DOCSLIB.ORG

Passerine and Near Passerine Diversity, Richness, and Community Responses to A

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Passerine and Near Passerine Diversity, Richness, and Community Responses to a Rural to Urban Gradient in Southeastern Ohio ________________ A thesis presented to the College of Arts and Sciences Ohio University ________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Graduation from the College of Arts and Sciences with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences- Wildlife Biology ________________ By Jessica E. Howell May 2014 1 This thesis has been approved by The College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Biological Sciences Dr. Donald Miles Professor, Biological Sciences Thesis Advisor Dr. Janet Duerr Professor, Biological Sciences Departmental Honors Coordinator Dr. Robert Frank Dean, College of Arts and Sciences 2 Abstract: Over 50% of the world’s human population lives in cities and the number is steadily rising. Urbanization involves a unique set of environmental characteristics including greater imperviousness of surfaces, higher temperatures, and higher noise and light levels than natural systems. Urban development favors resident species of birds, granivores and omnivores, and rock and cavity nesters over migrants, insectivores, and ground nesters. This leads to differences in colonization success among species. In this study I assessed species richness, diversity, abundance, and guild composition of passerine and near passerine birds in an urban area situated in a rural landscape. I hypothesized that diversity should be lowest in the most urbanized areas and highest in the rural areas, abundances of species should differ among habitats on the rural to urban gradient, and avian communities of urban and rural areas should be unique. The most rural site had the highest species richness and the urban area had the lowest. Species diversity was greater in more rural areas. The abundance of invasive species increased and migrant species richness decreased towards the urban core, and feeding and nesting guild structures differed. These results have wildlife management, biodiversity, and social implications at the local as well as global level. 3 Acknowledgements: There are so many people who have helped me along this journey. First, thank you to my advisor Dr. Don Miles for sparking my interest in Ornithology and giving me the opportunity to work in the field through this project. Second, thank you to Dr. Kelly Williams-Sieg for serving as a second advisor and patiently helping me with statistics and being a source of encouragement along the way. Third, to my loving family: my mother April Howell, father Dana Howell, sister Meghan Howell, aunt Shirley-Ann Miller, aunt Ronda Ghosh, uncle Sam Ghosh, and cousin Rani Ghosh for always encouraging me to follow my dreams of being a wildlife biologist and conservationist, and for all their support over the good and bad times over the past four years of my undergraduate college career. I cannot thank them enough for all their love and guidance. Included in my family are also my dogs and cats, especially my dog Phoebe Patriot Howell, for helping to instill a love of nature in me and inspiring me to protect wildlife. Fourth, to my friends for making me smile and helping me keep my sanity, in particular Pradeep Cheriyan, Aspen Cutlip, Amelia Adams, Mumtaz and Reda Gardezi, and Jordan and Samantha Fitch. Finally, to the staff of the Ohio University Department of Biological Sciences, for teaching me so much and giving me a sense of belonging over the past four years. There are so many people that have touched my life in some way and that have helped me grow as a student. I feel extremely blessed for all the amazing people in my life, and I could not have done this without them. 4 Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 6 The Urban Environment ....................................................................................................................... 6 The Ecology of an Urban Avifauna ...................................................................................................... 9 Avian Population Dynamics. ............................................................................................................ 9 Avian Responses to Urbanization ....................................................................................................... 16 Urban Exploiters. ............................................................................................................................ 16 Urban Adaptors............................................................................................................................... 18 Urban Avoiders............................................................................................................................... 19 General Trends. .............................................................................................................................. 21 Previous Research and Predictions ..................................................................................................... 21 Current Project .................................................................................................................................... 22 Project Goals. ................................................................................................................................. 23 Project significance......................................................................................................................... 24 Methods ................................................................................................................................................... 26 Data Collection ................................................................................................................................... 26 Data Analysis ...................................................................................................................................... 27 Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 30 Species Richness, Abundance, Diversity, and Evenness .................................................................... 30 Predator Presence ................................................................................................................................ 32 Species Accumulation Curves and Number of Unobserved Species .................................................. 32 Species Differences by Site Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling .................................................... 33 5 Guild Univariate Model ...................................................................................................................... 33 Discussion ............................................................................................................................................... 34 Literature Cited ....................................................................................................................................... 41 Figures Legend ........................................................................................................................................ 50 Figures ..................................................................................................................................................... 52 Tables ...................................................................................................................................................... 61 Appendices .............................................................................................................................................. 67 Appendix A: Photographs of Study Sites ............................................................................................ 67 Appendix B: Google Maps/ACME Planimeter Satellite Images of Study Sites ................................. 70 6 Introduction The Urban Environment Increasing human population and activities have been progressively altering landscapes and ecosystems on a global scale. Estimates of the amount of land converted in some way by humans are as high as one third of global land surface (Vitousek et al., 1997). The most drastic of these changes occurs with urbanization; which carries a unique set of characteristics from ground surface to air composition. The global population of over 7 billion people and growing (United States Census Bureau, 2014) is becoming increasingly concentrated in cities. While in 1990 only 10% of the global population lived in cities, today it is over 50% and this is increasing as well, with over 95% of net population increase for the next 50 years expected to be in cities (Grimm et al., 2008). This population and city growth involves enormous amounts of resources and copious amounts of waste; representing 60% of residential water use and almost 80% of global carbon emissions (Grimm et al., 2008). Urbanization is defined as high human abundance compacted into residential and industrial areas, along with its associated effects; and an urban center is identified by having over 2500 people (Chace & Walsh, 2006). A change in thinking has taken place in recent years regarding urbanization and landscape ecology. For much of the 20th century, cities were viewed as human-induced destruction of ecosystems not within the scope of ecology (Grimm et al., 2008). Since its inception in the 1970’s,
Recommended publications
  • Red-Breasted Nuthatch and Golden-Crowned Kinglet

