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Mark Wilson,Tom Gittings, Josephine Pithon, John O’Halloran, Tom C. Kelly, Paul Giller

Bird Assemblages of Irish Plantation Forestry: Effects of Growth Stage and Tree Species. Mark Wilson,Tom Gittings, Josephine Pithon, John O’Halloran, Tom C. Kelly, Paul Giller . Correspondence address: BIOFOREST Project, Dept. ZEPS, UCC, Cork. mark.wilson@ucc.ie. University College Cork.

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Mark Wilson,Tom Gittings, Josephine Pithon, John O’Halloran, Tom C. Kelly, Paul Giller

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  1. Bird Assemblages of Irish Plantation Forestry: Effects of Growth Stage and Tree Species Mark Wilson,Tom Gittings, Josephine Pithon, John O’Halloran, Tom C. Kelly, Paul Giller Correspondence address: BIOFOREST Project, Dept. ZEPS, UCC, Cork. mark.wilson@ucc.ie

  2. University College Cork Trinity College Dublin PROJECT RESEARCHERS Researchers based in:

  3. PROJECT STRUCTURE • Three sub-projects: 1. Afforestation of open habitats 2. Contribution of open space within plantations 3. Effect of tree species and stage of forest cycle

  4. Mature    Mid-rotation  Thicket    Pre-thicket    2 species:Sitka spruce Picea sitchensis ash Fraxinus exelsior 4 ages:pre-thicket (<9 years) thicket (9-17 years) mid-rotation (23-30 years) mature (>35 years) Pure spruce Pure ash Spruce/ Ash mix

  5. POINT COUNT METHODOLOGY • 4-9 points located in each site • 1-3 visits, 2001 and 2002 • distance and identity of all birds < 50m • habitat variables: • canopy height • tree spacing • % cover of canopy, shrub and ground vegetation

  6. DATA PREPARATION • densities estimated using Distance v.4 • computer package • site species richness calculated for: • all bird species detected (total species richness) • amber and red listed birds • birds typical of forests, open habitats, and generalists

  7. DATA ANALYSES • cluster analysis and ordination of sites by • habitat variables, to derive forest structural types • ordination of sites by bird species composition • and densities • indicator analysis, to identify species typical of • different forest structural types • correlation of species richness values with • environmental variables

  8. STRUCTURAL HABITAT GROUPS Variation represented by ordination axes: • tree height • tree spacing • canopy cover • ground vegetation cover

  9. Variation represented by ordination axes: ASH SPRUCE • occurrence and abundance • of 47 species of birds within • each site MIXED ORDINATION BY BIRD ASSEMBLAGES

  10. TYPICAL BIRD SPECIES OF EACH STRUCTURAL GROUP • Young sites • Stonechat, Whitethroat, Linnet, Meadow Pipit, • Reed Bunting, Redpoll • Intermediate sites • Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Chiffchaff • Mature sites • Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, • Sparrowhawk

  11. BIRD SPECIES RICHNESS • no significant difference between pure spruce, pure • ash, or spruce/ash mixed sites • negatively correlated with growth stage-related variables and distance from forest edge ESPECIALLY FOR OPEN HABITAT AND AMBER/RED SPECIES • positively correlated with shrub cover • positively correlated with densities of Dunnocks, • Blackbirds and Wrens

  12. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 1. • This study found no difference in species richness • between tree species • Other studies found broadleaved semi-natural forests in Ireland better for birds • Broadleaved plantation not the same as semi-natural woodland • Only one species of broadleaf in this study

  13. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 2. • Species richness decreases with distance from the forest edge, increases with shrub layer • Species richness positively correlated with densities of Dunnocks, Blackbirds and Wrens • Encourage development of understorey by preventing canopy closure, and by management of open space within and around forests

  14. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 3. • Bird species richness, especially of bird species of conservation concern was negatively correlated with growth stage-related variables • Elements of scrub shaded out as forests mature • Open habitat species, including nearly all Amber/Red species, are lost as canopy closes • Avoid planting habitats with bird assemblages that are intolerant of afforestation

  15. State body for promoting forestry research Environmental Protection Agency National Development Plan PROJECT FUNDING

  16. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • Thanks to Coillte for allowing us to work on their land. • Thanks to Dr. Stuart Newson and Dr. David Noble of the BTO in Thetford, England, for advice on data analysis. • Thankyou for listening.

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