RUI: Biogeographical Impacts of Recent Bark Beetle Epidemics on Cavity-Nesting Birds in Arizona.

生物地理学将地理学的空间方法与生态学的功能方法结合起来，观察空间模式对生态过程的起源和后果。生物地理学家研究生态模式（空间和时间）和过程之间的关系，如干扰和物种分布。该研究项目将探讨人类活动对野生动物及其栖息地需求之间关系的原因和后果。具体来说，这项研究将确定最近树皮甲虫爆发的影响，在北方亚利桑那州的腔巢鸟。本计画的目标是：（1）描述小蠹致死障碍物的空间型态、密度、衰减率与动态（2）根据这些残枝特征，比较小蠹爆发时被杀死的残枝与个体死亡率，预测洞巢利用残枝的可能性;（3）建立一个小蠹虫致死林障数据库，并将其加入到我们的火烧林障动态模型中，以检验生态学假设，并为森林管理者提供指导。这项研究将通过在一系列干扰尺度上模拟鸟类的空间格局来推进地理学理论，从个体被杀的障碍到死亡尺度的死亡。该项目将通过加强本科实验室的基础设施和促进研究与本科教育的融合来加强本科文科学院的研究环境。研究区域将包括未燃烧的西南黄松林，最近经历了树皮甲虫爆发与未燃烧的地区没有树皮甲虫爆发配对。收集的野生动物数据将包括挖掘洞穴的数量、自然洞穴的数量、觅食的证据以及直接的野生动物观察。收集的树木数据将包括增量岩心样本、绘制的位置、物种、直径、高度、顶部条件、障碍条件、树皮覆盖、洞穴、枯枝、瘦肉、断面积和腐烂等级。该项目将评估空间结构和格局，并协助评价干扰对景观的影响。此外，量化结构模式将有助于评估这些景观如何影响鸟类的丰度和分布，目前和未来通过栖息地建模。这项生物地理学研究的直接应用包括森林管理决策，例如西南黄松林抢救性伐木和恢复工作中保留的障碍数量和障碍的空间格局。确定从障碍物到倒下的原木的过渡率对于预测野生动物栖息地的可用性是重要的。知道哪些树或障碍将保持最长的时间，并最使用的腔巢将提供指导，以确定有多少活树更换需要和制定未来的障碍管理计划。

Biogeography unites the spatial approach of geography with the functional approach of ecology, viewing the origins and consequences of spatial patterns on ecological processes. Biogeographers investigate relationships between ecological patterns (spatial and temporal) and processes, such as disturbances and species distributions. This research project will explore the causes and consequences of human activity on relationships between wildlife and their habitat requirements across a range of scales. Specifically, this study will determine effects of recent bark beetle outbreaks on cavity nesting birds in northern Arizona. The objectives of this project are to: (1) describe spatial patterns, density, decay rates, and dynamics of bark beetle-killed snags (standing dead trees) in ponderosa pine forests of the American Southwest; (2) predict the probability of snag use by cavity nesters based on these snag characteristics comparing snags killed in bark beetle outbreaks vs. individual mortality; and (3) develop a database of bark beetle-killed snags to add to our fire-killed snag dynamics model in order to test ecological hypotheses and provide guidelines for forest managers. This research will advance biogeographical theories through modeling bird spatial patterns across a range of disturbance scales, from individual killed snags to landscape-scale mortality. This project will strengthen the research environment at an undergraduate liberal arts college through enhancing the infrastructure of the undergraduate labs and promoting the integration of research and undergraduate education. The study area will include unburned southwestern ponderosa pine forest that recently experienced bark beetle outbreaks paired with unburned areas without bark beetle outbreak. Wildlife data collected will include the number of excavated cavities, the number of natural cavities, evidence of foraging, and direct wildlife observations. Tree data collected will include increment core samples, mapped locations, species, diameter, height, top condition, snag condition, bark cover, cavities, dead limbs, lean, basal area, and decay class. The project will assess spatial structure and patterns and assist in evaluating effects of disturbances on landscapes. In addition, quantifying structural patterns will help to evaluate how these landscapes affect abundance and distribution of birds at present and into the future through habitat modeling. Direct applications of this biogeographic research include forest management decisions such as the number of snags and spatial pattern of the snags to retain in salvage logging and restoration efforts in southwestern ponderosa pine forests. Determining the transition rate from snag to fallen log is important for predicting availability of wildlife habitat. Knowing which trees or snags will remain standing longest and are most used by cavity nesters will provide guidance in determining how many live tree replacements are needed and in developing future snag management plans.