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Niches and Nosey Neighbors: Exploring How Community Dynamics and Habitat Characteristics Impact Reproductive Success in Forest Interior Bird Communities

Ward, Michelle V
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1534947799512093

Abstract Details

2018, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Biological Sciences (Arts and Sciences).
Forest fragmentation increases edge habitat and reduces core forest habitat. In some cases, forest-interior breeding birds are displaced following fragmentation, leading to increases in bird density in the remaining habitat and reduced reproductive success. To better understand how similar species occupy that same habitat, we determined how habitat characteristics and arthropod availability affect territory spacing, nest spacing, and reproductive success within a breeding bird community. The focal species included shrub nesting hooded warblers (Setophaga citrina) and wood thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina) and ground nesting ovenbirds (Seiurus aurocapilla) and worm-eating warblers (Helmitheros vermivorum). The focal species also separate along foraging guilds: ovenbirds and wood thrushes are ground foragers while hooded warblers and worm-eating warblers are foliage gleaning foragers. We compared nest and territory habitat characteristics within and among species. We used a non-metric multi-dimensional scaling of forest habitat variables (tree and vegetation composition) to plot each species in habitat space to determine what nest and territory habitat characteristics were associated with each species, and if focal species overlapped in habitat space. We also determined if habitat and community variables including territory spacing and density, nest spacing and density, and arthropod availability influenced reproductive success. We found that while the focal species overlapped in habitat space, there were significant differences in habitat space among species. Territory (males/ha) and nesting densities (nests/ha) were positively correlated with arthropod availability, and territory density increased as canopy gaps increased. The reproductive success of all four species collectively decreased as nesting density increased, but foraging or nesting guild densities were not associated with reproductive success. Overall, community dynamics and habitat characteristics play an important role in reproductive success within forest interior communities. Quantifying how community and habitat variables both influence space use and reproductive success can be an informative approach to assessing the ecological niche requirements of forest interior nesting birds.
Willem Roosenburg (Advisor)
Kelly Williams (Committee Member)
Kelly Johnson (Committee Member)
Rebecca Snell (Committee Member)
85 p.
Ecology
community dynamics; avian community; ecological niche; biomass

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ward, M. V. (2018). Niches and Nosey Neighbors: Exploring How Community Dynamics and Habitat Characteristics Impact Reproductive Success in Forest Interior Bird Communities [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1534947799512093

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ward, Michelle. Niches and Nosey Neighbors: Exploring How Community Dynamics and Habitat Characteristics Impact Reproductive Success in Forest Interior Bird Communities. 2018. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1534947799512093.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ward, Michelle. "Niches and Nosey Neighbors: Exploring How Community Dynamics and Habitat Characteristics Impact Reproductive Success in Forest Interior Bird Communities." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1534947799512093

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1534947799512093
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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.