Ecosystem consequences of bird declines

 

 

Table 2. Ecological and economical contributions of avian functional groups

Functional

group

Ecological process

Ecosystem service and economical benefits

Negative consequences of loss of functional group

Frugivores

Seed dispersal (1–4)

Removal of seeds from parent tree (5–8); escape from seed predators (9,10); improved germination (11,12); increased economical yield (13–16); increased gene flow (17–19); recolonization and restoration of disturbed ecosystems (20–24)

Disruption of dispersal mutualisms (25–27); reduced seed removal (28); clumping of seeds under parent tree (29); increased seed predation (10); reduced recruitment (28,30); reduced gene flow (31,32) and germination (12,33,34); reduction (35,36) or extinction (37–40) of dependent species

Nectarivores

Pollination (3,41,42)

Outbreeding of dependent (42–44) and/or economically important species (14,45)

Pollinator limitation (45,46); inbreeding and reduced fruit yield (47–52); evolutionary consequences (41,45,53); extinction (37,54)

Scavengers

Consumption of carrion (55)

Removal of carcasses (56,57); leading other scavengers to carcasses (55); nutrient recycling; sanitation (56,57)

Slower decomposition (55); increases in carcasses (56,57); increases in undesirable species (56,57); disease outbreaks (56,57); changes in cultural practices (56,58)

Insectivores

Predation on invertebrates

Control of insect populations (59–65); reduced plant damage (62,66,67); alternative to pesticides (68–70)

Loss of natural pest control (68,69); pest outbreaks (59,61,71); crop losses (62); trophic cascades (72)

Piscivores

Predation on fishes and invertebrates

Production of guano

Controlling unwanted species (73); nutrient deposition around rookeries (74–78); soil formation in polar environments (79); indicators of fish stocks (80); environmental monitors (81)

Loss of guano and associated nutrients (82); impoverishment of associated communities (83); loss of socioeconomic resources (84) and environmental monitors (81); trophic cascades (73,85)

Raptors

Predation on vertebrates

Regulation of rodent populations (86,87) secondary dispersal (88)

Rodent pest outbreaks (89); trophic cascades (72,90,91); indirect effects (92)

All species

Miscellaneous

Environmental monitoring (93,94); indirect effects (88,95–101); birdwatching tourism (102–104); reduction of agricultural residue (105); cultural and economic uses (106)

Losses of socioeconomic resources (102,107) and environmental monitors (108); unpredictable consequences (96)

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