An international team involving researchers from the University of Granada (UGR) and the National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC) has analyzed the distribution of 115 species of birds in spring and 72 that spend the winter in nine European cities.
They concluded that the design of urban spaces favors the presence of species with different characteristics, which has a positive impact on improving ecosystems and the health of citizens. The article published in the magazine Science of the entire environmentproposes lines of action to promote the creation of more livable cities for both birds and citizens.
For this work, which also involves scientists from research centers in Finland, Poland, Germany, Holland and the Czech Republic, the research team collected data on bird communities in the two main types of urban development (integrative or separate) from different European cities such as Madrid , Granada, Toledo or Prague.
Integrative urban development is characterized by: Maintain small green spaces, mostly in the form of private gardens and street vegetation, mixed with single-family homes and low population density. In contrast, divisive urban development is characterized by the preservation of large green areas, usually large parks and gardens, which are well separated from built-up areas with high population densities with apartment blocks.
Different cities, different bird diversity
“For each species identified in the European cities studied, we quantified characteristics such as the degree of their nutritional specialization, the type of nests they build, the effort they invest in reproduction or their longevity. “This allowed us to analyze whether urban design favors species with one type of characteristic or another,” explains the MNCN researcher. Mario Diaz.
“In previous studies, we found that integrating or dividing urban development determines the presence of different bird communities,” he comments. Juan Diego Ibanez Alamo, researcher at the University of Granada. “This research has also allowed us to discover what characteristics of birds allow them to settle in one type of urban area or another,” continues Ibáñez.
In previous studies, we found that integrating or dividing urban development determines the presence of different bird communities
In the Separating urban spaces emerge Birds that lay a lot of eggs, use open nests more often and have a rapid life cycle, such as stonechats, chiffchaffs and larks. Given that, in the Integrative urban spaces predominate Birds with more demanding reproduction and longer life cycles, such as E.g. titmice, kestrels or seagulls.
“The data we have received clearly shows that the mix of both types of urban development must be preferred in order to make one possible greater bird diversity. Greater urban biodiversity is not only beneficial for our immediate environment, but also for our own health and well-being,” concludes the MNCN researcher.
Reference:
JD Ibáñez-Álamo te al. The organization of urban landscapes is associated with species-specific characteristics of European birds. Science of the entire environment