Comparing geographic boundaries in songbird demography data with vegetation boundaries: a new approach to evaluating habitat quality

摘要: To plan for the habitat needs of forest songbirds conservation concern, managers need to understand how spatial heterogeneity in conditions influences quality. I used difference boundary detection (wombling) and spatially constrained clustering delineate boundaries various combinations four vegetation variables (understory height, understory density, percent deciduous vs. conifer understory, canopy closure) two Michigan northern hardwood forests. My goal was identify that corresponded with an understory-dependent songbird’s distribution, demographic measures this songbird indicate quality (e.g., occupancy by older yearling males, reproductive success). Both forests were actively-managed, mature stands: The first site (78 ha) heavily deer-browsed (HB), many browse-resistant conifers second (62 less-browsed (LB), deciduous-dominated understory. compared cluster based on 6 years distribution data black-throated blue warblers (Dendroica caerulescens). At HB site, warbler overlapped strongly included all variables, effectively divided into areas different characteristics. LB showed high overlap just height density vegetation, again partitioned study area sites varied Thus, geographic analysis is likely be a useful tool identifying key management, delineating clusters (habitat patches) within capture differences