Bird Predation on Forest Insects: An Exclosure Experiment

Holmes, Richard T.; Schultz, Jo El J.; Nothnagle, Philip J.

doi:10.1126/science.206.4417.462

Cited by 251 publications

(187 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Continued observation of lepidopteran populations at the HBEF have not seen a repetition of the 1969-1971 outbreak, and the long-term average C flux through leaf-eating insects is relatively small (Holmes et al 1986; R.T. Holmes, unpublished data). The influence of insect-gleaning birds on this C flux has been demonstrated experimentally at the HBEF: birds can significantly reduce caterpillar abundance during midsummer when bird activity is greatest (Holmes et al 1979;Holmes 1990;Strong et al 2000). In contrast, the direct role of birds in C flux at the HBEF is minor, with estimates ranging from about 0.2-0.3% of ANPP based upon bird abundances observed in the mid-1970s (Gosz et al 1978).…”

Section: Heterotrophic Fluxesmentioning

confidence: 98%

The Biogeochemistry of Carbon at Hubbard Brook

et al. 2005

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Abstract. The biogeochemical behavior of carbon in the forested watersheds of the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF) was analyzed in long-term studies. The largest pools of C in the reference watershed (W6) reside in mineral soil organic matter (43% of total ecosystem C) and living biomass (40.5%), with the remainder in surface detritus (14.5%). Repeated sampling indicated that none of these pools was changing significantly in the late-1990s, although high spatial variability precluded the detection of small changes in the soil organic matter pools, which are large; hence, net ecosystem productivity (NEP) in this 2nd growth forest was near zero (± about 20 g C/m 2 -yr) and probably similar in magnitude to fluvial export of organic C. Aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) of the forest declined by 24% between the late-1950s (462 g C/m 2 -yr) and the late-1990s (354 g C/m 2 -yr), illustrating age-related decline in forest NPP, effects of multiple stresses and unusual tree mortality, or both. Application of the simulation model PnET-II predicted 14% higher ANPP than was observed for 1996-1997, probably reflecting some unknown stresses. Fine litterfall flux (171 g C/m 2 -yr) has not changed much since the late-1960s. Because of high annual variation, C flux in woody litterfall (including tree mortality) was not tightly constrained but averaged about 90 g C/m 2 -yr. Carbon flux to soil organic matter in root turnover (128 g C/m 2 -yr) was only about half as large as aboveground detritus. Balancing the soil C budget requires that large amounts of C (80 g C/m 2 -yr) were transported from roots to rhizosphere carbon flux. Total soil respiration (TSR) ranged from 540 to 800 g C/m 2 -yr across eight stands and decreased with increasing elevation within the northern hardwood forest near W6. The watershedwide TSR was estimated as 660 g C/m 2 -yr. Empirical measurements indicated that 58% of TSR occurred in the surface organic horizons and that root respiration comprised about 40% of TSR, most of the rest being microbial. Carbon flux directly associated with other heterotrophs in the HBEF was minor; for example, we estimated respiration of soil microarthropods, rodents, birds and moose at about 3, 5, 1 and 0.8 g C/m 2 -yr, respectively, or in total less than 2% of NPP. Hence, the effects of other heterotrophs on C flux were primarily indirect, with the exception of occasional 2 -yr) were small, larger quantities of C were transported within the ecosystem and a more substantial fraction of dissolved C was transported from the soil as inorganic C and evaded from the stream as CO 2 (4.0 g C/m 2 -yr). Carbon pools and fluxes change rapidly in response to catastrophic disturbances such as forest harvest or major windthrow events. These changes are dominated by living vegetation and dead wood pools, including roots. If biomass removal does not accompany large-scale disturbance, the ecosystem is a large net source of C to the atmosphere (500-1200 g C/m 2 -yr) for about a decade following disturbance and becomes a net si...

