Assessing Conservation Value of Bird Communities With Partners in Flight-Based Ranks

Nuttle, Tim; Leidolf, Andreas; Burger, L. Wes

doi:10.1093/auk/120.2.541

Cited by 21 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Estimates of bird species richness in disked and control fields were similar to those of unmanaged cool‐season CRP in Missouri, but richness in glyphosate‐based treatment fields surpassed those of other unmanaged CRP (McCoy et al ). Similar to other studies (Nuttle et al , Wood et al , Grundel and Pavlovic , Blank et al, ), we found the avian conservation value index to be an effective tool to compare contributions of alternative management actions on priority bird species. We found glyphosate‐based treatments increased avian conservation value of tall fescue CRP fields by >33% relative to unmanaged fescue fields.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…We estimated species richness as the number of unique species detected per survey, and derived species diversity using the Shannon–Weiner H' diversity index (Krebs ). We calculated the avian conservation value by multiplying the relative density of each species within each field by the Partners in Flight (PIF) regional conservation priority score (Carter et al , Nuttle et al ) for the Eastern Tallgrass Prairie Bird Conservation Region (Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory ). We summed field estimates for the avian conservation value across species to derive a single score for each field for a given year.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We summed field estimates for the avian conservation value across species to derive a single score for each field for a given year. The avian conservation value index is useful for investigating how management actions affect priority species because the predefined conservation priority scores incorporate region‐specific measures of demographics for each priority species (Nuttle et al ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multi-scale associations of grassland birds in response to cost-share management of conservation reserve program fields in Illinois

Osborne

Sparling

2013

Jour. Wild. Mgmt.

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The Illinois State Wildlife Action Plan targeted the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) as important improvable acres for grassland and grassland‐successional bird species of greatest need for conservation. A large portion of CRP grasslands in Illinois and elsewhere lack floristic and structural diversity because of the absence of management and the extensive planting of monotypic grasses such as tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix). The 2006 Farm Bill included the mid‐contract management (MCM) provision requiring landowners with new CRP enrollments to provide habitat improvement midway through the 10–15‐year contract duration. We compared the effects of 3 approved MCM regimes (i.e., fall strip disking, fall glyphosate spraying, fall glyphosate spraying followed by spring legume drill‐seeding) on grassland bird communities in 60 tall fescue‐dominated CRP fields in south‐central Illinois during 2006–2008. We modeled relative density of dickcissels (Spiza americana), Henslow's sparrows (Ammodramus henslowii), and eastern meadowlarks (Sturnella magna) as a function of microhabitat, patch‐level patterns, and landscape composition using a multi‐scale assessment approach. We detected 10 grassland‐associated bird species (e.g., Henslow's sparrow, northern bobwhite [Colinus virginianus], sedge wren [Cistothrus platensis], Savannah sparrow [Passerculus sandwichensis], grasshopper sparrow [Ammodramus savannarum]) that are recognized as species of greatest need for conservation under the Illinois State Wildlife Action Plan. Mean total bird densities and species richness were greater in glyphosate‐sprayed fields (5.0 birds/ha; 11.5 species) and glyphosate drill‐seeded fields (4.4 bird/ha; 12.4 species) than in disked (3.4 birds/ha; 8.7 species) and reference (3.1 birds/ha; 7.5 species) fields. The avian conservation value of glyphosate sprayed and glyphosate drill‐seeded fields increased 34.2% and 32.6% post‐management, respectively, but we did not detect change in disked and reference fields. Our models indicate that density of each of the focal species is likely associated with changes in plant species diversity and habitat structure resulting from management actions but is also influenced by landscape composition. Despite an overall positive response of the grassland bird communities to glyphosate‐based treatment regimes in tall fescue CRP fields in south‐central Illinois, the response of Henslow's sparrow density to glyphosate was not consistently positive. © 2013 The Wildlife Society.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multi-scale associations of grassland birds in response to cost-share management of conservation reserve program fields in Illinois

Osborne

Sparling

2013

Jour. Wild. Mgmt.

