Wetland Use and Selection by Breeding Waterbirds in the Boreal Forest of Quebec, Canada

摘要: Wetlands of remote forested landscapes Quebec support numerous species breeding waterbirds yet species-habitat associations remain poorly quantified. From 1990 to 2005, we conducted systematic helicopter surveys waterfowl and common loons (Gavia immer) across a 540,000-km2 region Quebec. Data from this survey were used investigate local habitat use selection by waterbirds, based on wetland classification system derived digital forestry maps. Detailed indicated-breeding-pair (IBP) distributions developed for broad aquatic, wetland, shoreline types. We also estimated ratios within groups similar Small (≤8 ha), connected ponds highly selected five dabbling duck wood (Aix sponsa), Canada goose (Branta canadensis), ring-necked (Aythya collaris), hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus), goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), Barrow’s (B. islandica). Dabbling species, duck, made extensive streams (25–41% all IBP). Community organization was mainly driven openness aquatic water movement, i.e., lentic lotic habitats. Failure include in mapping could produce biased estimates the boreal forest.