Determinants of bird assemblage composition in riparian vegetation on sugarcane farms in the Queensland Wet Tropics

Riparian vegetation remnants on sugarcane farms in the Queensland Wet Tropics can significantly support bird biodiversity, but their effectiveness depends critically on width and proximity to source forest. Research found that even narrow riparian strips (>10 m) benefit edge and open-vegetation species, while widths exceeding 90 m are necessary to sustain closed-forest specialists. Distance from the nearest intact forest also plays a pivotal role, with bird assemblages transitioning gradually—rainforest and dense-vegetation species giving way to more open-habitat species as distance increases. This study highlights the dual value of remnant riparian zones: they act as vital conservation corridors for generalist species while requiring strategic management (e.g., width maintenance) to retain specialist species, underscoring their potential in agricultural landscapes within UNESCO-listed regions.

Keir, A. F., Pearson, R. G., & Congdon, R. A. (2015). Determinants of bird assemblage composition in riparian vegetation on sugarcane farms in the Queensland Wet Tropics. Pacific Conservation Biology, 21(1), 60–73. https://doi.org/10.1071/pc14904