    Red-Breasted Nuthatch and Golden-Crowned Kinglet

    Red-breasted Nuthatch and Golden-crowned Kinglet: The First Nests for South Carolina and Other Chattooga Records Frank Renfrow 611 South O’Fallon Avenue, Bellevue, KY 41073 [email protected] Introduction The Chattooga Recreation Area (referred to as CRA for purposes of this article), located adjacent to the Walhalla National Fish Hatchery (780 m) within Sumter National Forest, Oconee Co., South Carolina, has long been noted as a unique natural area within the state. The picnic area in particular, situated along the East Fork of the Chattooga River, contains an old-growth stand of White Pine (Pinus strobus) and Canada Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) with state records for both species as well as an impressive understory of Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) and Great Laurel (Rhododendron maximum) (Gaddy 2000). Nesting birds at CRA not found outside of the northwestern corner of the state include Black-throated Blue Warbler (Dendroica caerulescens) and Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis). Breeding evidence of two other species of northern affinities, Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) and Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) has previously been documented at this location (Post and Gauthreaux 1989, Oberle and Forsythe 1995). However, nest records of these two species have not been documented prior to this study. The summer occurrence of two other northern species on the South Carolina side of the Chattooga River, Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) and Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) has not been previously recorded. Only a few summer records of the Blackburnian Warbler (Dendroica fusca) have been noted for the state. Extensive field observations were made by the author in the Chattooga River area of Georgia and South Carolina during the breeding seasons of 2000, 2002 and 2003 in order to verify breeding of bird species of northern affinities.
  • Birds of the East Texas Baptist University Campus with Birds Observed Off-Campus During BIOL3400 Field Course

    Birds of the East Texas Baptist University Campus with Birds Observed Off-Campus During BIOL3400 Field Course

