Spatio-temporal Ecology of Forest Birds

Abstract

Maintaining avian diversity in forest ecosystems have been shown to afford many benefits for forest health and productivity. However, alterations to the historical disturbance regimes within hemiboreal forests have impacted bird communities, and the ability of landscapes to meet the ecological needs of breeding forest birds has become a growing concern. As changes in forest landscapes continue, landscape effects may become increasingly important drivers of population dynamics for forest bird species. This dissertation includes a combination of experimental, theoretical, and applied research to assess the influence of habitat, landscape, community composition, and life history traits on population dynamics of forest birds. This research aids in identifying mechanisms associated with species population dynamics which is critical for understanding long term population trends and factors that contribute to species persistence and maintenance of biodiversity.