scholarly journals Nesting habitat selection of Mediterranean raptors in managed pinewoods: searching for common patterns to derive conservation recommendations

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
RAFAEL BARRIENTOS ◽  
BERNARDO ARROYO
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Nesting Habitat ◽  
Random Factor ◽  
Diameter At Breast Height ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Heterogeneous Habitats ◽  
Large Trees ◽  
Generalised Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Selection Of

SummaryInvestigating habitat selection is a key step in improving the population conservation of forest species in areas managed for different purposes, from timber harvesting to hunting or recreation. Because economic resources allocated to conservation are limited, studies that assess cost-effective strategies are necessary, especially when concerning non-threatened species. We studied nest-site habitat selection of two raptor communities (totalling 245 nests from the five most common species: Short-Toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus, Goshawk Accipiter gentilis, Sparrowhawk A. nisus, Common Buzzard Buteo buteo and Booted Eagle Aquila pennata) in two pinewoods in central Spain separated by 200 km. Using a Generalised Linear Mixed Model for each species and with locality as a random factor, we obtained five models of habitat selection. We highlighted the common nesting patterns in order to facilitate an integrated management of forestry in relation to raptor nesting habitat selection. The most important variable for all species, with the exception of the Sparrowhawk was the nest-tree diameter at breast height, with raptors preferentially selecting nesting trees of large width. Tall trees and a high amount of tree cover around the nesting tree were also important habitat features for several species. Our results suggest that pinewoods should retain unharvested patches with moderate tree coverage (30–70%) containing not only several large trees (diameter at breast height > 40 cm) but also small ones. At the landscape level, open forests and heterogeneous habitats are preferred. These forest patches should be dispersed throughout the landscape.

scholarly journals Conservation implications of past and present nesting habitat selection of the endangered OspreyPandion haliaetuspopulation of the Canary Islands

Ibis ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 155 (4) ◽  
pp. 891-897 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beneharo Rodríguez ◽  
Airam Rodríguez ◽  
Manuel Siverio ◽  
Felipe Siverio
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Canary Islands ◽  
Nesting Habitat ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
Selection Of

Effects of two silvicultural regimes with large tree retention on epiphytic macrolichen communities in Adirondack northern hardwoods, New York, USA

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 1854-1866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather T. Root ◽  
Gregory G. McGee ◽  
Ralph D. Nyland
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Epiphytic Lichen ◽  
Tree Diameter ◽  
Diameter At Breast Height ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Lichen Community ◽  
Selection Systems ◽  
Large Trees

We sampled epiphytic lichen communities in nine Adirondack northern hardwood stands: three old growth, three reserve shelterwood, and three single-tree selection systems. Our objectives were to assess the effects of treatment, tree diameter at breast height, and their interaction on lichen communities and to determine whether lichen traits were associated with particular habitats. Lichen community composition was strongly related to tree diameter at breast height and differed between old growth and reserve shelterwoods. Lichen community composition was also related to an interaction between tree size and stand type. Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. was associated with large trees in old growth, whereas Evernia mesomorpha Nyl., Parmelia sulcata Taylor, and Physcia millegrana Degel. characterized those in shelterwood stands. Nitrophilous lichens were most common on small trees and in reserve shelterwoods, whereas small trees in selection systems and old growth supported lichens that were found to be most associated with larger trees overall. Selection systems apparently maintained lichen communities indistinguishable from those in old growth or reserve shelterwood. Because large trees hosted unique epiphyte assemblages particularly rich in fruticose and cyanolichen species, we expect that management retaining few or no large trees will alter epiphytic lichen communities.

scholarly journals Red-Shouldered Hawk Nesting Habitat Preference in South Texas

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley N. Strobel ◽  
Clint W. Boal
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Preference ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Conditional Logistic Regression ◽  
Average Diameter ◽  
South Texas ◽  
Nesting Habitat ◽  
Diameter At Breast Height ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Vegetation Characteristics ◽  
Individual Trees

