A dataset of bird assemblages in different successional pathways– a comparative study in hemiboreal mixed forests

Abstract:

Context The most productive forest lands have naturally the richest bird assemblages but tend to be also most intensively managed. Sustainable solutions to this conflict are unclear.

Aim To assess bird assemblages and their successional dynamics in planted Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) stands compared to naturally developing stands.

Methods We mapped breeding bird assemblages in forty 5-ha plots on highly productive soils in Estonia. The plots included sets of naturally regenerated and planted stands, and (as successional endpoints) clear-cuts and old stands.

Results Planted stands had fewer bird species and pairs than naturally regenerated stands; the latter having a species composition resembling late-successional deciduous-dominated stands. Importantly, the species composition in mature spruce plantations converged toward the composition observed in late-successional conifer-dominated stands. Downed dead wood, stand age, deciduous trees, and stock density were the most significant stand characteristics shaping bird assemblages.

Conclusion The habitat value of established spruce plantations can be primarily improved by allowing for some deciduous trees and gaps with deciduous undergrowth. At the landscape scale, the bird diversity of even-aged systems would be enhanced by multi-scale applications of retention forestry – from retention trees to old-growth set-asides.

The given dataset includes observations of breeding pairs on all 40 study plots with different management types. Variables explained in supplementary txt file.

摘要：
研究背景：生产力最高的林地天然拥有最为丰富的鸟类群落（bird assemblages），但同时往往也是经营强度最大的区域，针对这一冲突的可持续解决方案目前仍不明确。
研究目标：相较于天然发育林分，评估人工种植的挪威云杉（Picea abies L.）林分中的鸟类群落及其演替动态。
研究方法：我们在爱沙尼亚境内高生产力土壤上的40个5公顷样地中，对繁殖鸟类群落开展了调查记录。样地涵盖天然更新林分与人工种植林分，以及作为演替终点的皆伐迹地与成熟林分。
研究结果：人工种植林分的鸟类物种数与繁殖对数量均低于天然更新林分；后者的物种组成与以落叶树种为主的晚演替林分相似。值得注意的是，成熟云杉人工林的物种组成逐渐向以针叶树种为主的晚演替林分的群落结构收敛。枯倒木、林分年龄、落叶树种占比以及林分密度是塑造鸟类群落的关键林分特征。
研究结论：已建立的云杉人工林的生境价值，主要可通过保留一定比例的落叶树种以及带有落叶灌丛的林隙得到提升。在景观尺度上，通过多尺度应用保留营林实践——从保留单株林木到预留原始林样地——可提升同龄林分的鸟类多样性。

本数据集包含了40个不同经营类型研究样地中繁殖鸟类对的观测数据。变量说明详见补充文本文件。