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Section: Heterotrophic Fluxesmentioning

confidence: 98%

The Biogeochemistry of Carbon at Hubbard Brook

et al. 2005

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“…Whenever the individual bird being observed made a foraging maneuver, the height at which it foraged, the prey type (Lepidoptera larvae or other arthropods), the kind of attack (sallying, gleaning, or pecking, and the substrate were recorded; cf. Holmes et al 1979). Foraging heights were estimated to the nearest two metres.…”

Section: Study Area and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In temperate deciduous forests, the abundance and distribution of herbivorous insects, in particular Lepidoptera larvae, which are the most preferred prey of insectivorous forest birds (Royama 1969), change dramatically in spring due to strengthening defence traits of tree leaves after budbreak (Feeny 1970;Murakami & Wada 1997). Moreover, most bird species require greater resources for feeding their nestlings and fledglings in this season (Holmes et al 1979;Burke & Nol 1998). It has also been concluded that food often limits the reproduction and survival of forest birds during their breeding season (Martin 1987;Rodenhouse & Holmes 1992).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further understanding of species-specific responses of birds to temporal changes in resource abundance and distribution in deciduous forests in spring will help to explain the composition of local bird communities (cf. Holmes et al 1979;Robinson & Holmes 1982;Hino 1994). Hejl and Verner (1990) suggested that some species of birds living in the same habitat undergo similar changes in foraging behavior and diet as temporal changes affect resource abundance and distribution.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Foraging mode shifts of four insectivorous bird species under temporally varying resource distribution in a Japanese deciduous forest

Murakami

2002

Ornithol. Sci.

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Temporal changes in the foraging habitat of four forest bird species and the distribution pattern of arthropod populations were investigated. The abundance and distribution of arthropods changed drastically with the season within the forest. Lepidoptera larvae were most abundant in the canopy in the first three weeks after budbreak; their numbers decreased rapidly during mid-June. In contrast, on the forest floor, the larvae were abundant from early to late June. The foraging height of the Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina changed in parallel with the distribution pattern of Lepidoptera larvae. Three other species, the Great Tit Parus major, Marsh Tit P. palustris, and Eastern Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus coronatus, however, did not change their foraging heights; they continued to forage in the canopy. These differences are probably due to the greater preference of the flycatcher for Lepidoptera larvae compared with the other three species. The three other species switched from feeding on Lepidoptera larvae to spiders or other arthropods in mid June, when the number of Lepidoptera larvae decreased in the canopy. The results of this study suggest that the abundance and distribution of arthropods and differences in foraging tactics among bird species considerably affect avian foraging habitat. The foraging behavior of three species of forest birds revealed species-specific responses to spatiotemporal fluctuations in the distribution of resources.

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“…Temperate zone leaves support high abundances of easily captured, soft-bodied caterpillars (Holmes et al 1979, this study). In contrast, live leaf faunas in the tropics during the dry season are dominated by fast and active arthroods (such as spiders and homopterans, Janzen 1973, this study).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal Foraging Specialization in the Worm-Eating Warbler

Greenberg

1987

The Condor

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Abstract. The foraging behavior of Worm-eating Warblers (Helmitheros vermivorus) was studied in Maryland during the breeding season and in Jamaica, Dominican RepubUc, and Belize during the nonbreeding season. Over 75% of the foraging maneuvers recorded from May to early August in Maryland were directed towards live foliage, whereas over 75% of the maneuvers were directed towards dead curled leaves in the understory of tropical forest in the temperate zone winter. Sampling of the relative abundance of arthropods associated with dead and live foliage showed that although the ratio of total numbers in dead and live leaves was similar in the temperate and tropical sites, the overall ratio of estimated biomass was considerably greater in the tropical sites. This is because large arthropods commonly use dead curled leaves as daytime roosts in tropical forests. However, the largest temperatezone arthropods are generally found on leaf surfaces during the day. The winter-foraging specialization on dead leaf arthropods apparently is the more demanding; the most specialized search and attack behaviors are associated with feeding at dead and hve curled leaves. I revisited the Belize study sites in September, when Worm-eating Warblers were presumably arriving and found an intermediate use of dead and live leaves. Relative abundances of arthropods on dead and live leaves were similar to those found in the winter period at the same sites. This suggests a period of transition which is consistent with the trial and error learning hypothesis for the development of seasonal foraging specializations in this species.

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Bird Predation on Forest Insects: An Exclosure Experiment

Abstract: Exclusion experiments show that birds significantly reduce densities of larval Lepidoptera on forest understory vegetation. When insect densities are already low, bird predation may act both as a population regulator and as a strong agent of natural selection.

Cited by 251 publications

References 13 publications

The Biogeochemistry of Carbon at Hubbard Brook

The Biogeochemistry of Carbon at Hubbard Brook

Foraging mode shifts of four insectivorous bird species under temporally varying resource distribution in a Japanese deciduous forest

Seasonal Foraging Specialization in the Worm-Eating Warbler

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