Abstract We examined nesting habitat preference by red-shouldered hawks Buteo lineatus using conditional logistic regression on characteristics measured at 27 occupied nest sites and 68 unused sites in 2005–2009 in south Texas. We measured vegetation characteristics of individual trees (nest trees and unused trees) and corresponding 0.04-ha plots. We evaluated the importance of tree and plot characteristics to nesting habitat selection by comparing a priori tree-specific and plot-specific models using Akaike's information criterion. Models with only plot variables carried 14% more weight than models with only center tree variables. The model-averaged odds ratios indicated red-shouldered hawks selected to nest in taller trees and in areas with higher average diameter at breast height than randomly available within the forest stand. Relative to randomly selected areas, each 1-m increase in nest tree height and 1-cm increase in the plot average diameter at breast height increased the probability of selection by 85% and 10%, respectively. Our results indicate that red-shouldered hawks select nesting habitat based on vegetation characteristics of individual trees as well as the 0.04-ha area surrounding the tree. Our results indicate forest management practices resulting in tall forest stands with large average diameter at breast height would benefit red-shouldered hawks in south Texas.

scholarly journals Population census and nesting habitat selection of thin-billed prion Pachyptila belcheri on New Island, Falkland Islands

Polar Biology ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 202-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Catry ◽  
Ana Campos ◽  
Pedro Segurado ◽  
Mónica Silva ◽  
Ian Strange
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Falkland Islands ◽  
Population Census ◽  
Nesting Habitat ◽  
Pachyptila Belcheri ◽  
Selection Of

Validating the Malheur model for predicting ponderosa pine post-fire mortality using 24 fires in the Pacific Northwest, USA

2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter G. Thies ◽  
Douglas J. Westlind
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Pinus Ponderosa ◽  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Correct Prediction ◽  
Diameter At Breast Height ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Large Trees ◽  
Similar Accuracy

Fires, whether intentionally or accidentally set, commonly occur in western interior forests of the US. Following fire, managers need the ability to predict mortality of individual trees based on easily observed characteristics. Previously, a two-factor model using crown scorch and bole scorch proportions was developed with data from 3415 trees for predicting the probability of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.) mortality following prescribed fire. Here, we report validation of that model for broader application using data from 10 109 ponderosa pines in 17 prescribed fires and 7 wildfires, observed for 3 years post-fire, from east of the Cascade Range crest in Washington, Oregon and northern California. The overall rate of correct classification was 87.1% and the rate of correctly predicting mortality was 80.1%. Similar accuracy is reported when testing the model for small trees (<53.3-cm diameter at breast height), wildfire, prescribed fire, and when using a field guide that simplifies application of the model. For large trees (≥53.3-cm diameter at breast height), the overall rate of correct prediction was 93.6% and the rate of correctly predicting mortality was 65.2%. These results suggest the Malheur model is useful for predicting ponderosa pine mortality following fires in this region.

Retransformation bias in a stem profile model

1990 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 1623-1630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond L. Czaplewski ◽  
David Bruce
Keyword(s):  
Regression Model ◽  
Model Fit ◽  
Prediction Errors ◽  
Diameter At Breast Height ◽  
Profile Model ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Large Trees

An unbiased profile model, fit to diameter divided by diameter at breast height, overestimated volume of 5.3-m log sections by 0.5 to 3.5%. Another unbiased profile model, fit to squared diameter divided by squared diameter at breast height, underestimated bole diameters by 0.2 to 2.1%. These biases are caused by retransformation of the predicted dependent variable; the degree of retransformation bias depends upon choice of dependent variable in the regression model, variance of its prediction errors, and the bole position of the desired prediction. Retransformation biases were greatest near the merchantable top of large trees. Equations are given that reduce the magnitude of these biases, but accurate variance models are required. Additional biases are identified for more complex transformations of stem profile models.

A stepwise approach for deriving timber assortment of trees from Terrestrial Laser Scanning data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cesar Alvites ◽  
Giovanni Santopuoli ◽  
Markus Hollaus ◽  
Norbert Pfeifer ◽  
Mauro Maesano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Detection Accuracy ◽  
Mediterranean Forests ◽  
Reconstruction Accuracy ◽  
Stepwise Approach ◽  
Diameter At Breast Height ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Large Trees ◽  
Standing Trees

