| The purpose of my study was to investigate the use of forest birds to monitor ecological integrity of protected areas. Permanent sampling points (n = 100) were established in 16 plots in two mature forest types, hemlock and deciduous, in Kejimkujik National Park. Birds were sampled using point counts with distance estimation in 2003 and 2004. Densities were estimated and compared with the abundance of potential pairs, and also with densities obtained by spot-mapping on two plots. I calculated power to detect changes in abundance over a 5-year period. Potential pairs abundance, deemed the most useful metric in the context of this study, was used to assess changes in the abundance of single species, species groups, and guilds.; To document habitat, vegetation structure and composition were quantified within 100 m of each point in 2004. Multivariate analyses were conducted to explore relationships between variation in the abundance and distribution of bird species and both forest structure, as measured by deciduous and coniferous cover for the different strata, and plant species composition. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
