Transcript No Slide Title

Avian response to silviculture practices in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley:
A breeding bird survey of Boeuf Wildlife Management Area
JOHN QUINN and KIM MARIE TOLSON,
Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Monroe
Introduction
Methods
Results
Conclusion
State Wildlife Grants (SWG) were created with the intent of
protecting and managing wildlife species in greatest conservation
need. With 80 percent of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV)
original forest cover lost, breeding birds of the MAV warrant our
conservation efforts. Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries commissioned
Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS) on the state’s wildlife management areas
to look at how forest management techniques in the MAV impact
bird populations. At Boeuf Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
species richness and diversity were compared across treatments. A list
of confirmed breeding birds on the WMA is being generated as well
as a checklist of all avian species encountered to include those
detected outside the constraints of the BBS.
 Boeuf WMA is 51,000 + acres of bottomland hardwoods and
wetland habitat in northeast Louisiana. The land is owned by
the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
A total of 198 point counts were conducted on 22 transects in
plantations, managed and unmanaged forests. A total of 38
species were counted during the 2005 BBS season. Total species
richness for the management area currently stands at 171 species.
Literature shows that a diversity of habitats is most beneficial to the
avian community and the environment as a whole. Future
management should seek to find a sustainable balance between
conservation and preservation when making decisions concerning
bottomland hardwoods and the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV).
 All birds seen or heard within 100m of the observer were
recorded. Distances from the observer to all birds detected
were broken down between three categories; less then 25m,
25m to 50m, and greater then 50m.
 Each count was conducted for 10 minutes. The point count was
subdivided into three intervals: 1-3 min, 2-5 min, and 5-10 min.
Description of Transects
Unmanaged
Aim
To effectively manage southern forests in the Mississippi Alluvial
Valley, a thorough understanding of the impacts of various
silviculture techniques is needed. Wilson et al. (1996) have
identified the need to survey biological resources as the first step
in developing effective management strategies. The first step in a
biological resource survey is an estimation of diversity at one time
and location.
For this study, we are looking to estimate the total number of
breeding species in each community within the WMA. We will
examine the difference between managed and unmanaged forests
and how age and structure of a plantation influences the avian
population.
To increase use of Boeuf WMA by the general public and the
birding community, we will develop an avian species list for the
WMA, providing the community and birders with species present.
Managed
Reforested
Unmanaged
Species Richness
Simpson's Index (D)
Simpson's Index of Diversity
Shannon's Index (H‘)
Simpson's Evenness 1/D
Managed
Species Richness
Simpson's Index (D)
Simpson's Index of Diversity
Shannon's Index (H‘)
Simpson's Evenness 1/D
Reforested
Species Richness
Simpson's Index (D)
Simpson's Index of Diversity
Shannon's Index (H‘)
Simpson's Evenness 1/D
S=
D=
1-D =
H'=
E=
32
0.067
0.933
4.243
0.463
S=
D=
1-D =
H'=
E=
29
0.074
0.926
4.163
0.451
S=
D=
1-D =
H'=
E=
T05
T07
Natural Area/Flooded
Natural Area
T10
T12
T13
Unmanaged
Unmanaged
Unmanaged/Tornado
T16
Unmanaged/Greentree
T17
T21
Unmanaged
Unmanaged
T22
T25
Unmanaged
Unmanaged
T31
Unmanaged/Flooded
T32
T33
T36
T37
T38
T63
Managed Timber Cut/Group
Managed Timber Cut/Group
Managed Timber Cut/Individual
Managed Timber Cut/Individual
Managed Timber Cut/Individual
Replantation High/Low
Replantation/Moist Soil/WRP
Replantation High/Low
Replantation High/Low
Replantation WRP
Replantation WRP
Replantation High/Low
Managed
Reforested
Works Cited
23
0.113
0.887
3.629
0.377
Unmanaged
Reforested
83.42
31.25
34.43
Species richness per transect
25
T09 T12 T21 T25
20
T05
T13
T07 T15 T10
Hamel, P.B., W.P. Smith, D.J. Twedt, J.R. Woehr, E. Morris, R.B.
Hamilton, and R.J. Cooper. 1996. A land manger’s guide to
point counts of birds in the southeast. U.S.D.A Forest Service,
Report SO-120
Wilson, D.E., F.R. Cole, J.D. Nichols, R. Rudran, M.S. Foster
1996. Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity. Smithsonian
Institution Press
Acknowledgements
We thank Elbert Rachal for advice and helpful discussions, Buddy
Dupris, David Breithaupt, Tommy Tuma, and Fred Hagaman for
field data about Boeuf WMA. Funding for this project was provided
by the LDWF & USFWS, Division of Federal Aid through the State
Wildlife Grants Program. Photos by Mike Baranski
T01 T33
15
T32
10
T06b T18 T31
t06 T17 T22
At Boeuf Wildlife Management Area (WMA), further monitoring is
necessary to determine reasons for low numbers of HOWA,
KEWA, WOTH, and EAPW. Low abundance may be due to the
factors within the WMA, but may also be part of the larger trend in
the declining population of neo-tropical migrants throughout the
MAV. A greater understanding of the dynamics of new plantations
will also improve the success of future forest regeneration efforts.
Protecting and managing wildlife species of greatest conservation
need will become more necessary as natural habitats are pressured
by the expansion of agriculture and exurban areas. Boeuf WMA
hosts a diverse range of habitats and is a valuable refuge in which
to protect threatened species in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley.
Percent Similarity of Relative Abundance
T06
T06B
T09
T15
T18
T01
NOCL, 217
CACH, 172
CAWR, 141
DICK, 101
RBWP, 97
TUTM, 95
WIVI, 92
YBCU, 86
INBU, 81
PROW, 73
EAML, 57
ACFL, 48
YBCH, 46
SUTA, 43
PIWP, 41
NOPA, 41
BHCB, 37
BGGN, 36
PABU, 35
REVI, 27
DOWP, 25
YTVI, 19
NOBW, 17
RHWP, 14
OROR, 14
COYT, 14
MODO, 12
GCFL, 10
KEWA, 8
HOWA, 7
EATO, 6
EAPW, 6
BLJA, 6
WOTH, 5
HAWP, 5
GRCB, 5
RTHB, 3
 Multiple point counts (Hamel et al. 1996) were conducted
within each compartment on the WMA. Each point count was
sampled approximately once monthly during April, May, and
June. Point counts were conducted between 0.5 hours before
sunrise and 3.0 hours after sunrise. Point counts were not
conducted during periods of high wind or rain.
BBS abundance per species
BAOR, 3
 Point count locations were randomly selected using a map of
Boeuf WMA, projected with ArcView software. Locations were
chosen for comparisons of different silvicultural practices.
Accessibility and spatial concerns were considered.
T36
T63
T37 T38
Further Information
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A complete species list and a copy of the poster can be found at:
http://www.ulm.edu/~tolson/johnqiv.htm