Short-Term Response of Breeding Birds to Oak Regeneration Treatments in Upland Hardwood Forest

Greenberg, Katie; Franzreb, Kathleen E.; Keyser, Tara L.; Zarnoch, Stan; Simon, D.; Warburton, Gordon S.

doi:10.3375/043.034.0403

Cited by 13 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Immediately following stage one harvest, Carolina Wrens and Eastern Towhees likely used tangles and undergrowth thickets (Brawn et al 2001), and the presence of slash piles left behind from logging provided nesting habitat following 0SW tree harvest (McDermott and Wood 2009). Indigo Bunting and Yellow-breasted Chat occupancy in 0SW during stage one was likely in response to openings in the canopy (Strelke and Dickson 1980;Costello et al 2000;Greenberg et al 2014), creating dense layers of vegetation (e.g., Rubus spp., Ricketts and Ritchison 2000) for nesting cover. American Goldfinch's lack of immediate response to 0SW was likely due to their preference for semi-open areas with standing trees (Middleton and McGraw 2009), which 0SW stands did not provide.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of early-successional songbirds to a two-stage shelterwood harvest for oak forest regeneration

et al. 2018

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Background: The early stage of forest succession following disturbance is characterized by a shift in songbird composition as well as increased avian richness due to increased herbaceous growth in the forest understory. However, regeneration of woody species eventually outcompetes the herbaceous understory, subsequently shifting vegetation communities and decreasing availability of vital foraging and nesting cover for disturbance-dependent birds, ultimately resulting in their displacement. These early stages following forest disturbance, which are declining throughout the eastern United States, are ephemeral in nature and birds depend on such disturbances for nesting and other purposes throughout their lives. Methods: We investigated the use of a two-stage shelterwood method to manage long-term persistence of seven early successional songbirds over a 13-year period in an upland hardwood forest within the southern end of the mid-Cumberland Plateau in the eastern United States. Results: Canopy and midstory gaps created after initial harvest were quickly exploited by tree growth and canopy cover returned to these areas, accelerating the displacement of early-successional species. Woody stem densities increased substantially following stage two harvest as advanced tree regeneration combined with the reopening of the overstory layer increased resource competition for early-successional plants in the understory. Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus), Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea), and Yellowbreasted Chat (Icteria virens) were characterized by immediate increases following initial harvest in 2001; while the American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor), and White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) did not show an immediate response. Stage two harvest in 2011 rejuvenated vegetation which benefitted focal species, with six of seven species showing increases in densities between 2010 and 2012. Conclusion: The two-stage shelterwood method created conditions advantageous to early-successional birds by helping to re-establish understory vegetation through periodic disturbance to the canopy layer. This method provides evidence that early-successional species can be managed long-term (> 15 years) while using relatively small spatial disturbance through the two-stage shelterwood method.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of early-successional songbirds to a two-stage shelterwood harvest for oak forest regeneration

et al. 2018

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“…al. 2014), and this increased heterogeneity has been shown to improve with re(Lorber et al 2018, Greenberg et al 2014. Speci cally, re seems to improve species diversity within forested landscapes through the regeneration of a dominant herbaceous understory as canopies open(Nowacki and Abrams 2008).…”

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Changes in canopy cover and forest structure following dormant season and early growing season prescribed burns in the Southern Appalachians, USA

