Abstract: Megacities (or metropolises) have diverse urbanization gradients, and are typical research sites to study the relationships between human disturbance and biodiversity. During the urbanization process in Shanghai, urban greenspaces and farmlands become the dominant ecosystems, altering terrestrial bird communities. This study selected three typical forest parks (Binjiang, Haiwan, and Sheshan) and three farmlands in Chongming (Chenjiazhen, Gangxizhen, and Miaozhen) as research sites to assess the effects of human disturbance on community stability of terrestrial breeding birds. The results show that the community structure of terrestrial breeding birds in greenspaces and farmlands in Shanghai was stable from 2016 to 2018. The density of breeding birds increased steadily during the study period. Greenspaces have significant lower density of terrestrial breeding birds than farmlands. Nine groups of bird guilds have different distribution patterns between greenspaces and agricultural ecosystems. Variability index of breeding bird communities is positively related to the intensity of human disturbance. Omnivorous birds are more tolerant of human disturbance than other guilds. Bird diversity could be increased effectively by improving local habitats of urban parks and changing production patterns.

Key words: breeding bird, guild, density, community stability, Shanghai