Using empirical data analysis and expert opinion to identify farmland‐associated bird species from their habitat associations

• DOI: 10.1111/ibi.13179
• Publication Date: 2022-12-22T06:23:30Z
• Authors: Da‐Li Lin; Martine Maron; Tatsuya Amano; An‐Yu Chang; Richard A. Fuller
• Keywords: Expert opinion; Identification; Agricultural land; Survey data collection

Agricultural expansion is a pervasive threat to biodiversity, and intensification of farming activities can reduce the diversity abundance farmland‐associated species. Tracking these changes monitor manage biodiversity impacts requires identification species – well‐established category in Europe North America, but little‐documented elsewhere. Here we develop an integrated approach using empirical data analysis expert opinion delineate bird Taiwan. We investigated relationship between land use variables 129 from Taiwan Breeding Bird Survey. also administered questionnaire 24 birdwatchers as alternative method for estimating habitat associations The classifications 104 into association classes two methods were well aligned, with 75 (72.1%) classified consistently. Only (1.9%) discordantly classified. could not confidently assign 25 any through analysis, allowed qualitative their associations. different approaches enabled us identify consistent way, increasing confidence that where insufficient, might suffice. Identifying Taiwan's opinion, validated by paves way exploring status group, how agricultural affects it, effectiveness conservation interventions rapidly changing landscapes.