Download or read book Golden winged Warbler Vermivora Chrysoptera Demographics and Habitat Use and the Potential Effects of Land Use Change on Gold winged and Cerulean Warblers Dendroica Cerulea in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee written by and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 215 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The golden-winged warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) is an early successional Nearctic-Neotropical migrant songbird undergoing population declines range-wide. The Cumberland Mountains contain one of the southernmost populations where goldenwingeds occur in relatively high densities on old reclaimed surface mines. The three objectives of this research were to (1) describe the basic demography and habitat use of this population, (2) compare the demography of the Cumberland population to a population in Ontario, and (3) to model alternative land use scenarios and the impacts on both the golden-winged warbler and the cerulean warbler (Dendroica cerulean), another declining Nearctic-Neotropical migrant that occupies mature forests. Specifically, I modeled daily nest survival rate as a function of biologically meaningful covariates (Part 2) and the relative effects of habitat and demographic factors on territory size variation (Part 3) for the Tennessee population. There was some evidence of annual variation in nest survival rates and a decline throughout the nesting season, but I found little evidence that local habitat characteristics measurably affected nest survival. Territory size varied with the percent cover of vines and the number of snags. The single demographic factor related to territory size was nest success; birds with larger territories had a greater rate of nest success. I compared annual adult survival, fecundity, rate of population growth (lambda), and mean time to extinction for Tennessee and Ontario populations (Part 4). Adult survival and fecundity were similar for the two populations such that predictions based on the theory of life history variation with latitude were not supported. Lambda estimates suggested that both populations were declining and I projected extirpation within 20-30 years without immigration. To further explore avian populations in the Cumberlands, I modeled coal mining, reclamation, and timber harvesting under a base-case scenario (as described by landowners and industries) as well as for alternatives that limited the amount of disturbance (Part 5). None of the scenarios were sustainable alternatives for cerulean and golden-winged warbler populations. My results suggest that future disturbances should be significantly limited to meet cerulean population goals and existing early successional habitat should be maintained and enhanced to sustain goldenwinged warbler populations.
Download or read book Effects of Prescribed Fire and Habitat on Golden winged Warbler Vermivora Chrysoptera Abundance and Nest Survival in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee written by Katie Lee Percy and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 103 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) populations in Appalachia have declined precipitously over the past 45 years. The primary objective of my study was to monitor the response of Golden-winged Warblers to prescribed fire treatments on reclaimed coal mines in the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area, Tennessee. Presence-absence surveys were conducted on eight mountain-top study sites and nest searching/monitoring was conducted on two additional sites, 2009-2011. I expanded on previous research of Golden-winged Warbler territory and nest-site selection by determining differences within main effects between used and unused territory plots, as well as used and unused nest-sites. Of my two nest-searched sites, Ash Log and Massengale Mountains, only Massengale received annual prescribed fire treatments, 2007-2011. Thus, analysis was conducted separately for these two study sites. I also modeled the effects of fire history, as well as temporal and biotic factors, on the variation in daily nest survival rates (DSR). I documented a population increase on Massengale, and no change on four sites. Population decline on three unmanaged sites was correlated with a decrease in shrub and/or Rubus spp. cover, and an increase in sapling height. Territories contained more shrub cover>1 m in height on Massengale and Rubus spp. cover was greater inside territories than on unused plots on Ash Log. No nest-plot variables differed between nest and non-nest plots. The best-supported model of DSR included the effect of year, quadratic time, and the presence of Rubus spp. in nesting substrate. Nesting success was highly variable across years; 10.8 ± 5.4% in 2009, 57.5 ± 8.8% in 2010, and 29.3 ± 10.0% in 2011. With respect to time, nest survival was greatest during peak of nest initiation in early May, declined through the middle of the nesting season, and increased again through the latter half of the season (27 June). Nest success decreased with the presence of Rubus spp. in the nesting substrate. I detected no negative relationship between daily nest survival and fire history. My study suggests that prescribed burning on reclaimed coal mining land is a viable management practice for the creation and maintenance of Golden-winged Warbler breeding habitat.
