Breeding bird communities in pine plantations of the Spanish plateaux : biogeography, landscape and vegetation effects

摘要: Summary Afforestation with pines (Pinus pinaster and, to a lesser extent, P. pinea and halepensis) seems be the most probable land-use change over large areas of dry cereal croplands in central Spain next 10–20 years. This will encouraged by changes subsidy policies Common Agricultural Policy that aim decrease food production restore environmental diversity previously lost through agricultural intensification. study addresses factors influencing richness composition breeding bird communities these pine plantations evaluates potential benefits afforestation programmes. The complement species 88 ranging size from 0.1 6775 ha was determined. Plantations were characterized according size, distance nearest plantation, vegetation structure geographical location (northern moist vs. southern xeric Iberian plateaux). Plantation alone accounted for 67–75% variation richness, also maintrait explaining patterns presence/absence individual species. smaller than 25 only maintained 50% regional pool forest birds during breeding, whereas this proportion increased 69–86% 25–100 ha. Geographic location, degree isolation important. Bird decreased prevalence undergrowth shrubs plant richness. Both incidence affected location. They greater northern plateau, reflecting trend increasing densities more northerly locations. The results suggest re-afforestation former arable land Spanish plateaux is unlikely increase communities. Given scarcity many small scale new plantations, schemes are promote rich communities. Since unsuitable habitats croplands, such have high conservation value because their declining populations overall large-scale programmes not include birds.