| Abstract: | To predict the distributions of breeding birds in the state of Georgia, USA, we built hierarchical models consisting of 4 levels of nested mapping units of decreasing area: 90,000 ha, 3,600 ha, 144 ha, and 5.76 ha. We used the Partners in Flight database of point counts to generate presence and absence data at locations across the state of Georgia for 9 avian species: Acadian flycatcher (Empidonax virescens), brownheaded nuthatch (Sitta pusilla), Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea), northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), prairie warbler (Dendroica discolor), yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyxus americanus), white-eyed vireo (Vireo griseus), and wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina). At each location, we estimated hierarchical-level-specific habitat measurements using the Georgia GAP Analysis18 class land cover and other Geographic Information System sources. We created candidate, species-specific occupancy models based on previously reported relationships, and fit these using Markov chain Monte Carlo procedures implemented in OpenBugs. We then created a confidence model set for each species based on Akaike‘s Information Criterion. We found hierarchical habitat relationships for all species. Three-fold cross-validation estimates of model accuracy indicated an average overall correct classification rate of 60.5%. Comparisons with existing Georgia GAP Analysis models indicated that our models were more accurate overall. Our results provide guidance to wildlife scientists and managers seeking predict avian occurrence as a function of local and landscape-level habitat attributes. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70033290 |
| Citation Author: | Howell, J. E.; Peterson, J. T.; Conroy, M. J. |
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| Citation End Page: | 178 |
| Citation Issue: | 1 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Journal of Wildlife Management |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 11 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Building hierarchical models of avian distributions for the State of Georgia; 2008; Article; Journal; Journal of Wildlife Management; Howell, J. E.; Peterson, J. T.; Conroy, M. J. |
| Citation Start Page: | 168 |
| Citation Volume: | 72 |
| Citation Year: | 2008 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Building hierarchical models of avian distributions for the State of Georgia; 2008; Article; Journal; Journal of Wildlife Management; Howell, J. E.; Peterson, J. T.; Conroy, M. J. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.2193/2006-098 |
| Date Other: | Tue, 1 Jan 2008 00:00 -0600 |
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