Document: AND-3-53-8

Spatially scaled response of a Lazuli Bunting population to fire: Further evidence for hierarchical habitat selection in birds.

LEIDOLF, A.*, T.NUTTLE and M.L.WOLFE

Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322 USA ¹

Abstract:
We examined the response of Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) to fire in Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) woodland at Camp Williams, Utah, during 1993-1998. Overall, Lazuli Bunting abundance on the study area increased significantly during 2 years after stand-replacing wildfire covering 800 ha of Gambel oak woodland, suggesting a positive response of Lazuli Bunting to fire. However, a comparison of pre- and post-fire abundance of Lazuli Bunting for 2 groups of monitoring plots with different fire histories showed that abundance was significantly greater during the post-fire period for both burned and unburned plots. When viewed at a spatial scale appropriate to Lazuli Bunting, we found that post-fire increases observed on unburned plots were limited to plots in close proximity to the burned area. A comparison of pre- and post-fire abundance of Lazuli Bunting for 3 groups of monitoring plots located at various distances from the burned area revealed that post-fire abundance was similar only for plots in the burned area and those < = 1,000 m from the burn; plots located > 1,000 m from the burn had fewer individuals/plot post-fire. However, pre-fire Lazuli Bunting abundance was similar among all 3 categories. This spatially scaled response of Lazuli Bunting to fire at the landscape level supports a hierarchical view of habitat selection. Whether recent post-fire habitats are preferred over unburned habitats by Lazuli Bunting at the scale of individual territories is yet unclear.

Keywords: disturbance, Passerina amoena, Quercus gambelii, spatial scale, Utah

This abstract is being presented at: 1:45 PM in session:
Oral Session #14: Disturbance Effects on Bird Populations.