Influence of cover and food resource variation on postbreeding bird use of timber harvests with residual canopy trees
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Abstract
We investigated avian use of clearcuts and two-age harvests during the post-breeding period in 2006 in the central Appalachians, West Virginia, USA with an information-theoretic approach to model selection. Cover variables appeared to be most important; e.g., vegetative vertical complexity had a strong positive relation with capture rates of mature forest birds and molting adults, as well as physical condition which supports a predator-avoidance hypothesis for habitat use. Basal area was a poor predictor of captures; residual trees near nets tended to depress capture rates. Food variables best explained capture rates for some species groups (e.g., early-successional insectivores and granivores, mature forest nesting adults, molting birds), but post-breeding habitat quality was based primarily on vegetative cover. Habitat use may depend on the bird's physical condition and molt status, and we found evidence for age-specific differences which may impact survival. Our study suggests important links between post-breeding habitat quality, molt status, physical condition, and bird age, and indicates a variety of response variables (relative abundance, survival, body condition) should be measured to assess avian habitat quality during the post-breeding period.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Influence of cover and food resource variation on postbreeding bird use of timber harvests with residual canopy trees |
| Series title | Wilson Journal of Ornithology |
| DOI | 10.1676/09-050.1 |
| Volume | 122 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Year Published | 2010 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | The Wilson Ornithological Society |
| Contributing office(s) | Coop Res Unit Leetown |
| Description | 10 p. |
| First page | 545 |
| Last page | 555 |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |