Bird Community Structure in Southwestern Missouri
Date of Graduation
Summer 1979
Degree
Master of Science in Biology
Department
Biology
Committee Chair
Elizabeth Topping
Abstract
Three plots in southwestern Missouri, an upland forest, a shrubby plot, and a cedar plot ranging from 1.3 to 1.4 ha were sampled for bird species diversity from late March through November, 1978. Breeding bird censuses were also conducted in each area during the nesting season. Overall bird species diversity (BSD) was highest in the cedar plot. Breeding bird diversity (BBD) was also highest in the cedar plot as cedar trees provided a greater number of nest sites. Nests built in cedar trees were analyzed to identify the factor responsible for nest-site selection. By virtue of species specific stimuli, it was suggested that three species of breeding birds in the cedar field partitioned nest-site resources on the basis of foliage density.
Subject Categories
Biology
Copyright
© Mark Ritke
Recommended Citation
Ritke, Mark, "Bird Community Structure in Southwestern Missouri" (1979). MSU Graduate Theses/Dissertations. 601.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/601
Dissertation/Thesis
