| Forest canopy gaps are through to be an important component in Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea) habitat. This study examined the selection of forest canopy gaps within Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea) territories and in core areas of territories on the Lewis Wetzel Wildlife Management Area and surrounding properties in Wetzel County, West Virginia in 2004 and 2005. The study objectives were to (1) determine the use and selection of gaps according to type, size, and structure, (2) determine if gap size was related to gap density, total gap area (%), or perimeter amount, and (3) determine if distances of territories to large gaps and edge was related to the edge type or size.; Cerulean Warbler territories were mapped and minimum convex polygon methods were used to estimate territory boundaries in 2004. In 2005, territory sizes and core areas were delineated using 95% and 50% fixed kernel estimates. |
