Birds Species Composition in Riparian Habitat Invaded by Russian Olive
Sean Mahoney1,2, Anna Smith2, Peter Motyka1,2*, Erick Lundgren3, Matthew J. Johnson2, Raemy R. Winton2, Bo Stevens4
1Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA 86001; SMM: sean.mahoney@nau.edu; PJM: pjm232@nau.edu
2Colorado Plateau Research Station, Northern Arizona University, 617 S. Beaver Street, Building 21, Flagstaff, AZ, USA; ANBS: asmith@prescott.edu, MJJ: matthew.johnson@nau.edu, RRW: rw257@nau.edu
3Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia; EJL: erick.lundgren@student.uts.edu.au
4School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, 617 S. Beaver Street Building 21, Flagstaff, AZ, USA; BS: bs527@nau.edu
The naturalization of non-native Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) in southwestern US riparian habitats is hypothesized to have negative implications for native flora and fauna. Despite the potential for Russian olive to spread and establish in new riparian habitats, much of its ecology remains unclear. Western rivers are important stopover sites and breeding grounds for birds, including some endangered species, and understanding how birds utilize Russian olive habitats has important implications for effective non-native species management. We compared native bird use of sites that varied in the amount of Russian olive and mixed native/non-native vegetation along the San Juan River, UT, USA. From presence/absence surveys conducted in 2016 during the breeding season, we found 1) fewer bird species were present in Russian olive habitats and 2) the composition of bird species within Russian olive habitats was different than the composition of species in mixed native/non-native habitats. Our results suggest that Russian olive may support a unique assemblage of native birds during the breeding season and as Russian olive continues to colonize new riparian areas, native bird communities may change in response. Finally, we highlight the paucity of research surrounding Russian olive ecology and stress the need for rigorous studies to improve our understanding of the role of Russian olive on the landscape.