Songbird Responses to Regenerating Seismic Lines in the Boreal Forest

• Author / Creator

  Lankau, Hedwig Erika Gertraude

• I investigated how songbirds respond to seismic lines as the vegetation cover on lines regenerates and how long seismic line effects on songbirds persist. I found that line age was poorly correlated with natural vegetation recovery and that after an initial increase in recovery after 20 years the mean recovery state of lines did not change. Few bird species showed strong negative responses to young, open seismic lines and changes in relative abundance were generally greater on seismic lines with dense shrubby regrowth. Species richness of birds tended to increase on lines in the early stages of recovery and return toward levels seen in the forest as seismic lines recovered. Ovenbirds responded to seismic lines for multiple reasons. Bare lines were excluded by Ovenbirds because they lacked leaf litter and protective cover. Lines were also excluded as they regenerated because Ovenbirds used them as landmarks between neighbouring territories.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Boreal forests
  • Songbirds
  • Landmarks
  • Linear disturbance
  • Seismic line regeneration
  • Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)

• Graduation date

  Spring 2014

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3ZT2K

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.