Work

Concrete Habitat Severely Decreases the Reproductive Output of Two Urban Birds

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT The conversion of natural habitats to impervious surfaces in cities affects biotic and abiotic attributes of urban ecosystems. However, detailed information on the gradual influence of impervious surfaces on reproductive output is lacking. Using 5 years of nestbox‐breeding great tit and blue tit data collected across various habitat types within and outside a Central–Eastern European capital city, we quantified the impact of impervious surfaces on avian reproductive success. Impervious surfaces strongly and negatively covaried with the number of fledged young in both species: a 0%–50% increase in impervious surface within 100 m of the nest was associated with 3.56 fewer fledged offspring in great tits (95% CI: −4.85, −2.27) and 2.91 fewer fledged offspring in blue tits (95% CI: −4.26, −1.56), thus halving the reproductive output of two widespread urban species. These results provide benchmark values of avian productivity for ecologists and urban policy makers, and for the management of urban areas.

Source: Conservation Letters

DOI: 10.1111/conl.13093

Authors: Michela Corsini, Marta Szulkin

Institutions: Eurac Research, University of Warsaw

Language: English

Topic: Avian ecology and behavior

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,550