Semester
Summer
Date of Graduation
2003
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
Department
Wildlife and Fisheries Resources
Committee Chair
Petra Bohall Wood.
Abstract
Raptor abundance and diversity were examined in three treatments (20-, 40-, and 80-yr harvest rotations) on an industrial forest in the central Appalachian Mountains. I conducted diurnal broadcast surveys, compared nocturnal survey protocols, examined habitat characteristics at two spatial scales (564 m and 1000 m buffers), and described nesting ecology (including prey composition) of 3 species of diurnal raptors. I detected 17 species and found no significant differences in abundance among treatment for all raptors. Forest-dwelling species were detected more often than edge-dwelling species and Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) was the most abundant species. Using a Barred Owl vocalization survey protocol, Barred Owls were detected most often and most owls were detected. Fourteen nesting attempts were located on the study area. Mammals were delivered most often to three species' nests. My study suggests that at current levels of disturbance, forest-dwelling raptors are able to survive and successfully breed on an active, industrial forest.
Recommended Citation
Smith, Rebecca D. M., "Raptor assemblage, abundance, nesting ecology, and habitat characteristics under intensive forest management in the Central Appalachian Mountains" (2003). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 1772.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/1772