Influence of recreational trails on breeding bird communities

We investigated the influence of recreational trails on breeding bird communities in forest and mixed-grass prairie ecosystems in Boulder County, Colorado, United States, during 1994 and 1995. Species composition, nest predation, and brood parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) were ex...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecological applications 1998-02, Vol.8 (1), p.162-169
Main Authors: Miller, Scott G., Knight, Richard L., Miller, Clinton K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ANIMAL SALVAJE
ANIMAL SAUVAGE
Aviculture
bird communities
Bird nesting
BIRDS
BOSQUES
Brood parasitism
Brown-headed Cowbird
COLORADO
COMMUNITY ECOLOGY
Deciduous forests
ECOLOGIA
Ecological Insights for Conservation
ECOLOGIE
ECOLOGY
edge effects
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Forest ecosystems
Forest habitats
FORESTS
FORET
Grasses
Habitat corridors
IMPACT SUR L'ENVIRONNEMENT
IMPACTO AMBIENTAL
MOLOTHRUS ATER
nest parasitism
nest predation
OISEAU
PAJAROS
PASSERIFORMES
PRADERAS DE AMERICA DEL NORTE
PRAIRIE
PRAIRIES
Predation
recreation
recreational trails
Species
WILD ANIMALS
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Summary:We investigated the influence of recreational trails on breeding bird communities in forest and mixed-grass prairie ecosystems in Boulder County, Colorado, United States, during 1994 and 1995. Species composition, nest predation, and brood parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) were examined near and away from existing recreational trails. Bird species composition was altered adjacent to trails in both ecosystems. Generalist species were more abundant near trails, whereas specialist species were less common. Within the grassland ecosystem, birds were less likely to nest near trails. Within both ecosystems, nest predation was greater near trails. In forests, the rate of brood parasitism was not influenced by trails. No brood parasitism was found in the grassland ecosystem. Our results may be useful to natural-lands managers who must implement management policies regarding the spatial arrangement of trails and trail-use restrictions.
ISSN:1051-0761
1939-5582
DOI:10.1890/1051-0761(1998)008[0162:iortob]2.0.co;2