The role of habitat in avian community composition: physiognomy or floristics?

摘要: It has been proposed that within rather broad habitat types the distribution and abundance of bird species may be more closely associated with plant taxonomic composition than structure configuration vegetation. Birds from a sample eight representative grassland habitats in middle western North America are consistent this hypothesis. Over half (55%) variation community was floristic variation, but only third (35%) physiognomy. Separating interacting effects floristics physiognomy each other served to accentuate difference between them respect avifauna. is postulated species/plant taxa associations, especially similar types, mediated by specific food resources different provide. Summary indices such as diversity measures obscure information content or animal assemblages, use likely impeded detection relationships described here.