Conservation Evidence: Evidence Data

Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use prescribed burning on deciduous forests Of four studies found, one paired sites study from the USA found that bird species richness was similar in burned and unburned aspen forests, although there were significant changes in the relative abundances of some species. A replicated, controlled study in the USA found no evidence for changes in community composition in oak and hickory forests following burning. A replicated controlled trial from the USA found no differences in wood thrush nest survival in burned compared to unburned areas. Another replicated controlled trial from the USA found a reduction in the number of black-chinned hummingbird nests following fuel reduction treatments that included burning. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F317https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F317Thu, 26 Jul 2012 12:53:13 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use prescribed burning on Australian sclerophyll forest Two of three studies from Australia found no differences in bird species richness in burned sites compared to unburned areas. Three studies found differences in species assemblages in burned and unburned areas, with some species lost and others gained from areas after fire. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F319https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F319Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:44:29 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use prescribed burning on savannas A replicated and controlled study from Kenya, of five studies captured, found that burned areas of savanna tended to have more birds and more species than control or grazed areas. However, the authors note that differences were not present during drought years and burned sites showed significant annual variation, unlike grazed sites. A replicated and controlled study from Australia found that the effects of burning on bird abundances depended on burn season, and habitat type. Two replicated studies in the USA found that some open country species were more common in burned areas than unburned, whilst other species were less so. A small study from the USA found that two eastern bluebird Sialia sialis successfully raised chicks after the habitat around their nest boxes was subject to a prescribed burn. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F320https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F320Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:58:00 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use prescribed burning on coastal habitats Of three studies captured, one replicated, controlled, paired sites study from the USA found that there was a fall in breeding seaside sparrow numbers on a burned site in the year it was burned. The next year, numbers were higher than on an unburned site. A controlled study in Argentina found that tall-grass specialist species were lost from burned areas in the year of burning, but that some habitats recovered by the following year. A replicated controlled study from the USA found no differences in nest predation rates between burned and unburned areas for two years after burning. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F323https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F323Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:24:19 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use fire suppression/control Two out of three before-and-after studies, from Australia and the UK, found that five species of bird (including noisy scrub-bird, the target species of one study) increased following fire suppression measures. A before-and-after study in the USA found that open habitat species declined in a pine forest site after fire exclusion, whilst mesic woodland species appeared. A before-and-after study from the UK found that five bird species declined following fire suppression. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F324https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F324Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:35:35 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Protect nest trees before burning We found no evidence for the effects of protecting nest trees of bird populations before burning. 'No evidence' for an action means we have not yet found any studies that directly and quantitatively tested this action during our systematic journal and report searches. Therefore we have been unable to assess whether or not the action is effective or has any harmful impacts. Please get in touch if you know of such a study for this action. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F325https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F325Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:48:25 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Clearcut and re-seed forests One of two replicated studies from the USA found similar bird densities in clearcut and re-seeded sites as in sites under other managements. A replicated study from the USA found that pine stands replanted with native pines held more scrub-sucessional species than stands managed with tree thinning, midstory tree removal and burning. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F327https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F327Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:11:04 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Coppice trees Of three studies, one, a before-and-after study in the UK found that a population of European nightjars increased following a series of management interventions, including the coppicing of some birch trees. Two before-and-after studies from the UK and the USA found that the use of coppices by some bird species declined over time. The UK study also found that overall species richness decreased with age, but that some species were more abundant in older stands. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F329https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F329Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:58:36 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use patch retention harvesting instead of clearcutting One before-and-after study of two from the USA found that areas under patch retention harvesting contained more birds of more species than clearcut areas, retaining similar numbers to unharvested areas. Two studies from the USA found that forest specialist species were found with greater frequency in patch retention plots than other management types. One found that habitat generalists increased on other management types, relative to patch retention areas. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F330https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F330Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:02:03 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use variable retention management during forestry operationsA replicated, controlled study from the USA found that nine bird species occurred at higher densities in stands under variable retention management, compared to control stands. Five were found at lower densities. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F332https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F332Sat, 28 Jul 2012 14:02:54 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use shelterwood cutting instead of clearcuttingA replicated study from the USA found that community composition of birds in shelterwood stands differed from other forestry practices, with some species more abundant and others less so. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F333https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F333Sat, 28 Jul 2012 14:08:41 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Manage woodland edges for birds We captured three studies of two experiments, of which one, a before-and-after study from the UK, found an increase in the local population of European nightjars following several management interventions, including the management of woodland edges for birds. Two studies of a replicated, controlled paired sites experiment in the USA found that bird abundances were higher in woodland edges with border-edge cuts and that predation on artificial nests was lower than in uncut edges. Scrub- and edge-nesting species were more abundant. Overall species richness and nest success did not differ different between treatments. