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Abstract
The Garry oak (Quercus garryana) ecosystem was once a dominant habitat type on southeastern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, but urbanization has lead to massive habitat loss and fragmentation (Hebda 1993). Most bird species are expected to respond negatively to urbanization because of increased patch isolation, increased predation pressure, and negative edge effects (Marzluff and Ewing 2001). On southeastern Vancouver Island, Garry oak remnants form a mosaic along with coastal Douglas-fir (
Pseudotsuga menziesii) forests. Since the two ecosystems differ in habitat structure and composition, there is an
a priori expectation that their bird communities differ. However, urbanization may have fragmented the landscape to the extent that only generalist species use both habitat types. This study tests whether bird abundance in patches of Garry oak and Douglas-fir is related to habitat type or patch size and/or urbanization in the landscape. It also compares bird community composition of Garry oak patches surrounded by urbanization to those patches surrounded by Douglas-fir forest.
Parent Publication
Citation
Feldman, Richard E.; Krannitz, Pam G. 2005. Does Habitat Matter in an Urbanized Landscape? The Birds of the Garry Oak (
Quercus garryana) Ecosystem of Southeastern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. In: Ralph, C. John; Rich, Terrell D., editors 2005. Bird Conservation Implementation and Integration in the Americas: Proceedings of the Third International Partners in Flight Conference. 2002 March 20-24; Asilomar, California, Volume 1 Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-191. Albany, CA: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: p. 332-334
