An East-West gradient in the breeding distribution and species richness of the European woodland avifauna

In spite of environmental uniformity of the European Plains, a conspicuous east-west gradient in the woodland avifauna and breeding bird community composition has been revealed. The species richness in the western woodland avifauna is lower by 32-36% than in the respective eastern samples (n = 120-127 species). Apart from being poorer in species, western communities tend to contain a higher proportion of species which develop dense populations. These features may result from past - mostly postglacial - natural events, from a secondary gradient in the intensity of human impact or from both of them. The data at hand provide evidence for a strong prevalence of the second factor. In view of the mostly anthropogenic character of the differences described, many west-European data can hardly be used as models of the natural patterns in studies of breeding bird ecology. New continent-wide comparative research is necessary to better control for anthropogenic bias in field data. For valid future pan-continental comparisons of bird communities a few large patches of near-pristine woodland should be preserved in the East, as well as restored in the West. Bird ecology studies need also a better co-operation with the archaeozoological and historical research to take into consideration past conditions which could also have influenced the present-day life patterns of European birds.

S. [3]-17 : il. ; 27 cm

Bibliogr. p. 14-16

Streszcz. pol. Nazwy taksonów także w jęz. łac.

Referat wygłoszony na Second Meeting of the European Ornithologists' Union

Bibliogr. s. 14-16

Abstract in Polish. Taxa in Latin

P. [3]-17 : ill. ; 27 cm