Using multitemporal satellite imagery to characterize forest wildlife habitat: The case of ruffed grouse

Like many similar forest species, ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus; hereafter grouse) populations in the central and southern Appalachians (CSA) are strongly affected by forest composition at the landscape scale. Because these populations are in decline, managers require accurate forest maps to understand how stand level characteristics affect the survival and reproductive potentials of individual birds to design management strategies that improve grouse abundance. However, traditional mapping techniques are often labor-intensive and cost-prohibitive. We used a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from each of 8 Landsat images and the digital elevation model (DEM)-derived variables of elevation and aspect in discriminant analyses to classify 7 study areas to 3 overstory classes (evergreen, hardwoods, and oak) and distinguish evergreen and deciduous understories in the CSA, 2000–2002. Overall accuracy was 82.08%, varying from 83.59% for oak to 79.79% for hardwoods overstories. Periods with large phenological differences among classes, particularly early and late spring, were most useful for discriminating overstory vegetation types. Alternatively, winter NDVI in combination with elevation was critical for differentiating evergreen and deciduous understories. Multitemporal image sets used in concert with DEMs provided a cost-effective alternative to hyperspectral sensors for improving wildlife habitat classification accuracy with Landsat imagery. This allowed for enhanced understanding of grouse-habitat relationships and habitat affects on grouse populations that allowed for improved management. With the incorporation of simple adjustments for local forest plant species phenology into the model, it may be used to better classify wildlife habitat of similar species in areas with comparable forest communities and topography. Multitemporal images can also be used to differentiate grassland communities, monitor wetlands, and serve as baseline data for detecting changes in land use over longer temporal scales, making their use in forest wildlife habitat studies cost-justifiable.     

Ruffed grouse-habitat preference in the central and southern Appalachians

Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus; hereafter grouse) populations in the central and southern Appalachians (CSA) are declining due to widespread maturation of forest cover. Effective management of this species requires a sex- and age-specific understanding of habitat preferences at multiple temporal and spatial scales. We used multivariate logistic regression models to compare habitat within 1440 grouse home ranges and 1400 equally sized buffered random points across 7 CSA study areas. On most sites, grouse home ranges were positively associated with roads and young forest (<20 years old). Sex and age status affected habitat preference. In general, males used younger forest than females, likely because of differences in habitat use during reproductive periods. Juveniles had fewer vegetation types preferred by adult grouse and more of the avoided vegetation types within their home ranges, indicative of competitive exclusion. Adult females had the greatest specificity and selectivity of habitat conditions within their home ranges. Habitat selection varied among seasons and years on most sites. Winter habitat use reflected behavior that maximized energy conservation, with open vegetation types avoided in the winter on the northernmost study areas, and topography important on all areas. Summer habitat selection reflected vegetation types associated with reproductive activities. Scale influenced habitat preference as well. Although roads and forest age predominantly influenced grouse home range location within the landscape, mesic forest types were most important in determining core area use within the home range. This was likely a result of increased food availability and favorable microclimate. Habitat management efforts should attempt to maintain ∼3–4% of the landscape in young forest cover (<20 years old), evenly distributed across management areas. Roads into these areas should be seeded as appropriate to enhance brood habitat and provide travel corridors connecting suitable forest stands.     

Habitat assessment for forest dwelling species using LiDAR remote sensing: Capercaillie in the Alps

Large-scale information on habitat suitability is indispensable for planning management actions to further endangered species with large-spatial requirements. So far, remote sensing based habitat variables mostly included environmental and land cover data derived from passive sensors, but lacked information on vegetation structure. This is a serious constraint for the management of endangered species with specific structural requirements. Light detection and ranging (LiDAR), in contrast to passive remote sensing techniques, may bridge this gap in structural information at the landscape scale. We investigated the potential of LiDAR data to quantify habitat suitability for capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), an endangered forest grouse in Central Europe, in a forest reserve of 17.7 km². We used continuous variables of horizontal and vertical stand structure from first and last pulse LiDAR data and presence–absence information from field work to model habitat suitability with generalized linear models (GLM). The two final habitat suitability models explained the observed presence–absence pattern moderately well (AUC of 0.71 and 0.77) with horizontal structure explaining better than vertical structure. Relative tree canopy cover was the most important variable with intermediate values indicating highest habitat suitability. As such, LiDAR allowed us to translate the results from habitat modeling at the landscape scale to effective management recommendations at the local scale at a level of detail that hitherto was unavailable for large areas. LiDAR thus enabled us to integrate individual habitat preferences at the scale of entire populations and thus offers great potential for effective habitat monitoring and management of endangered species.     

