An ecological study of the breeding birds of grassland habitats within Illinois

The breeding bird communities of 24 grassland fragments in Illinois were studied between 1987-1990 to examine the influence of area, vegetation structure, species interactions, and habitat management on community structure. Fragment size was found to strongly influence breeding bird species richness within grasslands. Non-prairie bird species dominated small grasslands whereas prairie bird species dominated large grasslands. The distribution of birds between fragments followed a non-random pattern with a predictable subset of birds regularly found on large fragments avoiding small grasslands. Abundances of nine of the twelve species examined were significantly correlated with area, but not all in the same direction. In general, densities of prairie species were positively correlated with area whereas non-prairie bird densities were negatively correlated with area. Habitat structure also significantly influenced bird abundances within fragments, but always accounted for less than half the variation in species abundance within fragments. Species interactions were also found to significantly affect bird distributions but influenced abundances less than area and habitat structure for most species.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology, Ecology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Herkert, James R.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Sanderson, Glen
• Robinson, Scott K.

• Biology, Ecology
• Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1991 Herkert, James R.

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9136615
(UMI)AAI9136615

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/23188