Analysis of the structure of the woodland bird communities in Japan

II Similarity, type classification and species composition of bird communities in winter

Abstract

1. This second report treats of the classification of the Japanese forest bird communities in winter on the basis of the structure and similarity analyses of line census data (40 plots) collected by the author and others.
2. The similarities of the bird communities in forests or other localities were analysed by using Whittaker's index of association. And finally, eleven types of bird communities were classified by the grouping of plots with about 50% similarity. In this paper, the coniferous forest in the subalpine zone is not treated.
3. The similarities of the winter bird communities among eleven types showed the same trend as in the breeding season. Namely, the similarity between the types in the temperate zone and those in the subtropical zone are low, whereas the similarity among the types in each zone is high.
4. The dominance ratio of winter visitor bird group is at most 18% in the temperate zone and is lower in the other zone.
5. The eight species, namely Aegithalos caudatus, Parus major, Parus montanus, Parus ater, Hypsipetes amaurotis, Regulus regulus, Sitta europaea and Emberiza cioides, are recongnized to be vasic constituents in the winter woodland bird community in Japan.
6. The eleven types of winter bird communities are hypothesized as follow; and each bears the names of the three species which comprise chief dominant species in each types.
A. Ever green coniferous forest at the lowland in Hokkaido Regulus regulus-Parus palustris-Parus ater Association
B. Pan-mixed forest in Hokkaido Parus ater-Parus montanus-Sitta europaea Association
C. Deciduous broad-leavedforest at the lowland in Hokkaido Parus montanus-Sitta europaea-Picus canus Association
D. Mature deciduous broad-leaved forest at the Fagus crenata zone in Honshu Parus montanus-Sitta europaea-Aegithalos caudatus Association
E. Larix leptolepis plantation in northern Japan Aegithalos caudatus-Parus ater-Parus major Association
F. Young deciduous broad-leaved forest at the Fagus crenata zone in Honshu Aegithalos caudatus-Emberiza cioides-Parns montanus Association
G. Ever green coniferous forest at the temperate zone in northern Honshu Parus ater-Aegithalos caudatus-Regulus regulus Association
H. Open mixed forest of coniferous and broad-leaved trees at the lowland temperate zone. Aegithalos caudatus-Emberiza cioides-Regulus regulus Association
I. Open mixed forest of coniferous and broad-leaved trees at the subtropical zone Hypsipetes amaurotis-Carduelis sinica-Emberiza cioides Association
J. Inland ever green forest at the subtropical zone Hypsipetes amaurotis Parus major-Aegithalos caudatus Association.
K. Seacoast ever green forest at the subtropical zone Hypsipetes amaurotis-Zosterops japonica-Parus major Association (alphabets coincide with Table 5)