Melcher

Hagan

Barrett

et al. 2022

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Background Fire seasonality is important for forest managers to consider when restoring historical disturbance regimes and recovering native ecosystem structure and composition, but it is less understood and less frequently studied than other aspects of fire ecology. In the Southern Appalachians, historical fires likely occurred most often in late spring and early summer when fuels were dry and canopy conditions were conducive to fire, however most prescribed fires today occur during the dormant season (January – March). Because fire behavior can vary seasonally, it is important for forest managers to understand the practical applications of fire season in order to burn at a time that meets management objectives. Therefore, we investigated the effect of fire seasonality on forest structure and land cover diversity in the Southern Appalachians. Results Using a complete randomized block design, we analyzed leaf-on canopy cover imagery with ArcGIS Pro to compare canopy cover and forest structure between growing and dormant season burns. We found an average of 8.84% (SE=±1.46) reduction in canopy cover in growing season treatment units from pre-burn (2017) to post-burn (2019) compared to 5.21% (SE=±1.51) reduction in dormant season burn treatment units and 0.01% (SE=±0.009) reduction in unburned controls. Canopy cover reductions corresponded with substantial increases in early- and mid-successional habitat, edge length, and land cover diversity – especially in growing season burn treatment units. Conclusions Our results indicate that growing season burns are more effective than dormant season burns at enhancing forest structural heterogeneity. Early growing season burns, therefore, may be a viable option for forest managers looking to expand their burn season and achieve restoration and management goals faster than traditional dormant season burns.

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“…Yet, major phylogenetic, physiological, and life‐history differences among wildlife taxa indicate they should respond differently to changes in forest structure created by fire or other silvicultural or natural disturbances (Harper et al ). For example, shelterwood harvests that substantially reduce canopy cover and alter the forest floor microenvironment provide habitat for shrub‐scrub bird species (Askins , Rush et al ), some lizard species (Matthews et al ), and pollinating insects (Haddad and Baum , Whitehead ) but reduce habitat suitability for some ground‐nesting bird species (Greenberg et al ) and terrestrial salamanders (Harpole and Haas , Greenberg et al ), at least in the short‐term. In contrast, silvicultural disturbances with heavy canopy retention generally have little effect on most wildlife species (Ford et al , Harpole and Haas , Homyack and Haas ).…”

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Long‐term herpetofaunal response to repeated fuel reduction treatments

et al. 2017

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Fuel reduction treatments are used to reduce wildfire risk and to restore plant communities. Yet, repeated mechanical or prescribed fire treatments may gradually change forest structure and microhabitat conditions, favoring some taxa and decreasing suitability for others. We experimentally assessed long‐term (intermittent years, 2003–2016) effects of repeated dormant‐season mechanical and prescribed fire treatments on capture rates of reptiles and amphibians in southern Appalachian upland hardwood forests. Treatments were mechanical understory removal (twice), prescribed burning (4 times; burn‐only), mechanical understory removal followed 1 year later by high‐severity prescribed burns and 3 subsequent burns (mechanical + burn), and untreated controls. Initial burns were hotter in mechanical + burn than burn‐only units, resulting in heavy tree mortality and increased canopy openness within 2 growing‐seasons post‐burn. We captured 4,606 individuals of 15 amphibian and 20 reptile species. Capture rates of American toads (Anaxyrus americanus), green frogs (Lithobates clamitans), plethodontid salamanders (Plethodon spp.), and northern red salamanders (Pseudotriton ruber) were not affected by any fuel reduction treatment. The capture rate of five‐lined skinks (Plestiodon fasciatus) was greater in mechanical + burn than burn‐only or control units, and the capture rate of eastern fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus) was greater in mechanical + burn than control units. Juvenile eastern fence lizard captures were greater in mechanical + burn units and increased over time, indicating that high‐severity burning followed by repeated burns may improve conditions for successful recruitment. Different responses among species highlight the importance of including multiple taxa when assessing effects of forest disturbances on wildlife, and give perspective on how forest health may vary depending on target taxa. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.

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Short-Term Response of Breeding Birds to Oak Regeneration Treatments in Upland Hardwood Forest

Cited by 13 publications

References 26 publications

Responses of early-successional songbirds to a two-stage shelterwood harvest for oak forest regeneration

Responses of early-successional songbirds to a two-stage shelterwood harvest for oak forest regeneration

Changes in canopy cover and forest structure following dormant season and early growing season prescribed burns in the Southern Appalachians, USA

Long‐term herpetofaunal response to repeated fuel reduction treatments

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