SIGNATURE WORK
CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION 2023

This study aimed to investigate the association between avian species richness and artificial plantations, specifically Larix plantations, compared to natural forests. The results were unexpected and contradicted previous studies, showing a positive correlation between the proportion of Larix plantations and bird species richness and those habituate in dense habitats. The study found 142 bird species in the survey area, with 110 observed in natural forest and 111 in Larix plantation, and the Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis showed no clear distinction between the two habitats, with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test only yielding significant results for richness of species prefer dense habitats. The negative correlation between tree density and bird species richness was observed, possibly due to the low structural complexity of artificial plantations, limiting the availability of nesting sites and food resources. Additionally, the study found that landscape complexity positively influenced species richness within Larix plantations, characterized by a higher landscape shape index (LSI). And the negative correlation between LSI and species richness in both forest types may be due to habitat fragmentation. Overall, artificial plantations may provide a unique opportunity for supporting a high number of bird species, despite their monoculture nature.