Testing the validity of the avian focal species approach to conserve biodiversity in urban forests

A long-term goal of the Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative is to promote biodiversity conservation within the Greater Vancouver Region by focusing on priority habitat requirements. A regional group of specialists selected the Indicator Species model to monitor habitat quality and represent biodiversity. I tested the validity of 7 avian focal species selected as ‘Indicators’ of biodiversity in urban mature forests. Study sites included 10 municipal and regional parks and 1 ecological reserve. I evaluated habitat quality by comparing sites to "pristine" reference conditions. Focal species abundance correlated with deviations from reference conditions revealed minimal associations between birds and characteristics of mature forest, or attributes of species’ natural habitats. The 9 criteria used to select the Indicator Species was problematic; most species were generalists and not sufficiently sensitive to change in habitat conditions. Only Townsend’s Warblers exhibited potential as indicators of biodiversity in mature forests because of specific habitat requirements