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A Comparison of Breeding Bird Communities and Habitat Features Between Old-Growth and Second-Growth Bottomland Hardwood Forest

Informally Refereed

Abstract

To characterize bird species composition,relative abundance,and habitat affinities,spot-mapping and strip-count censuses were conducted in an old-growth stand and adjacent second-growth tracts in Moro Bottoms Natural Area, Arkansas, during 1991 and 1992. More species were recorded on the old-growth site (S =35) as compared to the second-growth grid (S =32). Similarly, the old-growth grid had a larger Shannon-Weaver diversity index than the second-growth site. Territories of several species coincided with specific habitat features: white-eyed vireo (Vireo griseus), Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), Kentucky warbler (Oporornis formusus), and prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea) were associated with treefall canopy gaps;Acadian flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) and prothonotary warbler were affiliated with standing water; and the American redstart (Setophoga ruticilla) showed a strong affinity for swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii). Small forest openings (≤0.26 ha) comprising ≤22 percent of the total area of old growth bottomland forest do not appear to adversely affect and may enhance breeding bird diversity.

Parent Publication

Citation

Smith, Winston P.; Hunt, Howard E.; Townley, W. Kent. 2001. A Comparison of Breeding Bird Communities and Habitat Features Between Old-Growth and Second-Growth Bottomland Hardwood Forest. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS 42. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. pp. 65-82
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/6759