Avian use of purple loosestrife dominated habitat relative to other vegetation types in a Lake Huron Wetland Complex

摘要: Purple loosestrife (Lv/thrurn salicaria), native to Eurasia, is an introduced perennial plant in North American wetlands that displaces other wetland plants. Although not well studied, purple widely believed have little value as habitat for birds. To examine the of avian breeding habitat, we conducted early, mid-, and late season bird surveys during two years (1994 1995) at 258 18-m (0. 1 ha) fixed-radius plots coastal Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron. We found loosestrife- dominated habitats had higher densities, but lower diversities than vegetation types. The six most commonly observed species all combined were Sedge Wren (Cistothlorus platensis), Marsh (C. palustris), Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia), Common Yellowthroat (GeothlN.pis trichas), Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana), Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). densities highest lowest habitats. ten conclude use warrants further quantitative investigation because may be believed. Received 27 May 1998, accepted 26 Aug. 1998. (Lythrum salicaria) exotic, broad-leaved, herbaceous common freshwater north 350 N latitude (Thompson 1989). Loosestrife Eurasia where it occurs marshes, open stream margins, alluvial floodplains; invades similar America associates hab- itats such cattails (Typha spp.), reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), sedges (Carex rushes (Juncus spp.) closely resem- ble its . Eurasian