chris kirkpatrick & courtney j. conway usgs arizona cooperative fish and wildlife
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Changes in the breeding distribution of Buff-breasted Flycatchers in the southwestern United States: the role of fire suppression. Chris Kirkpatrick & Courtney J. Conway USGS Arizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Arizona. Pablo Leautaud. Thanks to:. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Changes in the breeding distribution of Buff-breasted Flycatchers in the
southwestern United States: the role of fire suppression.
Chris Kirkpatrick & Courtney J. Conway
USGS Arizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife
Research Unit, University of Arizona
Pablo LeautaudPablo Leautaud
Thanks to:
Field Assistants: Dominic LaRoche, Mike Schroff, Eli Rose, Kelly Bergstram, Brian Powell, and Mark Zepp
Logistical Support: Natasha Kline, Don Swann (Saguaro National Park), Josh Taiz (U.S. Forest Service), Bob Peterson (University of Arizona), Shelly Danzer, and Sheridan Stone (U.S. Department of Defense)
Bird Photography: Bruce Taubert and Tom Grey
Empidonax fulvifronsEmpidonax fulvifrons
Arizona New Mexico
from Bowers & Dunning (1994)
from Conway and Kirkpatrick 2007
91% reduction in U.S. breeding range
from Conway and Kirkpatrick 2007
99% reduction in U.S. breeding range
Arizona New Mexico
15% reduction in total breeding range
from Bowers & Dunning (1994)
9 highest sky island mtn rangesWhat is current population trajectory?
• TUCSON
NE
W
ME
XIC
O
MEXICO
AR
IZO
NA
• 71 surveys in Huachucas & Chiricahuas71 surveys in Huachucas & Chiricahuas
• TUCSON
NE
W
ME
XIC
O
MEXICO
AR
IZO
NA
• 44 surveys in 7 adjacent mt. ranges44 surveys in 7 adjacent mt. ranges
• Replicated 1980-83 & 1995-96 surveysReplicated 1980-83 & 1995-96 surveys
• At 200 m intervals along each survey route
• From April to July
• 3-min. passive period
• 3-min. broadcast period
Point-count surveys
• Regress year vs # BBFLs for 23 routesRegress year vs # BBFLs for 23 routes• Test Test HHoo: average slope : average slope 0 0
# B
BF
Ls
Det
ecte
d
bavg = -0.105P = 0.061
• BBFLs have declined on 16 of 23 routesBBFLs have declined on 16 of 23 routes#
BB
FL
s D
etec
ted
bavg = -0.105P = 0.061
• BBFLs have declined on 16 of 23 routesBBFLs have declined on 16 of 23 routes
Carr Canyon
# B
BF
Ls
Det
ecte
d
What’s happened to BBFLs in the U.S.?
Fire suppression implicated…
Coniferous forests in the SW historically subjected to low-severity fires ~1x/decade
From Swetnam and Betancourt 2003From Swetnam and Betancourt 2003
1909
1949
1992
From Covington and Moore 1994From Covington and Moore 1994
Increase in understory fuel loads has contributed to recent increase in frequency
of wildfires in Southwest
from Swetnam and Betancourt 2003from Swetnam and Betancourt 2003
““Recent” FiresRecent” Fires
If observed declines in BBFLs are due to decreased fire frequency, then….
1) Recently burned forests more likely to be colonized by BBFLs
2) Survey points with BBFLs more likely to have evidence of recent fires
3) Survey points with BBFLs more likely to have evidence of more frequent fire events
If observed declines in BBFLs are due to decreased fire frequency, then….
1) Recently burned forests more likely to be colonized by BBFLs
2) Survey points with BBFLs more likely to have evidence of recent fires
3) Survey points with BBFLs more likely to have evidence of more frequent fire events
5 recently burned survey
routes
no no BBFLsBBFLs
detecteddetected
1 pair of1 pair of BBFLsBBFLsdetecteddetected
5 unburned survey routes
Potential Problems:
1) Severity of fires was low2) Sample size of survey routes was small
If observed declines in BBFLs are due to decreased fire frequency, then….
