Assessment of Rusty Blackbird Habitat Occupancy in the Long Range Mountains of Newfoundland, Canada Using Forest Inventory Data
Rusty blackbirds (Euphagus carolinus), once common across their boreal breeding distribution, have undergone steep, range-wide population declines. Newfoundland is home to what has been described as one of just two known subspecies (E. c. nigrans) and hosts some of the highest known densities of the...
Published in: | Diversity |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Text |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
2020
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3390/d12090340 |
id |
ftmdpi:oai:mdpi.com:/1424-2818/12/9/340/ |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftmdpi:oai:mdpi.com:/1424-2818/12/9/340/ 2023-08-20T04:08:02+02:00 Assessment of Rusty Blackbird Habitat Occupancy in the Long Range Mountains of Newfoundland, Canada Using Forest Inventory Data Kathleen K. E. Manson Jenna P. B. McDermott Luke L. Powell Darroch M. Whitaker Ian G. Warkentin agris 2020-09-04 application/pdf https://doi.org/10.3390/d12090340 EN eng Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute Animal Diversity https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d12090340 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Diversity; Volume 12; Issue 9; Pages: 340 red squirrel boreal wetland Euphagus carolinus point count remotely sensed landscape data unmarked Text 2020 ftmdpi https://doi.org/10.3390/d12090340 2023-08-01T00:02:45Z Rusty blackbirds (Euphagus carolinus), once common across their boreal breeding distribution, have undergone steep, range-wide population declines. Newfoundland is home to what has been described as one of just two known subspecies (E. c. nigrans) and hosts some of the highest known densities of the species across its extensive breeding range. To contribute to a growing body of literature examining rusty blackbird breeding ecology, we studied habitat occupancy in Western Newfoundland. We conducted 1960 point counts across a systematic survey grid during the 2016 and 2017 breeding seasons, and modeled blackbird occupancy using forest resource inventory data. We also assessed the relationship between the presence of introduced red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), an avian nest predator, and blackbird occupancy. We evaluated 31 a priori models of blackbird probability of occurrence. Consistent with existing literature, the best predictors of blackbird occupancy were lakes and ponds, streams, rivers, and bogs. Red squirrels did not appear to have a strong influence on blackbird habitat occupancy. We are among the first to model rusty blackbird habitat occupancy using remotely-sensed landcover data; given the widespread availability of forest resource inventory data, this approach may be useful in conservation efforts for this and other rare but widespread boreal species. Given that Newfoundland may be a geographic stronghold for rusty blackbirds, future research should focus on this distinct population. Text Newfoundland MDPI Open Access Publishing Canada Diversity 12 9 340 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
MDPI Open Access Publishing |
op_collection_id |
ftmdpi |
language |
English |
topic |
red squirrel boreal wetland Euphagus carolinus point count remotely sensed landscape data unmarked |
spellingShingle |
red squirrel boreal wetland Euphagus carolinus point count remotely sensed landscape data unmarked Kathleen K. E. Manson Jenna P. B. McDermott Luke L. Powell Darroch M. Whitaker Ian G. Warkentin Assessment of Rusty Blackbird Habitat Occupancy in the Long Range Mountains of Newfoundland, Canada Using Forest Inventory Data |
topic_facet |
red squirrel boreal wetland Euphagus carolinus point count remotely sensed landscape data unmarked |
description |
Rusty blackbirds (Euphagus carolinus), once common across their boreal breeding distribution, have undergone steep, range-wide population declines. Newfoundland is home to what has been described as one of just two known subspecies (E. c. nigrans) and hosts some of the highest known densities of the species across its extensive breeding range. To contribute to a growing body of literature examining rusty blackbird breeding ecology, we studied habitat occupancy in Western Newfoundland. We conducted 1960 point counts across a systematic survey grid during the 2016 and 2017 breeding seasons, and modeled blackbird occupancy using forest resource inventory data. We also assessed the relationship between the presence of introduced red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), an avian nest predator, and blackbird occupancy. We evaluated 31 a priori models of blackbird probability of occurrence. Consistent with existing literature, the best predictors of blackbird occupancy were lakes and ponds, streams, rivers, and bogs. Red squirrels did not appear to have a strong influence on blackbird habitat occupancy. We are among the first to model rusty blackbird habitat occupancy using remotely-sensed landcover data; given the widespread availability of forest resource inventory data, this approach may be useful in conservation efforts for this and other rare but widespread boreal species. Given that Newfoundland may be a geographic stronghold for rusty blackbirds, future research should focus on this distinct population. |
format |
Text |
author |
Kathleen K. E. Manson Jenna P. B. McDermott Luke L. Powell Darroch M. Whitaker Ian G. Warkentin |
author_facet |
Kathleen K. E. Manson Jenna P. B. McDermott Luke L. Powell Darroch M. Whitaker Ian G. Warkentin |
author_sort |
Kathleen K. E. Manson |
title |
Assessment of Rusty Blackbird Habitat Occupancy in the Long Range Mountains of Newfoundland, Canada Using Forest Inventory Data |
title_short |
Assessment of Rusty Blackbird Habitat Occupancy in the Long Range Mountains of Newfoundland, Canada Using Forest Inventory Data |
title_full |
Assessment of Rusty Blackbird Habitat Occupancy in the Long Range Mountains of Newfoundland, Canada Using Forest Inventory Data |
title_fullStr |
Assessment of Rusty Blackbird Habitat Occupancy in the Long Range Mountains of Newfoundland, Canada Using Forest Inventory Data |
title_full_unstemmed |
Assessment of Rusty Blackbird Habitat Occupancy in the Long Range Mountains of Newfoundland, Canada Using Forest Inventory Data |
title_sort |
assessment of rusty blackbird habitat occupancy in the long range mountains of newfoundland, canada using forest inventory data |
publisher |
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/d12090340 |
op_coverage |
agris |
geographic |
Canada |
geographic_facet |
Canada |
genre |
Newfoundland |
genre_facet |
Newfoundland |
op_source |
Diversity; Volume 12; Issue 9; Pages: 340 |
op_relation |
Animal Diversity https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d12090340 |
op_rights |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/d12090340 |
container_title |
Diversity |
container_volume |
12 |
container_issue |
9 |
container_start_page |
340 |
_version_ |
1774720109628096512 |