TY - JOUR

T1 - Linking bird species traits to vegetation characteristics in a future urban development zone

T2 - Implications for urban planning

AU - Ikin, K.

AU - Lindenmayer, D.B.

AU - Fischer, J.

AU - Manning, A.D.

AU - Knight, E.

N1 - Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2012/12

Y1 - 2012/12

N2 - Identifying the relationships between species traits and patch-scale vegetation characteristics in areas designated for urban development can improve our understanding of how animal communities may change with urbanization. We explored the implications of this premise to the urban planning process in a mixed-use landscape in Canberra (Australia), prior to its development into new suburbs. We used RLQ analysis to relate bird foraging, nesting and body size traits to patch-scale vegetation characteristics. Relationships between species traits and vegetation characteristics within the development zone suggest that species that forage and nest on the ground and in the understory strata, and smaller-bodied species will be most negatively affected by urbanization. Identifying the relationships between species traits and vegetation characteristics may be used by urban planners to (i) identify potentially critical habitat and species at risk from development, (ii) inform the choice of impact mitigation measures, and/or (iii) distinguish between high and low mitigation measures. Analyses conducted early in the planning process can then be used to allocate proposed land uses in an ecologically sensitive way, and to plan appropriate mitigation measures.

AB - Identifying the relationships between species traits and patch-scale vegetation characteristics in areas designated for urban development can improve our understanding of how animal communities may change with urbanization. We explored the implications of this premise to the urban planning process in a mixed-use landscape in Canberra (Australia), prior to its development into new suburbs. We used RLQ analysis to relate bird foraging, nesting and body size traits to patch-scale vegetation characteristics. Relationships between species traits and vegetation characteristics within the development zone suggest that species that forage and nest on the ground and in the understory strata, and smaller-bodied species will be most negatively affected by urbanization. Identifying the relationships between species traits and vegetation characteristics may be used by urban planners to (i) identify potentially critical habitat and species at risk from development, (ii) inform the choice of impact mitigation measures, and/or (iii) distinguish between high and low mitigation measures. Analyses conducted early in the planning process can then be used to allocate proposed land uses in an ecologically sensitive way, and to plan appropriate mitigation measures.

KW - Biology

KW - Community composition

KW - Conservation planning

KW - Impact mitigation

KW - RLQ analysis

KW - Southeastern Australia

KW - Urbanization

KW - Ecosystems Research

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84868563063&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s11252-012-0247-2

DO - 10.1007/s11252-012-0247-2

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 15

SP - 961

EP - 977

JO - Urban Ecosystems

JF - Urban Ecosystems

SN - 1083-8155

IS - 4

ER -