Role of the Mediterranean Sea in differentiating European and North African woodland bird assemblages

摘要: The Mediterranean Sea has separated the sclerophyllous forests of southern Europe and northern Africa for millions years, but its role structuring forest bird assemblages remains unclear. To address this issue we sampled in cork oak woodlands located north south Strait Gibraltar compared abundance, diversity, species guild assemblage structure between regions. Abundance diversity patterns were remarkably similar, dissimilarity analyses composition revealed differences Differences are partly attributable to effect as barrier dispersal birds; a few unable colonize North Africa, many that colonized it remained sufficient isolation evolve into distinct taxa. In addition divergence biogeographic genesis, also differ because African insectivorous specialist less abundant. This could be due different exploitation levels present each region. Managed widespread Western Mediterranean, valuable they conciliate economic with high biodiversity. these greater conservation concern harbour endemic give character, cover smaller area, currently under pressure from overexploitation. These results highlight importance implement management practices increase resilience maintain biodiversity value throughout range woodlands.