Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Evans, Kristine O.

Committee Member

Morin, Dana J.

Committee Member

Iglay, Raymond

Committee Member

Greene, Daniel U.

Date of Degree

4-30-2021

Original embargo terms

Worldwide

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Abstract

Understanding how habitat amount and configuration affect species richness, occurrence or abundance has been one of the major foci of research in ecology and biogeography, given its central importance for conservation planning and landscape management. We conducted bird point counts within clearcuts and mature pine stands of different sizes and configuration in working pine forest in north-central Mississippi to determine species associations. Early-successional and mature pine focal species showed varying response to the proportion and proximity of vegetation conditions in the landscape. While elements of configuration exhibited a greater influence on predicted avian abundance in this landscape, meaning many species require a mosaic of habitat conditions that come from both early-successional and mature vegetation types. Efforts to combine management of timber and conservation of songbirds must consider both species’ habitat requirements and the distribution of these requirements in the landscape.

Sponsorship

Weyerhaeuser, National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NACSI)

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