Do male and female black‐backed woodpeckers respond differently to gaps in habitat?

Abstract

We used population- and individual-based genetic approaches to assess barriers to movement in black-backed woodpeckers (Picoides arcticus), a fire-specialist that mainly occupies the boreal forest in North America. We tested if male and female woodpeckers exhibited the same movement patterns using both spatially implicit and explicit genetic analyses to define population structure and movement patterns of both sexes among populations. Three genetic groups were identified, a large, genetically continuous population that spans from the Rocky Mountains to Quebec, a small isolated population in South Dakota and a separate population in the western portion of their distribution (Oregon). Patterns of genetic diversity suggest extensive gene flow mediated by both males and females within the continuous boreal forest. However, male-mediated gene flow is the main form of connectivity between the continuously distributed group and the smaller populations of South Dakota and Oregon that are separated by large areas of unforested habitat, which apparently serves as a barrier to movement of female woodpeckers.

Projecting Impacts of Fire Management on a Biodiversity Indicator in the Sierra Nevada and Cascades, USA: The Black-Backed Woodpecker

“…Pierson et al [17] concluded that the extent of the genetic distinction between these two populations was "similar to those documented among subspecies" in other birds occupying similar ranges. Pierson et al [17] did not collect genetic samples from the California population of black-backed woodpeckers.…”

“…Pierson et al [17] concluded that the extent of the genetic distinction between these two populations was "similar to those documented among subspecies" in other birds occupying similar ranges. Pierson et al [17] did not collect genetic samples from the California population of black-backed woodpeckers. Further study is warranted to clarify the relationship of the population in California, which may also be disjunct to some degree with the eastern Oregon Cascades population, and is disjunct with other populations of the species.…”

“…Pierson et al [17], in a genetic analysis of black-backed woodpeckers from blood and feather samples, found that the allopatric eastern Oregon Cascades population is genetically distinct from the Rockies/boreal population. Pierson et al [17] concluded that the extent of the genetic distinction between these two populations was "similar to those documented among subspecies" in other birds occupying similar ranges.…”

Genetic structure of the arboreal squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinusandTamiasciurus hudsonicus) in the North American Black Hills

“…As is expected given the isolation of the Black Hills, phylogenetic analyses have shown that these two forest-dependent squirrels (Kiesow 2008), as well as two woodpeckers (Black-backed Woodpecker, Picoides arcticus (Swainson, 1832): Pierson et al 2010; American Three-toed Woodpecker, Picoides dorsalis S.F. Baird, 1858: Ervin 2011, are morphologically and phylogenetically distinct from conspecifics found in more continuous boreomontane habitat.…”

Habitat Preference of Great-Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major Linnaeus, 1758) and Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor Linnaeus, 1758) in the Presence of Invasive Plant Species - Preliminary Study

“…Every woodpecker species has its preferences, according to their needs. For co-existing species -and different sexes -the interspeci fic, intraspecific and intrasexual competition is minimized by spatial segregation, so their realised niche differ from their fundamental niche (Peters & Grubb 1983, Pettersson 1983, Török & Csorba 1986, Székely 1987, Török 1990, Hogstad 1971, Olsson et al 1992, Osiejuk 1998, Stenberg & Hogstad 2004, Pierson et al 2010.…”