Speaker
Description
Bird diversity, community composition and functional diversity in temperate forests are typically studied during the breeding season, yet bird communities change throughout the year. To support forest management that considers bird populations year-round, we need a better understanding of how environmental factors shape avian diversity across all seasons.
In this study, we monitored bird communities at 20 forest sites around Jena, Thuringia, across all four seasons in 2024. Using passive acoustic monitoring with AudioMoths and species identification via BirdNET, we tracked seasonal shifts in species richness, community composition, and functional diversity. Our analysis includes both biotic factors, such as forest structure and vegetation variables, and high-resolution abiotic data (daily temperature, relative humidity, and light intensity) to explore how fine-scale microclimatic conditions influence bird communities.
Beyond investigating species-level patterns, we also examine functional diversity to capture differences in ecological traits mirroring resource requirements. Studying functional diversity provides insights into the range of ecological functions present in bird communities, offering a more nuanced perspective than species richness alone. This is particularly relevant for understanding ecosystem resilience and function, especially under changing environmental conditions. To maintain communities that are not only diverse in species but also in ecological function, it is essential to identify the site characteristics that influence functional trait composition. By analysing how these relationships shift across seasons, we can better inform habitat management strategies that support functionally rich bird communities throughout the year.
By examining how environmental influences on bird diversity vary across the annual cycle, our findings aim to provide ecologically grounded insights for forest management, supporting actions that account for the full seasonal breadth of bird community dynamics. This is especially relevant in the face of ongoing climate change, which is likely to alter both forest conditions and the seasonal behaviour of bird communities.
| Status Group | Doctoral Researcher |
|---|---|
| Poster Presentation Option | Yes, I’m willing to present as a poster. |
