{"id":{"repo_id":"sdstate","oai_identifier":"oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-1497"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/sdstate/oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-1497","repository":{"repo_id":"sdstate","name":"South Dakota State University","base_url":"https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/do/oai/"},"display":{"title":"Avian Community Structure Associated With Woodland Habitats in Fragmented and Unfragmented Lanscapes in Western South Dakota","abstract":"Grassland fragmentation to increase agricultural production is decreasing habitats for grassland birds at alarming rates in the northern Great Plains. Establishment of planted woodlands (e.g., shelterbelts and windbreaks) has further fragmented remaining grasslands and created abrupt boundaries that exacerbate edge effects. My objectives were to determine the effects of landscape fragmentation on woodland bird communities. We also compared the importance of planted versus natural woodlands (e.g., riparian and wooded draws) to evaluate whether a trade-off exists whereby planted woodlands create new habitat for forest birds of management concern despite the loss of grassland bird habitat. The study area encompassed the portion of South Dakota west of the Missouri River, excluding the Black Hills. A stratified sample was used to randomly select woodlands (n=271) within strata defined by landscape (nonfragmented-fragmented), woodland type (planted and natural), size of available woodlands and woodland tree type (deciduous, evergreen, and mixed). Bird surveys were conducted with fixed-width belt transects from mid-May thru mid-July of 1999 and 2000. Overall, 63 avian species were recorded, of which 42 species were considered breeding in woodland habitats. Woodland obligate and Neotropical migrant species richness values were higher in nonfragmented landscapes whereas more species of edge and generalists were observed in fragmented landscapes. Greater vegetative diversity of natural woodlands attracted significantly more species of woodland obligates and Neotropical migrants while edge and generalist species were more abundant in planted woodlands. More species of woodland obligates were found in larger patches of both woodland types (planted, natural), while woodland edge species were more abundant in larger planted woodland patches. Edge species density was significantly lower in the larger natural woodlands and generalist had the highest density in small patches of planted and natural woodlands. Woodland obligate and edge species preferred either deciduous or mixed woodlands, while 50.1% of the individual birds in evergreen woodlands were generalist species. In the Midwest, planted woodlands are established to buffer the weather conditions and to provide habitat for game species such as ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). If nongame woodland birds are the management goal, emphasis should be placed on conserving natural woodlands, but if planted woodlands are chosen, they should be as large and as wide as possible.","abstract_html":"Grassland fragmentation to increase agricultural production is decreasing habitats for grassland birds at alarming rates in the northern Great Plains. Establishment of planted woodlands (e.g., shelterbelts and windbreaks) has further fragmented remaining grasslands and created abrupt boundaries that exacerbate edge effects. My objectives were to determine the effects of landscape fragmentation on woodland bird communities. We also compared the importance of planted versus natural woodlands (e.g., riparian and wooded draws) to evaluate whether a trade-off exists whereby planted woodlands create new habitat for forest birds of management concern despite the loss of grassland bird habitat. The study area encompassed the portion of South Dakota west of the Missouri River, excluding the Black Hills. A stratified sample was used to randomly select woodlands (n=271) within strata defined by landscape (nonfragmented-fragmented), woodland type (planted and natural), size of available woodlands and woodland tree type (deciduous, evergreen, and mixed). Bird surveys were conducted with fixed-width belt transects from mid-May thru mid-July of 1999 and 2000. Overall, 63 avian species were recorded, of which 42 species were considered breeding in woodland habitats. Woodland obligate and Neotropical migrant species richness values were higher in nonfragmented landscapes whereas more species of edge and generalists were observed in fragmented landscapes. Greater vegetative diversity of natural woodlands attracted significantly more species of woodland obligates and Neotropical migrants while edge and generalist species were more abundant in planted woodlands. More species of woodland obligates were found in larger patches of both woodland types (planted, natural), while woodland edge species were more abundant in larger planted woodland patches. Edge species density was significantly lower in the larger natural woodlands and generalist had the highest density in small patches of planted and natural woodlands. Woodland obligate and edge species preferred either deciduous or mixed woodlands, while 50.1% of the individual birds in evergreen woodlands were generalist species. In the Midwest, planted woodlands are established to buffer the weather conditions and to provide habitat for game species such as ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). If nongame woodland birds are the management goal, emphasis should be placed on conserving natural woodlands, but if planted woodlands are chosen, they should be as large and as wide as possible.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Kelsey, Kyle W."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Thesis - University Access Only","degree_discipline":"Wildlife and Fisheries Science","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Kenneth F. Higgins"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2001,"date_issued":"2001-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2001-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:27:58Z","subjects":["Natural Resources and Conservation"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["Copyright © 2001 Kyle W. Kelsey. All rights reserved."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/497","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Kenneth F. Higgins"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Kelsey, Kyle W."