&lt;p&gt;Forest ecosystems represent an important source of income for landowners and at the same time an important source of ecosystem services for the society. Quantitative and qualitative information about timber assortments are particularly important to support sustainable forest management, representing a crucial prerequisite for active forest management. To date, the most accurate methods for assessing the timber assortments availability within forest stands are destructives, and the development of an effective method for deriving these estimates on standing trees is highly needed. This is particularly more evident for mixed forests, which are often subject of the conflict between conservation and productive functions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This study aims to introduce a stepwise approach for timber assortment estimation and classification using TLS data. The approach consists of four steps: a) timber-leave discrimination, b) tree detection, c) stem reconstruction, and d) timber assortment estimation and classification. The study was carried out in a mixed tree-species and multi-layered Mediterranean forests, observing 178 trees of twelve different species, wherein 66 out of 178 were large trees, with a diameter at breast height higher than 20 cm.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Results indicate that the discrimination between timber and leaves reached 0.98 for accuracy using Random Forest algorithm. All trees with a diameter at breast height higher than 30 cm were correctly identified. The overall detection accuracy was 84.40 % (SD&amp;#177; = 4.7%). Best detection accuracy was found for A. lobelii, S. torminalis, F. excelsior, Q. cerris, A. campestre and F. sylvatica (higher than 84.3%) tree species. 47 out of 66 detected large stems were correctly reconstructed. The stepwise approach allows to classify 168 logs (134 merchantable logs and 34 non-merchantable) extracted from 47 stems through the automatic functions (i.e. cylinder-fitting approach), with an accuracy ranging between 75% (134 out of 179 reference merchantable logs) and 85% (34 out of 40 reference merchantable logs). The overall reconstruction accuracy was 71.40 % (SD&amp;#177; = 17.1%). Best reconstruction accuracy was found for Q. cerris, A. opalus and F. excelsior (higher than 43.5%). Concerning the timber assortment 134 out of 179 merchantable logs were classified in one of the 15 assortment types (i.e. A+, A0, A-). The whole predicted logs were classified in 11 assortment types, so eleven out of 15 assortment types were correctly matched between predicted and reference data. The classification of merchantable logs was more accurate for eight assortment types (A-, B-, B0, B+, C-, D-, D+ and Fuelwood-), which was &amp;#177;2 merchantable logs. The abovementioned results support the feasibility of this stepwise approach for calculating the timber assortment of standing trees, ensuring the valorisation of the productivity of forest characterized by tree species richness and heterogeneous stand structure.&lt;/p&gt;

Post-fire regeneration strategies contribute to plant growth dynamics and habitat selection in subtropical monsoon fire-prone ecosystem

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caifang Luo ◽  
Yiying Li ◽  
Kang Yang ◽  
Jie Han ◽  
Youxu Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Growth Dynamics ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Random Factor ◽  
Distribution Ranges ◽  
Regeneration Strategies ◽  
Selection Of

&lt;p&gt;In fire-prone ecosystems subjected to frequent fires, trees species with different post-fire regeneration strategies (PFRS) coexist at local scale. Different growth dynamics and habitat selection of species account for their coexistence. To explore how much variety is decided by the PFRS, we selected four co-occurring tree species including one Facultative seeders (FS) species and three obligate resprouters (OR) species, conducted a field investigation to measure growth dynamics at sites with different time since last fire (TSF) and recorded its living environment information in Central Yunnan Plateau. We also measured the burl size of OR species to subclassify PFRS into obligate resprouters-resprouts number (OR-N) and obligate resprouters-resprouts height (OR-H) by the growth priority to quantity or height. Generally, FS and OR species exhibited different seedlings clump density and height growth rate (HGR) and showed different temporal dynamics. OR-N species occupied post-fire gaps with rapid canopy growth and were more predominant than OR-H species and FS species at the early period of post-fire regeneration, while OR-H species had the highest HGR. However, such difference was not well explained by environmental factors (R&lt;sup&gt;2 &lt;/sup&gt;&lt; 20%) except seedlings growth rate, while explanation increased when subclassfication was considered as random factor in linear mixed models (LMMs). Moreover, species habitat selection was also associated tightly with regeneration strategies. The result of Redundancy Analysis (RDA) indicated that Pinus (FS) dominated on sunny slope was consistent with gap-dependence model and environment-variability model, and Cyclobalanopsi (OR-H) are favored in the fertile sites that can facilitate its height growth. Resprouters species Lithocarpus which prefer growing on sunny slope in unburned areas but showed preference on shade slope in post-fire regeneration. Therefore, the impacts of regeneration strategies caused some species shift their normal distribution ranges after fire. In conclusion, different growth dynamics and habitat selection of the four tree species during the post-fire regeneration enable their coexistence. Our study provides a novel perspective that by using subclassification of regeneration strategies, the prediction power of species performance and niche partitioning can significantly increased.&lt;/p&gt;

