Study

Reversing the fragmentation perspective: effects of clearcut size on bird species richness in Maine

  • Published source details Rudnicky T.C. & Hunter M.L. (1993) Reversing the fragmentation perspective: effects of clearcut size on bird species richness in Maine. Ecological Applications, 3, 357-366.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Clear or open patches in forests

Action Link
Bird Conservation
  1. Clear or open patches in forests

    A replicated study in 1989-1990 at three mixed forest sites in Maine, USA (Rudnicky & Hunter 1993), found some evidence of increased bird species richness in clearcuts from 2 ha up to 20 ha in area: of the 15 most common clearcut species in both years, ten (in 1989) and 12 ( in 1990) were more abundant in larger clearcuts, up to 20 ha, beyond which no preference for clearcut size was apparent, however, average species richness showed no trend amongst the range of clearcut sizes. Study sites comprised 45 clearcuts (2 to 112 ha in area) from 3-10 years post-cut age. These were surveyed in May-June 1989 and 1990; 69 bird species were recorded.

     

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