Bird Population Dynamics and Growth Patterns
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Questions and Answers

What is a major consequence of habitat fragmentation for bird populations?

  • Increased nest predation (correct)
  • Increased reproductive success
  • Increased dispersal opportunities
  • Decreased mortality rates

Which species was driven towards extinction primarily due to habitat loss and hunting?

  • New Zealand Moa
  • Ivory-billed Woodpecker
  • California Condor
  • Passenger Pigeon (correct)

How do corridors benefit birds in fragmented landscapes?

  • They create new territories.
  • They provide nesting habitats.
  • They assist in gene flow. (correct)
  • They eliminate edge effects.

What has been a successful strategy for species near extinction?

<p>Reintroduction programs (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant threat faced particularly by island bird species?

<p>Avian malaria (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What factor is increasingly recognized as critical for bird conservation?

<p>Climate change (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor has contributed to the decline of North American bird populations in the last 50 years?

<p>Habitat loss (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a notable example of migration within the same continent?

<p>Resplendent Quetzal (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main reasons DDT was detrimental to the Peregrine Falcon population?

<p>It led to reduced egg hatching success. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does declining grassland species indicate about habitat changes?

<p>Negative impacts of climate change. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What factors can lead to short-term fluctuations in bird populations?

<p>Storms and droughts (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes population limitation?

<p>Any ceiling on population growth (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does population regulation mainly affect bird species?

<p>Buffers short-term fluctuations in population size (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of a population bottleneck?

<p>Increased risk of inbreeding (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which bird species saw significant population growth after the introduction of 100 individuals in New York City?

<p>European Starling (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of the decline in many bird species today?

<p>Habitat loss (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is considered a negative consequence of using DDT as a pesticide?

<p>Eggshell production interference (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a method of monitoring bird population trends?

<p>Randomness sampling (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do population density levels affect Great Tits?

<p>Mean clutch size decreases with higher population density (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which human activity has been shown to particularly threaten bird species?

<p>Urbanization (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of parrots are currently threatened according to the IUCN Red List?

<p>28% (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does citizen science play in bird population monitoring?

<p>Documents population trends of non-game species (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which species has shown a long-term population increase in recent years?

<p>Merlin (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Population

A group of interbreeding individuals and their offspring.

Population Fluctuation

Changes in population size over time. Can be short-term or long-term.

Short-term population fluctuations

Changes in population size over a few years, usually due to environmental events.

Long-term population trends

Changes in population size over many years, often gradual and due to many factors.

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Population Growth

Increase in the size of a population.

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Population Limitation

Factors that restrict the maximum size a population can reach.

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Population Regulation

How population density affects population size (negative density dependence).

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Population Bottleneck

A severe and rapid loss of population size.

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Inbreeding

Mating between closely related individuals.

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Habitat Loss

Destruction or reduction of the quality of an organism's living area.

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Citizen Science

Data collection by non-scientists.

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DDT

A pesticide that caused eggshell thinning in birds.

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Introduced Species

Species that are not native to an area and introduced by humans.

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Population Trend

The direction of a bird population size overtime.

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Negative Density Dependence

The effect where population growth rate slows as population density increases.

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IUCN Red List

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assessment of species extinction risk.

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Habitat Loss & Climate Change

Destruction of natural environments due to changing climate, particularly deforestation, negatively affecting bird populations.

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Endemic Species

Species found only in a specific geographic area, vulnerable to habitat loss.

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Habitat Fragmentation

Breaking up of large habitats into smaller, isolated patches, affecting bird dispersal and survival.

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Edge Effects

Negative consequences of birds nesting near habitat edges, leading to increased predation.

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Corridors

Connecting strips of habitat that help birds move around, maintaining genetic diversity and local migration.

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Connectivity (Conservation)

The importance of connecting breeding and wintering grounds for migratory birds, requiring global conservation efforts.

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Extinction (Birds)

Human activities have caused the extinction of many bird species, with island species particularly vulnerable.

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Reintroduction Programs

Efforts to restore endangered bird populations by raising young in captivity and releasing them into the wild.

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Whooping Cranes

Bird species successfully saved through a reintroduction program.

