Species Diversity in Birds in City Parks and Residential Neighborhoods in Columbia, Missouri:

Abstract
I used line-transects to measure species diversity and individual species' populations in city parks compared with residential neighborhoods in Columbia, Missouri. Birds were counted on 3 weekly visits to each of 6 locations in April 2007. I visited each site from 1400-1600, the weather each time was progressively warmer but the sky was consistently partly cloudy. Each plot was selected to be as similar in vegetation and size to the others as possible. The residential neighborhoods consisted of lines of homes on either side of the street with yards, trees and shrubbery. The city parks were all moderately dense with trees of many varieties, including coniferous and deciduous trees, and also offered some open land. Each park is often visited by humans, but greater dangers exist in residential neighborhoods in the form of traffic and domestic pets. Therefore I hypothesize that birds will exhibit a preference for city parks in that they will be more populated. After gathering data, I presented averages with standard deviations in the form of a bar graph. The results disproved my hypothesis. Homes in residential neighborhoods may offer supplemental food in feeders or the homes themselves may offer additional nesting sites for birds. There may be a higher degree of competition in the city parks than in the residential neighborhoods leading to a decrease in the number of individuals found there on average, or predators may be more effectively concealed in the natural cover of the trees and bushes.

City parks are an excellent public resource in Columbia, enjoyed by both people and animals. Birds make use of these sanctuaries for nesting, bathing, and feeding. But are these habitats preferred to the resources found scattered throughout our own backyards? Chapman and Reich (2007) found that rural environments exhibit greater species diversity than urban environments in Minnesota. Carlisle et al. (2004) came to a similar conclusion while studying migrant landbirds in southwestern Idaho. I would like to show that birds prefer to make their homes in city parks and away from the threats of traffic, humans and domestic animals, thus further proving that city parks are a vital resource and improve the community by supporting natural wildlife.

Study Sites, Methods and Materials
I concentrate on 2 specific habitat types: city parks and residential neighborhoods. I estimate the comparative values of each habitat type based on their observed populations within a 3 week period, from 8th April through 22nd April, 2007. Knutson et al. (2006) used population growth rates to measure habitat quality. I use average populations to suggest that birds find one of these 2 habitats types to be of better quality. In studying Storm-petrels of the eastern Pacific Ocean, Spear and Ainley (2007) categorized individuals by habitat, and used this data to suggest that habitat diversity has led to the broad physical diversity observed in this small family today. I hypothesize that habitat gradients in Columbia, Missouri affect avian populations, specifically that the better quality resources offered in city parks give rise to a greater total numbers of birds and a greater number of different species represented when compared with residential neighborhoods. For this study I chose to survey 3 city parks and 3 residential neighborhoods, for a total of 6 field sites. I chose sites that were similar in resource availability and size. The 3 parks I selected were: Peace Park on University campus, Douglas Park on Rogers and 5th Streets, and Lions-Stephens Park on Walnut and Williams Streets. The 3 residential neighborhoods I selected were: Lyon Street from 5th Street to 8th Street, Melbourne Street from Hodge Street to Windsor Street, and Parkhill Avenue from Parkway Drive to Garth Avenue. Maps follow the graphs at the end of this report. I used the line-transect method of surveying each plot. In residential neighborhoods I simply walked straight through the center of each street and back, and kept a log of which species and how many of each species I identified. In each city park I divided the plot in half and simply walked straight down the center of one half and straight up the center of the other half, again keeping a log of which species I identified by sight or sound and how many of each. I visited each of the six sites three times. I compiled the data using Microsoft Excel, calculated the average number of each species present at each location, calculated the standard deviation, and produced bar graphs for both parks and residential neighborhoods.

Results
Graphs 1 and 2 present the data collected in a bar graph showing the average number of individuals recorded in each location from 3 separate visits. Standard deviation is represented by a line extending above each bar. A greater number of species were identified in residential neighborhoods. I saw 10 species compared with 9 species in city parks. The House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) was spotted on Melbourne Street only. The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) was by far the most numerous of birds in both habitat types, with an average number of at least 7 birds in the parks and at least 10 birds in the neighborhoods. The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), American Robin (Turdus migratorius) and European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) were next most abundant, and each was observed in greater numbers in the residential neighborhood habitats. A greater total number of birds were seen in residential neighborhoods as well.

Discussion
The data collected disproved my hypothesis that birds are more abundant in city parks than in residential neighborhoods. A consistently greater number of species and of individuals were observed in neighborhoods. This could result from offers of feeder food, abundance of nesting cavities, or ease in avoiding predators with the availability of hiding places. In the city parks the predators may themselves be more concealed in unmown grasses and under untrimmed shrubs. Despite conclusive evidence against my hypothesis, many questions remain, and many new questions have arisen. Do these results suggest that birds prefer a residential neighborhood habitat?

Literature Cited:

Carsisle, Jay D., Sarah L. Stock, Gregory S. Kaltenecker, and David L. Swanson. "Habitat Associations, Relative Abundance, and Species Richness of Autumn Landbird Migrants in Southwestern Idaho." The Condor 106.3 (2004): 549-566. Academic Search Premier. MU Ellis, Columbia. 8 Apr. 2007.

Chapman, Kim A., and Peter B. Reich. "Land Use and Habitat Gradients Determine Bird Community Diversity and Abundance in Suburban, Rural and Reserve Landscapes of Minnesota, USA." Biological Conservation 135.4 (2007): 543-557. Academic Search Premier. MU Ellis, Columbia. 6 Mar. 2007.

Knutson, Melinda G., Randy K. Hines, Larkin A. Powell, Mary A. Friberg, and Gerald J. Niemi. "An Assessment of Bird Habitat Quality Using Population Growth Rates." The Condor 108 (2006): 301-314. Academic Search Premier. MU Ellis, Columbia. 15 Apr. 2007.

Spear, Larry B., and David G. Ainley. "Storm-Petrels of the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Species Assembly and Diversity Along Marine Habitat Gradients." Auk Supplement 124 (2007): 1-77. Academic Search Premier. MU Ellis, Columbia. 5 Apr. 2007.