Birds and structure in the Ragabo pine forest (Linguaglossa, CT - Italy)

Structural analysis of a forest ecosystem may allow to assess the spatial heterogeneity and temporal dynamics of the vegetation, the factors related to tree recruitment and the dynamics of canopy gaps, as well as to define the niche of wildlife. The study of the ecosystem response to different silvicultural treatments may also provide hints of the bio-ecological functionality and forest ecosystem stability. In this work, we analyzed the most representative structural types within the Ragabo pine wood (monoplane forest and multilayered forest), and their relationships with the specific composition of the local breeding bird community. The results show the strong sensitivity of birds to environmental changes and their large selectivity in the choice of habitats. In particular uneven-aged forests remain particularly suited to maintain over time a bird community richer and more stable than the even-aged forests