    Birds of the East Texas Baptist University Campus with birds observed off-campus during BIOL3400 Field course Photo Credit: Talton Cooper Species Descriptions and Photos by students of BIOL3400 Edited by Troy A. Ladine Photo Credit: Kenneth Anding Links to Tables, Figures, and Species accounts for birds observed during May-term course or winter bird counts. Figure 1. Location of Environmental Studies Area Table. 1. Number of species and number of days observing birds during the field course from 2005 to 2016 and annual statistics. Table 2. Compilation of species observed during May 2005 - 2016 on campus and off-campus. Table 3. Number of days, by year, species have been observed on the campus of ETBU. Table 4. Number of days, by year, species have been observed during the off-campus trips. Table 5. Number of days, by year, species have been observed during a winter count of birds on the Environmental Studies Area of ETBU. Table 6. Species observed from 1 September to 1 October 2009 on the Environmental Studies Area of ETBU. Alphabetical Listing of Birds with authors of accounts and photographers . A Acadian Flycatcher B Anhinga B Belted Kingfisher Alder Flycatcher Bald Eagle Travis W. Sammons American Bittern Shane Kelehan Bewick's Wren Lynlea Hansen Rusty Collier Black Phoebe American Coot Leslie Fletcher Black-throated Blue Warbler Jordan Bartlett Jovana Nieto Jacob Stone American Crow Baltimore Oriole Black Vulture Zane Gruznina Pete Fitzsimmons Jeremy Alexander Darius Roberts George Plumlee Blair Brown Rachel Hastie Janae Wineland Brent Lewis American Goldfinch Barn Swallow Keely Schlabs Kathleen Santanello Katy Gifford Black-and-white Warbler Matthew Armendarez Jordan Brewer Sheridan A.
  • Appendix C. Texas Birds Including Those Found in Three Urban Centers and in Other States

    Appendix C. Texas Birds Including Those Found in Three Urban Centers and in Other States

    Appendix C. Texas birds including those found in three urban centers and in other states. (Courtesy of Cassandra LaFleur) Texas Birds Scientific Name Austin Dallas Houston States Checklistb 1. Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) H 38 2. Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) 14 3. Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) 42 4. Allen's Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) 20 5. Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis) 1 6. American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) D 49 7. American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) H 49 8. American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) 47 9. American Coot (Fulica americana) D H 50 10. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) Da H 49 11. American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) 16 12. American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) 8 13. American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica) 48 14. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) A D H 49 15. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) D H 49 16. American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) 21 17. American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) 50 18. American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) Da 49 19. American Robin (Turdus migratorius) A Da H 49 20. American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea) 49 (Pelecanus 21. American White Pelican D 49 erythrorhynchos) 22. American Wigeon (Anas americana) D 50 23. American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) H 42 24. Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) D 37 25. Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) 30 26. Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis) 3 27. Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) 44 28. Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) 39 29. Audubon's Oriole (Icterus graduacauda) 2 30. Audubon's Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri) 17 31. Aztec Thrush (Ridgwayia pinicola) 2 32. Bachman's Sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis) 24 33. Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) 50 34. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) D H 49 35.
  • Tinamiformes – Falconiformes

    Tinamiformes – Falconiformes

    LIST OF THE 2,008 BIRD SPECIES (WITH SCIENTIFIC AND ENGLISH NAMES) KNOWN FROM THE A.O.U. CHECK-LIST AREA. Notes: "(A)" = accidental/casualin A.O.U. area; "(H)" -- recordedin A.O.U. area only from Hawaii; "(I)" = introducedinto A.O.U. area; "(N)" = has not bred in A.O.U. area but occursregularly as nonbreedingvisitor; "?" precedingname = extinct. TINAMIFORMES TINAMIDAE Tinamus major Great Tinamou. Nothocercusbonapartei Highland Tinamou. Crypturellus soui Little Tinamou. Crypturelluscinnamomeus Thicket Tinamou. Crypturellusboucardi Slaty-breastedTinamou. Crypturellus kerriae Choco Tinamou. GAVIIFORMES GAVIIDAE Gavia stellata Red-throated Loon. Gavia arctica Arctic Loon. Gavia pacifica Pacific Loon. Gavia immer Common Loon. Gavia adamsii Yellow-billed Loon. PODICIPEDIFORMES PODICIPEDIDAE Tachybaptusdominicus Least Grebe. Podilymbuspodiceps Pied-billed Grebe. ?Podilymbusgigas Atitlan Grebe. Podicepsauritus Horned Grebe. Podicepsgrisegena Red-neckedGrebe. Podicepsnigricollis Eared Grebe. Aechmophorusoccidentalis Western Grebe. Aechmophorusclarkii Clark's Grebe. PROCELLARIIFORMES DIOMEDEIDAE Thalassarchechlororhynchos Yellow-nosed Albatross. (A) Thalassarchecauta Shy Albatross.(A) Thalassarchemelanophris Black-browed Albatross. (A) Phoebetriapalpebrata Light-mantled Albatross. (A) Diomedea exulans WanderingAlbatross. (A) Phoebastriaimmutabilis Laysan Albatross. Phoebastrianigripes Black-lootedAlbatross. Phoebastriaalbatrus Short-tailedAlbatross. (N) PROCELLARIIDAE Fulmarus glacialis Northern Fulmar. Pterodroma neglecta KermadecPetrel. (A) Pterodroma
  • The Status and Occurrence of Black Phoebe (Sayornis Nigricans) in British Columbia