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North American Bird Population Decline

A significant decline in the total avian populations over the past 50 years, impacting ecosystem services.

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Study Notes

Population Fluctuations

  • Bird populations fluctuate dramatically between years due to short-term events like storms and drought.
  • Scaled Quail fluctuations are linked to rainfall.
  • Some populations experience long-term declines, like the Scaled Quail, over decades.
  • Introduced species, like the House Finch, can experience rapid growth followed by decline.

Population Growth Potential

  • Bird species have varied potential for explosive growth.
  • Large-bodied, slow-reproducing species typically exhibit 10-30% growth.
  • Small-bodied, fast-reproducing species show 50-100% growth.
  • The European Starling, introduced to North America, provides an example, increasing dramatically in size and range from 100 individuals in 1896 to over 200 million.

Population Limitation and Regulation

  • Population limitation encompasses factors that limit population growth, such as habitat availability, food, disease, and predation.
  • Population regulation involves the influence of population density on survival and reproduction (negative density dependence).
  • Regulation mechanisms buffer short-term population fluctuations.
  • Examples illustrating this include:
    • Great Tits: Clutch size and fledglings depend on population density. High density leads to fewer eggs.
    • Black-throated Blue Warblers: Density-dependent stabilization observed. Young fledging decreases with increasing population density.
  • Bird populations provide valuable data on fluctuations in the wild.
  • Data sources include gamebird monitoring, citizen science projects like Christmas bird counts, and eBird.
  • Population regulation and limitation interact to shape population changes.
  • Historical data show substantial population declines in waterfowl, especially Northern Pintails.
  • Citizen science projects, such as the Audubon Christmas Bird Count (started in 1900) and eBird, have played a crucial role in documenting populations.
  • Species like the Eastern Meadowlark are declining, while the Merlin is increasing.

Population Crashes, Bottlenecks, and Inbreeding

  • Population bottlenecks, representing severe population crashes, reduce genetic diversity and increase inbreeding.
  • Examples of negative population impacts:
    • New Zealand birds experiencing increased hatching failure with increasing bottleneck severity.
    • Song sparrows experiencing population crashes reducing population mean inbreeding coefficients.

State of Birds Today

  • Many bird species are threatened, endangered, or in decline, especially in high-diversity tropical areas.
  • In the US, one-third of bird species require urgent conservation action.
  • Species associated with humans (like Rock Pigeons, European Starlings, House Sparrows) are often increasing, whereas some species in the US have declined in their historical range.

Endangered Species and Threats

  • The IUCN Red List classifies species based on extinction risk.
  • Parrots exhibit high rates of decline, with the majority threatened.
  • Top threats to bird species include habitat loss, climate change, diseases, chemicals, collisions, hunting, and fishing.

Birds and DDT

  • DDT use contributed to bird population declines, affecting egg shell production and causing problems for Bald Eagles and Brown Pelicans.

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation

  • Habitat loss and fragmentation are significant threats to birds, particularly in deforestation areas and grassland ecosystems.
  • Habitat fragmentation increases mortality and dispersals by causing edge effects.
  • Habitat connectivity plays a critical role by aiding dispersal and gene flow.

Connectivity and Species Migration

  • Birds interconnect distant locations, necessitating conservation efforts on breeding and wintering grounds.
  • Loss of species has effects that go beyond birds.

Extinction and Reintroductions

  • Human-caused extinction is common in birds, and some species were driven extinct in North America.
  • Species on islands (e.g., Hawaiian Honeycreepers, New Zealand Moas, Dodo) are vulnerable.
  • Reintroduction efforts have yielded positive results, such as with Whooping Cranes, Peregrine Falcons, and California Condors.

Frightening Reality

  • North American birds have decreased by one-third over the past 50 years.
  • Loss of habitat and climate change are key factors impacting populations.
  • The loss of species will have broader ecosystem impacts.

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Description

Explore the intricate dynamics of bird populations through this quiz, focusing on factors influencing fluctuations, growth potential, and limitations. Delve into real-world examples, including the Scaled Quail and European Starling, to understand their population trends. Test your knowledge on how environmental conditions and regulations shape avian populations.

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