Study

Corridors may not improve the conservation value of small reserves for most boreal birds

  • Published source details Hannon S.J. & Schmiegelow F.K.A. (2002) Corridors may not improve the conservation value of small reserves for most boreal birds. Ecological Applications, 12, 1457-1468.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Ensure connectivity between habitat patches

Action Link
Bird Conservation
  1. Ensure connectivity between habitat patches

    A replicated, controlled study as part of the same study as Mactans et al. (1996) in mixed boreal forests in northern Alberta, Canada (Hannon et al. 2002), found significantly higher abundances of resident songbirds and woodpeckers, but not of forest specialists, in forest plots connected to a continuous block when compared to isolated fragments. Resident species were found at similar abundances in connected fragments and unfragmented forests, whilst habitat generalists were found at similar abundances across all forest types. None of the individual species analysed appeared to benefit from connectivity. Forest fragments were 10 or 40 ha, either in continuous forest, isolated by a 200 m strip of clearcut on all sides or isolated on three of four sides for connected fragments. Three replicates of each treatment were established in the winter of 1993-4 and monitored until 1998.

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