Bird-habitat relationships along a vegetation gradient in desert grasslands of the southwest | Posted on:1999-08-05 | Degree:M.S | Type:Thesis | University:The University of Arizona | Candidate:Downard, Giselle Teresa | Full Text:PDF | GTID:2460390014467407 | Subject:Biology | Abstract/Summary: | | During winter 1996-1997 and summer 1997, I studied bird assemblages along a vegetation gradient in desert grasslands of southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. A gradient of increasing woody cover and decreasing grass cover best described the variance in vegetation characteristics among sites. At larger scales of observation, I found woody plant characteristics had a large effect on the presence and distribution of individual species and assemblages. At finer scales of analysis, I found a greater proportion of relationships between birds and particular plant species. Bird species richness was positively related to shrub species richness during winter. I observed greater between season shifts in bird species richness among sites with... | Keywords/Search Tags: | Bird, Vegetation, Gradient, Species richness | | Related items |
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