Comparative detection,density, and reproductive performance of Kirtland's warbler in jack and red pine |
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Authors: | Fred Van Dyke Seth Harju Michael Hindy Natalie Cannata Emily Schmidt Erin Hillman Alyssa Sargent Brian Keas |
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Institution: | 1. Au Sable Institute, 7526 Sunset Trail NE, Mancelona, MI, 49659 USA;2. Heron Ecological LLC, P. O. Box 235, Kingston, ID, 83839 USA;3. Cornerstone University, 1001 E Beltline Avenue, Grand Rapids, MI, 49525 USA;4. Calvin University, 3201 Burton Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49546 USA;5. Taylor University, 236 W Reade Avenue, Upland, IN, 46989 USA;6. Eastern University, 1300 Eagle Road, St Davids, PA, 19087 USA;7. Messiah University, One College Avenue, Mechanicsburg, PA, 17055 USA |
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Abstract: | The formerly endangered Kirtland's warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii) is among a growing number of conservation-reliant species that depend on active management to avoid reverting to endangered status. Because the Kirtland's warbler is a habitat specialist of young, even-aged jack pine (Pinus banksiana), managers of the recovery effort stressed creating new jack pine stands and monitoring numbers of singing males through an annual census using single visits to individual stands. Kirtland's warbler will occupy and breed in red pine (P. resinosa), but red pine has not been surveyed for Kirtland's warblers in the annual population census. Furthermore, the current monitoring approach cannot determine their species detection probability or individual detection probability, which is essential to evaluate both red pine use and the accuracy of the census. From 2016–2018 we estimated density and detection probabilities in jack pine and red pine stands through repeated visits to a limited number of stands rather than single visits to many stands. Estimates of species detection probability indicated that ≥1 male Kirtland's warbler would be detected on most sites when any were present, but individual detection probabilities were less and varied by stand type, indicating that single visits to sites would underestimate numbers and that accurate estimation of detection probability was important for estimation of density in different stand types. We offer quantitative estimates of detection probabilities for determination of Kirtland's warbler population size in jack pine versus red pine stands in the same areas and breeding seasons. Managers of Kirtland's warblers should incorporate detection probabilities into population surveys to achieve more accurate estimates of population size. |
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Keywords: | conservation-reliant species individual detection probability jack pine Pinus banksiana Pinus resinosa red pine reproductive success Setophaga kirtlandii species detection probability |
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