Can at‐risk species serve as effective conservation surrogates? Case study in northeastern<scp>US</scp>shrublands

Bauer, Melissa L.; O’Brien, Kathleen; Kovach, Adrienne I.

doi:10.1002/ecs2.4081

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 107 publications

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“…More intensive timber management (i.e., clearcutting, seed-tree harvests, or removal cuttings in shelterwood harvests) also supports a bird community of high conservation value, by providing open-canopy, dense understory conditions for shrubland birds, which are of high conservation priority regionally. Numerous other threatened and endangered non-avian taxa in our study region also depend on open-canopy habitats created from high-intensity tree harvests, including pollinators and other arthropods (Del Toro et al, 2013;Milam et al, 2022), mammals (Bauer et al, 2022), snakes (Akresh et al, 2017), and vascular plants (Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of forest management on the conservation of bird communities in eastern North America: A meta‐analysis

et al. 2023

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Forest management affects conditions for both early‐ and late‐seral organisms, and managers and conservationists require information for balancing the ostensibly opposing habitat needs of both these guilds. We conducted meta‐analyses that examined silvicultural systems with a range of postharvest retention and their impacts on mature‐forest and shrubland bird species densities in eastern North America during the breeding season. Densities of mature‐forest bird species generally declined as canopy tree retention and basal area decreased, although some mature‐forest species had similar densities among unharvested and partially harvested (e.g., first‐entry shelterwood) stands, and others had their highest densities in shelterwoods. We conducted a previous meta‐analysis study, which showed most shrubland bird species in the region increase with harvest intensity, but some shrubland species had similar densities in clearcuts and shelterwoods. Given the contrasting effects of harvest intensity on the two avian guilds, we used Partners‐in‐Flight conservation values to generate objective community‐wide conservation indices relative to postharvest tree retention. Clearcuts and shelterwoods typically had the highest conservation values, and unharvested and lightly thinned stands (70%–100% tree retention) had the lowest conservation scores. Many declining shrubland bird species of conservation concern are abundant in low‐retention stands, thus elevating the conservation value of these stands. Additionally, high conservation values of harvested stands with 40%–70% tree retention represent the presence of both shrubland and mature‐forest species; the latter are potentially responding to enhanced understory structure needed for avian nesting or foraging. In contrast, contemporary closed‐canopy forests in eastern North America are generally characterized by low structural diversity and are mid‐seral stands due to historical patterns of land use and tree harvesting. Although avian community conservation values were lowest in high‐retention stands and many other threatened, non‐avian taxa depend on open‐canopy, managed forests, managers should note that late‐seral, unharvested stands can provide important habitat for old‐growth‐dependent taxa and any intensive forestry should also take into account other factors. Considering the growing interest in using postharvest retention of canopy trees to meet ecological objectives, our novel synthesis can assist managers in assessing species‐specific and community‐wide avian responses to tree retention levels along the entire gradient of canopy treatments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of forest management on the conservation of bird communities in eastern North America: A meta‐analysis

et al. 2023

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Can at‐risk species serve as effective conservation surrogates? Case study in northeasternUSshrublands

2022

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Targeted, single-species management and ecosystem-based management are generally considered disparate conservation approaches. In imperiled ecosystems, these approaches may be complementary, when habitat management for targeted at-risk species provides broad ecosystem benefits through an umbrella or surrogate species effect. In the northeastern United States, extensive management has been ongoing since 2011 to restore declining habitat for an at-risk shrubland habitat specialist, the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis), with the goal that other shrubland-obligate wildlife will also benefit; yet, the efficacy of these efforts has not been evaluated. In this study, we assessed whether habitat management targeting New England cottontail provides conservation benefits for shrubland-obligate birds. Specifically, we (1) identified shrubland-obligate birds that are indicative of the microhabitat conditions and habitat types suitable for New England cottontails, and(2) determined microhabitat and patch-level influences on shrubland bird occupancy at sites occupied by or managed for New England cottontail.

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The under-investigated plastic threat on seagrasses worldwide: a comprehensive review

Ciaralli,

Rotini,

Scalici

et al. 2024

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Can at‐risk species serve as effective conservation surrogates? Case study in northeasternUSshrublands

Cited by 5 publications

References 107 publications

Effects of forest management on the conservation of bird communities in eastern North America: A meta‐analysis

Effects of forest management on the conservation of bird communities in eastern North America: A meta‐analysis

Can at‐risk species serve as effective conservation surrogates? Case study in northeasternUSshrublands

The under-investigated plastic threat on seagrasses worldwide: a comprehensive review

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