RT Journal Article
T1 Eucalyptus cover as the primary driver of native forest bird reductions: Evidence from a stand-scale analysis in NW Iberia
A1 García Fernádez, Fernando
A1 Vidal, María
A1 Regos, Adrián
A1 Domínguez Conde, Jesús
K1 Forest plantations
K1 Species occurrence
K1 Bird abundance
K1 Retention strips
K1 Vegetation structure
K1 Forest composition
K1 Native forests
AB The rapid expansion of exotic eucalyptus plantations across the Iberian Peninsula, particularly in northwest Spain, where they now cover 30 % of the region’s forested area, has profoundly transformed rural landscapes, raising serious concerns about its impact on native biodiversity. This study investigates the influence of structural and floristic attributes of eucalyptus plantations and native forests on forest bird communities, focusing on species abundance and occurrence at the stand level. We conducted point count surveys and vegetation assessments across 240 plots, applying Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) and multimodel inference (MMI) to identify key drivers of avian diversity. Vegetation structure and composition differed substantially between native forests and eucalyptus plantations. Bird species richness and abundance were significantly lower in eucalyptus plantations. The proportion of eucalyptus emerged as the strongest predictor of these reductions, likely due to the limited availability of key resources such as natural cavities and arthropods. Mature native trees were pivotal in supporting forest bird species, particularly those associated with mature forest ecosystems. In contrast, mature eucalyptus trees failed to serve as adequate surrogates for mature native trees, benefiting only a small subset of forest specialists. Similarly, the well-developed shrub layer in eucalyptus plantations provided limited support for generalist bird species. To mitigate biodiversity loss, we recommend integrating unmanaged retention strips within eucalyptus plantations to enhance habitat heterogeneity and structural diversity, ensuring critical resources for birds and other forest wildlife while balancing forestry productivity with conservation goals.
PB Elsevier
YR 2025
FD 2025-04-11
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/40938
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/40938
LA eng
NO Forest Ecology and Management Volume 586, 15 June 2025, 122714
DS Minerva
RD 24 abr 2026