Habitat Specialization in Endemic and Non-Endemic Birds on Montserrat
Faculty Mentor
Jenifer Walke
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
4-14-2026 11:30 AM
End Date
4-14-2026 1:30 PM
Location
PUB NCR
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Biology
Abstract
Island ecosystems often contain a high proportion of endemic species that may exhibit narrower ecological niches than more widespread species. This study examined differences in habitat use and niche breadth between endemic and non-endemic bird species on Montserrat. We predicted that the endemics on Monserrat would exhibit a narrower habitat breadth than the non-endemic birds, being associated with forest habitat. Bird observation records were obtained from the eBird database and filtered to reduce potential errors in location and identification. Fourteen species were selected for analysis, including seven endemic and seven non-endemic species randomly drawn from species regularly recorded on the island. Observation localities were classified into three habitat categories--forest, scrub, and urban--using satellite imagery in Google Earth. A chi-square test was used to evaluate differences in habitat use between endemic and non-endemic species. Habitat use differed significantly between the two groups (χ² = 2118.5, p < 0.001). Endemic species were recorded primarily in forest habitats, whereas non-endemic species were more frequently observed in urban and scrub environments. Levins’ niche breadth values were lower for endemic species (B = 1.54) than for non-endemic species (B = 2.36), indicating greater habitat specialization among endemics. These findings suggest that endemic birds on Montserrat may be more dependent on forest habitats, reinforcing the importance of forest conservation for maintaining the island’s unique avifauna.
Recommended Citation
Grove, Micah, "Habitat Specialization in Endemic and Non-Endemic Birds on Montserrat" (2026). 2026 Symposium. 24.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2026/ps_2026/p2_2026/24
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Habitat Specialization in Endemic and Non-Endemic Birds on Montserrat
PUB NCR
Island ecosystems often contain a high proportion of endemic species that may exhibit narrower ecological niches than more widespread species. This study examined differences in habitat use and niche breadth between endemic and non-endemic bird species on Montserrat. We predicted that the endemics on Monserrat would exhibit a narrower habitat breadth than the non-endemic birds, being associated with forest habitat. Bird observation records were obtained from the eBird database and filtered to reduce potential errors in location and identification. Fourteen species were selected for analysis, including seven endemic and seven non-endemic species randomly drawn from species regularly recorded on the island. Observation localities were classified into three habitat categories--forest, scrub, and urban--using satellite imagery in Google Earth. A chi-square test was used to evaluate differences in habitat use between endemic and non-endemic species. Habitat use differed significantly between the two groups (χ² = 2118.5, p < 0.001). Endemic species were recorded primarily in forest habitats, whereas non-endemic species were more frequently observed in urban and scrub environments. Levins’ niche breadth values were lower for endemic species (B = 1.54) than for non-endemic species (B = 2.36), indicating greater habitat specialization among endemics. These findings suggest that endemic birds on Montserrat may be more dependent on forest habitats, reinforcing the importance of forest conservation for maintaining the island’s unique avifauna.
