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Abstract

Felix-Locher, A., H. Campa, III and D.E. Beyer, Jr. 2009. Modeling avian community use of aspen following simulated harvest in Michigan. JEMREST 6:00-00

DOI: 10.4029/2009jemrest6no13

Forest managers are challenged with developing harvest plans that also meet diverse wildlife objectives, especially in forest types such as aspen (Populus spp.) that grows on a gradient of soil types and moisture regimes. The structure and composition of aspen varies across soil gradients and thus provides different wildlife habitat components. This variability has not historically been considered in many forest management plans and, therefore, may have resulted in decreased representation of unique ecological communities and wildlife habitat components. Forest managers in Michigan have been developing plans to restore ecological representation of aspen communities within the western Upper Peninsula. Our objectives were to describe avian communities associated with aspen in different age classes and across a soil gradient, and simulate possible avian community responses to a forest management scenario that aims to restore and maintain representation of the diversity of structural and compositional characteristics associated with aspen. We conducted bird surveys and vegetation sampling in 3 aspen age classes (20–29, 50–59, 70+ years) and 3 soil/moisture types during spring 2005-2006. We used principle components analysis to identify vegetation characteristics associated with bird species presence and identify communities based on similarities of vegetation in which they occurred. We then simulated a possible timber harvest scenario over 10 decades and used results to predict potential avian community responses over time. Our results suggested that restoring and maintaining representation of aspen age classes across the soil gradient increased diversity of avian communities and sustained timber production.