I examined trends in relative abundance and species richness of breeding and wintering grassland birds before (1996) and after (1997, 1998) a spring prescribed burn in a mesquite-dominated desert grassland at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona. The burn was moderate in intensity, patchy in extent, and affected ground cover more strongly than shrub cover, smaller shrubs more strongly than larger shrubs, and killed 1% of velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina). Species richness of breeding birds decreased in the first year post-burn. Of breeding species, black-throated sparrows (Amphispiza bilineata) and mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) increased; whereas Botteri's sparrows (Aimophila botterii), Cassin's sparrows (Aimophila cassinii), and pyrrhuloxias (Cardinalus sinuatus) decreased in relative abundance. Breeding species characterized as not shrub-dependent exhibited changes that were more pronounced than those for shrub-dependent species. Of wintering birds, ladder-backed woodpeckers (Picoides scalaris) and vesper sparrows (Pooecetes gramineus) increased, and cactus wrens (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) decreased in relative abundance.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/278702 |
| Date | January 1999 |
| Creators | Kirkpatrick, Christopher Kreitler |
| Contributors | DeStefano, Stephen, Mannan, R. William |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
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