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Balasso, Michelle, 2016. Ecological requirements of the threetoed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus L.) in boreal forests of northern Sweden. Second cycle, A2E. Umeå: SLU, Dept. of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies

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Abstract

The three-toed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus L.) is a forest specialist bird, highly dependent on dead and decaying trees for foraging. I investigated the occurrence of the three-toed woodpecker in relation to vegetation characteristics including dead wood in the boreal forests of northern Sweden. Forty old forest stands were studied, were I collected data on living and dead trees, and related them to the occurrence of the three-toed woodpecker during the breeding season. Logistic regression was used to model the occurrence of the three-toed woodpecker in relation to habitat variables. I found that of all variables taken in consideration, the amount of freshly dead Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) contributed most to explaining the occurrence of three-toed woodpecker. The probability to find three-toed woodpecker in a stand increased with the basal area of freshly dead spruce, the size of the stand, the basal area of living deciduous trees and that of dying Scots pines. A probability of occurrence of 0.5 corresponded to 1.8 m²/ha of freshly dead spruce. The results refined the knowledge about three-toed woodpecker requirements, underlying the importance of spruce for foraging, and adding information on which decay stage is more preferable for the species. Taking in consideration the fact that the species is declining and included in the Swedish Red List, this study will help defining future targets for conservation management for the three-toed woodpecker.

Main title:Ecological requirements of the threetoed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus L.) in boreal forests of northern Sweden
Authors:Balasso, Michelle
Supervisor:Roberge, Jean-Michel and Versluijs, Martijn
Examiner:de Jong, Adriaan
Series:Examensarbete i ämnet biologi / Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Institutionen för vilt, fisk och miljö
Volume/Sequential designation:2016:2
Year of Publication:2016
Level and depth descriptor:Second cycle, A2E
Student's programme affiliation:None
Supervising department:(S) > Dept. of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies
Keywords:three-toed woodpecker, dead wood, dead spruce, snags, habitat requirements, boreal forest, forest management
URN:NBN:urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-5113
Permanent URL:
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-5113
Subject. Use of subject categories until 2023-04-30.:Animal ecology
Language:English
Deposited On:09 Feb 2016 13:58
Metadata Last Modified:09 Feb 2016 13:58

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