Published 1966-01-01
Abstract
As part of a long-term study of the structure and interspecific relations of communities, two study areas were selected in the vicinity of the Research Station. One encompassed grassland and sagebrush in approximately equal amounts, while the other was wholly inside the dense willow thicket which lies across the road from the station. Measurments were taken of habitat variables, and of such phenotypic characteristics as feeding behavior and feeding height distribution of all species resident in these study areas. Recognizing three "coexistence mechanisms" as of major importance in avian communities (horizontal and vertical habitat selection, M.M.S. and V.M.S., and food specialization F.S.) community means in these sectors were found to be 43.7%, 80.9%, 49.8% and 21.6% 81.0% and 41.0% in the grass-sage and willow areas respectively. Some color banding was done not only to facilitate the plotting of territories, but also to provide information on individual life-spans and other variables. It is proposed to revisit these areas in succeeding years. Project Number 140.