Canopy characteristics affect reproductive success of golden‐cheeked warblers

Abstract The golden‐cheeked warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia), listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as endangered in 1990 due primarily to habitat loss and fragmentation, is a Neotropical migrant songbird that breeds exclusively in mature juniper–oak (Juniperus–Quercus) woodlands in central Te...

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Main Authors: Jessica A. Klassen, Michael L. Morrison, Heather A. Mathewson, Gil G. Rosenthal, R. Neal Wilkins
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-03-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.100
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author Jessica A. Klassen
Michael L. Morrison
Heather A. Mathewson
Gil G. Rosenthal
R. Neal Wilkins
author_facet Jessica A. Klassen
Michael L. Morrison
Heather A. Mathewson
Gil G. Rosenthal
R. Neal Wilkins
author_sort Jessica A. Klassen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The golden‐cheeked warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia), listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as endangered in 1990 due primarily to habitat loss and fragmentation, is a Neotropical migrant songbird that breeds exclusively in mature juniper–oak (Juniperus–Quercus) woodlands in central Texas, USA. Previous studies suggested suitable breeding habitat consists of >35% canopy closure (with 50–70% cover optimal), and ≥10% oak composition. However, little is known about this species' habitat relationships at the southwestern edge of its breeding range. Therefore, within this portion of the species' breeding range, we investigated influences of canopy closure and tree species composition on pairing and reproductive success of golden‐cheeked warblers during 2009 and 2010. We used remote sensing and ground sampling to acquire variables to describe habitat characteristics, and we estimated pairing for breeding and reproductive success by golden‐cheeked warblers. We found successfully breeding pairs in areas with >20% canopy cover, 35% juniper composition, and only 3% oak composition. A logistic model for pairing success retained juniper, oak, and the interaction between these 2 variables, and the model for reproductive success retained juniper, canopy closure, study area, and the interaction between canopy closure and study area. Our results expand our knowledge of habitat conditions that warblers use for breeding, thus expanding the range of habitat management options available for this species during breeding season. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
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spelling doaj-art-898f37a990084edeb757b09f1728601f2024-12-16T11:15:41ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402012-03-01361546010.1002/wsb.100Canopy characteristics affect reproductive success of golden‐cheeked warblersJessica A. Klassen0Michael L. Morrison1Heather A. Mathewson2Gil G. Rosenthal3R. Neal Wilkins4Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USADepartment of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USATexas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USADepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USATexas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USAAbstract The golden‐cheeked warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia), listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as endangered in 1990 due primarily to habitat loss and fragmentation, is a Neotropical migrant songbird that breeds exclusively in mature juniper–oak (Juniperus–Quercus) woodlands in central Texas, USA. Previous studies suggested suitable breeding habitat consists of >35% canopy closure (with 50–70% cover optimal), and ≥10% oak composition. However, little is known about this species' habitat relationships at the southwestern edge of its breeding range. Therefore, within this portion of the species' breeding range, we investigated influences of canopy closure and tree species composition on pairing and reproductive success of golden‐cheeked warblers during 2009 and 2010. We used remote sensing and ground sampling to acquire variables to describe habitat characteristics, and we estimated pairing for breeding and reproductive success by golden‐cheeked warblers. We found successfully breeding pairs in areas with >20% canopy cover, 35% juniper composition, and only 3% oak composition. A logistic model for pairing success retained juniper, oak, and the interaction between these 2 variables, and the model for reproductive success retained juniper, canopy closure, study area, and the interaction between canopy closure and study area. Our results expand our knowledge of habitat conditions that warblers use for breeding, thus expanding the range of habitat management options available for this species during breeding season. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.100abundanceendangered speciesgolden‐cheeked warblerhabitat managementhabitat useSetophaga chrysoparia
spellingShingle Jessica A. Klassen
Michael L. Morrison
Heather A. Mathewson
Gil G. Rosenthal
R. Neal Wilkins
Canopy characteristics affect reproductive success of golden‐cheeked warblers
Wildlife Society Bulletin
abundance
endangered species
golden‐cheeked warbler
habitat management
habitat use
Setophaga chrysoparia
title Canopy characteristics affect reproductive success of golden‐cheeked warblers
title_full Canopy characteristics affect reproductive success of golden‐cheeked warblers
title_fullStr Canopy characteristics affect reproductive success of golden‐cheeked warblers
title_full_unstemmed Canopy characteristics affect reproductive success of golden‐cheeked warblers
title_short Canopy characteristics affect reproductive success of golden‐cheeked warblers
title_sort canopy characteristics affect reproductive success of golden cheeked warblers
topic abundance
endangered species
golden‐cheeked warbler
habitat management
habitat use
Setophaga chrysoparia
url https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.100
work_keys_str_mv AT jessicaaklassen canopycharacteristicsaffectreproductivesuccessofgoldencheekedwarblers
AT michaellmorrison canopycharacteristicsaffectreproductivesuccessofgoldencheekedwarblers
AT heatheramathewson canopycharacteristicsaffectreproductivesuccessofgoldencheekedwarblers
AT gilgrosenthal canopycharacteristicsaffectreproductivesuccessofgoldencheekedwarblers
AT rnealwilkins canopycharacteristicsaffectreproductivesuccessofgoldencheekedwarblers