A process to identify high quality avian habitat for the Yellowstone to Yukon reserve design
Dates
Year
2004
Citation
Muir, Judy E., 2004, A process to identify high quality avian habitat for the Yellowstone to Yukon reserve design: University of Alberta (Canada).
Summary
The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) is developing a reserve design to maintain avian biodiversity throughout the Rocky and Mackenzie Mountains. My study identified core areas of high quality bird breeding habitat in the region that represented broad habitat types important to mountain bird communities. I prioritized habitat using existing bird survey data to develop statistical models for a group of focal birds. The models predicted the probability of each bird's occurrence throughout Y2Y based on biophysical factors and anthropogenic stressors. I used the probability of species' occurrence as an index of relative habitat quality, and combined all model predictions to identify conservation priority areas for birds [...]
Summary
The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) is developing a reserve design to maintain avian biodiversity throughout the Rocky and Mackenzie Mountains. My study identified core areas of high quality bird breeding habitat in the region that represented broad habitat types important to mountain bird communities. I prioritized habitat using existing bird survey data to develop statistical models for a group of focal birds. The models predicted the probability of each bird's occurrence throughout Y2Y based on biophysical factors and anthropogenic stressors. I used the probability of species' occurrence as an index of relative habitat quality, and combined all model predictions to identify conservation priority areas for birds within Y2Y. Several habitat types (alpine, bog, boreal forest, ponderosa pine and subalpine) were well covered by existing protected areas. Riparian, marsh, aspen and boreal mixed wood habitat types were poorly protected, however, and efforts should be made to conserve these habitats.
