Browsing by Subject "Biophysical plots"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Monitoring Bird Populations on Biophysical Inventory Plots: St. Louis County, 1994
    (University of Minnesota Duluth, 1995) Montgomery, Kent; Niemi, Gerald J
    Neotropical migrant birds have recently received much attention following reported declines in many species that breed in eastern North America. Probable causes for such declines include events, such as habitat alteration, occurring on both breeding and wintering grounds. Changes in forest species composition and age structure, and the spatial arrangement of these forest components, may possibly influence bird communities in both regions. The consequences of these changes to birds and other wildlife in Minnesota are not well understood. Minnesota’s forests harbor a greater diversity of songbirds than anywhere else in North America. Birds represent more than 60% of the more than 150 vertebrate species in northern Minnesota forests. Development of forest management plans designed to sustain the diversity of these forests should address bird communities occupying them. To better understand the affect of forest management activities on bird communities in St. Louis County, a site-specific bird monitoring program was initiated on County Biophysical plots during June 1994. Census points were established on Biophysical plots and monitored for forest birds. Results of these censuses will be used to determine avian community composition within plots, refine species/habitat relationships for St. Louis County lands, establish baselines for continued monitoring of bird populations on selected plots, and explore landscape-level effects on avian communities.
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    Monitoring Bird Populations on Biophysical Inventory Plots: St. Louis County, 1994-1996
    (University of Minnesota Duluth, 1997) Montgomery, Kent; Niemi, Gerald J
    Neotropical migrant birds have recently received much attention following reported declines in many species that breed in eastern North America. Probable causes for such declines include events such as habitat alteration, occurring on both breeding and wintering grounds. Changes in forest species composition and age structure, and the spatial arrangement of these forest components may influence bird communities in both regions. The consequences of these changes to birds and other wildlife in Minnesota are not well understood. Minnesota's forests harbor a greater diversity of songbirds than anywhere else in North America. Birds represent more than 70% of the more than 150 terrestrial vertebrate species in northern Minnesota forests. Development of forest management plans designed to sustain the diversity of these forests should address bird communities occupying them. To better understand the affect of forest management activities on bird communities in St. Louis County, a site-specific bird monitoring program was initiated on biophysical plots. Bird census points were established on biophysical plots and surveyed for forest birds during June of 1994, 1995, and 1996. Results of these surveys were used to determine avian community composition within plots, refine species/habitat relationships for St. Louis County, and establish baselines for continued monitoring of bird populations on selected plots.
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    Monitoring Bird Populations on Biophysical Inventory Plots: St. Louis County, 1995
    (University of Minnesota Duluth, 1995) Montgomery, Kent; Niemi, Gerald J
    Neotropical migrant birds have recently received much attention following reported declines in many species that breed in eastern North America. Probable causes for such declines include events such as habitat alteration, occurring on both breeding and wintering grounds. Changes in forest species composition and age structure, and the spatial arrangement of these forest components may influence bird communities in both regions. The consequences of these changes to birds and other wildlife in Minnesota are not well understood. Minnesota's forests harbor a greater diversity of songbirds than anywhere else in North America. Birds represent more than 70% of the more than 150 terrestrial vertebrate species in northern Minnesota forests. Development of forest management plans designed to sustain the diversity of these forests should address bird communities occupying them. To better understand the affect of forest management activities on bird communities in St. Louis County, a site-specific bird monitoring program was initiated on biophysical plots. Bird census points were established on biophysical plots and surveyed for forest birds during June of 1994 and 1995. Results of these surveys were used to determine avian community composition within plots, refine species/habitat relationships for St. Louis County lands, identify changes in relative abundance of breeding birds between years, and establish baselines for continued monitoring of bird populations on selected plots.
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    Monitoring Herpetofauna on St. Louis County Biophysical Plots, 1996: Inventory Results and Preferred Sampling Methods
    (University of Minnesota Duluth, 1997) Montgomery, Kent; Niemi, Gerald J
    Herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians) have been experiencing declines in populations worldwide. Explanations for these declines include increased ultraviolet radiation, decreased water quality, and habitat alterations. Although the causes of these losses are unknown, the point remains that this vertebrate group may be one of the most sensitive indicators of environmental health. Identifying habitat requirements of herpetofaunal communities and monitoring trends in their populations may enable forest managers to better understand the effect of forest management activities upon wildlife dependent on forested habitats. We initiated herpetofaunal inventories during 1996 on selected biophysical plots established within the Boulder Lake Management Area by St. Louis County Land Department personnel. Northern white cedar, eastern white pine, and early successional habitats were selected for inventory A variety of inventory techniques were used within each habitat, including drift fences, cover boards, and calling anuran (frogs and toads) surveys. The sampling efficiency, cost effectiveness, and durability of each technique were evaluated. Recommended protocols for herpetofaunal inventory on St. Louis County biophysical plots included in this report were created based upon these evaluations.