Abstract:

Aim: Different dimensions of biodiversity often exhibit distinct patterns and shaping mechanisms. Studying bird diversity patterns from multiple dimensions is important for a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms that maintain and regulate communities. Sichuan Province, characterized by its complex natural environments and exceptionally high avian diversity, ranks second nationwide in terms of wild bird species richness. However, the spatial distribution patterns of bird diversity across different dimensions and their key driving factors in the region remain unclear. 

Methods: Based on survey data from 288 survey sites collected through stratified sampling in Sichuan Province from 2023 to 2024, this study calculated the taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of breeding bird communities. We used generalized linear models to analyze the relative effects of climate, habitat, and human activities on each dimension of community diversity. 

Results: The results showed that taxonomic diversity was primarily positively influenced by habitat and climate factors, showing significant positive correlations with the proportions of forest, water body, and cropland within the plots, while exhibiting a significant negative correlation with annual precipitation. Functional diversity was jointly affected by climate and habitat factors, being positively associated with precipitation variability, Shannon index of the land-use types, and cropland proportion, and negatively associated with mean annual temperature. Phylogenetic diversity was influenced by climate, habitat, and human activities, showing a significant positive correlation with mean annual temperature, and negative correlations with forest proportion and the human footprint index. 

Conclusion: This study reveals that the taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of breeding bird communities are driven by distinct ecological factors, with the same factor exhibiting both consistent and contrasting effects across different dimensions. Integrating taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic perspectives provides a more comprehensive understanding of community structure and its maintenance mechanisms to provide scientific basis for regional bird diversity conservation.

Key words: taxonomic diversity, functional diversity, phylogenetic diversity, influencing factor, generalized linear model