TEN YEARS AFTER - A LOOK INTO THE EFFECTS OF HABITAT FRAGMENTATION ON MEDITERRANEAN FARMLAND BIRDS

STUDENT SEMINAR IN BIODIVERSITY AND EVOLUTION

In 2005, several bird species were surveyed in the Mediterranean farmlands of the Special Protection Area (SPA) of Castro Verde and the relationship of bird abundance to distance of forest edges was measured, taking into account landscape context and habitat fragmentation along a farmland landscape. After ten years, the landscape continues to change, affected by afforestation, agricultural intensification and significant changes in weather for both periods. I will present preliminary results which aim to understand and quantify the impacts of these changes on the birds inhabiting the region, with particular focus on farmland birds.

João is a 2nd year PhD student under the BIODIV PhD programme. Previously, he graduated in Biology (FCUP) and obtained his MSc’s degree in Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution (FCUP). During his PhD, he continues his research on Habitat fragmentation and Nest Predation in Farmland areas, under the supervision of Luís Reino (CIBIO-InBIO), David Gonçalves (CIBIO-InBIO) and LLuís Brotons (CREAF-CTFC-CSIC). He aims to understand how some key species in the Mediterranean farmland area are being put at risk under the current and predicted land use and climate change scenarios, ultimately contributing to develop strategies capable of mitigating these impacts.

[Host: David Gonçalves, Avian Ecology]

Image credits: Luís Reino