Trait-mediated responses and co-occurrence patterns of breeding steppe birds under human footprint in Inner Mongolia
Grasslands are among the world's most threatened ecosystems, and steppe birds face increasing risks from human activities. This study investigates how human impacts affect the distribution and community structure of breeding steppe birds in Inner Mongolia, a biodiversity hotspot in Asia. We con...
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| Format: | Article |
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Avian Research |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2053716625000532 |
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| author | Wenyu Xu Chunlu Wang Yanqi Wang Xi Yang Lishi Zhang Piotr Tryjanowski Frédéric Jiguet Zheng Han Haitao Wang |
| author_facet | Wenyu Xu Chunlu Wang Yanqi Wang Xi Yang Lishi Zhang Piotr Tryjanowski Frédéric Jiguet Zheng Han Haitao Wang |
| author_sort | Wenyu Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Grasslands are among the world's most threatened ecosystems, and steppe birds face increasing risks from human activities. This study investigates how human impacts affect the distribution and community structure of breeding steppe birds in Inner Mongolia, a biodiversity hotspot in Asia. We conducted standardized point-count surveys across a gradient from intact grasslands to urbanized areas, integrating species occurrence data, functional traits and the Human Footprint Index (HFI). Using Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) and Conditional Random Fields (CRFs), we assessed trait-environment interactions and shifts in species associations. Our results indicate that the HFI significantly affects bird communities. Habitat specialists, such as Mongolian Lark (Melanocorypha mongolica), showed negative responses, whereas generalists like Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) thrived in disturbed areas. Trait-based analysis showed that species with larger body mass and specialized diets were negatively associated with HFI, whereas those linked to human-modified habitats exhibiting strong positive associations. In areas with high human footprint, co-occurrence networks grew more polarized: specialists faced intensified competition, while species with positive HFI responses formed stronger positive associations. CRF models indicated that human activities restructure species interactions, favoring generalists and simplifying community dynamics. These findings highlight the dual role of human impact in supporting some species while threatening specialists, potentially driving biotic homogenization. Our study emphasizes the need for conservation strategies that protect vulnerable species and manage those that thrive in human-altered environments. By linking traits and interactions to human impacts, this study provides a framework for identifying at-risk species and guiding conservation in the Anthropocene. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cfe674028c7e4d4fba95c592c3b620eb |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2053-7166 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Avian Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-cfe674028c7e4d4fba95c592c3b620eb2025-08-20T03:09:32ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Avian Research2053-71662025-09-0116310027410.1016/j.avrs.2025.100274Trait-mediated responses and co-occurrence patterns of breeding steppe birds under human footprint in Inner MongoliaWenyu Xu0Chunlu Wang1Yanqi Wang2Xi Yang3Lishi Zhang4Piotr Tryjanowski5Frédéric Jiguet6Zheng Han7Haitao Wang8School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China; College of Agricultural, Hulunbuir University, Hulunbuir, 021000, ChinaAnimal's Scientific and Technological Institute, Agricultural University of Jilin, Changchun, 130118, ChinaDepartment of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71C, PL60-625, Poznan, PolandCESCO, UMR7204 MNHN-CNRS-Sorbonne Université, CP135, 43 Rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, FranceSchool of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China; Corresponding author.School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China; Jilin Engineering Laboratory for Avian Ecology and Conservation Genetics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China; Corresponding author. School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China.Grasslands are among the world's most threatened ecosystems, and steppe birds face increasing risks from human activities. This study investigates how human impacts affect the distribution and community structure of breeding steppe birds in Inner Mongolia, a biodiversity hotspot in Asia. We conducted standardized point-count surveys across a gradient from intact grasslands to urbanized areas, integrating species occurrence data, functional traits and the Human Footprint Index (HFI). Using Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) and Conditional Random Fields (CRFs), we assessed trait-environment interactions and shifts in species associations. Our results indicate that the HFI significantly affects bird communities. Habitat specialists, such as Mongolian Lark (Melanocorypha mongolica), showed negative responses, whereas generalists like Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) thrived in disturbed areas. Trait-based analysis showed that species with larger body mass and specialized diets were negatively associated with HFI, whereas those linked to human-modified habitats exhibiting strong positive associations. In areas with high human footprint, co-occurrence networks grew more polarized: specialists faced intensified competition, while species with positive HFI responses formed stronger positive associations. CRF models indicated that human activities restructure species interactions, favoring generalists and simplifying community dynamics. These findings highlight the dual role of human impact in supporting some species while threatening specialists, potentially driving biotic homogenization. Our study emphasizes the need for conservation strategies that protect vulnerable species and manage those that thrive in human-altered environments. By linking traits and interactions to human impacts, this study provides a framework for identifying at-risk species and guiding conservation in the Anthropocene.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2053716625000532Avian conservationHuman footprint indexSteppe birdsTrait-environment interactions |
| spellingShingle | Wenyu Xu Chunlu Wang Yanqi Wang Xi Yang Lishi Zhang Piotr Tryjanowski Frédéric Jiguet Zheng Han Haitao Wang Trait-mediated responses and co-occurrence patterns of breeding steppe birds under human footprint in Inner Mongolia Avian Research Avian conservation Human footprint index Steppe birds Trait-environment interactions |
| title | Trait-mediated responses and co-occurrence patterns of breeding steppe birds under human footprint in Inner Mongolia |
| title_full | Trait-mediated responses and co-occurrence patterns of breeding steppe birds under human footprint in Inner Mongolia |
| title_fullStr | Trait-mediated responses and co-occurrence patterns of breeding steppe birds under human footprint in Inner Mongolia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trait-mediated responses and co-occurrence patterns of breeding steppe birds under human footprint in Inner Mongolia |
| title_short | Trait-mediated responses and co-occurrence patterns of breeding steppe birds under human footprint in Inner Mongolia |
| title_sort | trait mediated responses and co occurrence patterns of breeding steppe birds under human footprint in inner mongolia |
| topic | Avian conservation Human footprint index Steppe birds Trait-environment interactions |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2053716625000532 |
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