Biomass retention and carbon stocks in integrated vegetation bands: a case study of mixed-age brigalow-eucalypt woodland in southern Queensland, Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin G. Ryan ◽  
Christine T. Fyfe ◽  
Clive A. McAlpine
Keyword(s):  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Soil Protection ◽  
Grazing Land ◽  
Diameter At Breast Height ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Large Trees ◽  
Eucalypt Woodland ◽  
Pasture Area ◽  
The Impact

Regrowth of native woody vegetation has the potential to provide an economically valuable source of carbon storage and other ecosystem services. There is a lack of readily applicable examples of how regrowth of forests and woodlands can be integrated with existing grazing production systems and provide soil-protection and water-retention benefits. A system of integrated vegetation bands (IVB) was applied to patchy regrowth of acacia and eucalypt vegetation in a grazed landscape of southern Queensland, Australia. Across a 39.8-ha catchment with 3–5% slope, regrowth of scattered native vegetation (18.4 ha) was surveyed and diameter at breast height and height for all woody plants were recorded. The IVB (6.3 ha) were then marked out as 25-m-wide bands set 100 m apart and offset at ~2–3% gradient to the contour line, retaining the densest/largest regrowth where possible. The data on diameter at breast height and height were analysed using allometric equations to compare aboveground biomass in the original regrowth condition (‘Original’) to that retained in the installed IVB (‘IVB-Riparian’). Estimates of aboveground biomass were calculated for the Original and IVB-Riparian and compared with three other potential regrowth-vegetation management ‘treatments’ in a desktop-modelling study. The models were designated as: (1) ‘Original’; (2) ‘Broad’ (broad-scale cleared with only a few large trees along a creek retained)’; (3) ‘Big Trees’ (only large trees >40 cm diameter at breast height retained); (4) ‘Riparian-IVB (bands of vegetation); and (5) ‘Riparian-IVB-Big Trees’ (large trees together with ‘IVB-Riparian’). In the non-forested area of the catchment, ‘Riparian-IVB-Big Trees’ (301 t), ‘Big Trees’ (249 t) and ‘Riparian-IVB’ (200 t) had the highest aboveground biomass retained, whereas ‘Broad’ resulted in the most pasture area (~33 ha) followed by ‘Riparian-IVB’ (~26 ha). The ‘Riparian-IVB’ treatment had the highest tree density within the vegetation bands and more than half (53%) of the original woody biomass in regrowth was retained on just under a quarter (23%) of the land area minimising the impact on the area of pasture/grazing land. This subsequently resulted in the ‘Riparian-IVB’ treatment having the highest carbon offset value (A$605 ha–1). The results demonstrate that the retention of native regrowth vegetation in either IVB or as large paddock trees can retain a large amount of aboveground biomass, with IVB having greater returns per hectare.

scholarly journals Spruce windfalls and cambioxylophagous fauna in an area with the basic and outbreak state of Ips typographus

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 497-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Kula ◽  
W. Ząbecki
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Ips Typographus ◽  
The Other ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Diameter At Breast Height ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
Basic Level ◽  
Hylurgops Palliatus

In spruce windfalls incurred in the autumn and winter season the synusia of cambioxylophagous fauna was evaluated in the profile of a whole stem and crown branches according to the species spectrum, tree cover and intensity of attack. The fauna of windfalls in the area with the basic level of Ips typographus &nbsp;and in the gradation area differed by species diversity. In the gradation area, frequency of the occurrence of Ips typographus (L.) was higher by 20&ndash;40%. P. chalcographus (L.) showed decreased stem cover in the gradation area. In the area with the basic state of Ips typographus, windfalls were intensively colonized by secondary species Hylurgops palliatus (Gyll.), Isarthron fuscum (Fabr.), Monochamus sp. With the increasing dbh (diameter at breast height) of windfalls the colonization of stems by Ips typographus was positively affected, H. palliatus, I. fuscum, Polygraphus poligraphus (L.) responded the other way round.

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