| In this thesis project, the hypothesis tested was that forest fragments of similar size, surrounding forest cover, and vegetation composition and structure are not equally suitable for forest breeding birds because of different surrounding land uses.;Birds were surveyed at a single point count site in each of 23 upland deciduous forest fragments (15.1--49.5 ha) near Ottawa, Ontario, The land use mosaic surrounding large buffer circles from 200 to 5000 m radius around the bird survey point. Effects of the surrounding land use mosaic on forest bird species richness and abundance, pairing success of two forest species (Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapillus, and Wood Thrush, Hylocichla mustelina), nest success of three species (Ovenbird, Wood Thrush, and American Robin, Turdus migratorius), artificial nest success, and artificial nest predators were determined using PCA and regression analysis. The scale at which different land uses had the strongest relationship with response variables was determined from PCA and correlation analysis. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