    The Status and Occurrence of Black Phoebe (Sayornis Nigricans) in British Columbia

    The Status and Occurrence of Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) in British Columbia. By Rick Toochin. Introduction and Distribution The Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) is a small passerine belonging to the tyrant-flycatcher family. The Black Phoebe occurs as a year-round resident throughout most of its range; however, its northern populations are partially migratory (Wahl et al. 2005). It is a species found throughout the year from southwestern Oregon south, through California including the Baja Peninsula (excluding the central regions of the Peninsula), east through Arizona, New Mexico, southern Colorado, west Texas, south through Mexico, Central America to Panama (excluding El Salvador) and in South America from the coastal mountains of Venezuela, through Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, to western Bolivia and northwestern Argentina (Sibley 2000, Howell and Webb 2010, Hoyo et al. 2006). In the past couple of decades the Black Phoebe has been slowly expanding its known range northward into northern Oregon and southern Washington where it is still considered a very rare visitor, but with records increasing every year (Wahl et al. 2005, WBRC 2012). The Black Phoebe has been recorded from Idaho, Nevada, Utah, southern Oklahoma and Florida (Sibley 2000). The Black Phoebe is an accidental visitor to south-central Alaska (Gibson et al. 2013). In British Columbia this species is considered a casual visitor but Provincial records, like those of Washington State, are on the rise and the status of this species in British Columbia could change in the near future. Identification and Similar Species The Black Phoebe has a huge range that encompasses two continents.
  • Eastern Bluebirds

    Eastern Bluebirds

    ALABAMA A&M AND AUBURN UNIVERSITIES Eastern Bluebirds ANR-687 In the yard and around the garden, bluebirds con- he early American settlers called it the “blue sume grasshoppers, flying insects, beetles, and cater- robin” because of its rust-colored breast and blue T pillars. They also eat berries and fruits found near their back and tail. Today, we call it the Eastern bluebird. nests, especially during the winter when insects are Observing this beautiful bird can bring hours of enjoy- scarce. ment. It is easily attracted to homes and surrounding open areas when nesting boxes are correctly con- structed and properly placed. Youth organizations and Population Decline school classes can construct and maintain bluebird During the last 60 years, bluebird numbers have boxes for educational and money-making projects. decreased 90 percent in the eastern United States. There are four reasons for this decline: Life History • The widespread use of insecticides decreases The bluebird, like the robin, prefers open areas food supplies. such as roadsides, cutover woodlands, old orchards, • Severe winters increase winter mortality. parks, and yards in cities and towns. In these areas, • Changing agricultural practices create well- the bluebird tries to find a hollow tree (cavity tree) in trimmed orchards with no cavity trees for nest sites. which to build a loosely woven nest of grasses. • Exotic species competing for remaining nest sites These cavities are often hard to find because non- make nesting even more difficult. native species such as the house sparrow and starling also use cavities for nesting. These exotic species are very aggressive and often take cavities bluebirds could use.
  • Programs and Field Trips