1) Recently burned forests more likely to be colonized by BBFLs
2) Survey points with BBFLs more likely to have evidence of recent fires
3) Survey points with BBFLs more likely to have evidence of more frequent fire events
00 11 22 33 44
0) no evidence of fire1) low-severity surface fire 2) moderate-severity surface fire 3) high-severity surface fire 4) high-severity crown fire
Modified from Ryan & Noste 1985
Burn Severity Index (5 classes):
Burn Severity Class
Buff-breasted flycatchers more Buff-breasted flycatchers more common in burned woodlandscommon in burned woodlands
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1.5-2.0 2.0-5.0 5.0-10.0 >10.0
Height above Ground (m)
Per
cen
t C
over
(T
otal
) x
0 (n = 36)
1 (n = 11)
2 (n = 20)
3 (n = 20)
4 (n = 19)
Percent cover of vegetation at 4 heights differed among 5 burn-severity classes
Burn-severity Class
1) Burn-severity index provides information on severity but not frequency of previous fire events
Potential Problem:
If observed declines in BBFLs are due to decreased fire frequency, then….
1) Recently burned forests more likely to be colonized by BBFLs
2) Survey points with BBFLs more likely to have evidence of recent fires
3) Survey points with BBFLs more likely to have evidence of more frequent fire events
1916 Fire
1865 Fire
1842 Fire
14 survey routes with
BBFLs
14 survey routes
without BBFLs
tpaired = 1.8P = 0.048
Routes with BBFLs had more frequent fires
with BBFLs without BBFLs
1) not all trees scar during a fire2) don’t know the severity of previous fires
Potential Problems:
Summary of results
Fire severity Fire frequency
Why didn’t BBFLs colonize our 5 recently (<10 yrs) burned survey routes?
1) recruitment and immigration insufficient?
2) low-severity burns insufficient?
3) BBFLs may require >10 years to locate and colonize burns
Why didn’t BBFLs colonize our 5 recently (<10 yrs) burned survey routes?
1) recruitment and immigration insufficient?
2) low-severity burns insufficient?
3) BBFLs colonize areas >10 yrs post-burn?
MEXICO
• Conducted surveys in 7 mt. ranges
adjacent to Huachucas & Chiricahuas
Last BBFL recorded 18 Aug. 1911
We detected:2 in 20004 in 2004
5 (incl. pair) in 2005
What’s driving BBFLs to re-colonize the Rincon Mountains after 89 year absence?
70% of bird survey points burned (56%
burned severely)
Ignition Points
Burn Perimeters
Ignitions and Fire History, Rincon Mountains, Saguaro National Park
Mica Mt
Rincon Peak
Tucson
Carr Canyon
<1976<197644
1983198399
199519951717
200420042323
19761976FireFire
Santa Catalina Mountains
Bullock Wildfire (2002) & Aspen Wildfire (2003)Bullock Wildfire (2002) & Aspen Wildfire (2003)
Santa Catalina Mountains
>90% burned Variation in burn severity
Future work
• Continue monitoring BBFL populations in Arizona (and New Mexico?)
• Determine reproductive success to assess quality of habitat
• Determine status of Mexican population
For more information:For more information:
Conway, C. J., and C. Kirkpatrick. 2007. Effect Conway, C. J., and C. Kirkpatrick. 2007. Effect of forest fire suppression on buff-breasted of forest fire suppression on buff-breasted flycatchers. flycatchers. Journal of Wildlife Management Journal of Wildlife Management 71:445-457.71:445-457.
Kirkpatrick, C., C. J. Conway, and D. LaRoche. Kirkpatrick, C., C. J. Conway, and D. LaRoche. 2007. Range expansion of the Buff-breasted 2007. Range expansion of the Buff-breasted Flycatcher (Flycatcher (Empidonax fulvifronsEmpidonax fulvifrons) into the ) into the Rincon Mountains, Arizona. Rincon Mountains, Arizona. Southwestern Southwestern NaturalistNaturalist 52: 149-152. 52: 149-152.
Kirkpatrick, C., C. J. Conway, and P. B. Jones. Kirkpatrick, C., C. J. Conway, and P. B. Jones. 2006. Distribution and relative abundance of 2006. Distribution and relative abundance of forest birds in relation to burn severity in forest birds in relation to burn severity in southeastern Arizona. southeastern Arizona. Journal of Wildlife Journal of Wildlife ManagementManagement 70:1005-1012. 70:1005-1012.
For more information:For more information:
www.ag.arizona.edu/srnr/research/www.ag.arizona.edu/srnr/research/coop/azfwru/cjc/coop/azfwru/cjc/
• click on links to “Research”click on links to “Research”and “Past Project #8” and “Past and “Past Project #8” and “Past Project #9”Project #9”
[email protected]@email.arizona.edu