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1 September 2016 Examining potential relationships between exotic monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) and avian communities in an urban environment
Christopher W. Appelt, Lorrie C. Ward, Colleen Bender, Joan Fasenella, Brandy J. Van Vossen, Lynn Knight
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Abstract

Exotic species are common in urban ecosystems, but their effects on native species are often unknown. Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) have successfully colonized urban ecosystems across the world. Yet, no study has examined relationships between Monk Parakeets and the avian communities in areas they colonize. The species' recent expansion in Chicago, Illinois, USA and other places makes such a study imperative. We examined avian communities both with and without Monk Parakeets and hypothesized that observed differences between the two community types would be associated with the presence of parakeets. At the community level, we observed no significant differences between areas with and without parakeets, and we found only a few weak differences at the species level. Therefore, we conclude that Monk Parakeets likely are not having a strong influence on urban avian communities, but we cannot rule out effects at smaller scales. Nonetheless, data from this study can serve as a benchmark for measuring potential future changes as the parakeets expand their range.

Christopher W. Appelt, Lorrie C. Ward, Colleen Bender, Joan Fasenella, Brandy J. Van Vossen, and Lynn Knight "Examining potential relationships between exotic monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) and avian communities in an urban environment," The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 128(3), 556-566, (1 September 2016). https://doi.org/10.1676/1559-4491-128.3.556
Received: 16 July 2015; Accepted: 1 December 2015; Published: 1 September 2016
KEYWORDS
avian diversity
Chicago
community effects
invasive species
monk parakeet
urban ecosystem
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