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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 55(1)

Structures of bird communities in woodland remnants in central New South Wales, Australia

S. V. Briggs A B , J. A. Seddon A and S. J. Doyle A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Environment and Conservation NSW, c/- CSIRO, GPO Box 284, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: sue.briggs@csiro.au

Australian Journal of Zoology 55(1) 29-40 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO06064
Submitted: 1 August 2006  Accepted: 10 January 2007   Published: 23 March 2007

Abstract

The overall aim of this study was to investigate structures of bird communities in remnants of fragmented box/cypress pine woodlands in central New South Wales, Australia, to guide habitat rehabilitation. The aims of the study were to: (1) determine how bird densities and species richness varied with remnant category; (2) determine how ranked densities of bird species varied by feeding group with remnant category; and (3) provide information on structures of bird communities in box/cypress pine woodlands to guide restoration. Structures of bird communities varied with remnant category. Large remnants had the most species whereas medium-sized and small remnants in low condition had the fewest. Bird densities increased with decreasing remnant area although densities did not differ significantly between remnant categories. Ranked bird densities varied between remnant categories, with relatively even distributions in large remnants in high condition, and uneven distributions in small remnants in low condition. Densities of small insectivores were much lower in small, low-condition remnants than in large, high-condition remnants. Densities of generalists such as noisy miner and galah showed the reverse pattern. The structures of bird communities in large remnants in good condition provide a reference state for assessing recovery of bird communities.


Acknowledgements

This project was funded by the Natural Heritage Trust and by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (now the Department of Environment and Conservation NSW). We thank the landholders who allowed us to survey on their properties, and Geoff Barrett, Phil Gibbons and Julian Reid and two referees for comments on the manuscript. We remain grateful to CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems for providing facilities and a congenial working environment. The project was conducted under Animal Research Authority AEC 010319/02. The contents of this paper do not represent the official policy of the Department of Environment and Conservation NSW or any other organisation.


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