Download or read book Status of the Golden winged Warbler in the Northcentral United States written by Helen M. Hands and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 22 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Survival and Habitat Selection of Golden winged Warblers Vermivora Chrysoptera During Nesting and Post fledging Periods at North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area Tennessee written by Justin Andrew Lehman and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 89 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) populations in the Appalachian Mountains have declined precipitously over the past 50 years. To better understand the decline, I studied two important aspects of the reproductive cycle: the nesting and post-fledging periods on reclaimed surface mines and recent timber harvest sites at North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (NCWMA), Tennessee from 2013 to 2015. Nestlings were radio-marked with a 30-day transmitter two days before their scheduled fledge date and monitored daily once they fledged. Vegetation data were collected at the nest site and daily fledgling locations points along with paired random points. Vegetation characteristics most important during nest site selection were percent mature forest within 250 m of nest (selected against), percent Rubus spp. within 1m of nest (selected for) and vertical vegetation density (selected for). Fledglings did not select for or against any vegetation types during their first 3 days post-fledging. Shrub/sapling vegetation was most selected for during days 4-25. Fledglings avoided mature forest vegetation and herbaceous vegetation during the same time period. Nest survival over a 23-day nesting cycle was 0.354 ± 0.058 (SE) across all years. Vegetation characteristics most closely related to daily nest survival were percent forbs within 1 m of nest (positive relationship) and percent Rubus spp. within 1 m of nest (negative relationship). Fledgling survival for the entire 25-day post-fledging period was 0.289 ± 0.066, with most of the mortality occurring in the first 3 days (0.736 ± 0.039 daily survival rate). Snake predation accounted for 52% (16/31) of known deaths. The best supported model when individual habitat covariates were added included percent shrub-sapling vegetation within 250 m of post-fledging location (negative relationship). All other individual covariates had a delta AICc >2 when compared to the top model. Managing for Golden-winged Warbler nesting and ensuring fledgling survival. Compared to values reported elsewhere across the northern parts of the breeding range of the species, full season productivity at NCWMA of 0.66 offspring/pair may be insufficient to sustain populations without significant sources of immigration.reproduction must be a balance between meeting the needs for
Download or read book Golden winged Warbler Vermivora Chrysoptera Habitat Selection Mating Behaviour and Population Viability in a Fragmented Landscape at the Northern Range Limit written by Laurel Moulton and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) is an early-successional specialist and one of the fastest declining songbird species in North America. This decline is related in part to habitat loss and degradation of contemporary forests; however, the consequences of anthropogenic disturbance on the species need further evaluation. Thus, I assessed occupancy, population growth, mating behaviors, and hybrid habitat use by Golden-winged Warblers across a range of disturbance levels within southeast Manitoba, Canada. Golden-winged Warblers consistently responded most strongly to disturbance at the 1-km scale. Forest patches with greater agricultural matrix cover at a 1-km scale were less likely to be occupied by Golden-winged Warblers. However, warblers did select for early-successional habitat created via resource extraction and other anthropogenic disturbances at this scale. Despite higher densities, productivity declined in landscapes with greater edge density because of Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) brood parasitism. Additionally, pairing success was reduced in patches with lower forest cover at a 1-km scale, although extra-pair paternity rates were not impacted by patch or landscape characteristics. These results suggest that proximate habitat cues used to select nesting sites may be decoupled from realized fitness in this system. Of the sub-populations I monitored, all showed negative population growth suggesting that anthropogenically disturbed forests may act as ecological traps for Golden-winged Warblers. The most productive habitat for Golden-winged Warbler will have high forest cover and minimal anthropogenic edges. Hybridization with Blue-winged Warblers (Vermivora cyanoptera) has also been suggested as a reason for population declines range-wide and I found that hybridization is now occurring in low levels in the Manitoba population. I found no difference in the habitat used by Golden-winged Warblers compared with hybrids at either a territory or landscape scale. The low proportion of hybrids found in Manitoba and the lack of a distinguishable difference in habitat use by Golden-winged Warblers and hybrids indicates that management efforts to encourage habitat use by Golden-winged Warblers while discouraging habitat use by Blue-winged Warbler are unlikely to be a successful conservation strategy. Instead, management efforts should focus on maintaining or creating early-successional habitats with minimal anthropogenic edges.
Download or read book Golden winged Warbler Ecology Conservation and Habitat Management written by Henry M Streby and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2021-03-30 with total page 238 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Golden-winged Warblers (Vermivora chrysoptera) are migratory songbirds that breed in temperate North America, primarily in the Great Lakes region with remnant populations throughout the Appalachian Mountains, and winter in Central and northern South America. Their breeding range has contracted dramatically in the Appalachian Mountains and many populations have dramatically declined, likely due to habitat loss, competition and interbreeding with Blue-winged Warblers (Vermivora pinus), andglobal climate change.. As a result of population declines in much of the eastern portion of their breeding range, Golden-winged Warblers are listed as endangered or threatened in 10 U.S. states and in Canada and have been petitioned for protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Published in collaboration with and on behalf of The American Ornithological Society, this volume in the highly-regarded Studies in Avian Biology series compiles extensive, current research on Golden-winged Warblers and summarizes what is known and identifies many remaining unknowns, providing a wealth of peer-reviewed science on which future research and listing decisions can be based.
Download or read book Survey and Habitat Analysis of the Golden winged Warbler Vermivora Chrysoptera at Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area in Carter County Tennessee written by Melinda Wilson and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Cerulean Warbler Status Assessment written by Paul B. Hamel and published by Createspace Independent Pub. This book was released on 2012-08-16 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cerulean warbler, Dendroica cerulea (Wilson), is a wood warbler in the Subfamily Parulinae of the Family Emberizidae, Order Passeriformes. No controversial or unsettled issues exist in the taxonomy of this bird. The numbers of cerulean warblers are declining at rates comparable to the most precipitous rates documented among North American birds by the cooperative Breeding Bird Survey. Recent evidence suggests that events on breeding, stopover, and wintering grounds are implicated in this decline. However, no detailed life history study of the species exists. This status assessment is an attempt to assemble what is known of the species into a form that will enable biologists in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to make a decision on whether or not to propose listing of the species under the Endangered Species Act. The report will also help the Service and others establish priorities for monitoring; research; and habitat protection, restoration, and management that will conserve this species. Cerulean warbler is a small, neotropical migratory bird that weighs approximately 8-10 grams, and has relatively long, pointed wings and a short tail. All plumages have two white wing bars and white tail spots. Males have streaked backs in all plumages; females do not. Males in breeding plumage are blue above, white below, with a blueblack neck ring. Females in breeding plumage are bluish green above, white below washed with yellow, with a white or yellowish line over the eye. Young birds are similar to the adult females but greener. Cerulean warblers feed primarily on insects throughout the year. Open-cup nests are placed in the canopy of forest trees where the birds raise usually a single brood. Clutch size is usually 3-4 eggs. Adult and juvenile mortality rates are unknown. The longevity record is at least 6 years. Only 1 of 1399 banded individuals has been encountered later away from the original capture locality. Conventional wisdom about habitat for cerulean warblers is that the birds breed in large tracts of deciduous forest having large trees and an open understory. These tracts may be in upland or bottomland situations. Migratory and winter season habitats are poorly known. Cerulean warblers breed in eastern North America primarily in the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys. The range generally extends from the eastern Great Plains, north to Minnesota; east to Massachusetts; and south to North Carolina and Louisiana. During migration the birds pass through the southern U.S., across the Gulf of Mexico to the highlands of Central America, and on to South America. They winter in the lower elevations of the subtropical zone of the eastern slope of the Andes and other mountains in northern South America. Historical data on the occurrence and abundance of the species are sparse and do not permit estimation of total numbers. However, it is clear that this species was a conspicuous and abundant bird throughout the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys in the past century. Currently the birds are much less numerous in areas where formerly they were abundant. The North American Breeding Bird Survey suggests that, during the past 30 years, the population has declined at an average annual rate of approximately 4%. Summaries of the Breeding Bird Survey, Breeding Bird Census, Breeding Bird Atlas, conservation status, and other information pertinent to individual nations, states, and provinces are presented for each political division within the range of the species. Current numbers and distribution of the species are such that an adequate summary of occurrence by land ownership categories cannot be prepared, other than to state that the birds are found on public lands, industrial forest lands, and other private lands. One study found the birds more frequently on public than on other land ownerships.
Download or read book Demography and Habitat Use of Cerulean Warblers on Breeding and Wintering Grounds written by Marja Henni Bakermans and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Abstract: Because their annual movements span continents, Nearctic-Neotropical migratory birds represent one of the most challenging groups for which effective conservation strategies can be developed. Knowledge of the ecology and management of migratory bird communities comes primarily from studies conducted on the breeding grounds. However, recent work demonstrates that events that occur throughout the annual cycle may also contribute to population declines. The Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea), a Neotropical migrant exhibiting precipitous population declines, is an excellent example of a species that may be impacted by events on both the breeding and nonbreeding grounds. My dissertation research examined habitat use and population demography of Cerulean Warblers on breeding (southern Ohio) and wintering (Venezuelan Andes) grounds to evaluate potential factors that contribute to declines in Cerulean Warblers. During the breeding season, we surveyed Cerulean Warblers across 12 mature forest sites in southeast Ohio, 2004-2006. Research on the breeding grounds identified 1) how clearcutting impacted spatial distribution, density, and nesting success of Cerulean Warblers at multiple spatial scales (i.e., from local/edge to landscape), and 2) specific microhabitat and nest-patch characteristics selected by Cerulean Warblers. At each site, Ceruleans were intensively spot-mapped 8 times each year from May to July, adult behavior was used to locate and monitor nesting attempts, and nest, local, and landscape habitat characteristics were quantified. Results suggest that the presence of regenerating clearcuts did not influence density or nesting success of Cerulean Warblers in adjacent mature forest. Instead, local habitat features explained variation in warbler density and daily nest survival better than landscape-scale characteristics. Density and nesting success were positively associated with features typical of heterogeneous steady-state phase forests. In particular, nest plots had 14%, 24%, and 94% greater canopy openness, understory stems, and number of grapevines, respectively. On the nonbreeding grounds, my research examined 1) the suitability of shade coffee plantations and 2) foraging and habitat use by wintering migrant birds, with emphasis on Cerulean Warblers. This portion of the study was conducted in 3 primary forest sites and 3 shade coffee plantations on the western slope of the Cordillera de Mérida of the Andes Mountains. At each site, migrants were surveyed using distance-based line transects, mist-netted and banded, and observed to characterize habitat use and flocking behavior during November to February 2005/06 and 2006/07. During these two seasons, 29 individual Cerulean Warblers were color-banded and resighted to estimate apparent monthly survival, annual return rates, and apparent annual survival. Densities of migrants were 3-14x higher in shade coffee plantations than primary forest sites, even after accounting for differences in detectability. Apparent monthly survival of Cerulean Warblers was estimated at 97% and overwinter persistence was similarly high. Banding data also suggest that migrants using shade coffee improve their body condition over the winter. Adult Cerulean Warblers had 62% higher apparent annual survival than juvenile birds (0.73 versus 0.45). Apparent monthly migration survival for adults (0.97) was similar to values throughout the remainder of the annual cycle, though juveniles experienced up to 6x higher mortality during migratory periods.
Download or read book Using Geographic Information Systems to Identify Habitat for the Golden winged Warbler Vermivora Chrysoptera in Western New York written by Jesse Michael Rubenstein and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) is a passerine species whose populations have decreased internationally by approximately 66 percent since the 1960s, and by approximately 50 percent in New York. Major causes for declines are from loss of shrubland habitat and through hybridization with the Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera). This study utilized published data and expert opinion on Golden-winged Warbler (GWWA) habitat requirements to create habitat suitability models within the Western Finger Lakes Region on NY (NYSDEC Region 8) using a geographic information system. This region is an important area for migratory birds and is previously unstudied for GWWA. The concentration of potential GWWA habitat was identified within the central part of the study area, dubbed the 'Central Band,' comprising of areas within Livingston, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, and Yates counties. Sighting data from the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and Cornell Lab of Ornithology's eBird Program (eBird) were utilized to test for the presence of GWWA within predicted habitat sites. BBS data were useful as an indicator of the model's effectiveness, with two-thirds of BBS routes containing GWWA sightings intersecting predicted prime habitat sites. Cornell's eBird sighting data were less effective as an indicator of the model's accuracy, as available eBird data may contain spatial bias through underreporting by fewer birders in areas of high habitat concentrations. This study also analyzed proximity of GWWA habitat to public and privately managed lands, offering specific locations where GWWA conservation plans, like NYSDEC's Young Tree Initiative, could effectively be implemented with a focus on breeding bird habitat. GWWA habitat conservation is significant, as their habitat is also utilized by other species of conservation concern, such as American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) and Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus), making GWWA a type of umbrella species within early successional habitat."--Abstract.
Download or read book Cerulean Warbler Dendroica Cerulea Breeding Ecology and Habitat Selection Initial Response to Forest Management and Association with Anthropogenic Disturbances in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee written by Tiffany-Ahren Beachy and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The objectives of this research were to (1) assess the pre-treatment conditions on Royal Blue Sundquist Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) in terms of Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea) habitat selection, territory density, and nest survival, (2) summarize the initial response of cerulean nest-site habitat selection, territory density, and nest survival to silvicultural treatments, and (3) to examine the relationship between anthropogenic disturbances and cerulean abundance and occurrence in the Cumberland Mountains. Cerulean Warblers consistently selected territories and nest sites that differed from the available habitat in 2005 and 2006. Specifically, ceruleans on Royal Blue tended to choose areas with larger trees that provided more overstory cover with more vines whereas ceruleans on Sundquist selected for more open conditions. This variation may be driven by the current habitat conditions on Royal Blue and Sundquist WMA. There were consistently more cerulean territories on Royal Blue than Sundquist. Cerulean Warbler nest survival during 2005 and 2006 was affected by temporal (year and nest stage) and habitat-related factors. Cerulean micro-site selection within the nest tree appeared to be linked to nest survival. The study plots on Royal Blue and Sundquist WMAs were subjected to either a modified-shelterwood, shelterwood, or single-tree selection treatment; one plot per site was a control. Each treated plot on Sundquist gained at least one territory after the harvest; the treated plots on Royal Blue maintained the same number of territories. Nest success was lower in 2007 than in 2005; nest site selection did not differ between years. Continued study is needed to examine the effect of the silvicultural treatments on cerulean habitat selection, territory density and nest survival over time. Cerulean Warbler abundance and occurrence did not change with distance from the edge of clearcuts, mines, and older successional disturbances. These findings suggest that the current configuration of forest and edge habitat in the Cumberland Mountains may not have a significant effect on cerulean distribution. We do not know whether habitat quality in terms of fecundity differs between edge and interior forests. This is an important research need as the Cumberland Mountains become more fragmented by human development.
Download or read book Is Spot Mapping Missing Important Aspects of Golden winged Warbler Vermivora Chrysoptera Breeding Habitat written by Mack Wilson Frantz and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 87 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Playback Surveys and Breeding Habitat Characteristics of Golden winged Warblers Vermivora Chrysoptera on High elevation Pasturelands on the Monongahela National Forest West Virginia written by Kyle Ray Aldinger and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Multiscale Habitat Selection and Movement of Fledgling Golden winged Warblers Vermivora Chrysoptera in Two Managed Mixed oak Forest Communities of Northern Pennsylvania written by Cameron J. Fiss and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 139 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Ecology and Management of Golden Winged Warblers Vermivora Chrysoptera and Associated Avian Species in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia written by Kyle Ray Adlinger and published by . This book was released on with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Evaluating New Methods for Predicting Golden winged Warbler Vermivora Chrysoptera Site Occupancy Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Photography written by Kaitlyn Yoder and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Golden-winged warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) is a Neotropical-Nearctic migratory species that breeds in the eastern United States, portions of the Great Lakes region, and eastern Canada. The Golden-winged warbler is an at-risk species that has been declining precipitously over the last 50 years [1,2]. Two primary causes of Golden-winged warbler decline are 1) the expanding range and resulting hybridization with a sister species, the Blue-winged warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera)[2], and 2) the loss of breeding habitat due to forest aging, disruption of disturbance regimes, and destruction of existing habitat due to human expansion [1]. This exploratory study applies conventionally sampled vegetation data, passerine survey data, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery measurements as variables in occupancy models [3].The goals of the study were to evaluate the efficacy of UAVs for assessing remote Golden-winged warbler habitat and to compare UAV methods to vegetation methods of assessment using occupancy modeling. Thirty sample plots in north-central Pennsylvania were surveyed for vegetation composition and Golden-winged warbler occupancy. Each study plot in north-central Pennsylvania