Multiscale impacts of forest degradation through browsing by hyperabundant moose (<i>Alces alces</i>) on songbird assemblages

Rae, Lauren F.; Whitaker, Darroch M.; Warkentin, Ian G.

doi:10.1111/ddi.12133

Cited by 12 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…These indirect effects of herbivores on ecosystems have been shown to influence nutrient cycling (Carline, Jones & Bardgett ), tree regeneration (Gosse et al . ), and invertebrate (Teichman, Nielsen & Roland ) and bird (Rae, Whitaker & Warkentin ) community composition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Conversely, grazers can stimulate dominance of preferred plant species through increased nutrient uptake, faster growth rates in remaining plant components and higher tissue nutrient concentration, thereby decelerating succession (Cargill & Jeffries 1984;Leriche et al 2001;Soliveres & Eldridge 2014). These indirect effects of herbivores on ecosystems have been shown to influence nutrient cycling (Carline, Jones & Bardgett 2005), tree regeneration (Gosse et al 2011), and invertebrate (Teichman, Nielsen & Roland 2013) and bird (Rae, Whitaker & Warkentin 2013) community composition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Moose directly slow plant regeneration but have limited indirect effects on soil stoichiometry and litter decomposition rates in disturbed maritime boreal forests

Ellis

Leroux

2017

Functional Ecology

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Summary Foraging decisions by herbivores are modulated by physiological demands for nutrients and these decisions can influence the biomass, abundance and dynamics of plant species with consequences on key ecosystem processes, such as nutrient cycling and decomposition. Some studies have found that large browser populations can reduce the abundance of nutrient‐rich preferred species, promoting the dominance of nutrient‐poor non‐preferred species. This can have indirect effects on soil nutrient concentrations, soil microbe community composition and above‐ground invertebrates and birds that depend on nutrient‐rich plant species. However, very little research has compared the impact of biotic and abiotic features on nutrient cycling and decomposition in areas of high moose density. We performed a field study to test the generality of moose effects on forest ecosystems observed in iconic study systems such as Isle Royale. Specifically, we used 10 paired moose exclosure and control plots to test the effects of moose on plant community characteristics, litter fall quantity, soil properties and litter decomposition rates in regenerating disturbed forests in Newfoundland, Canada. We found evidence that moose reduce plant height and plant litter biomass, thereby affecting the quantity of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus available in litter fall with potential indirect effects on soil pH and soil depth. However, we found no evidence that the direct effects of moose lead to indirect effects on soil quality, soil moisture and litter decomposition rates. Disturbance regime and site explained a large portion of the variance in plant community characteristics, litter fall quantity, soil properties and litter decomposition. Our results suggest that while introduced moose in Newfoundland have measurable direct influence on plant regeneration and litter fall biomass, other factors such as disturbance history and climate may be more important predictors of landscape‐scale variation in soil quality and litter decomposition rates. Our study suggests a need for further development of theory to predict the relative contribution of biotic vs. abiotic effects on nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. A http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2435.12785/suppinfo is available for this article.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Moose directly slow plant regeneration but have limited indirect effects on soil stoichiometry and litter decomposition rates in disturbed maritime boreal forests

Ellis

Leroux

2017

Functional Ecology

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“…Research was conducted in Gros Morne National Park (GMNP; 1805 km 2 ), on the west coast of insular Newfoundland, Canada (49°29′N, 57°40′W). Using ArcGIS 9.2 (ESRI ), we identified 3485 random points that met the following criteria: located in a forest stand at least 1 ha in size, >20 m from the edge of the stand, and >300 m from the nearest neighboring point (see Rae et al for further details). Of the points that met these criteria, 607 were chosen for sampling based on accessibility by foot given the constraints of topography and proximity to trail or roadway.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Birds are considered important indicators of ecosystem health because their diversity and varied requirements for habitat features that provide for nesting, foraging, and escape cover make them sensitive to a broad range of stressors (O'Connell et al , Hart et al , Rae et al ). A prerequisite to using birds as indicators is a survey technique that accurately quantifies abundance or relative abundance and distribution.…”

Section: Candidate Set Of Models Provided By Mitchell and Donovan () mentioning

confidence: 99%

Variable effect of playback of chickadee mobbing calls on detection probability of boreal forest birds

