Breeding bird territory placement in riparian wet meadows in relation to invasive reed canary grass, Phalaris arundinacea

Kirsch, Eileen M.; Gray, Brian R.; Fox, Timothy J.; Thogmartin, Wayne E.

doi:10.1672/0277-5212(2007)27[644:bbtpir]2.0.co;2

Cited by 17 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Bio-indicator birds were chosen from a list of previously studied ''habitat dependent'' species (Kirsch et al 2007;Paine 1997) that were useful because of their fidelity to small territories in wetlands or wet-grasslands. Analysis of birds was restricted to detections \100 m from the observer, and to observations of \40 individuals.…”

Section: Statewide Comparisonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biological consequences of invasion by reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

et al. 2009

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Although they are typically assumed to be negative, the consequences of plant invasions for native diversity or biological integrity are seldom broadly quantified (i.e., for multiple taxa or across large regions). We investigated the impacts associated with invasion of wetlands by reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.; RCG) on plants and several animal groups. In a local study, we compared plants, arthropods, and small mammals on treatment plots with reduced RCG dominance to those on highly invaded plots. We also conducted a companion study, where we measured RCG dominance and plants, arthropods, and birds in 82 randomly selected wetlands across Illinois (USA) to determine if our experimental results were consistent in communities across the region. Plant diversity, floristic quality, and diversity and abundance of Homopteran insects decreased with RCG dominance in all instances. Richness and abundance of all other arthropods decreased with increasing RCG in the local study, but no trend was detected in communities statewide. No relationship between total abundance or richness of small mammals (local) or birds (statewide) with RCG was detected. However, voles and shrews were more abundant, and mice less abundant, in RCG-dominated plots. These results support the hypothesis that there are negative effects for multiple taxa from RCG invasion. Because negative effects observed in the local study either corroborated, or were neutral with respect to results from statewide surveys, they suggest that native biodiversity and biological integrity are being dampened across wide areas of this invader's range.

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Section: Statewide Comparisonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Focusing on the same suite of birds that we selected, Kirsch et al (2007) found territory placement, territory size, and density to be uncorrelated with RCG cover in wetlands. Other comparisons of bird communities in invaded versus uninvaded wetlands have reported mixed results (Benoit and Askins 1999;Fleishman et al 2003;Whitt et al 1999).…”

Section: Birdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological consequences of invasion by reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

et al. 2009

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“…To date, no information exists on how North American birds might use monocultures of Miscanthus. Kirsch et al (2007) reported that reed canary-grass supports a low diversity but high abundance of birds, but as for Miscanthus little is known about the costs and benefits of large monocultures of reed canary-grass for grassland birds in the United States. FIGURE 1.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Agrofuels a Conservation Threat or Opportunity for Grassland Birds in the United States?

et al. 2012

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In the United States, government-mandated growth in the production of crops dedicated to biofuel (agrofuels) is predicted to increase the demands on existing agricultural lands, potentially threatening the persistence of populations of grassland birds they support. We review recently published literature and datasets to (1) examine the ability of alternative agrofuel crops and their management regimes to provide habitat for grassland birds, (2) determine how crop placement in agricultural landscapes and agrofuel-related land-use change will affect grassland birds, and (3) identify critical research and policy-development needs associated with agrofuel production. We find that native perennial plants proposed as feedstock for agrofuel (switchgrass, Panicum virgatum, and mixed grass-forb prairie) have considerable potential to provide new habitat to a wide range of grassland birds, including rare and threatened species. However, industrialization of agrofuel production that maximizes biomass, homogenizes vegetation structure, and results in the cultivation of small fields within largely forested landscapes is likely to reduce species richness and/or abundance of grassland-dependent birds. Realizing the potential benefits of agrofuel production for grassland birds' conservation will require the development of new policies that encourage agricultural practices specifically targeting the needs of grassland specialists. The broad array of grower-incentive programs in existence may deliver new agrofuel policies effectively but will require coordination at a spatial scale broader than currently practiced, preferably within an adaptive-management framework. ¿Son los Agrocombustibles una Amenaza o una Oportunidad para la Conservación de las Aves dePastizal en Estados Unidos?Resumen. En los Estados Unidos, se predice que el crecimiento impuesto por el gobierno en la producción de cultivos dedicados a biocombustibles (agrocombustibles) aumentará las demandas en las tierras de cultivo existentes, amenazando potencialmente la persistencia de las poblaciones de aves de pastizal que albergan. Revisamos la literatura publicada recientemente y las bases de datos para (1) examinar la habilidad de los cultivos alternativos de agrocombustibles y sus regímenes de manejo para brindar hábitat a las aves de pastizal, (2) determinar cómo la ubicación de los cultivos en los paisajes agrícolas y los cambios en el uso del suelo relacionados a los agrocombustibles afectaránThe Condor 114(4):679-688

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“…birds would tend to concentrate in late mown patches where breeding failure is expected to be lower. An alternative hypothesis was that birds use a ''decision rule'' not entirely based on prior experience to select nesting sites and would be influenced rather by habitat characteristics such as the height or density of grass cover (Warren and Anderson 2005;Davis 2005;Kirsch et al 2007;Vandenberghe et al 2009) or the foraging context (Abrahams 1986;Krebs and Inman 1992). Several studies have indeed shown that breeding birds tend to be attracted by species-specific sward structure or by invertebrate prey availability (Wittenberger 1980;Söderström et al 2001;Nocera et al 2007); but local abundance and reproductive rates may be unrelated (Winter and Faaborg 1999;Fletcher and Koford 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does breeding success lead meadow passerines to select late mown fields?

2012

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Agri-environment schemes usually assume that suitable management in patches of grassland habitat may benefit bird populations in improving the overall demographic balance. In this study, we investigate the hypothesis that nesting site fidelity after previous breeding success might lead meadow birds to select late mown fields where the risk of breeding failure is lower. It was carried out in 4 study areas of the Mézenc volcanic massif (south-east of France) within the altitude range 1,150-1,350 m. Meadow passerine territories were defined by the territory mapping method, and reproductive success in Whinchat Saxicola rubetra territories was assessed by the observation of prey carrying and juveniles just leaving nests. A comparison of models led us to consider that territorial birds selected hay fields under the influence of grass structure rather than through a theoretical successful experience of late mowing. Higher territory density was observed in fields with dense grass cover C50 cm which were usually more fertilized ([75 kg ha -1 nitrogen per year) and mown earlier. In 3 study sites, however, the rate of nesting failure due to mowing was lower than expected under the hypothesis of randomly distributed nesting sites, suggesting that the risk was not ignored by territorial birds. Within each study site, we also observed higher invertebrate abundance during the chick feeding period in fields with high bird territory density. ZusammenfassungWählen Singvögel des Offenlandes aufgrund von erhöhtem Bruterfolg spät gemähte Felder? Agrar-Umweltprogramme gehen normalerweise von der Annahme aus, dass Vogelpopulationen von geeigneten Managementmaßnahmen auf fleckenarteigen Teilflächen des Graslands profitieren könnten, weil durch sie die demographische Bilanz insgesamt verbessert würde. In der vorliegenden Studie bearbeiten wir die Hypothese, dass Nestortstreue nach vorherigem Bruterfolg Wiesenbrüter dazu führt, spät gemähte Felder auszuwählen, auf denen das Brutverlust-Risiko geringer ist. Die Studie wurde auf vier Teilflächen des Mézenc Vulkanmassivs (Südost-Frankreich) in Höhenlagen von 1,150-1,350 m durchgeführt. Die Brutreviere von wiesenbrütenden Singvögeln wurden mit Hilfe einer Revierkartierungsmethode erfasst, und der Reproduktionserfolg in Revieren des Braunkehlchens Saxicola rubetra durch Beobachtung Futter tragender Altvögel und gerade flügger Jungvögel bestimmt. Ein Vergleich von Modellen führte uns zu dem Schluss, dass territoriale Vögel Wiesen für die Heuernte eher unter dem Einfluss der Vegetationsstruktur auswähl-ten, als unter dem Aspekt einer theoretisch erfolgreichen Bruterfahrung durch späte Mahd. Eine höhere Revierdichte konnte vor allem in Feldern mit dichter Grasbedeckung C50 cm beobachtet werden, die normalerweise besser gedüngt waren ([75 kg ha -1 Stickstoff pro Jahr) und früher gemäht wurden. In drei Untersuchungsflächen war die Brutverlustrate durch Mähen allerdings niedriger, als Communicated by F. Bairlein.

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Breeding bird territory placement in riparian wet meadows in relation to invasive reed canary grass, Phalaris arundinacea

Cited by 17 publications

References 23 publications

Biological consequences of invasion by reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

Biological consequences of invasion by reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

Are Agrofuels a Conservation Threat or Opportunity for Grassland Birds in the United States?

Does breeding success lead meadow passerines to select late mown fields?

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