Elevational pattern of bird species richness and its causes along a central Himalaya gradient, China.
This study examines the relative importance of six variables: area, the mid-domain effect, temperature, precipitation, productivity, and habitat heterogeneity on elevational patterns of species richness for breeding birds along a central Himalaya gradient in the Gyirong Valley, the longest of five canyons in the Mount Qomolangma National Nature Reserve. We conducted field surveys in each of twelve elevational bands of 300 m between 1,800 and 5,400 m asl four times throughout the entire wet season. A total of 169 breeding bird species were recorded and most of the species (74%) were small-ranged. The species richness patterns of overall, large-ranged and small-ranged birds were all hump-shaped, but with peaks at different elevations. Large-ranged species and small-ranged species contributed equally to the overall richness pattern. Based on the bivariate and multiple regression analyses, area and precipitation were not crucial factors in determining the species richness along this gradient. The mid-domain effect played an important role in shaping the richness pattern of large-ranged species. Temperature was negatively correlated with overall and large-ranged species but positively correlated with small-ranged species. Productivity was a strong explanatory factor among all the bird groups, and habitat heterogeneity played an important role in shaping the elevational richness patterns of overall and small-ranged species. Our results highlight the need to conserve primary forest and intact habitat in this area. Furthermore, we need to increase conservation efforts in this montane biodiversity hotspot in light of increasing anthropogenic activities and land use pressure.
South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Xinyuan
X
Pan
Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Zhifeng
Z
Ding
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
Yiming
Y
Hu
Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Jianchao
J
Liang
Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
Yongjie
Y
Wu
College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou , Zhejiang , China.
Xingfeng
X
Si
Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Mingfang
M
Guo
Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Huijian
H
Hu
Research Institute of Forest Ecology Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry , Beijing , China.
Kun
K
Jin
Bird species richness; Elevational pattern; Environmental factors; Spatial factors