Relationship of Obligate Grassland Birds to Landscape Structure in Wisconsin |
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Authors: | LES D MURRAY CHRISTINE A RIBIC WAYNE E THOGMARTIN |
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Institution: | 1. United States Geological Survey, Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA;2. United States Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, 2630 Fanta Reed Road, La Crosse, WI 54603, USA |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACT Conservation plans for grassland birds have included recommendations at the landscape level, but species' responses to landscape structure are variable. We studied the relationships between grassland bird abundances and landscape structure in 800-ha landscapes in Wisconsin, USA, using roadside surveys. Of 9 species considered, abundances of only 4 species differed among landscapes with varying amounts of grassland and forest. Landscape variables explained <20% of variation in abundances for 4 of the 5 rarest species in our study. Our results suggest landscape-based management plans for grassland birds might not benefit the rarest species and, thus, plans should incorporate species-specific habitat preferences for these species. |
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Keywords: | abundance bird composition conservation grassland habitat landscape Wisconsin |
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