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Habitat Selection by Red-Breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus

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Habitat Selection by Red-Breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus HABITAT SELECTION BY RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER (SPHYRAPICUS RUBER) IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA OLD-GROWTH FOREST by Marlene A. Wagner A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of Humboldt State University In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science In Natural Resources: Wildlife March, 2011 ABSTRACT Habitat Selection by Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber) in Southeast Alaska Old-Growth Forest Marlene A. Wagner Conservation of a keystone species requires knowledge of habitat use across the species’ range. The factors that influence habitat selection by Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber) in the temperate rainforests of southeast Alaska are poorly understood. I examined habitat selection of this keystone species during the breeding season in 2008 and 2009. I quantified the structural characteristics of sapwell trees and compared them to trees without sapwells, and I located nests to describe nest trees and compare characteristics of used and available nest trees and nest sites using model selection techniques. Sapsuckers selected trees for building sapwells that were intermediate in size, had high bark furrow depth, and had a greater incidence of conks and dwarf mistletoe. Nesting Sapsuckers did not show bias for cavity orientation and nest trees were predicted primarily by size and the presence of fungal infection at intermediate stages of decay. Nest sites contained a lower volume of trees, higher DBH, increased incidence of fungal infection, and older decay classes of coarse woody debris than available sites. These findings suggest that during the breeding season, Red- breasted Sapsuckers select habitats with attributes characteristic of the full range of old- growth forest succession, and they therefore may need substantial forest structural diversity for their feeding and nesting activities. The results from this study provide iii information that can be used to identify habitat for breeding and foraging Red-breasted Sapsuckers. Due to their status as a keystone species, maintaining adequate breeding habitat in southeast Alaska is important not only to the local population of Red-breasted Sapsuckers, but for other species as well. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I thank my major advisor, Dr. Matt D. Johnson, for his advice and guidance throughout this project. I thank Dr. Mark A. Colwell and Dr. T. Luke George for their comments both in the preparation of this study and in reviewing the manuscript. I extend my gratitude to those that provided field assistance and good humor in bad weather: Jessica M. Engle, Karisa L. Garner, and E. Sam Neuwirth. Fellow graduate students Michael A. Hardy, Joe A. LaManna, Shannon W. Murphie, and Jared T. Wolfe provided instrumental advice, support, and friendship. Dr. C. John Ralph and Dr. Carol Ralph continually offered mentorship, assistance, and encouragement. Alisa and Iris Tripp supplied accommodation and jovial perspective during both field seasons in Alaska. Dr. Steve Herman provided me with initial inspiration into the world of ornithology and field biology, for which I will always be thankful. Everyone at the United States Forest Service, Petersburg Ranger District, offered cheerful assistance with this research. Wildlife Biologist Chuck Parsley, Cabins Manager Jeff W. Robinson, and Petersburg District Ranger Chris Savage were particularly helpful. I am especially grateful to Brad L. Hunter, dedicated Wilderness Manager and bird lover, without whom this project would not have been possible. Most importantly, I would like to express my love and thanks to my brother, Milton A. Wagner, for his unconditional support and encouragement throughout this adventure. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................v TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................x LIST OF APPENDIXES.................................................................................................... xi INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1 METHODS ..........................................................................................................................5 Study Area ...............................................................................................................5 Sapwell Trees ...........................................................................................................8 Nest Trees ..............................................................................................................10 Nest Sites ...............................................................................................................12 Statistical Analysis .................................................................................................15 Sapwell Tree Selection .....................................................................................15 Nest Tree Selection ..........................................................................................15 Nest Site Selection ............................................................................................16 Model Selection and Evaluation ......................................................................17 RESULTS ..........................................................................................................................19 Sapwell Trees .........................................................................................................19 Nest Trees ..............................................................................................................24 Nest Sites ...............................................................................................................29 vi TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) Page DISCUSSION ....................................................................................................................33 Sapwell Trees .........................................................................................................33 Nest Trees ..............................................................................................................34 Nest Sites ...............................................................................................................35 Management Implications ......................................................................................36 LITERATURE CITED ......................................................................................................38 APPENDIX ........................................................................................................................46 vii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Average and standard error of covariates sampled at Red-breasted Sapsucker sapwell trees (n = 33) and available trees (n = 503) in Petersburg Creek-Duncan Salt Chuck Wilderness, Alaska, in 2008.... .................21 2 Top five candidate models plus the null for predicting Red-breasted Sapsucker sapwell trees in Petersburg Creek-Duncan Salt Chuck Wilderness, Alaska, in 2008.... ..............................................................................22 3 Parameter estimates for the top three averaged models predicting Red- breasted Sapsucker sapwell trees in Petersburg Creek-Duncan Salt Chuck Wilderness, Alaska, in 2008.... ..............................................................................23 4 Average and standard error of Red-breasted Sapsucker nest tree (n = 31) characteristics in Petersburg Creek-Duncan Salt Chuck Wilderness, Alaska, in 2008 and 2009.......................................................................................25 5 Average and standard error of covariates sampled at Red-breasted Sapsucker nest trees (n = 31) and available trees (n = 150) in Petersburg Creek-Duncan Salt Chuck Wilderness, Alaska, in 2008 and 2009. .......................26 6 Top five models plus the null for predicting Red-breasted Sapsucker nest trees in Petersburg Creek-Duncan Salt Chuck Wilderness, Alaska, in 2008 and 2009 .................................................................................................................27 7 Parameter estimates for the top model predicting Red-breasted Sapsucker nest trees in Petersburg Creek-Duncan Salt Chuck Wilderness, Alaska, in 2008 and 2009 ........................................................................................................28 8 Average and standard error of covariates sampled at Red-breasted Sapsucker nest plots (n = 31) and available plots (n = 31) in Petersburg Creek-Duncan Salt Chuck Wilderness, Alaska, in 2008 and 2009 ........................30 viii LIST OF TABLES (CONTINUED) Table Page 9 Top five candidate models predicting Red-breasted Sapsucker nest-site selection in Petersburg Creek-Duncan Salt Chuck Wilderness, Alaska, in 2008 and 2009 ........................................................................................................31 10 Model-averaged parameter estimates for the top two ranking models predicting Red-breasted Sapsucker nest sites
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