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- Info
Impacts of habitat fragmentation on pairing success of male ovenbirds, Seiurus Aurocapillus, in southern New Brunswick
| Author: |
Sabine, Dwayne L.; Boer, Arnold H.; Ballard, W.B. |
| Date: |
1996 |
| Periodical: |
Canadian Field-Naturalist |
| Abstract: |
Populations of some species of neoarctic-neotropical migrant birds have been declining in recent years, and much attention has focused on fragmentation of North American forests by agriculture, urbanization, and forest harvesting as one of the causes for the declines. This study evaluated the hypothesis that fragments of mature forest in a managed-forest landscape in southern New Brunswick were suboptimal habitat for Ovenbirds (Seiurus aurocapillus) compared to large tracts of similar forest. There were no significant differences in pairing success or territorial density of male Ovenbirds between fragments and contiguous forest sites in 1992 and 1993. However, when only smallest fragments were considered mating success and density were lower but differences were not significant. Potential food abundance for Ovenbirds did not differ between fragment and large forest sites, nor between mated and unmated male territories. This study suggests that fragmentation of mature forest in a largely forested landscape may not cause the adverse effects reported for Ovenbirds elsewhere. |
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