Elevational pattern of bird species richness and its causes along a central Himalaya gradient, China
This study examines the relative importance of six variables: area, the mid-domain effect, temperature, precipitation, productivity, and habitat heterogeneity on elevational patterns of species richness for breeding birds along a central Himalaya gradient in the Gyirong Valley, the longest of five c...
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PeerJ Inc.
2016-11-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/2636.pdf |
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| author | Xinyuan Pan Zhifeng Ding Yiming Hu Jianchao Liang Yongjie Wu Xingfeng Si Mingfang Guo Huijian Hu Kun Jin |
| author_facet | Xinyuan Pan Zhifeng Ding Yiming Hu Jianchao Liang Yongjie Wu Xingfeng Si Mingfang Guo Huijian Hu Kun Jin |
| author_sort | Xinyuan Pan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examines the relative importance of six variables: area, the mid-domain effect, temperature, precipitation, productivity, and habitat heterogeneity on elevational patterns of species richness for breeding birds along a central Himalaya gradient in the Gyirong Valley, the longest of five canyons in the Mount Qomolangma National Nature Reserve. We conducted field surveys in each of twelve elevational bands of 300 m between 1,800 and 5,400 m asl four times throughout the entire wet season. A total of 169 breeding bird species were recorded and most of the species (74%) were small-ranged. The species richness patterns of overall, large-ranged and small-ranged birds were all hump-shaped, but with peaks at different elevations. Large-ranged species and small-ranged species contributed equally to the overall richness pattern. Based on the bivariate and multiple regression analyses, area and precipitation were not crucial factors in determining the species richness along this gradient. The mid-domain effect played an important role in shaping the richness pattern of large-ranged species. Temperature was negatively correlated with overall and large-ranged species but positively correlated with small-ranged species. Productivity was a strong explanatory factor among all the bird groups, and habitat heterogeneity played an important role in shaping the elevational richness patterns of overall and small-ranged species. Our results highlight the need to conserve primary forest and intact habitat in this area. Furthermore, we need to increase conservation efforts in this montane biodiversity hotspot in light of increasing anthropogenic activities and land use pressure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:32:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e441d489cfa14f29a2b569b8565ba4bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:32:30Z |
| publishDate | 2016-11-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-e441d489cfa14f29a2b569b8565ba4bb2023-12-03T11:04:26ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592016-11-014e263610.7717/peerj.2636Elevational pattern of bird species richness and its causes along a central Himalaya gradient, ChinaXinyuan Pan0Zhifeng Ding1Yiming Hu2Jianchao Liang3Yongjie Wu4Xingfeng Si5Mingfang Guo6Huijian Hu7Kun Jin8South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaGuangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaGuangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaGuangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaGuangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaResearch Institute of Forest Ecology Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaThis study examines the relative importance of six variables: area, the mid-domain effect, temperature, precipitation, productivity, and habitat heterogeneity on elevational patterns of species richness for breeding birds along a central Himalaya gradient in the Gyirong Valley, the longest of five canyons in the Mount Qomolangma National Nature Reserve. We conducted field surveys in each of twelve elevational bands of 300 m between 1,800 and 5,400 m asl four times throughout the entire wet season. A total of 169 breeding bird species were recorded and most of the species (74%) were small-ranged. The species richness patterns of overall, large-ranged and small-ranged birds were all hump-shaped, but with peaks at different elevations. Large-ranged species and small-ranged species contributed equally to the overall richness pattern. Based on the bivariate and multiple regression analyses, area and precipitation were not crucial factors in determining the species richness along this gradient. The mid-domain effect played an important role in shaping the richness pattern of large-ranged species. Temperature was negatively correlated with overall and large-ranged species but positively correlated with small-ranged species. Productivity was a strong explanatory factor among all the bird groups, and habitat heterogeneity played an important role in shaping the elevational richness patterns of overall and small-ranged species. Our results highlight the need to conserve primary forest and intact habitat in this area. Furthermore, we need to increase conservation efforts in this montane biodiversity hotspot in light of increasing anthropogenic activities and land use pressure.https://peerj.com/articles/2636.pdfBird species richnessElevational patternEnvironmental factorsSpatial factors |
| spellingShingle | Xinyuan Pan Zhifeng Ding Yiming Hu Jianchao Liang Yongjie Wu Xingfeng Si Mingfang Guo Huijian Hu Kun Jin Elevational pattern of bird species richness and its causes along a central Himalaya gradient, China PeerJ Bird species richness Elevational pattern Environmental factors Spatial factors |
| title | Elevational pattern of bird species richness and its causes along a central Himalaya gradient, China |
| title_full | Elevational pattern of bird species richness and its causes along a central Himalaya gradient, China |
| title_fullStr | Elevational pattern of bird species richness and its causes along a central Himalaya gradient, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Elevational pattern of bird species richness and its causes along a central Himalaya gradient, China |
| title_short | Elevational pattern of bird species richness and its causes along a central Himalaya gradient, China |
| title_sort | elevational pattern of bird species richness and its causes along a central himalaya gradient china |
| topic | Bird species richness Elevational pattern Environmental factors Spatial factors |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/2636.pdf |
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