2015

Self Cite

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Modification of the point count survey method to include playback of songbird mobbing calls in an attempt to increase detection probabilities has met with mixed success. We compared detection probabilities for boreal forest songbirds using traditional point count methods and counts using broadcasts of the mobbing calls of Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) in an attempt to increase detection probability. We conducted 594 point counts during the 2010 breeding season in Newfoundland, Canada. Each point count consisted of an 8-min silent observation period followed by an 8-min broadcast of Black-capped Chickadee mobbing calls. Occupancy model results showed that response to playback broadcast varied across species, with detection probabilities higher for seven of 17 species during the silent portions of point counts and three species more likely to be detected during playback intervals. For all species, the number of visual detections increased during periods of playback and, averaged across species, individuals were >6 times more likely to be seen during the playback period than during the silent period. Differences in detection probability among observers were apparent during both silent and playback periods. We suggest that using playback of chickadee mobbing calls during point count surveys of common boreal forest songbird species may be most beneficial when visual detection is important. However, playback may also be useful for species-specific surveys during periods when birds are less likely to be vocal or for studies of less common species with chronically low detection probabilities. A combined silent and playback approach could also be useful, although observer and species differences should be accounted for if comparing data across species or studies. RESUMEN. Efecto variable de las grabaciones de conducta de turbas en Poecile atricapillus, en la probabilidad de detectar aves en un bosque borealModificaciones en los conteos de puntos, para incluir grabaciones de llamadas de turbas, en el intento de incrementar las probabilidades de detección de aves han tenido resultados mixtos. Comparamos la probabilidad de detección para aves en bosques boreales, utilizando conteos de puntos tradicionales y llamadas de turbas del Carbonero Cabecinegro (Poecile atricapillus), en un intento de incrementar la probabilidad de detección de aves. Se condujeron 594 conteos de puntos durante el periodo reproductivo del 2010, en Newfoundland, Canadá. Cada punto consistió de 8 minutos de observación en silencio, seguido de 8 minutos de una grabación de la llamada de turba del Carbonero Cabecinegro. El modelo utilizado mostró que la respuesta a las grabaciones varía entre especies, con una alta probabilidad de detección de siete de 17 especies durante los periodos de silencio y de tres especies adicionales durante la exposición a grabaciones. Para todas las especies, el número de detecciones visuales incrementó durante los periodos de uso de grabaciones y el promedio entre todas estas, resultó con una probabilidad seis...

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“…Non-native invasive insects, in particular, can induce positive feedbacks on ecological process and affect tropic interactions [61,83]. Browsing by overabundant moose (Alces alces) in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Canada caused landscape-scale changes in habitat that affected bird communities, increasing numbers of early-successional birds and reducing old forest specialists [84]. The introduction of black-tailed or Sitka deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis ) to the Haida Gwaii archipelago of the Pacific Northwest of North America also dramatically altered vegetation structure and bird communities, resulting in a dramatically simplified and homogeneous structure to the archipelago landscape [85].…”

Section: Altering Species Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct and Indirect Interactions between Landscape Structure and Invasive or Overabundant Species

Rodewald

Arcese

2016

Curr Landscape Ecol Rep

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We reviewed recent literature to evaluate interactions between landscape structure (i.e., composition and configuration of landscapes) and overabundant and/or invasive species or Bundesirable^species. Undesirable species are strongly associated with fragmented landscapes, especially those with linearly arranged elements to facilitate dispersal, and with land uses that serve as population sources. In some cases, structural legacies, such as land use histories, were as important as current landscape patterns. Many undesirable species also influenced landscape structure by altering disturbance regimes via a wide range of abiotic and biotic mechanisms, including by affecting abundance of keystone, foundation or engineering species at landscape scales, and by changing species interactions in ways that prompted community-level changes. In some instances, the effects of species on landscapes facilitated invasion and/or population growth to establish positive feedback cycles. Understanding the reciprocal effects of landscape pattern on invasive and overabundant species can help guide effective management strategies by increasing the cost-efficiency of conservation investments and prioritizing conservation actions.

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Multiscale impacts of forest degradation through browsing by hyperabundant moose (Alces alces) on songbird assemblages

Cited by 12 publications

References 79 publications

Moose directly slow plant regeneration but have limited indirect effects on soil stoichiometry and litter decomposition rates in disturbed maritime boreal forests

Moose directly slow plant regeneration but have limited indirect effects on soil stoichiometry and litter decomposition rates in disturbed maritime boreal forests

Variable effect of playback of chickadee mobbing calls on detection probability of boreal forest birds

Direct and Indirect Interactions between Landscape Structure and Invasive or Overabundant Species

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