Grassland Songbird Response to Landscape Composition and Vegetation in Northeastern and East-Central North Dakota

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Grassland Songbird Response to Landscape Composition and Vegetation in Northeastern and East-Central North Dakota GRASSLAND SONGBIRD RESPONSE TO LANDSCAPE COMPOSITION AND VEGETATION IN NORTHEASTERN AND EAST-CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA By Dustin James VanThuyne Bachelor of Science, Bemidji State University, 2009 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of North Dakota in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Grand Forks, North Dakota December 2013 Copyright 2013 Dustin James VanThuyne ii This thesis, submitted by Dustin James VanThuyne in partial fulfillments of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science from the University of North Dakota, has been read by the Faculty Advisory Committee under whom the work has been done, and is hereby approved. ________________________________ Dr. Brett Goodwin, Chairperson ________________________________ Dr. Brad Rundquist ________________________________ Dr. Kathryn Yurkonis ________________________________ Dr. Marissa Ahlering This thesis is being submitted by the appointed advisory committee as having met all of the requirements of the School of Graduate Studies at the University of North Dakota and is hereby approved. ______________________________ Dr. Wayne Swisher Dean, School of Graduate Studies ______________________________ Date iii PERMISSION Title Grassland songbird response to landscape composition and vegetation in northeastern and east-central North Dakota Department Biology Degree Master of Science In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a graduate degree from the University of North Dakota, I agree that the library of this University shall make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for extensive copying for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor who supervised my thesis work or, in their absence, by the chairperson of the department or the dean of the School of Graduate Studies. It is understood that any copying or publication or other use of this thesis or part thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of North Dakota in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my thesis. Name: Dustin James VanThuyne Date: August 16, 2013 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................ x ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... xii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION TO HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS OF GRASSLAND BIRDS ................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 Grasslands .................................................................................................................... 1 General Description ................................................................................................. 1 Trends and Functions ............................................................................................... 2 Reconstructions ........................................................................................................ 3 Grassland Birds............................................................................................................ 4 Landscape Effects .................................................................................................... 5 Conservation Status ................................................................................................. 6 Management Needs for Grassland Birds ................................................................. 6 Study Objectives .......................................................................................................... 7 II. DETERMINING FAVORABLE GRASSLAND TYPES AND HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS FOR GRASSLAND BIRDS .......................................... 8 Abstract ........................................................................................................................ 8 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 9 Methods ..................................................................................................................... 15 Study Area ............................................................................................................. 15 Study Site Selection ............................................................................................... 16 Bird Survey Methods ............................................................................................. 18 Vegetation Survey Methods ................................................................................... 21 v Statistical Analyses ................................................................................................ 24 Results .................................................................................................................... 25 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 26 III. ASSESSMENT OF LANDSCAPE LEVEL INFLUENCES ON GRASSLAND BIRDS USING GIS TECHNIQUES ....................................... 44 Abstract ...................................................................................................................... 44 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 45 Methods ..................................................................................................................... 48 Study Area ............................................................................................................. 48 Study Site Selection ............................................................................................... 50 Bird Survey Methods ............................................................................................. 51 Landscape Classification ....................................................................................... 54 Statistical Analyses ................................................................................................ 54 Results ....................................................................................................................... 55 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 56 IV. CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................... 75 APPENDICES .................................................................................................................. 77 Appendix A. Site Specific Seed Mixtures .................................................................... 78 Appendix B. Site Specific Avian Observations ............................................................ 83 Appendix C. North Dakota Plant Associations – Belt Transect Method ...................... 92 LITERATURE CITED ..................................................................................................... 95 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Survey locations for grassland birds on WPAs, NWRs, and private lands (n = 32) in northeastern and east-central North Dakota, USA, 2008-2011. ................................... 30 2. Mean species richness for each grassland type (REM = remnant prairie, ONC = old dense nesting cover, WSN = warm-season native, DNC = dense nesting cover, and MSN = multi-species native). .................................................................................. 38 3. Mean percent native vegetation for each vegetation type (REM = remnant prairie, ONC = old dense nesting cover, WSN = warm-season native, DNC = dense nesting cover, and MSN = multi-species native)........................................................................... 40 4. Mean litter depth for each grassland type (REM = remnant prairie, ONC = old dense nesting cover, WSN = warm-season native, DNC = dense nesting cover, and MSN = multi-species native). ........................................................................................... 41 5. Influence of the percent native vegetation on bird species richness. ............................ 43 6. Landscape characteristics were classified within 2 km of each site. ............................ 65 7. Landscapes in northeastern and east-central North Dakota categorized within 2000 m from each site into five cover types: 1) grassland/herbaceous; 2) row crop; 3) open water; 4) emergent vegetation; 5) woody vegetation. ....................................................... 66 vii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Average cost/acre of each seed mixture........................................................................ 31 2. Start and end dates of 100 m fixed-radius point count surveys for grassland birds. .... 31 3. Plant species included in each grassland type seed mixture seeded within the Devils Lake WMD, North Dakota, USA. ......................................................................... 32
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