Habitat Associations of Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Cavity Trees in an Old-Growth Forest of Oklahoma

• Published in: The Journal of wildlife management 1993-01, Vol.57 (1), p.122-128
• Main Authors: Kelly, Jeffrey F., Pletschet, Sandra M., Leslie, David M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal behavior; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Aves; Biological and medical sciences; Birds; Coniferous forests; Forest habitats; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Habitats; Hardwood trees; Hardwoods; Old growth forests; Picoides borealis; Quadrants; Tree cavities; Trees; Vertebrata; Wildlife conservation; Wildlife habitats; Woodpeckers
• ISSN: 0022-541X; 1937-2817
• DOI: 10.2307/3809008

Several studies have focused on the relationship between habitat structure and the location of red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) cavities; however, they were conducted in forests dominated by pines < 100 years old. The red-cockaded woodpecker historically has occurred in mature forests dominated by pines > 100 years old. Thus, we wanted to measure the habitat structure at red-cockaded woodpecker cavity-tree sites, non-use sites, and systematically located (hereafter called systematic) sites in old-growth timber on the McCurtain County Wilderness Area, Oklahoma. We compared habitat structure within cavity-tree and non-use sites, between cavity-tree and non-use sites, and between cavity-tree and systematic sites. A 0.01-ha plot directly in front of the cavity opening had shorter (P = 0.002) hardwoods, than the remaining 0.03 ha surrounding the cavity tree. The area surrounding cavity trees (0.04 ha) had shorter hardwoods (P = 0.002), less (P = 0.008) hardwood basal-area, and more (P = 0.006) pine saplings than did non-use sites. There also was more (P < 0.001) pine basal-area 31.3 m from the center of cavity sites than at systematic sites. Hardwood density at cavity sites was greater (8.6 m2/ha) than that recommended by the Red-cockaded Woodpecker Recovery Plan (4.6 m2/ha, U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. 1985), but was similar to hardwood densities documented elsewhere within the distribution of the species. Our observations suggest that red-cockaded woodpecker cavities are located in areas with few short hardwoods and that hardwood density may be of greatest importance near the cavity entrance. Although our results demonstrate patterns similar to those reported by previous studies, we question the interpretation of these patterns and recommend that experimental manipulations be conducted to clarify the importance of midstory encroachment and its management.