Influence of patch area on bird species diversity in coniferous forests
Abstract
I examined the effect of forest fragment area on bird species richness and abundance in high- elevation Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmanni) and sub-alpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) patches in Gunnison County, Colorado. Point counts were used to survey birds in 26 forest patches, ranging from 0.06 to 8.17 ha in size, between June and July 2009. I did a regression analysis of species richness versus patch area as well as total abundance versus area. I analyzed the effect of edge by using a regression of species richness versus edge to area ratio. I found that bird species richness and total number of individuals had a positive relationship with patch area. Species richness decreased with increasing edge relative to area. My results indicate that small patches can be used by only a few species of birds, suggesting that larger patches are capable of supporting higher diversity.
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