Abstract

LEVEAU, Lucas M.. FROM THE TREE TO THE BIOME: A MULTISCALE SOLUTION FOR URBAN BIRDS. Hornero [online]. 2022, vol.37, n.2, pp.2-2. ISSN 0073-3407.

The increase in urban population is related to an expansion of cities towards rural areas or the loss of green spaces within cities. This urban sprawl can promote significant declines in bird diversity. Numerous studies have found that an increase in green areas within cities would favor greater bird diversity of birds. However, other aspects such as the configuration or composition of urban greening have been less studied. In this work, a multiscale approach was used to address the relationship between urban greening and birds, with a focus on studies carried out in the Neotropics. Five spatial scales were identified: 1) microhabitat, 2) habitat, 3) landscape, 4) regional scale, and 5) biogeographic. The review of the different working scales revealed serious deficiencies in the knowledge of microhabitats selection by birds. Although factors affecting bird communities in green areas at the habitat and landscape scales are well known, this type of study mainly focused on urban parks. The analysis of the urban greening configuration, for example by the land-sharing/land sparing debate, is essential to guide bird-friendly landscaping projects. The fact that studies in different parts of the world have produced contrasting results in the land-sharing/land sparing debate highlights the importance of analyzing urban greening configuration in different biogeographical contexts.

Keywords : birds; cities; hierarchy; scales; urbanization.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )