Urban Wild Bird Feeding: Impacts on Avian Abundance and Diversity in Texas

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dc.contributor.advisorSmith, Jennifer A.
dc.contributor.authorLamberson, Amanda Michelle
dc.contributor.committeeMemberBush, Janis K.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberWalker, Kenneth C.
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-12T14:51:43Z
dc.date.available2024-02-12T14:51:43Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.descriptionThis item is available only to currently enrolled UTSA students, faculty or staff. To download, navigate to Log In in the top right-hand corner of this screen, then select Log in with my UTSA ID.
dc.description.abstractThe provision of supplementary food to wild birds is widespread in developed nations. Previous studies of effects on birds have mainly occurred in temperate, non-urban settings, and during the breeding season. In this study, effects of supplementary food on the abundance and diversity of birds were evaluated during the winter in San Antonio, Texas, an urban, subtropical city. Specifically, 1) sales data were used to investigate wild bird food bought by residents, 2) surveys of residents were used to assess bird feeding practices, including what food types they provide, when, and how often, and 3) I used data from Objective 1 to assess the effects of commonly provided food on the abundance and diversity of birds in a field-based study. Results suggest mixed and Nyjer seed were among the most purchased foods. Thus, to address Objective 3, in the winter of 2019-2020, 36 sites were randomly allocated either mixed seed, Nyjer seed, or no food (control); and counts were conducted to assess the bird diversity and abundance. Counts were repeated the following winter with no food at sites as part of a reversed Before-After-Control-Impact experimental design. The abundance and diversity of birds were greater at fed sites than non-fed sites in Year 1. In Year 2, both abundance and diversity decreased at mixed seed sites. However, Nyjer sites had similar abundance and diversity in Year 2 compared to Year 1. This study demonstrates that supplementary food has a significant effect on bird abundance and diversity, but effects are context specific.
dc.description.departmentIntegrative Biology
dc.format.extent92 pages
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.isbn9798438756705
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12588/4263
dc.languageen
dc.subjectabundance
dc.subjectbird
dc.subjectdiversity
dc.subjectfood
dc.subjectsupplementary
dc.subjecturban
dc.subject.classificationEnvironmental science
dc.subject.classificationEcology
dc.subject.classificationZoology
dc.titleUrban Wild Bird Feeding: Impacts on Avian Abundance and Diversity in Texas
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.dcmiText
dcterms.accessRightspq_closed
thesis.degree.departmentIntegrative Biology
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Texas at San Antonio
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science

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