    Programs and Field Trips

    CONTENTS Welcome from Kathy Martin, NAOC-V Conference Chair ………………………….………………..…...…..………………..….…… 2 Conference Organizers & Committees …………………………………………………………………..…...…………..……………….. 3 - 6 NAOC-V General Information ……………………………………………………………………………………………….…..………….. 6 - 11 Registration & Information .. Council & Business Meetings ……………………………………….……………………..……….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………..…..……...….. 11 6 Workshops ……………………….………….……...………………………………………………………………………………..………..………... 12 Symposia ………………………………….……...……………………………………………………………………………………………………..... 13 Abstracts – Online login information …………………………..……...………….………………………………………….……..……... 13 Presentation Guidelines for Oral and Poster Presentations …...………...………………………………………...……….…... 14 Instructions for Session Chairs .. 15 Additional Social & Special Events…………… ……………………………..………………….………...………………………...…………………………………………………..…………………………………………………….……….……... 15 Student Travel Awards …………………………………………..………...……………….………………………………..…...………... 18 - 20 Postdoctoral Travel Awardees …………………………………..………...………………………………..……………………….………... 20 Student Presentation Award Information ……………………...………...……………………………………..……………………..... 20 Function Schedule …………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………..…………. 22 – 26 Sunday, 12 August Tuesday, 14 August .. .. .. 22 Wednesday, 15 August– ………………………………...…… ………………………………………… ……………..... Thursday, 16 August ……………………………………….…………..………………………………………………………………… …... 23 Friday, 17 August ………………………………………….…………...………………………………………………………………………..... 24 Saturday,
  • Landbird Monitoring in the Sonoran Desert Network 2012 Annual Report

    Landbird Monitoring in the Sonoran Desert Network 2012 Annual Report

    National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Landbird Monitoring in the Sonoran Desert Network 2012 Annual Report Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SODN/NRTR—2013/744 ON THE COVER Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus). Photo by Moez Ali. Landbird Monitoring in the Sonoran Desert Network 2012 Annual Report Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SODN/NRTR—2013/744 Authors Moez Ali Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory 230 Cherry Street, Suite 150 Fort Collins, Colorado 80521 Kristen Beaupré National Park Service Sonoran Desert Network 7660 E. Broadway Blvd, Suite 303 Tucson, Arizona 85710 Patricia Valentine-Darby University of West Florida Department of Biology 11000 University Parkway Pensacola, Florida 32514 Chris White Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory 230 Cherry Street, Suite 150 Fort Collins, Colorado 80521 Project Contact Robert E. Bennetts National Park Service Southern Plains Network Capulin Volcano National Monument PO Box 40 Des Moines, New Mexico 88418 May 2013 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colora- do, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource manage- ment, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Technical Report Series is used to disseminate results of scientific studies in the physical, biological, and social sciences for both the advancement of science and the achievement of the National Park Service mission.
  • Attracting Bluebirds 1.Mount Nest Boxes

    Attracting Bluebirds 1.Mount Nest Boxes

    Bluebirds A gentle bird with brilliant blue plumage, the bluebird has endeared itself to people across the country. Bluebird populations, like many other birds, have declined over the last century due primarily to loss of habitat caused by development. Bluebirds nest in tree cavities, and the loss or destruction of old, decaying trees has reduced the availability of suitable nesting sites and increased competition with other cavity-nesting birds. Bluebird Natural History There are three species of bluebirds in North America: Eastern, Western, and Mountain. The various species differ mostly in territory and feather color. The males of all three species are brilliant blue on the head and back, with varying amounts of white and rust on their neck and breast. Female bluebirds are less bright, with more gray-brown coloring on the back and blue highlights on the wings and tail. Bluebirds feed on a large variety of insects, arthropods, and invertebrates, The Eastern bluebird is one of three species of bluebirds found in North including spiders, caterpillars, and grasshoppers. Bluebirds perch on posts, America. Bluebirds are cavity nesters, and can be attracted to your property wires, or branches while scanning for insects. Watch for the bluebird’s by installing nest boxes. characteristic behavior of flying down from its perch to catch prey and then returning to the original perch to eat. In winter, bluebirds are dependent upon berries to supplement their diet. Bluebirds prefer open habitats, such as meadows, parks, orchards, farm fields, and golf courses. They often spend the winter in woodlands or groves. Ranges Eastern Bluebirds are in all states east of the Rockies, from southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Western Bluebird, EC 1571

    Western Bluebird, EC 1571

    EC 1571 • April 2005 $1.00 Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana by L. Schumacher and S. Sells an you imagine eating bugs and berries and living inside a tree? Why bluebirds CWestern bluebirds do just that! They are members of the thrush family, need our help meaning that they are related to robins. Populations of western bluebirds There are three species, or kinds, of have declined over the past 50 years. bluebirds in the United States: the East- The main reason for their decline is ern bluebird, the Western bluebird, and competition for nest holes from the mountain bluebird. Both Western and European starlings and English house mountain bluebirds live in Oregon. sparrows. Starlings and house spar- Bluebirds eat mostly insects. Grass- rows are exotic species, meaning they hoppers, earthworms, snails, and beetles came from somewhere else and donʼt are among their favorite foods. They sit occur naturally in North America. These on perches and drop quickly to the ground birds were brought here (introduced) to catch food or they can catch insects in and have multiplied quickly. They out- the air. Bluebirds also eat fruit and ber- compete many of our native birds for ries, especially during the winter when nesting habitat. there are fewer insects. Another reason for bluebird decline is loss of habitat due to the cutting of dead trees and suppression of fi re. Fires are important for maintaining oak wood- lands with open meadows. Without fi re, dense forests of fi r trees can take over. Raccoons and house cats may be part of the cause of bluebird decline because they prey on bluebirds.
  • Ecology, Morphology, and Behavior in the New World Wood Warblers

    Ecology, Morphology, and Behavior in the New World Wood Warblers

    Ecology, Morphology, and Behavior in the New World Wood Warblers A dissertation presented to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy Brandan L. Gray August 2019 © 2019 Brandan L. Gray. All Rights Reserved. 2 This dissertation titled Ecology, Morphology, and Behavior in the New World Wood Warblers by BRANDAN L. GRAY has been approved for the Department of Biological Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences by Donald B. Miles Professor of Biological Sciences Florenz Plassmann Dean, College of Arts and Sciences 3 ABSTRACT GRAY, BRANDAN L., Ph.D., August 2019, Biological Sciences Ecology, Morphology, and Behavior in the New World Wood Warblers Director of Dissertation: Donald B. Miles In a rapidly changing world, species are faced with habitat alteration, changing climate and weather patterns, changing community interactions, novel resources, novel dangers, and a host of other natural and anthropogenic challenges. Conservationists endeavor to understand how changing ecology will impact local populations and local communities so efforts and funds can be allocated to those taxa/ecosystems exhibiting the greatest need. Ecological morphological and functional morphological research form the foundation of our understanding of selection-driven morphological evolution. Studies which identify and describe ecomorphological or functional morphological relationships will improve our fundamental understanding of how taxa respond to ecological selective pressures and will improve our ability to identify and conserve those aspects of nature unable to cope with rapid change. The New World wood warblers (family Parulidae) exhibit extensive taxonomic, behavioral, ecological, and morphological variation.
  • Avian Predation in a Declining Outbreak Population of the Spruce Budworm, Choristoneura Fumiferana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

    Avian Predation in a Declining Outbreak Population of the Spruce Budworm, Choristoneura Fumiferana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

    insects Article Avian Predation in a Declining Outbreak Population of the Spruce Budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Jacques Régnière 1,* , Lisa Venier 2 and Dan Welsh 3,† 1 Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, 1055 rue du PEPS, Quebec City, QC G1V 4C7, Canada 2 Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, 1219 Queen St. E., Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 2E5, Canada; [email protected] 3 Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada * Correspondence: [email protected] † Deceased. Simple Summary: Cages preventing access to birds were used to measure the rate of predation by birds in a spruce budworm population during the decline of an outbreak. Three species of budworm-feeding warblers were involved in this predation on larvae and pupae. It was found that bird predation is a very important source of mortality in declining spruce budworm populations, and that bird foraging behavior changes as budworm prey become rare at the end of the outbreak. Abstract: The impact of avian predation on a declining population of the spruce budworm, Cho- ristoneura fumifereana (Clem.), was measured using single-tree exclosure cages in a mature stand of balsam fir, Abies balsamea (L.), and white spruce, Picea glauca (Moench.) Voss. Bird population Citation: Régnière, J.; Venier, L.; censuses and observations of foraging and nest-feeding activity were also made to determine the Welsh, D. Avian Predation in a response of budworm-linked warblers to decreasing food availability. Seasonal patterns of foraging. Declining Outbreak Population of the as well as foraging success in the declining prey population was compared to similar information Spruce Budworm, Choristoneura from birds observed in another stand where the spruce budworm population was rising.