Influences of roads and development on bird communities in protected Chihuahuan Desert landscapes

• Published in: Biological conservation 2003-10, Vol.113 (2), p.225-237
• Main Authors: GUTZWILLER, Kevin J, BARROW, Wylie C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Environmental degradation: ecosystems survey and restoration; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking
• ISSN: 0006-3207; 1873-2917
• DOI: 10.1016/S0006-3207(02)00361-0

Within Big Bend National Park, which is located within the subtropical Chihuahuan Desert, the combined influences of total road length and proximity of roads and development on desert bird communities were studied. At 70 sites, 20-min unlimited-distance counts were conducted weekly from late February to late May 1995 97, which coincided with the breeding season. Data were also collected on landscape variables, and digital maps of roads and developments were created. Relationships were tested between bird metrics and road and development variables. Over the 3-yr study, 157 bird species were detected, but 67% occurred in less than 10% of the sites. Species richness and relative abundance for 21 of the 26 focal species were associated significantly with road or development variables during one or more years. Interactions involving total road length within 1- and 2-km extents, distance to the nearest road, and/or distance to the nearest development were significant in 23 of the 34 models developed.