Effects of experimental forest management on density and nesting success of bird species in Missouri Ozark forests

Published source details Gram W.K., Porneluzi P.A., Clawson R.L. & Richter S.C. (2003) Effects of experimental forest management on density and nesting success of bird species in Missouri Ozark forests. Conservation Biology, 17, 1324-1337.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Use selective harvesting/logging instead of clearcutting Action Link
	Clear or open patches in forests Action Link

Use selective harvesting/logging instead of clearcutting

In oak-hickory forest in the Missouri Ozarks, USA, in 1991-2000, a replicated, randomised, controlled study (Gram et al. 2003) found no consistent differences in bird community responses to even- (i.e. clearcutting) and uneven-aged (i.e. selection cutting) management. However, some mature-forest species, such as overbirds Seiurus aurocapillus were less common on even-aged sites, whilst some early-successional species were more common on these sites. This study is discussed in more detail in ‘Clear or open patches in forests’.
Clear or open patches in forests

In oak-hickory forest in the Missouri Ozarks, USA, in 1991-2000, a replicated, randomised, controlled study (Gram et al. 2003) found that early successional species increased in response to even- (i.e. clearcutting) and uneven-aged (i.e. selection cutting) management, whereas mature forest species declined. Mature forest bird abundance declined as trees were removed, with harvest disturbance affecting densities of some species in adjacent forest for three years or more. Nest success (average of 29% for all species) did not change after treatment. Each of nine sites was randomly assigned even- or uneven-aged treatment (undertaken May 1996 to May 1997) with a patch of about 10% of each site left uncut. The two treatments are compared in ‘Use selective harvesting/logging instead of clearcutting’.