Study

First-year effects of sagebrush control on two sparrows

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Apply herbicide to mid- and understorey vegetation

Action Link 		Bird Conservation
  1. Apply herbicide to mid- and understorey vegetation

    A replicated, controlled before-and-after study in 1966-1969 in common sagebrush Artemisia tridentata shrublands in central Montana, USA (Best 1972), found that the number of breeding pairs of Brewer's sparrow Spizella breweri declined by 54% on plots completely sprayed with herbicide in 1968 (from 0.8 pairs/ha to 0.4). Vesper sparrows Pooecetes gramineus showed no response to herbicide, and neither species showed any changes on plots subject to strip spraying, partial spraying or on control plots. Plant foods (mostly grass seed) represented a greater portion, and invertebrate food a smaller portion, of both sparrow species diets on the sprayed than the unsprayed area.

     

Output references
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