Structural Characteristics of Forest Stands Within Home Ranges of Mexican Spotted Owls in Arizona and New Mexico

In this: publication
By this: publisher
In this Subject: Forestry
By this author: Ganey J.L. ;&nbsp; Block W.M. ;&nbsp; Ackers S.H.

Authors: Ganey J.L.; Block W.M.; Ackers S.H.

Source: Western Journal of Applied Forestry, Volume 18, Number 3, July 2003 , pp. 189-198(10)

Publisher: Society of American Foresters

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $29.50 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

As part of a set of studies evaluating home-range size and habitat use of radio-marked Mexican spotted owls (Strix occidentalis lucida), we sampled structural characteristics of forest stands within owl home ranges on two study areas in Arizona and New Mexico. Study areas were dominated by ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)–Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) forest (Arizona) or mixed-conifer forest (New Mexico). We describe structural characteristics of forest stands used by spotted owls for both foraging and roosting, in terms of central tendencies and variability in structural characteristics among stands. Our results indicated that stands used for foraging were more variable than stands used for roosting. Observed distributions of structural variables were consistent with recommendations in the recovery plan governing management of owl habitat with a few potentially important exceptions. We also provide additional recommendations for application in forest management, based both on observed data and on extensive collective experience with the owl and its habitat. West. J. Appl. For. 18(3):189–198.

Keywords: Radio telemetry; stand basal area; ponderosa pine; Gambel oak; environmental management; forest; forest management; forest resources; forestry; forestry research; forestry science; natural resources; natural resource management