1971
Research Project Report

Avifauna Habitat Utilization and Vegetation Structure

Stanley H. Anderson
Kenyon College

Published 1971-01-01

Abstract

Behavioral ecology studies of avifauna have centered on foraging methods, time budgets and correlation of avifauna with the presence or absence of species of plants. Few studies have considered the relation of vegetation structure and species of avifauna present. MacArthur and MacArthur (1961) found foliage height diversity functioned as a predictor of bird species diversity. Sturman (1969) showed the abundance of Chestnut-backed Chickadees to be correlated with the upper story canopy volume and the average height of the upper story conifers. Both canopy volume and canopy height are components of the foliage height diversity. Anderson (1970a) utilized stepwise multiple linear regression analysis to correlate 52 vegetation structure components with the presence or absence of avifauna species in the Oregon white oak and Douglas fir. Project Number 184.