In the European Alps, rivers are among the ecosystems most severely altered by human land use. Birds can be suitable indicators for ecosystem health. In this project I analysed the anthropogenic impacts on occurrence and dynamic of birds in different riverine ecosystems. I surveyed birds using a Point Count Method and Territory Mapping in 30 study areas on five rivers in the Bavarian Alps, Germany. Habitat and landscape parameters were mapped precisely. The results show that the river birds were highly specialized on near natural river morphology. Especially the abundance of the Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) showed sensitive reaction on human induced alterations. The Avifauna in the river landscape was also highly sensitive to anthropogenic habitat changes. There was a clear link between bird diversity and landscape structure, whereas many generalists were favoured by human land use and habitat specialists showed strong declines with e.g. increasing infrastructural utilization.
The results of this study shall offer explanations to the factors and processes influencing birds in Alpine riverine ecosystems and provide important guidance for conservation-oriented land use management.
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In the European Alps, rivers are among the ecosystems most severely altered by human land use. Birds can be suitable indicators for ecosystem health. In this project I analysed the anthropogenic impacts on occurrence and dynamic of birds in different riverine ecosystems. I surveyed birds using a Point Count Method and Territory Mapping in 30 study areas on five rivers in the Bavarian Alps, Germany. Habitat and landscape parameters were mapped precisely. The results show that the river birds were...
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