Breeding Bird Community Continues to Colonize Riparian Buffers Ten Years after Harvest

摘要: Riparian ecosystems integrate aquatic and terrestrial communities often contain unique assemblages of flora fauna. Retention forested buffers along riparian habitats is a commonly employed practice to reduce potential negative effects land use on systems. However, very few studies have examined long-term population community responses buffers, leading considerable uncertainty about effectiveness this for achieving conservation management outcomes. We short- (1–2 years) (~10 avian (occupancy abundance) buffer prescriptions clearcut logging silvicultural practices in the Pacific Northwest USA. used Before-After-Control-Impact experimental approach temporally replicated point counts analyzed within Bayesian framework. Our design consisted control sites with no harvest, relatively narrow (~13m) each side stream, wider (~30m) more variable width unharvested buffer. Buffer treatments exhibited 31–44% increase mean species richness post-harvest years, pattern most evident 10 years post-harvest. Post-harvest, turnover was much higher both (63–74%) relative controls (29%). did not find evidence local extinction any but found strong (no overlap 95% credible intervals) an site occupancy Narrow (short-term: 7%; 29%) Wide 21%; 93%) after harvest. treatment effect total abundance. When assessing relationships between level abundance four specialists, we reduced or buffers. Silviculture regulations region dictate average widths small large permanent streams that range from ~22–25 m. Guidelines are included our study, which observed loss decline (including associated species).