J. For. Sci., 2008, 54(4):189-193 | DOI: 10.17221/787-JFS

Can clearcuts increase bird species richness in managed forests?

M. ¯mihorski
Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland

Clearcuts are one of the results of forest management. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of clearcuts on bird communities in a managed forest in Western Poland. I applied the method of point transect counts. 20 points were located near clearcuts (less than 100 m from the nearest clearcut) and 25 points in the forest interior. In total, 36 bird species were recorded. On average, I found 9.20 bird species at points located near clearcuts and 6.72 species at points situated in the forest interior, and the difference was significant. The cumulative number of bird species for a given number of sampling points in the vicinity of clearcuts was higher than in the forest interior. The obtained results indicate that in managed, even-aged forests the generation of clearcuts can lead to an increase in local bird species richness.

Keywords: forestry; diversity; forest conservation; rarefaction; gaps

Published: April 30, 2008  Show citation

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¯mihorski M. Can clearcuts increase bird species richness in managed forests? J. For. Sci. 2008;54(4):189-193. doi: 10.17221/787-JFS.
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