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Wildlife and Fisheries Science"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis - University Access Only"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Natural Resources and Conservation"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright © 2001 Kyle W. Kelsey. All rights reserved."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/497"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Grassland fragmentation to increase agricultural production is decreasing habitats for grassland birds at alarming rates in the northern Great Plains. Establishment of planted woodlands (e.g., shelterbelts and windbreaks) has further fragmented remaining grasslands and created abrupt boundaries that exacerbate edge effects. My objectives were to determine the effects of landscape fragmentation on woodland bird communities. We also compared the importance of planted versus natural woodlands (e.g., riparian and wooded draws) to evaluate whether a trade-off exists whereby planted woodlands create new habitat for forest birds of management concern despite the loss of grassland bird habitat. The study area encompassed the portion of South Dakota west of the Missouri River, excluding the Black Hills. A stratified sample was used to randomly select woodlands (n=271) within strata defined by landscape (nonfragmented-fragmented), woodland type (planted and natural), size of available woodlands and woodland tree type (deciduous, evergreen, and mixed). Bird surveys were conducted with fixed-width belt transects from mid-May thru mid-July of 1999 and 2000. Overall, 63 avian species were recorded, of which 42 species were considered breeding in woodland habitats. Woodland obligate and Neotropical migrant species richness values were higher in nonfragmented landscapes whereas more species of edge and generalists were observed in fragmented landscapes. Greater vegetative diversity of natural woodlands attracted significantly more species of woodland obligates and Neotropical migrants while edge and generalist species were more abundant in planted woodlands. More species of woodland obligates were found in larger patches of both woodland types (planted, natural), while woodland edge species were more abundant in larger planted woodland patches. Edge species density was significantly lower in the larger natural woodlands and generalist had the highest density in small patches of planted and natural woodlands. Woodland obligate and edge species preferred either deciduous or mixed woodlands, while 50.1% of the individual birds in evergreen woodlands were generalist species. In the Midwest, planted woodlands are established to buffer the weather conditions and to provide habitat for game species such as ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). If nongame woodland birds are the management goal, emphasis should be placed on conserving natural woodlands, but if planted woodlands are chosen, they should be as large and as wide as possible."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Avian Community Structure Associated With Woodland Habitats in Fragmented and Unfragmented Lanscapes in Western South Dakota"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Kenneth F. Higgins"],"dc:creator":["Kelsey, Kyle W."],"dc:description.abstract":["Grassland fragmentation to increase agricultural production is decreasing habitats for grassland birds at alarming rates in the northern Great Plains. Establishment of planted woodlands (e.g., shelterbelts and windbreaks) has further fragmented remaining grasslands and created abrupt boundaries that exacerbate edge effects. My objectives were to determine the effects of landscape fragmentation on woodland bird communities. We also compared the importance of planted versus natural woodlands (e.g., riparian and wooded draws) to evaluate whether a trade-off exists whereby planted woodlands create new habitat for forest birds of management concern despite the loss of grassland bird habitat. The study area encompassed the portion of South Dakota west of the Missouri River, excluding the Black Hills. A stratified sample was used to randomly select woodlands (n=271) within strata defined by landscape (nonfragmented-fragmented), woodland type (planted and natural), size of available woodlands and woodland tree type (deciduous, evergreen, and mixed). Bird surveys were conducted with fixed-width belt transects from mid-May thru mid-July of 1999 and 2000. Overall, 63 avian species were recorded, of which 42 species were considered breeding in woodland habitats. Woodland obligate and Neotropical migrant species richness values were higher in nonfragmented landscapes whereas more species of edge and generalists were observed in fragmented landscapes. Greater vegetative diversity of natural woodlands attracted significantly more species of woodland obligates and Neotropical migrants while edge and generalist species were more abundant in planted woodlands. More species of woodland obligates were found in larger patches of both woodland types (planted, natural), while woodland edge species were more abundant in larger planted woodland patches. Edge species density was significantly lower in the larger natural woodlands and generalist had the highest density in small patches of planted and natural woodlands. Woodland obligate and edge species preferred either deciduous or mixed woodlands, while 50.1% of the individual birds in evergreen woodlands were generalist species. In the Midwest, planted woodlands are established to buffer the weather conditions and to provide habitat for game species such as ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). If nongame woodland birds are the management goal, emphasis should be placed on conserving natural woodlands, but if planted woodlands are chosen, they should be as large and as wide as possible."],"dc:identifier":["https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/497"],"dc:language":["en"],"dc:rights":["Copyright © 2001 Kyle W. Kelsey. All rights reserved."],"dc:subject":["Natural Resources and Conservation"],"dc:title":["Avian Community Structure Associated With Woodland Habitats in Fragmented and Unfragmented Lanscapes in Western South Dakota"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Wildlife and Fisheries Science"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis - University Access Only"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:27:58Z"}