@article{60d4e990e5084c0aaa247d3ac8515784,
title = "Residential yard management and landscape cover affect urban bird community diversity across the continental USA",
abstract = "Urbanization has a homogenizing effect on biodiversity and leads to communities with fewer native species and lower conservation value. However, few studies have explored whether or how land management by urban residents can ameliorate the deleterious effects of this homogenization on species composition. We tested the effects of local (land management) and neighborhood-scale (impervious surface and tree canopy cover) features on breeding bird diversity in six US metropolitan areas that differ in regional species pools and climate. We used a Bayesian multiregion community model to assess differences in species richness, functional guild richness, community turnover, population vulnerability, and public interest in each bird community in six land management types: two natural area park types (separate and adjacent to residential areas), two yard types with conservation features (wildlife-certified and water conservation) and two lawn-dominated yard types (high- and low-fertilizer application), and surrounding neighborhood-scale features. Species richness was higher in yards compared with parks; however, parks supported communities with high conservation scores while yards supported species of high public interest. Bird communities in all land management types were composed of primarily native species. Within yard types, species richness was strongly and positively associated with neighborhood-scale tree canopy cover and negatively associated with impervious surface. At a continental scale, community turnover between cities was lowest in yards and highest in parks. Within cities, however, turnover was lowest in high-fertilizer yards and highest in wildlife-certified yards and parks. Our results demonstrate that, across regions, preserving natural areas, minimizing impervious surfaces and increasing tree canopy are essential strategies to conserve regionally important species. However, yards, especially those managed for wildlife support diverse, heterogeneous bird communities with high public interest and potential to support species of conservation concern. Management approaches that include the preservation of protected parks, encourage wildlife-friendly yards and acknowledge how public interest in local birds can advance successful conservation in American residential landscapes.",
keywords = "beta-diversity, biodiversity conservation, community ecology, habitat, occupancy, residential landscapes, urban homogenization",
author = "Lerman, {Susannah B.} and Narango, {Desir{\'e}e L.} and Avolio, {Meghan L.} and Bratt, {Anika R.} and Engebretson, {Jesse M.} and Groffman, {Peter M.} and Hall, {Sharon J.} and Heffernan, {James B.} and Hobbie, {Sarah E.} and Larson, {Kelli L.} and Locke, {Dexter H.} and Christopher Neill and Nelson, {Kristen C.} and {Padull{\'e}s Cubino}, Josep and Trammell, {Tara L.E.}",
note = "Funding Information: Susannah B. Lerman and Desir{\'e}e L. Narango are to be considered joint first authors. We thank Assistant Editor Dianne Brunton, Morgan Tingley, and another anonymous reviewer for taking the time to review this manuscript and for their constructive comments that improved the quality of this work. We also thank Mary Phillips and Erin Sweeney from National Wildlife Federation. Kyle TePoel, Parker Davis, Alex Lamoreaux, Megan Shave, Karen Wattam, Michael Whittemore, Bas van Schooten and Dan Cooper conducted our bird surveys and Melory Brandao assisted with collecting bird distribution and trait data. We thank Laura Templeton, Noortje Grijseels, Hannah Heavenrich, Laura Steger, Margot McKlveen, and Megan Wheeler for managing the field project in the respective cities. D. L. Narango was supported while conducting this research by a David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship. Research was funded by The National Science Foundation Macrosystems Biology program (EF-1638648, EF-1638725, EF-1638519, EF-1638676, EF-1638560, DEB-1637590, DEB-1832016, DEB-1638606). Funding Information: Susannah B. Lerman and Desir{\'e}e L. Narango are to be considered joint first authors. We thank Assistant Editor Dianne Brunton, Morgan Tingley, and another anonymous reviewer for taking the time to review this manuscript and for their constructive comments that improved the quality of this work. We also thank Mary Phillips and Erin Sweeney from National Wildlife Federation. Kyle TePoel, Parker Davis, Alex Lamoreaux, Megan Shave, Karen Wattam, Michael Whittemore, Bas van Schooten and Dan Cooper conducted our bird surveys and Melory Brandao assisted with collecting bird distribution and trait data. We thank Laura Templeton, Noortje Grijseels, Hannah Heavenrich, Laura Steger, Margot McKlveen, and Megan Wheeler for managing the field project in the respective cities. D. L. Narango was supported while conducting this research by a David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship. Research was funded by The National Science Foundation Macrosystems Biology program (EF‐1638648, EF‐1638725, EF‐1638519, EF‐1638676, EF‐1638560, DEB‐1637590, DEB‐1832016, DEB‐1638606). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Ecological Society of America. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.",
year = "2021",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1002/eap.2455",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "31",
journal = "Ecological Applications",
issn = "1051-0761",
publisher = "Ecological Society of America",
number = "8",
}