![\"new-york-city\"](\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/sensoryecology\/files\/2016\/04\/new-york-city.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBirds\u00a0are a vast class of animals that can be found in a variety of habitats around the world. \u00a0One environment many reside in\u00a0is also home to thousands of people; urban areas. \u00a0As the world’s population climbs, so do the numbers and sizes of these urban areas. \u00a0This results in high densities of people, manmade infrastructure, pollutants, and noise, while simultaneously destroying natural habitats. \u00a0While some birds seem to have adjusted to city life, researchers Gagn\u00e9, Sherman, Singh, and\u00a0investigated what effects urban areas could be having on breeding bird populations as a whole and their diversity in urban areas.<\/p>\n
The researchers’ goal was to conduct the first quantitative analysis of the effect of urban area human populations size on bird diversity. \u00a0They hypothesized that the rise in\u00a0human population size in urban areas is the main cause of regional habitat loss, fragmentation of species populations, and natural disturbances, and therefore has a negative impact on breeding bird species richness and abundance in these regions. \u00a0They used data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey and the US census to investigate.<\/p>\n
The Northern American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is a massive, long-term avian monitoring program that was initiated in 1966 out of mid-twentieth century concern about the increase of synthetic pesticide use and its affects on wildlife. \u00a0Through\u00a0participant involvement, the BBS tracks the status and trends of American bird populations by visual and auditory identification along established routes throughout the United States and Canada. \u00a0The data provides an index of population sizes and diversity, and is used to estimate population trends and relative\u00a0diversity. \u00a0To conduct this study, the researchers selected 48 urban areas based on a number of qualifications; 1) it had at least one BBS route that had been monitored for at least four to six years between 2006 and 2011 overlapping its boundaries, 2) it had a minimum human population of 100,000 people within 7.77\u00a0km2<\/sup>, and 3) there were no larger urban areas within 80 km. \u00a0They then measured the population densities, the age of each urban area, elevation, temperature and precipitation, as well as the total amount of emissions and total amount of each individual pollutant. \u00a0In addition, they estimated the habitat loss, fragmentation, and disturbance intensity of each urban region based on the amount of manmade surface area, assuming that it would be inversely proportional to the amount of natural\u00a0plant coverage.<\/p>\n After numerous statistical tests, the researchers found strong evidence that urban area human population size\u00a0has a\u00a0negative impact on bird species richness along BBS routes. \u00a0They were able to further support this by the its positive correlation with\u00a0habitat loss, fragmentation, and disturbance as indicated by the manmade surface cover and levels of air pollution. \u00a0\u00a0However, the researchers did find that older urban areas tended to have a higher plant species density, and by effect, greater avian diversity than newer cities.<\/p>\n This paper shed light on how urban environments are affecting bird species. \u00a0While there is some hope that as cities get older, more bird diversity will return to urban areas, it is not enough to combat the steady rise of the human population. \u00a0Increasing urban environments and the simultaneous destruction of natural habitats is decreasing the number of urban bird species and is beginning to homogenize the avifauna overall. \u00a0This paper calls for city reform in order to protect the birds that live in these areas, and calls to prioritize conservation efforts in urban regions.<\/p>\n References:\u00a0Gagn\u00e9, Sara A., Sherman,, Peter A., Singh, Kunwar K., Meentemeyer, Ross K. “The effect of human population size on the breeding bird diversity of urban regions.” Biodiversity and Conservation. 2016. 25(4), 653-671. doi:10.\u200b1007\/\u200bs10531-016-1080-3.<\/p>\n 4Corners. “vue de New York.” March 2013. tripadvisor.com. Photography. April 13, 2016.<\/p>\n “Northern American Breeding Survey Home.” Northern American Breeding Survey. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. 31 October 2001. Web. 14 April 2016.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Birds\u00a0are a vast class of animals that can be found in a variety of habitats around the world. \u00a0One environment many reside in\u00a0is also home to thousands of people; urban areas. \u00a0As the world’s population climbs, so do the … Continue reading