Edge effects and anthropogenic habitat disturbance near urbanization in southern California chaparral communities: results for small mammals and birds
Sauvajot RM. 1993. Edge effects and anthropogenic habitat disturbance near urbanization in southern California chaparral communities: results for small mammals and birds. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America. 74(2):426
Land development in natural areas may result in edge effects, or community changes near habitat edges, due to a variety of potential impacts from surrounding developed lands. To test this hypothesis, small mammals and resident birds were censused in 1991-92 in natural habitat near Los Angeles, CA, within 27 sites ranging from adjacent to urban development to more than 1000 m away from the habitat edge. Fifteen sites were located in intact chaparral and 12 sites within modified habitat altered due to past human activities. Variation in bird and mammal diversity and relative abundance was not found to be correlated with exposure to development in intact or modified sites, however, modified sites did have lower diversity and reduced mammal abundance relative to intact sites. Thus, while habitat alteration did influence community patterns, edge effects associated with development proximity were not apparent. These results may reflect characteristics of intact chaparral which preclude entry of impacts from nearby development. Conservation efforts in these areas should recognize the value of intact habitat near edges and focus on ameliorating anthropogenic disturbances.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Sauvajot, R
- Units
- DENA
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Anthropogenic, California, Chaparral, Disturbance, Effect, IAR, results, Urbanization