnatcatchers and development: A “trainwreck” avoided? Illahee 10:123–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, E. A., and P. J. Mock. 1998. Dispersal capability of the California gnatcatcher: A landscape analysis of distribution data. Western Birds 29:351–360.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beauchamp, R. M. 1986. A flora of San Diego County. Sweetwater River Press, National City, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beissinger, S. R., and D. R. Osborne. 1982. Effects of urbanization on avian community organization. Condor 84:75–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blair, R. B. 1996. Land use and avian species along an urban gradient. Ecol. Appl. 6:506–519.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolger, D. T. In press. Habitat fragmentation effects on birds in southern California: Contrast to the paradigm. Stud. Avian Biol.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolger, D. T., A. C. Alberts, and M. E. Soulé. 1991. Bird species occurrence patterns in habitat fragments: sampling, extinction and nested species subsets. Am. Nat. 137:155–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolger, D. T., A. V. Suarez, K. Crooks, S. A. Morrison, and T. J. Case. 2000. Arthropods in habitat fragments; effects of area, edge and Argentine ants. Ecol. Appl. 10:1230–1248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolger, D. T., T. A. Scott, and J. T. Rotenberry. 1997. Breeding bird abundance in an urbanizing landscape in coastal southern California. Conserv. Biol. 11:406–421.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolger, D. T., T. A. Scott, and J. T. Rotenberry. In press. Use of corridor-like landscape structures by birds and small mammals. Biol. Conserv.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J. H. 1971. Mammals on mountaintops: Nonequilibrium insular biogeography. Am. Nat. 105:467–478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burke, D. M., and E. Nol. 1998. Influence of food abundance, nest-site habitat, and forest fragmentation on breeding ovenbirds. Auk 115:96–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cammell, M. E., M. J. Way, and M. R. Paiva. 1996. Diversity and structure of ant communities associated with oak, pine, eucalyptus and arable habitats in Portugal. Insect Sociaux 43:37–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cole, F. R., A. C. Medeiros, L. L. Loope, and W.W. Zuehlke. 1992. Effects of the Argentine ant on arthropod fauna of Hawaiian high-elevation shrubland. Ecology 73:1313–1322.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cody, M. L. 1975. Towards a theory of continental species diversities, p. 214–257. In M.L. Cody and J.M. Diamond [EDS.], Ecology and Evolution of Communities. Belknap Press, Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crooks, K. R., and M. E. Soulé. 1999. Mesopredator release and avifaunal extinctions in a fragmented system. Nature 400:563–566.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crooks, K. R., A. V. Suarez, D. T. Bolger, and M. E. Soulé. In press. Extinction and recolonization of birds on habitat islands. Conserv. Biol.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeSimone, S. A., and J. H. Burk. 1992. Local variation in floristics and distributional factors in Californian coastal sage scrub. Madroño 39:170–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donovan T. M., F. R. Thompson, J. Faaborg, and J. R. Probst. 1995. Reproductive success of migratory birds in habitat sources and sinks. Conserv. Biol. 9:1380–1395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donovan, T. M., P. S. Jones, E. M. Annand, and F. R. Thompson III. 1997. Variation in local-scale edge effects: Mechanisms and landscape context. Ecology 78:2064–2075.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elision, K. 1999. Importance of predation and brood parasitism on nest success in four sparrow species in southern California coastal sage scrub. Stud. Avian Biol. 18:191–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emlen, J. T. 1974. An urban bird community in Tuscon, Arizona: Derivation, structure, regulation. Condor 76:184–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erickson, J. M. 1971. The displacement of native ant species by the introduced Argentine ant hidomyrmex humilis (Mayr). Psyche 78:257–266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guthrie, D. A. 1974. Suburban bird populations in southern California. Am. Midi. Nat. 92:461–466.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartley, M. J., and M. L. Hunter, Jr. 1998. A meta-analysis of forest cover, edge effects, and artificial nest predation rates. Conserv. Biol. 12:465–469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holmes, R. T., P. P. Marra, and T.. Sherry. 