Measuring ecologically important quantities at relevant operational scales: An example using the dusky flycatcher in selectively logged forests in Idaho

Effective management of forest wildlife requires information about habitat features that can be altered by operations, if those habitat features promote reproductive success and survival, and if changes in organism density influence reproductive success and survival. Habitat selection studies often provide the first type of information, although relatively few studies examine how different selection decisions or densities of organisms influence fitness measures or measure habitat features at relevant operational scales. We examined patterns of habitat selection and estimated how habitat use, territory size, and conspecific density were associated with territory success (probability of a territory producing one or more fledglings) for the dusky flycatcher in 2002–2003 on eight study plots in managed grand fir (Abies concolor) forests in Idaho, USA. Flycatchers selected territories with greater cover of deciduous vegetation in two different height strata (1–2 and 3–4 m) and reduced cover of conifers less than 4 cm dbh compared to what was available. While flycatchers selected habitat characteristics at the territory scale, model selection results did not support any associations between vegetation features and territory success. Territory success had weak positive associations, for a given territory size, with conspecific density, although the relationship was highly variable. An interaction between territory size and density was not supported. These results are consistent with the view that avian breeding habitat selection occurs at multiple scales, and that the nest site scale may explain more of the variance in reproductive success than larger scales. Our results suggest that operational management of vegetation features, which often occurs at the stand scale, may not influence variation in critical demographic metrics. Increasing total shrub cover of commonly used plant species should benefit the dusky flycatcher, as well as other shrub-nesting forest birds, but stand-level habitat alterations alone cannot be relied upon to increase reproductive success, an important component of population change.     

Using ecological forest site mapping for long-term habitat suitability assessments in wildlife conservation—Demonstrated for capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)

Although key factors for vegetation composition and structure, site and soil condition have received little attention as predictors of habitat suitability in wildlife ecology to date. Using the example of capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), an indicator species for open, well-structured forest habitats, we evaluated the potential use of ecological forest site mapping for the identification of areas where the preferred vegetation structures are supported by the prevailing soil conditions. These are sites that we, therefore, expected to be of long-term relevance to the species.     

Natal dispersal of hazel grouse Bonasa bonasia in relation to habitat in a temperate forest of South Korea

Natal dispersal and habitat selection of hazel grouse Bonasa bonasia juveniles were assessed by radio tracking in a temperate forest of South Korea during June 2003–November 2006. The birds used in the dispersal analysis (n = 43), 88% of birds dispersed. The average dispersal of hazel grouse from the natal area was 2231 ± 494 m (mean ± SD); range 134–6267 m. There were no significant differences in dispersal rate and distance between sexes. Hazel grouse’ habitat use differed from random use of available natal dispersals. In this natal dispersal scale of habitat selection, natural deciduous forest ranked highest, followed by mixed forest, coniferous plantation, deciduous plantation and others (rock and bare lands). We found that in general, the hazel grouse is an active disperser. Knowledge of aspects of habitat use that are relevant to dispersal may provide a better assessment of the fitness effects of dispersal in proximate and ultimate terms.     

Influence of forest planning alternatives on landscape pattern and ecosystem processes in northern Wisconsin,USA

Incorporating an ecosystem management perspective into forest planning requires consideration of the impacts of timber management on a suite of landscape characteristics at broad spatial and long temporal scales. We used the LANDIS forest landscape simulation model to predict forest composition and landscape pattern under seven alternative forest management plans drafted for the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin. We analyzed 20 response variables representing changes in landscape characteristics that relate to eight timber and wildlife management objectives. A MANOVA showed significant variation in the response variables among the alternative management plans. For most (16 out of 20) response variables, plans ranked either directly or inversely to the extent of even-aged management. The amount of hemlock on the landscape had a surprising positive relationship with even-aged management because hemlock is never cut, even in a clear cut. Our results also show that multiple management objectives can create conflicts related to the amount and arrangement of management activities. For example, American marten and ruffed grouse habitat are maintained by mutually exclusive activities. Our approach demonstrates a way to evaluate alternative management plans and assess if they are likely to meet their stated, multiple objectives.     

Influences of gap position, vegetation management and herbivore control on survival and growth of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings

The boreal mixedwood forest type of the Canadian interior boreal is largely comprised of two dominant tree species: white spruce and trembling aspen (Picea glauca and Populus tremuloides). This forest type is expansive, providing important ecosystem services and economic production, yet such mixtures are difficult to establish after harvests. While aspen resprouts and grows vigorously following disturbance, spruce growth is relatively slow and is often limited by intense competition from associated vegetation, including aspen. To improve management, it is important to understand how environmental and vegetative conditions vary in relation to the competitive-facilitative relationship of spruce-aspen mixtures. In this study white spruce was planted across large canopy openings to determine whether survival and height growth is influenced by position within gap and by differing levels of competing vegetation control of aspen and understory plants. In addition, we addressed the issue of herbivory, which can pose a significant threat to planted spruce seedlings. Within each of four sites, linear gaps were created and five gap positions were recognized spanning the southern and northern forest understories, and southern, center and northern positions within each opening. Three different levels of vegetation management were implemented: a brush saw treatment in which all vegetation was cut to ground level, a mixing treatment in which all vegetation and rootstock was ground up, and a control with no vegetation management. The three herbivory treatments excluded large ungulates, small herbivores (rabbits, hares) or had no herbivore exclusion. Growth and survival of white spruce seedlings were measured for four years (1997-2000). Understory survival was significantly lower than within the gap, with the sheltered southern edge position providing the best initial environmental conditions and or ameliorative cover for spruce establishment. However, after four years the shelter effect starts to be inhibitive relative to center and northern gap positions, suggesting the removal of the canopy is necessary before spruce productivity declines. The optimal vegetation management treatment also changed over the study period. The most intensive treatment (mixing) initially showed a negative influence on survival and growth, but by year four, survival converged to approximately 75% for all treatments, and the mixing treatment produced the best height growth. The growth advantage became most evident in the center gap positions, which initially lagged the brushsaw and control treatments. Lastly, some growth losses from herbivory must be expected in boreal mixedwoods, although not enough to merit control. Results have implications for the timing and intensity of silvicultural treatments for harvesting and planting.     

基于MAXENT生态位模型对内蒙古根河地区驼鹿生境适宜性评价

2013～2015年冬季,综合运用动物生态调查、种群生态学和行为生态学等技术,在内蒙古根河林业局共布设71条长约2～4 km样线、调查313个10 m×10 m样方、1 489个2 m×2 m样方、共收集117份粪便,373个驼鹿出现点数据。利用驼鹿出现数据作为分布点数据,选取地形、植被类型等22种因子作为生境变量,利用MAXENT生态位模型分析了深冬时期根河地区驼鹿冬季生境适宜性分布特征和主要生境因子对驼鹿分布的影响。结果表明:模型预测结果准确性较高,平均AUC(area under the curve,受试工作者曲线下面值)值为0.92,Jackknife检验结果显示:驼鹿生境选择的主要影响因子为距道路距离、距火烧迹地距离、距农田距离、海拔、柳、距沼泽距离、距人为活动点距离、距灌丛距离。驼鹿的适宜生境在根河地区呈现连续性分布,主要分布在东部和东北部,从植被类型上看,适宜生境大部分分布于针叶林,且适宜生境的面积为1 155.8 km^2,约占根河研究区总面积的25.6%。     

Developing and testing a landscape-scale habitat suitability model for fisher (Martes pennanti) in forests of interior northern California

The fisher is warranted for protection under the Endangered Species Act in the western United States and, as such, it is especially important that conservation and management actions are based on sound scientific information. We developed a landscape-scale suitability model for interior northern California to predict the probability of detecting fishers and to identify areas of important fisher habitat. Previous models have been extrapolated to this region, but our model was developed from the results of strategically planned detection surveys within the study area. We used generalized additive modeling to create a model that best distinguished detection (n = 55) from non-detection (n = 90) locations on the basis of environmental covariates. Four models were averaged to create a final model including the following variables: Amount of Dense Forest, Percent Hardwood, Medium & Large Trees, Structurally Complex Forest, Adjusted Elevation, Insolation Index and Predicted Abundance of Mammalian Prey. This model was well calibrated and correctly classified fisher detections 83.6% of the time and absences (non-detections) 70.0%. Independent test data were classified less well; 76.2% and 53.0%, respectively, perhaps a result of differences in the spatial and temporal characteristics of the data used to build versus test the model. The model is the first comprehensive portrayal of the distribution and configuration of habitat suitability in this region and provides managers a tool to monitor habitat change over time and to plan vegetation treatments. It also represents an example for the development of similar models for dispersal-limited mammals with large area needs, as well as other species associated with late-successional forests in northern California.     

Clearcutting forestry and Eurasian boreal forest grouse: Long-term monitoring of sympatric capercaillie Tetrao urogallus and black grouse T. tetrix reveals unexpected effects on their population performances

Along the succession gradient of the boreal forest ecosystem, black grouse Tetrao tetrix inhabits the early and capercaillie Tetrao urogallus the latest stages. When converting old forest to clearcuts and plantations, commercial forestry has therefore been assumed to affect capercaillie negatively and to be favourable to black grouse. During a 30-year period (1979-2008) we monitored sympatric populations of the two species in a forest in southeast Norway based on annual spring and autumn censuses and radio-marked birds. During this period, the proportion of old, semi-natural forest was halved and clearcuts and young plantations increased accordingly. The grouse populations did not change as predicted. While the trend in August numbers of adult black grouse declined, males more than females, abundance of adult capercaillie remained unchanged. Number of males at leks showed similar patterns. Equally surprising, breeding success (number of chicks per female in August) of both species increased, thus indicating that the populations were regulated more by variation in adult survivorship than by recruitment of young birds. No correlations were found with changing climatic factors (precipitation and temperatures in winter and spring, snow depth and time of snow melt), except that year-to-year breeding success was positively correlated with minimum temperatures during 2 weeks posthatch. The results are explained by a combination of more flexible habitat selection than previously assumed and a changing predator regime: In the early period, nearly all capercaillie leks were located in old, semi-natural forest, but as plantations grew older (>30 years), new leks were established there. Similarly, while young capercaillie broods used old semi-natural forest almost exclusively when the study started, they frequently used middle-aged plantations, especially those with a ground cover of bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus, when these became common in later years. The increasing breeding success could largely be explained by more females rearing chicks successfully, presumably due to a marked decline in the main nest predator, the red fox Vulpes vulpes. A practice of thinning of the old, semi-natural forest some years prior to final harvesting probably facilitated predation of black grouse by goshawks Accipiter gentilis. Contrary to many beliefs, our results indicate that both capercaillie and black grouse are quite tolerant to changes in forest management regimes. In our study, numerical and functional responses of predators (mainly red fox and goshawk) apparently played a more important role in regulating grouse numbers than habitat factors per se.     

影响山河屯林区森林生境的因素及对策

分析了影响黑龙江省山河屯林业局森林生境的因子,其中包括立地、地貌、气候、土壤、植被等自然因素及人为干扰、经营环节缺失、高利用压力等社会因素,并据此提出了森林生境管理对策。     

Retention of native vegetation within the plantation matrix improves its conservation value for a generalist woodpecker

The suitability of plantation monocultures for the conservation of forest animals is an issue under continous debate. The adaptability of forest dwellers and the forest management regime seem to play key roles. In this study, I investigated the habitat selection of a generalist bird, the great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), within a pine (Pine spp.) monoculture, as well as the importance of the native habitat features within the pine matrix for the species’ conservation. I compared 52 plots with woodpecker presence against 121 plots where the species was absent, as well as 68 nest-trees against 90 random ones. Regression analyses were used to investigate the habitat attributes involved in the habitat selection. Although the great spotted woodpecker is considered a generalist forest dweller, it shows a marked habitat selection. Based on presence/absence records, the woodpecker prefers well-forested patches with high levels of tree diversity and with good coverage of a secondary species such as the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo). To excavate their nests, woodpeckers select large trees in patches where other trees are also larger, rejecting patches with a high number of small trees. The most striking conclusion from this work is the preference shown for native trees, especially Portuguese oaks (Quercus faginea), as nest-trees. This is noteworthy because native trees are smaller and they are surrounded by smaller trees than pines. These findings support that woodpecker conservation benefits from an increase of habitat heterogeneity, particularly by the retention of native woodland patches within the plantation matrix.     

岷山山系土地岭大熊猫栖息地廊道特征及影响因素分析

本文采用景观生态学的斑块理论,根据土地岭区域前后两期森林分布信息和大量的野生动植物以及社会经济信息,详细分析了土地岭区域建立大熊猫栖息地走廊带的植被分布格局、斑块结构、廊道特征及主要影响因素,研究结果显示土地岭区域植被符合大熊猫栖息地建设条件。残余班块分布连续,占据区域森林植被的主体,有利于廊道栖息地恢复。引进斑块面积大,质量差,是廊道栖息地建设的主要改造类型。在众多的社区活动影响中,采笋的负面影响最大,最值得重点关注。基于一些主要因素的分析,作者提出了在土地岭建立大熊猫栖息地走廊带的关键措施。     

The response of small mammals to natural and human-altered edges associated with Afromontane forests of South Africa

An increase in edge area reduces the effective size of habitat fragments and thus the area available for habitat-interior specialists. However, it is unclear how edge effects compare at different ecotones in the same system. We investigated the response of a small mammal community associated with Afromontane forests to edge effects at three different habitat transitions: natural forest to grassland (natural edge, structurally different vegetation types), natural forest to mature plantation (human-altered edge, structurally similar vegetation types) and natural forest to harvested plantation (human-altered edge, structurally different vegetation types). We predicted that edge effects should be less severe at natural ecotones and at similarly structured contiguous vegetation types than human-altered ecotones and differently structured contiguous vegetation types, respectively. We found that forest species seemed to avoid all habitat edges in our study area. Surprisingly, natural edges supported a less diverse small mammal community than human-altered forest edges. However, edge effects were observed deeper into native forests surrounded by mature alien plantations (and more so at harvested plantations) than into native forests surrounded by native grasslands. The net effect of mature plantations was therefore to reduce the functional size of the natural forest by creating a larger edge. We suggest that when plantations are established a buffer zone of natural vegetation be left between natural forests and newly established plantations to mitigate the negative effects of plantation forestry.     

Historical fire and vegetation dynamics in dry forests of the interior Pacific Northwest,USA, and relationships to Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) habitat conservation

Regional conservation planning frequently relies on general assumptions about historical disturbance regimes to inform decisions about landscape restoration, reserve allocations, and landscape management. Spatially explicit simulations of landscape dynamics provide quantitative estimates of landscape structure and allow for the testing of alternative scenarios. We used a landscape fire succession model to estimate the historical range of variability of vegetation and fire in a dry forest landscape (size ca. 7900 km²) where the present-day risk of high severity fire threatens the persistence of older closed canopy forest which may serve as Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) habitat. Our results indicated that historically, older forest may have comprised the largest percentage of the landscape (∼35%), followed by early successional forest (∼25%), with about 9% of the landscape in a closed canopy older forest condition. The amount and condition of older forest varied by potential vegetation type and land use allocation type. Vegetation successional stages had fine-grained spatial heterogeneity in patch characteristics, with older forest tending to have the largest patch sizes among the successional stages. Increasing fire severities posed a greater risk to Northern Spotted Owl habitat than increasing fire sizes or frequencies under historical fire regimes. Improved understanding of historical landscape-specific fire and vegetation conditions and their variability can assist forest managers to promote landscape resilience and increases of older forest, in dry forests with restricted amounts of habitat for sensitive species.     

Forest fragmentation and duration of forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria Hübner) outbreaks in northern hardwood forests

In northern forests dominated by aspen (Populus spp.), the duration of outbreaks of forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria Hübner) has been reported to increase with forest fragmentation. This relationship has not been tested in other forest types affected by this widespread native defoliator. From 2002 to 2007, a large-scale outbreak of this insect in the northeastern United States defoliated millions of hectares, with sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) the primary host. We used digital defoliation maps generated from aerial surveys and national land cover data to assess the effect of fragmentation on outbreak duration in areas of NY, MA, VT, and NH. We found that outbreak duration increased with forest cover and decreased with the forest edge, in opposition to the pattern previously reported for aspen-dominated forests in Canada. This pattern was significant from plot sizes ranging from 100 m to 1000 m in radius. The relationship between FTC and its natural enemies, which was postulated to underlie the effect of fragmentation on outbreaks in aspen forests, may be affected differently in northern hardwood forests, or other factors may be more important in determining outbreak duration in this forest type.