was flown with a UAV in 2018. These plots were selected because of a history of Golden-winged warbler monitoring by researchers at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). Avian and vegetation data have been collected in the study area since 2015. I used the IUP vegetation data and Golden-winged warbler detection history data for 2017 and 2018 to develop occupancy models in this study. UAV data were collected only for the 2018 field season by a Penn State field crew. The database for this study was structured in a stacked formation with 60 total records of occupancy, 30 records for each of the years 2017 and 2018. Four detection variables, 10 conventional vegetation variables and 15 UAV variables were used to model Golden-winged warbler occupancy. UAV variables were generated with Fragstats [4].Akaikes Information Criterion for small sample sizes (AICc) was used to assess model performance. Three variable sets were generated as a result of the statistical analysis, one with only conventional vegetation variables, a second with only UAV variables, and a third combining the variables from the top-ten models of each type. A top-ten model list was generated for each of the variable sets. The AICc and 95% confidence intervals of the beta coefficients are reported for each model. A comparison of the top model from each of the three sets provides some insight. The best model belonged to the combination model set (AICc = 0.00). The conventional vegetation measurements model set had the next lowest AICc value (AICc = 2.38), and the UAV-variable top model had a AICc = 6.36. Based on the AICc rule, if two models are within AICc = 2 of one another they are substantially similar[5], we concluded that the combination model is substantially better than those model sets that use only UAV or only conventional vegetation variables. The variables in the top combination variable model included class area in canopy trees, proportion of plot cover in fern spp., proportion of plot cover in grass spp., and proportion of plot cover in litter. Class area in canopy trees is a UAV variable, and the rest are vegetation variables. The variables in the top conventional vegetation measurements model included proportion of plot cover in canopy, proportion of plot cover in fern spp., proportion of plot cover in grass spp., and proportion of plot cover in litter. The variables in the top UAV model included class area in canopy trees, the clumpiness index of the shrubs and forbs class, the mean radius of gyration of the shrubs and forbs class, and the patch density of the canopy trees class.The 95% confidence intervals for the beta coefficient estimates in the three top models all overlapped zero, which means that we cannot draw any substantial conclusions from the individual variable relationships to occupancy within the models. However, we can conclude based on the AICc relationships of the top models that the study provides evidence that UAV variables, while perhaps not a replacement for conventional measurements, can provide valuable supplemental information to conventional vegetation measurements.
Download or read book Population Monitoring and Habitat Assessment of Cerulean Warblers Dendroica Cerulea in the Ozark and Ouachita National Forests of Arkansas written by Erin Lea Combs and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: INTRODUCTION: Cerulean warbler (Dendroica cerulea) populations have declined drastically since the early 1900s (Hamel 2000). Breeding populations throughout North America have declined by an average of 3.4% per year, from 1966-1987 (Robbins et al. 1989). However, the greatest rates of decline revealed through analysis of Breeding Bird Survey data have occurred on the Highland Rim in Kentucky and Tennessee and on the Ozark- Ouachita Plateau of Missouri and Arkansas (Robbins et al. 1989). In the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, populations were surveyed in the 1990s and 16 birds were located at 8 sites (James et al. 2001). In addition, populations of cerulean warblers in the Ozark National Forest of Arkansas declined by 40% between 1998 and 2001 (Kellner 2002). However, monitoring populations in the Ozarks is difficult because of low site fidelity. Over half (15 of 28) of the groups of cerulean warblers that have been monitored in the Ozarks consisted of 1 to 3 individuals, and small groups were not found consistently among years (Kellner 2002). The cerulean warbler is currently listed as a species of concern in the U.S. (Evans and Fischer 1997) and a Species of Special Concern in Canada (COWEWIC 2003). A petition was filed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in October 2000 to add the cerulean warbler to the threatened list of the Endangered Species Act (Hamel et al. 2004); however, cerulean warblers were not listed as federally threatened. Consequently, projects, such as the Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project (CEW AP) have been designed for studying cerulean warbler populations extensively over the last six years to determine whether declines are continuing and how to manage for the species (Rohrbaugh et al. 2001). Another suit has been filed against the USFWS, who now has until November 30, 2006 to decide whether the cerulean warbler merits protection as threatened under the ESA (SELC 2006) ...
