Over the past five decades, populations of the Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) have declined precipitously and the response of populations to silviculture has been identified as a high-priority research need. This species was studied in nine forest management units in Southern Indiana following a harvest that took place in 2008. Males were detected, territories were demarcated, and male age-class was determined to identify settlement patterns. Vegetation was measured in all territories and associated random non-use sites. Data analyzed in ArcMap (ArcGIS 10) show that Cerulean Warbler territory size was smallest and density was highest in even-aged units. Territories contained a greater number of small woody species than non-use sites but no vegetative differences existed between male age-classes. Instead, males appeared to select areas by relying on social cues from experienced neighbors. It is possible that “social attraction” management techniques could influence male Cerulean Warbler settlement patterns, providing a valuable tool for the conservation of this species. / Forest management effects on cerulean warbler territory size in southern Indiana -- Conspecific social cues strongly influence cerulean warbler male settlement patterns in a managed forest. / Department of Biology
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:123456789/195886 |
| Date | 22 May 2012 |
| Creators | Dibala, Ryan H. |
| Contributors | Islam, Kamal |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
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