Author response to “Comments on "Effects of forest management on the spatial distribution of the willow tit (Poecile montanus)" by Kumpula et al.” by Vauhkonen

• Published in: Forest ecology and management 2024-10, Vol.570, p.122208, Article 122208
• Main Authors: Kumpula, Satu, Vatka, Emma, Orell, Markku, Rytkönen, Seppo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Breeding dispersal; Forest management; Forestry effects; Hole-nesting passerine; Long-term study; Willow tit
• ISSN: 0378-1127
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122208

Vauhkonen (2024) showed concerns mainly regarding the analyses and used models in our study on forest management effects on the spatial distribution of willow tits (Kumpula et al., 2023). The idea in this study was to figure out if forest management practices (clear-cuttings and thinnings) have effect on the decreasing willow tit population. We used long-term breeding data of willow tits collected in Oulu which was combined with spatial environmental data with GIS (Geographic Information System) methods. Here we answer the criticism, explain some inaccuracies of our study and point out with more detailed analyses of nearest neighbour distances (NNdist) of willow tits that the forest management practices indeed are related to decreasing willow tit population density. •Reanalysis in author response supports the results of the original study.•Clear-cuttings and thinnings effect the nearest neighbour distances of willow tits.•Clear-cuttings and thinnings reduce the habitat quality.•The effect of clear-cuttings is more severe than thinnings.