Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Grassland birds associated with agricultural riparian practices in southwestern Wisconsin
Author
Renfrew, R. B.
Ribic, C. A.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2001-09-01
Body

Rotational grazing has been proposed as a Best Management Practice (BMP) for minimizing runoff in Wisconsin agricultural riparian areas. The influence of this land management practice on grassland birds has not been evaluated in relation to more traditional agricultural land management systems in Midwestern riparian areas. This study compared the grassland bird community in riparian areas in Wisconsin that were rotationally grazed to 2 common land use practices along streams in Wisconsin: continuously grazed pastures and rowcrop fields with 10-m-wide ungrazed buffer strips located along the stream. We calculated total number of birds, the Berger-Parker Index of Dominance, and number of birds ha(-1) for each site. Vegetation variables used were height-density, litter depth, and percent bare ground. Bird species richness, species dominance, and density did not differ among land use types. In contrast, grassland bird species of management concern [Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis Gmelin), Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna L.), and Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus L.)] were found on continuous and rotational pastures but very rarely or never occurred on buffer strips. Contrary to previous research, however, rotationally grazed pastures did not support more of these species than continuously grazed pastures. Bird density was related to vegetation structure, with higher densities found on sites with deeper litter. Within the pasture land use types, there were no consistent differences between species richness and density near the stream (10 m) and away (10 m). The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020

Language
en
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.2307/4003583
Additional Information
Renfrew, R. B., & Ribic, C. A. (2001). Grassland birds associated with agricultural riparian practices in southwestern Wisconsin. Journal of Range Management, 54(5), 546-552.
IISN
0022-409X
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/643589
Journal Volume
54
Journal Number
5
Journal Pages
546-552
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
sturnella magna
passerculus sandwichensis
dolichonyx oryzivorus
Wisconsin
fields
wild birds
depth
grasslands
continuous grazing
species diversity
riparian buffers
rotational grazing
plant communities
wildlife management
plant litter
pastures
rotational grazing
species richness
density
dominance
buffer strips