Succession of bird communities

Structural changes in avifauna in the succession from an old river bed to a climax oak-hornbeam forest (series A) are expressed in the progression of the number of species (N) and their density (D) and in the increasing and later fairly uniform course of species diversity (H’). Under the study conditions the climax ending successional series of deciduous forests (series A) and coniferous forests (series B) may be the oak-pine forest stage. The bird community formed there reaches its highest organization (H'). The succession of birds in a clearing differs from Margalef's (1968) theoretical model of succession, and passes through two phases. The ecotone exerts an effect on the bird community in the transition between these phases. In the succession in the clearing the climax community exhibits a rather slight decrease in H' and greater annual fluctuation in value D than is the case in the preclimax community. This is due to the spatial development of the habitat. The change in the organization of bird communities takes place abruptly in transition from a habitat with a single layer of vegetation into 2-and 3-layer vegetation.

Bibliografia na stronach 261-263

Streszczenie w języku polskim

Bibliographical references (pages 261-263)

Abstract in Polish

Strony 231-263, 2 złożone strony tablic : ilustracje ; 24 cm

Pages 231-263, 2 folded leaves of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm