Year: 1982
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Avian community composition, woodpecker foraging, and woodpecker nest-site selection were studied on commercial forest land iii two coniferous forest burns near Missoula, Montana.Both burns were characterized by a concentration of woodpeckers, particularly of the genus Picoidca.This concentration was present in response to the abundance in bark-and wood-boring beetle larvae in the firedamaged trees.A decline in woodpeckers was observed three years post-fire.This decline coincided with the emergence of woodboring beetles.As woodpeckers declined Mountain Bluebirds (Sialia currucoides) and House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon) increased w x t h m the burns, possibly in response to the increase in nest sites and openness.Similarity in avifaunas of the burns and adjacent unburned forests increased with vegetation regeneration.Foraging parameters studied for the Hairy (]?. villosus), Blackbacked Three-toed CP. arcticus), and Northern Three-toed (P.tridactylus) woodpeckers included tree species, tree size, technique, and height use.The first three apparently facilitated inter specific niche partitioning and the latter intersexual partition ing.These separations were related to the distribution of trees in single-species clumps of one size class.A strong sexual dimorphism was found for Black-backed (96%) and a less marked dimorphism for Northern (85%) Three-toed Woodpeckers.The size differences may allow niche partitioning by the sexes through acquisition of different prey.This was supported by the corresponding distributions of cerambicids with foraging locations of the woodpeckers.The two three-toed woodpeckers nested in the smallest diameter trees, the Common Flicker (Colaptes auratus) in the largest, and the Hairy in the intermediate.All species used western larch (Larix occidentalis) in a greater proportion than was available.The two three-toed species nested in the densest stands of trees.Management suggestions for salvage logging following fire include leaving selected western larch and as many trees of.atleast 34 cm dbh as possible.Leaving uncut patches within burns is also recommended.
Source: The Mathematics Enthusiast
Author: Mary A. Harris
Institution: University of Montana
Language: English
Topic: Avian ecology and behavior
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2471602398