The effects of urbanization on winter avian diversity: a citizen science and GIS study

As the human population continuously increases, habitat transformation due to urban expansion is inevitable, affecting many wildlife species. Birds have become a frequently used model species for studying the effects of urbanization on wildlife populations due to their environmental sensitivity and ease of observation. While previous studies have investigated changes in species richness and abundance related to urbanization, there is a need for more broad-scale studies geographically associating changes in bird diversity and urban expansion. Through the use of extensive bird census data and high-resolution digitized land use data, this study revealed that species richness, diversity, and evenness within count circles all had significant positive correlations over the 40- year period but no significant pattern directly related to urbanization, suggesting an unidentified independent variable. These results will facilitate implementation of more developed avian and environmental management strategies in the state of Tennessee.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Year dc:date.available

2020

Author dc:creator

• Ross, Caryn

Contributors dc:contributor

• Aborn, David A.
• Schorr, Mark S.; Hossain, A.K.M.
• College of Arts and Sciences

• Birds -- Habitat -- Conservation
• Urbanization -- Environmental aspects

Licence

• https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en

Language dc:language

English, eng

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/605

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.utc.edu:theses-1763