1996. Habitat-specific demography of breeding black-throated warblers (Dendroica caerulescens): implications for population dynamics. J. Anim. Ecol. 65:183–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holway, D. A. 1995. The distribution of the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) in central California: a twenty year record of invasion. Conserv. Biol. 9:1634–1637.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holway, D. A. 1998. Effect of Argentine ant invasions on ground-dwelling arthropods in northern Califonia riparian woodlands. Oecologia 116:252–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Human, K. G., and D. M. Gordon. 1996. Exploitation and interference competition between the invasive Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, and native ant species. Oecologia 105:405–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Human, K. G., and D. M. Gordon. 1997. Effects of Argentine ants on invertebrate biodiversity in northern California. Conserv. Biol. 11:1242–1248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, M. D., and P. W. Price. 1992. Playing chutes and ladders: heterogeneity and the relative roles of bottom-up and top-down forces in natural communities. Ecology 73:724–732.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutto, R. L. 1990. Measuring the availability of food resources. Stud. Avian Biol. 13:20–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kus, B. E. 1999. Impacts of Brown-headED Cowbird parasitism on productivity of the endangered Least Bell’s Vireo. Stud. Avian Biol. 18:160–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laymon, S. A. 1987. Brown-headed cowbirds in California: historical perspectives and management opportunities in riparian habitats. Western Birds 18:63–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovio, J. C. 1996. The effects of habitat fragmentation on the breeding bird assemblage in California coastal sage scrub. M.S. thesis, San Diego State University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Majer, J. D. 1994. Spread of Argentine ants (Linepithema humile), with special reference to Western Australia, p. 163–173. In D.F. Williams [ED.], Exotic ants: biology, impact, and control of introduced species. Westview, Boulder, CO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marzluff, J. M., and K. Ewing. In press. Restoration of fragmented landscapes for the conservation of birds: a general framework and specific recommendations for urbanizing landscapes. Restor. Ecol.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marzluff, J. M., K. McGowan, R. Donnelly, and R. Knight. 2001. Causes and consequences of expanding American Crow populations, p. 333–365. In J. M. Marzluff, R. Bowman, and R. Donnelly [EDS.], Avian ecology and conservation in an urbanizing world. Kluwer Academic, Norwell, MA.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Marzluff, J. M., M. G. Raphael, and R. Sallabanks. 2000. Understanding the effects of forest management on avian species. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 28:1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marzluff, J. M., and M. Restani. 1999. The effects of forest fragmentation on avian nest predation, p. 155–169. In J. A. Rochelle, L. A. Lehmann, and J. Wisniewski [EDS.], Forest fragmentation: wildlife and management implications. Brill, Boston, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonnell, M. J., S. T. A. Pickett and R. V. Pouyat. 1993. The application of the ecological gradient paradigm to the study of urban effects, p. 175–189. In M. J. McDonnell, S. T. A. Pickett [EDS.], Humans as components of ecosystems: The ecology of subtle human effects and populated areas. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKelvey, K., B. R. Noon, and R. H. Lamberson. 1993. Conservation planning for species occupying fragmented landscapes: The case of the Northern Spotted Owl, p. 424–450. In P.M. Kareiva, J. G. Kingsolver, and R. B. Huey [EDS.], Biotic interactions and global climate change. Sinauer Associates, Sunderlund, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mills, G. S., J. B. Dunning, Jr., and J. M. Bates. 1989. Effects of urbanization on breeding bird community structure in southwestern desert habitats. Condor 91:416–428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Minnich, R. A., and R. J. Dezzani. 1998. Historical decline of coastal sage scrub in the Riverside-Perris Plain, California. Western Birds 29:366–391.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mooney, H. A. 1977. Southern coastal scrub, p. 471–489. In M. G. Barbour and J. Major [EDS.], Terrestrial vegetation of California. Wiley, New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mooney, H. A., S. P. Hamburg, and J. A. Drake. 1986. The invasions of plants and animals into California, p. 250–272. In H. A. Mooney and J. A. Drake [EDS.], Ecology of the biological invasions of North America and Hawaii. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Paton, P. W. 1994. The effect of edge on avian nest success: how strong is the evidence? Conserv. Biol. 8:17–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polis, G. A., and S. D. Hurd. 1996. Linking marine and terrestrial food webs: Allochthonous input from the ocean supports high secondary productivity on small islands and coastal land communities. Am. Nat. 147:396–423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polis, G. A., and D. R. Strong. 1996. Food web complexity and community dynamics. Am. Nat. 147:813–846.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porter, S. D., and D. A. Savignano. 1990. Invasion of polygyne fire ants decimates native ants and disrupts arthropod community. Ecology 71:2095–2106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Power, M. 1992. Top-down and bottom-up forces in foodwebs: Do plants have primacy? Ecology 73:733–746.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pulliam, R. H. 1988. Sources, sinks, and population regulation. Am. Nat. 132: 652–661.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pulliam, H. R., J. B. Dunning, and J. G. Liu. 1992. Population dynamics in complex landscapes — a case study. Ecol. Appl. 2:165–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ricklefs, R. E. 1969. An analysis of nesting mortality in birds. Smithson. Contrib. Zool. 9:1–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, S. K. 1999. Section I: Cowbird ecology: Factors affecting the abundance and distribution of cowbirds. Stud. Avian Biol. 18:4–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, S. K., F. R. Thompson III, T. M. Donovan, D. R. Whitehead, and J. Faaborg. 1995. Regional forest fragmentation and the success of migratory birds. Science 267:1987–1990.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sauvajot, R. M., M. Buechner, D. A. Kamradt, and C. M. Schonewald. 1998. Patterns of human disturbance and response by small mammals and birds in chaparral near urban development. Urban Ecosystems 2:279–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soulé, M. E., B. A. Wilcox, and C. Holtby. 1979. Benign neglect: a model of faunal collapse in the game reserves of East Africa. Biol. Conserv. 15:259–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soulé, M. E., D. T. Bolger, A. C. Alberts, R. Sauvajot, J. Wright, M. Sorice, and S. Hill. 1988. Reconstructed dynamics of rapid extinction of chaparral requiring birds in urban habitat islands. Conserv. Biol. 2:75–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suarez, A. V., D. T. Bolger, and T. J. Case. 1998. The effects of fragmentation and invasionon the native ant community in coastal southern California. Ecology 79: 2041–2056.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, M. Q. 1989. Landscape ecology: The effect of pattern on process. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 20:171–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Unitt, P. 1984. The birds of San Diego County. San Diego Society of Natural History, San Diego, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vale, T. R., and G. R. Vale. 1976. Suburban bird populations in west-Central California. J. Biogeogr. 3:157–165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward, P. S. 1987. Distribution of the introduced Argentine ant (Iridomyrmex humilis) in natural habitats of the lower Sacramento Valley and its effects on the indigenous ant fauna. Hilgardia 55:1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walters, J. R. 1998. The ecological basis of avian sensitivity to habitat fragmentation, p. 181–192. In J. M. Marzluff and R. Sallabanks [EDS.], Avian conservation: research and management. Island Press, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weser, O. E. 1996. San Diego County 1995-96 aerial foto-map book. Aerial Fotobank, Inc., San Diego, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zanette, L., P. Doyle, and S. M. Tremont. 2000. Food shortage in small fragments: evidence from an area-sensitive passerine. Ecology 81:1654–1666.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zedler, P. H., C. R. Gautier, and G. S. McMaster. 1983. Vegetation change in response to extreme events: the effect of a short interval between fires in California chaparral and coastal sage scrub. Ecology 64:809–818.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bolger, D.T. (2001). Urban birds: population, community, and landscape approaches. In: Marzluff, J.M., Bowman, R., Donnelly, R. (eds) Avian Ecology and Conservation in an Urbanizing World. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1531-9_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1531-9_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5600-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-1531-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics