Post-fire succession of avifauna in the Olympic Mountains, Washington.

Metadata:

Identification_Information
Data_Quality_Information
Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
Spatial_Reference_Information
Entity_and_Attribute_Information
Distribution_Information
Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Data_Quality_Information:

Lineage:

Methodology:

Methodology_Type: Field

Methodology_Identifier:

Methodology_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Methodology_Keyword: bird surveys

Methodology_Description:

Fire effects were documented using the chronosequence approach. This technique assumes that sites of different ages can form a chronological sequence if environmental factors are controlled carefully to ensure similarity among sites (Daubenmire 1968). A chronosequence study must be designed to reduce sampling variability. To accomplish this, the following assumptions were developed for the selection of sample areas: 1. Similar environmental characteristics, ecological stages at the time of disturbance, and disturbance intensity. 2. Stability of species and conditions affecting reestablishment. For the first assumption a set of sample criteria were established after extensive reconnaissance. Each study area was required to have similar (1) aspects (120 to 260 degrees), (2) elevation 1,312 to 2,132 ft (400 to 650 m), (3) slopes (40 to 70 percent), (4) habitat types (western hemlock- Douglas-fir overstory and swordfern ground cover) (Franklin and Dyrness 1973), (5) fire history (burned while in an old-growth seral stage and with extensive overstory mortality). The second assumption assumes stability of species and climate. These variables are impossible to control; therefore, the role of climate and introduced species must be carefully considered when interpreting results. Five study areas were chosen in the lower montane zone to represent different stages of postdisturbance stand development over 500 to 600 years (cf. Oliver 1981): stand initiation (Hoh Fire, years 1 to 3, and Queets Fire, year 19); stem exclusion (North Fork Fire, year 110); understory reinitiation (Mineral Creek Fire, year 181); and old-growth (Olympus Guard Fire, year +515). In each study area, one bird plot was established to census breeding avifauna. Each bird plot was relatively homogenous in vegetative composition and structure. Adverse terrain prevented the bird plots from being equal in size, but all plots were between 25 and 30 acres (10 to 12 ha). The spot map method (Kendeigh 1944; Williams 1936), in which bird sightings and vocalizations are recorded on grid maps for each bird plot, was used as the census technique. Bird species, sex, nest site, directional movement, and breeding behavior (for example, song or aggressive interaction) were noted. Censuses were conducted during the peak activity for most species--0515 to 1000 hours. Because of steep and dissected terrain, a bird plot census took 3 to 4.75 hours and one plot was completed per day. A census of each bird plot was taken eight times spread over the breeding season (April 15 to July 4). A total of 80 censuses were made: 16 in 1979, 32 in 1980, and 32 in 1981.

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Indirect_Spatial_Reference:: Olympic Mountains, Olympic National Park, Washington, USA.

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: Site characteristics

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: bird species

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: bird gender

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: nest site

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: bird directional movement

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: bird breeding behavior

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: bird vocalizations

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: study area name

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Hoh Fire

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Queets Fire

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: North Fork fire

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Mineral Creek fire

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Olympus Guard fire

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: year of sample

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 1979

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 1980

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 1981

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label:: Density and diversity of breeding birds by sample area

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Density

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Diversity

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Age of sample area

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Number of species

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Number of pairs/40 ha

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: Dominant breeding birds on the burn plots

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Site name

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Bird species monitored

Distribution_Information:

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Generated by mp on Thu Apr 29 20:58:01 1999