Ecological traits predict population trends of urban birds in Europe

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.111926
• Publication Date: 2024-03-23T19:19:06Z
• Authors: Jan Grünwald; Ainārs Auniņš; Mattia Brambilla; Virginia Escandell; Daniel Palm Eskil...; Tomasz Chodkiewicz; Benoît Fontaine; Frédéric Jiguet; John Atle Kålås; Johannes Kamp; Alena Klvaňová; Lechosław Kuczyński; Aleksi Lehikoinen; Åke Lindström; Renno Nellis; Ingar Jostein Øien; Eva Šilarová; Nicolas Strebel; Thomas Vikstrøm; Petr Voříšek; Jiří Reif
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; Population dynamics; Ecology; Urbanization; Time since urbanization; 01 natural sciences; Bird ecology; Population dynamics; Time since urbanization; Urban birds; Urban ecology; Urbanization; Urban ecology; Ecology, evolutionary biology; Bird ecology; Urban birds; QH540-549.5

The population dynamics of urban animals has been so far remarkably understudied. At the same time, species' trends can provide important information on consequences environmental changes in cities. We modelled long-term 93 bird species breeding areas 16 European countries as a function traits, characterising variability their urbanization and ecology. found that: (i) earlier colonisers have more negative than recent colonisers; (ii) urbanized open habitat had positive less species; (iii) highly birds above ground breeders. These patterns be explained by several processes occurring cities well outside city borders. Namely, pre-industrial might struggle to persist rapidly changing areas, limiting foraging opportunities birds. Open habitats are under pressure intensive agricultural exploitation rural which may negatively affect populations In contrast, do not experience such keeping positive. Differences between above-ground breeders suggest that latter lose modern buildings suitable sites. Our results indicate even once successful, dwellers keep pace with but these also for biodiversity.