Grassland songbird community relationships mediated by cattle stocking rates and plant community composition in two habitats in a northern mixed grass prairie
Date
2014-08-25
Authors
Molloy, Kelsey
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Abstract
Grassland birds are experiencing the most significant declines of any avian guild in North America. Grazing is an important tool to manage habitats for these species, as they respond to structural changes in vegetation, and grazing affects vegetation structure. I studied the impact of cattle stocking rates grassland songbird abundances, with upland and lowland habitats in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada, 2006 to 2012. I also examined relationships between songbird abundance and plant community composition. Generalized linear mixed models were used for analyses. Species differed in responses to increased grazing (0 to 0.85 AUM/ha); Sprague’s pipit responded negatively, whereas chestnut-collared longspur responded positively. Above average precipitation during the study likely reduced the grazing effects. Overall, a range of cattle stocking rates makes habitat available for a complete songbird community. Efforts focused on prairie conservation should manage grazing at stocking rates that produce habitats that are under-represented relative to surrounding grasslands.
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Keywords
songbirds, grazing, grassland, cattle