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“…) or the relative conservation priority for a given species using Partners in Flight (PIF) scores (Nuttle et al. ), respectively.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…) following Nuttle et al. (). PIF calculates scores based on relative extinction risk by region and the resulting rank prioritizes conservation efforts for species in North America: a higher rank indicates species with greater conservation priority.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of biomass production at civil airports on grassland bird conservation and aviation strike risk

Conkling

Belant

DeVault

et al. 2018

Ecological Applications

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Growing concerns about climate change, foreign oil dependency, and environmental quality have fostered interest in perennial native grasses (e.g., switchgrass [Panicum virgatum]) for bioenergy production while also maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function. However, biomass cultivation in marginal landscapes such as airport grasslands may have detrimental effects on aviation safety as well as conservation efforts for grassland birds. In 2011-2013, we investigated effects of vegetation composition and harvest frequency on seasonal species richness and habitat use of grassland birds and modeled relative abundance, aviation risk, and conservation value of birds associated with biomass crops. Avian relative abundance was greater in switchgrass monoculture plots during the winter months, whereas Native Warm-Season Grass (NWSG) mixed species plantings were favored by species during the breeding season. Conversely, treatment differences in aviation risk and conservation value were not biologically significant. Only 2.6% of observations included avian species of high hazard to aircraft, providing support for semi-natural grasslands as a feasible landcover option at civil airports. Additionally, varied harvest frequencies across a mosaic of switchgrass monocultures and NWSG plots allows for biomass production with multiple vegetation structure options for grassland birds to increase seasonal avian biodiversity and habitat use.

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Residential yard management and landscape cover affect urban bird community diversity across the continental USA

Lerman

Narango

Avolio

et al. 2021

Ecological Applications

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Urbanization has a homogenizing effect on biodiversity and leads to communities with fewer native species and lower conservation value. However, few studies have explored whether or how land management by urban residents can ameliorate the deleterious effects of this homogenization on species composition. We tested the effects of local (land management) and neighborhood‐scale (impervious surface and tree canopy cover) features on breeding bird diversity in six US metropolitan areas that differ in regional species pools and climate. We used a Bayesian multiregion community model to assess differences in species richness, functional guild richness, community turnover, population vulnerability, and public interest in each bird community in six land management types: two natural area park types (separate and adjacent to residential areas), two yard types with conservation features (wildlife‐certified and water conservation) and two lawn‐dominated yard types (high‐ and low‐fertilizer application), and surrounding neighborhood‐scale features. Species richness was higher in yards compared with parks; however, parks supported communities with high conservation scores while yards supported species of high public interest. Bird communities in all land management types were composed of primarily native species. Within yard types, species richness was strongly and positively associated with neighborhood‐scale tree canopy cover and negatively associated with impervious surface. At a continental scale, community turnover between cities was lowest in yards and highest in parks. Within cities, however, turnover was lowest in high‐fertilizer yards and highest in wildlife‐certified yards and parks. Our results demonstrate that, across regions, preserving natural areas, minimizing impervious surfaces and increasing tree canopy are essential strategies to conserve regionally important species. However, yards, especially those managed for wildlife support diverse, heterogeneous bird communities with high public interest and potential to support species of conservation concern. Management approaches that include the preservation of protected parks, encourage wildlife‐friendly yards and acknowledge how public interest in local birds can advance successful conservation in American residential landscapes.

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Assessing Conservation Value of Bird Communities With Partners in Flight-Based Ranks

Cited by 21 publications

References 14 publications

Multi-scale associations of grassland birds in response to cost-share management of conservation reserve program fields in Illinois

Multi-scale associations of grassland birds in response to cost-share management of conservation reserve program fields in Illinois

Impacts of biomass production at civil airports on grassland bird conservation and aviation strike risk

Residential yard management and landscape cover affect urban bird community diversity across the continental USA

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