Occupancy modeling of Black-backed Woodpeckers on burned Sierra Nevada forests

摘要: The Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) has been designated by the USDA Forest Service as a management indicator species for snags in burned conifer forests of Sierra Nevada California, USA. However, little is known about characteristics that affect between-fire and within-fire habitat selection region. Here we report on first broad-scale survey Woodpeckers wildfire-affected Nevada. We implemented Bayesian hierarchical model to: 1) estimate occupancy probability fire areas within time window 1–10 years; 2) identify relationships between covariates (fire age, change canopy cover pre-to-post fire, snag basal area), elevation, latitude; 3) detection relate it to interval length type (passive v. broadcast). included random fire-area effects our accommodate clusters non-independent points surveyed larger set areas. Mean was estimated be 0.097. Elevation (after controlling latitude) had strongest effect (higher at higher elevation) followed latitude northerly sites). Fire age also important; 4× youngest compared oldest fires. Although direction regression coefficients were expected (positive), area minor importance affecting probability. There some indication, however, increased with age. Weak links suggested uses range burn severities, such heterogeneity may promote longevity. Our overall (across all intervals) 0.772. found strong longer interval) and, especially broadcast survey) modeling framework implementation illustrates flexibility approach handling complexities estimating derived parameters (and variances) effects, should prove generally useful studies.