Date of Award
11-15-2002
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Integrated Environmental Sciences
First Advisor
Alix Denise Dowling Fink, M.S.
Second Advisor
Timothy W. Stewart, Ph.D.
Third Advisor
Dana P. Johnson, M.S.
Abstract
Population declines of many Neotropical migrant bird species (NTMs) in parts or all of their North American breeding ranges have prompted concern regarding the conservation of these species. Many NTMs have specific habitat requirements and are thus negatively affected by habitat alteration. In eastern North America, habitats have changed significantly since European settlement and those changes have had different impacts on different suites of breeding birds. Forest birds are frequently identified as species particularly sensitive to habitat changes though, more recently,marked declines of shrubland or early successional songbirds have raised concern. My goal was to examine the effects of a specific silvicultural prescription, shelterwood harvest, on breeding bird communities in the Virginia Piedmont. I found that forest-breeding species occurred only at very low numbers in harvested sites while shrubland-breeding species responded positively to harvest. However, data indicated that shrubland bird abundance decreased in the 4th year post-harvest. Thus, these habitats may only be suitable to early successional birds for a short window of time. ANOVA results demonstrated significant (P < .05) effects for stand age in all but one of the 11 species studied. Site effects were significant (P < .05) in all but 4 of the 11 species studied. Age*site interactions were significant (P < .05) in 5 of the 11 study species. Responses to shelterwood harvest cuts highlighted the importance of management that is balanced in space and time to benefit multiple species and species suites.
Recommended Citation
Coleman, Pamela, "BREEDING BIRD COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO VEGETATION SUCCESSION IN HARDWOOD SHELTERWOOD CUTS IN THE VIRGINIA PIEDMONT" (2002). Theses & Honors Papers. 208.
https://digitalcommons.longwood.edu/etd/208
