Habitat Selection of the Cerulean Warbler in Eastern Kentucky
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University of Kentucky UKnowledge University of Kentucky Master's Theses Graduate School 2006 HABITAT SELECTION OF THE CERULEAN WARBLER IN EASTERN KENTUCKY Patricia J. Hartman University of Kentucky, [email protected] Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Hartman, Patricia J., "HABITAT SELECTION OF THE CERULEAN WARBLER IN EASTERN KENTUCKY" (2006). University of Kentucky Master's Theses. 285. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_theses/285 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Kentucky Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT OF THESIS HABITAT SELECTION OF THE CERULEAN WARBLER IN EASTERN KENTUCKY Successful forest management requires an understanding of the habitat requirements of individual species at multiple spatial scales. The cerulean warbler (Dendroica cerulea) is a neotropical migratory songbird that has recently gained widespread attention as a species of conservation and management concern. It breeds in mature, deciduous forests of eastern North America and has experienced precipitous range-wide declines over the last 40 years. Although Kentucky likely supports one of the largest breeding populations of the species, no information exists on cerulean warbler habitat selection within the state. The overall purpose of this study was to identify important habitat features associated with cerulean warbler distribution on breeding grounds in eastern Kentucky. In 2004 and 2005, I examined cerulean warbler distribution and associated vegetative characteristics within a hierarchical framework at the stand, territory, and nest-site levels. I used the Information-Theoretic approach to develop 2 sets of a priori models. The first set of models attempted to explain cerulean warbler site occupancy through presence and absence data obtained from point counts. The second set of models attempted to explain differences between preferred song perches and available habitat. Due to small sample size, nest-site information was not used in modeling efforts. Results from presence and absence modeling were inconclusive as no habitat-related differences were identified between occupied and unoccupied locations within the study area. However, territory modeling revealed three potentially important predictors of cerulean warbler habitat: large diameter trees, east-facing aspect, and increased shrub cover. This study reinforces general patterns observed throughout the cerulean warbler’s breeding range. Although the mechanisms causing cerulean warbler declines are still poorly understood, conservation and management efforts directed toward protecting and establishing large tracts of mature forest with large trees on mesic, sheltered sites should be a reasonable approach to managing cerulean warbler populations on the breeding grounds. KEYWORDS: Cerulean warbler, Dendroica cerulea, habitat selection, Neotropical migrants _____Patricia J. Hartman________ __ _ __ January 9, 2006___ ______ Copyright © Patricia J. Hartman 2006 HABITAT SELECTION OF THE CERULEAN WARBLER IN EASTERN KENTUCKY By Patricia J. Hartman __David S. Maehr ________ Director of Thesis __David B. Wagner _ ___ ___ Director of Graduate Studies _ January 9, 2006___ ______ RULES FOR THE USE OF THESES Unpublished theses submitted for the Master’s degree and deposited in the University of Kentucky Library are as a rule open for inspection, but are to be used only with due regard to the rights of the authors. Bibliographical references may be noted, but quotations or summaries of parts may be published only with permission of the author, and with the usual scholarly acknowledgements. Extensive copying or publication of the thesis in whole or in part also requires the consent of the Dean of the Graduate School of the University of Kentucky. THESIS Patricia Jennings Hartman The Graduate School The University of Kentucky 2006 HABITAT SELECTION OF THE CERULEAN WARBLER IN EASTERN KENTUCKY THESIS A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the College of Agriculture at the University of Kentucky By Patricia Jennings Hartman Lexington, Kentucky Director: Dr. David S. Maehr, Professor of Conservation Biology Lexington, Kentucky 2005 Copyright © Patricia J. Hartman 2006 MASTER’S THESIS RELEASE I authorize the University of Kentucky to reproduce this thesis in whole or in part for purposes of research. Signed: _Patricia J. Hartman___ Date: ___January 9, 2006______ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The following thesis is truly a collaborative effort and benefited from the insights, guidance, and hard work of many people. First, I would like to thank my major professor, Dr. David Maehr, for his courage in taking on an “experimental” graduate student. He offered valuable insights during every stage of the thesis process, provided timely and effective editorial contributions, and provided guidance and support in my professional development. I also value the input and involvement of my committee members, Dr. Michael Lacki and Dr. David Westneat. Dr. Lacki’s statistical guidance was critical to the success of my project and helped me gain confidence in my own statistical abilities. Dr. Westneat contributed to the particulars of this research and facilitated my development as a biologist by challenging me to think more conceptually. Additionally, I would like to thank Dr. John Cox and Mr. Rob Paratley, who were significant sources of knowledge and support throughout my matriculation. Second, I would like to thank and acknowledge our primary funding sources: Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) and the Cerulean Warbler Technical Group. At KDFWR, I would particularly like to thank Shawchyi Vorisek for her dedication to participating in the Technical Group project, for help in locating sites, and for being flexible in the wake of this ever-evolving project. From the Cerulean Warbler Technical Group, I would like to thank principle investigators Dr. Petra Bohall Wood (West Viriginia University), Dr. David Buehler (University of Tennessee), Dr. Patrick Keyser (MeadWestvaco Corporation), and Dr. Amanda Rodewald (Ohio State University). I would also like to thank former post-doc Jeff Larkin (now at Indiana University of Pennsylvania), who successfully pursued the initial funding for warbler research at UK, participated in many conference calls, otherwise communicated with the Technical Group, and relayed the information on to me. In addition, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) provided financial and logistical support for this project, as well as access to study sites. Jeff Lewis, USFS Silviculturalist, was indispensable in facilitating this research. He was instrumental in nearly all aspects of the project, from planning treatments to providing maps and GIS support to securing iii housing and a government vehicle for project use. I would also like to thank USFS District Ranger David Manner and Biologist Tom Biebighauser for their support of this project. Most importantly, this project would not have been possible without the hard work, keen observation skills, patience, and good humor of many people in the field. Field assistants Erin White, Steve Babaris, Laura Palasz, Jen Mortensen, Emily Biebighauser, and Lee Agee showed great fortitude and developed strong necks in the pursuit of the elusive cerulean warbler. They also provided reliable data and good times. Many others helped in the field including Marty Acker, John Cox, Scott Friedoff, Jeff Larkin, Dave Maehr, Keith Rutz, and Julie Ter Beest. In addition to the assistance mentioned above, I owe a great deal of thanks to my family and friends. My fellow graduate students, especially Julie Ter Beest, Laura Patton, Dave Unger, and Hannah Harris, have provided a strong support network and have become great friends in the process. And a special thank you to Keith Rutz, the only person who volunteered to carry 60+ pound batteries through the woods and who helped maintain my sanity on a daily basis by providing emotional support, culinary skills, a thoughtful ear, and complimentary cat care. Finally, this thesis is dedicated to my parents, Mike and Sharon Hartman. Thank you for your support and interest in my endeavors; knowing you are behind me gives me the confidence to do things I otherwise wouldn’t. You are both constant sources of inspiration in the way you live your lives and are truly the kind of people a daughter aspires to be. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...............................................................................................iii TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................ vii LIST OF FIGURES .........................................................................................................viii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION................................................................................. 1 Study Animal .................................................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER TWO: STUDY AREA..................................................................................... 6 Buffalo Branch...............................................................................................................