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F334https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F334Sat, 28 Jul 2012 14:12:39 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Remove midstorey from savannasA controlled study in Argentina found that in summer, but not overall, a control area had higher bird abundance and species richness than an area where shrubs were removed. There were also differences in community composition between treatments. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F336https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F336Sat, 28 Jul 2012 14:54:45 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Mow or cut semi-natural grasslands/pastures Of four studies captured, one, a before-and-after study from the UK, found that local wader populations increased following the annual cutting semi-natural grasslands. A replicated, controlled study from the UK found that ducks grazed at higher densities on cut areas, a second replicated study from the UK found that goose grazing densities were unaffected by cutting frequency. A replicated study from the USA found that Henslow's sparrows were more likely to be recaptured on unmown, compared with mown grasslands. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F339https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F339Sat, 28 Jul 2012 15:49:03 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Mow or cut reedbeds Of three studies captured, one controlled study from the Netherlands found that warblers nested at lower densities in cut areas of reeds. Productivity and success did not vary between treatments. An unreplicated study from Denmark found that geese grazed at the highest densities on reedbeds cut 5–12 years previously. One replicated study investigated changing water levels in addition to cutting reeds in the UK and found that management did not affect great bittern breeding productivity but did appear to delay territory establishment. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F340https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F340Sat, 28 Jul 2012 20:15:58 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Replace non-native species of tree/shrubA replicated, controlled study from the USA found that the number of black-chinned hummingbird nests increased at sites with fuel reduction and planting of native species, but that the increase was smaller than at sites without planting. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F341https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F341Sat, 28 Jul 2012 20:22:33 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Add woody debris to forestsA randomised, replicated, controlled study from Australia found that brown treecreeper numbers were higher in plots with large amounts of dead wood added, compared to control plots or those with less debris added. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F344https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F344Sat, 28 Jul 2012 20:38:38 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Remove coarse woody debris from forests One of two replicated and controlled studies from the USA found that overall breeding bird abundance and diversity were lower in plots where woody debris was removed, compared to control plots. Several individually-analysed species showed lower abundances. A replicated, controlled before-and-after study from the USA found lower nest survival for black-chinned hummingbirds following debris removal. Some species in both studies increased after debris removal. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F345https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F345Sat, 28 Jul 2012 20:43:34 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Treat wetlands with herbicideThree of four studies, one replicated and controlled, found that numbers of terns, American coot and waders were found at higher densities on wetland areas sprayed with herbicide, compared to unsprayed areas. However, one study found that wader numbers were not as high as on ploughed areas. One replicated and controlled study found that songbird densities were lower on sprayed than unsprayed areas. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F347https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F347Sun, 29 Jul 2012 14:26:26 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Plant trees to act as windbreaks One of two before-and-after studies, from the UK, found that the local population of European nightjars increased following several interventions including the planting of windbreaks. A before-and-after study, from the USA, found that erecting a windbreak appeared to disrupt lekking behaviour in greater prairie chicken territories nearby. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F351https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F351Sun, 29 Jul 2012 15:42:39 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Re-seed grasslands One of two studies, both from the UK and investigating grazing by geese Branta spp., found that geese grazed at higher densities on grasslands that were re-seeded, compared to control or fertilised areas. One study found that areas sown with clover were grazed at higher densities than those sown with grass seed. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F352https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F352Sun, 29 Jul 2012 15:46:04 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Fertilize artificial grasslands We captured four studies examining the impacts of fertilizing grasslands, all from the UK and investigating grazing by geese Anser and Branta spp. Two studies found that more geese grazed on areas that were fertilised compared with control areas. Two studies found that cut and fertilised areas were used more than control areas. One study found that fertilised areas were used less than re-seeded grasslands. One study found that fertilisation affected grazing at applications of 50 kg N/ha, but not 18 kg N/ha. One study found that grazing rates only increased with applications of up to 80 kg.N/ha. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F353https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F353Sun, 29 Jul 2012 16:06:25 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use environmentally sensitive flood management One of two studies, a before-and-after study from the UK, found that there were significantly more bird territories in a stretch of river with ‘flood beams’ installed, compared to a channelized river. A replicated site comparison study in the USA found that 13 of 20 bird species increased at sites with the restoration of river dynamics and vegetation. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F356https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F356Sun, 29 Jul 2012 16:58:18 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use greentree reservoir managementA site comparison study from the USA found significantly lower numbers of breeding mid- and under-storey birds at a greentree reservoir site than at a control site. Canopy nesting species were not affected. The species investigated were not gamebirds or wildfowl. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F357https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F357Sun, 29 Jul 2012 17:02:09 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Plough habitats One of four studies (of two experiments), from the USA, found that bird densities were higher on ploughed wetland areas, compared to unploughed areas. Three studies of a site comparison study from the UK found that few whimbrels nested on ploughed and re-seeded areas of heathland, but these areas were used for foraging in early spring. There were no differences in chick survival between birds that used ploughed and re-seeded heathland and those that did not. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F358https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F358Sun, 29 Jul 2012 17:05:56 +0100