Landscape connectivity and its effect on the ecological processes of spruce grouse Dendragapus canadensis populations
Harrison, S., Chatterson, B. & Paul, D. 1997: Landscape connectivity and its effect on the ecological processes of spruce grouse Dendragapus canadensis populations. - Wildl. Biol. 3: 287.
We investigated how the level of habitat connectivity affects natal dispersal, adult movement, and predation rates of spruce grouse Dendragapus canadensis. We also investigated how hierarchies of scale affect these ecological processes and aspects of metapopulation theory. The study area encompasses 650,000 ha east of Prince George, British Columbia, Canada in the sub-boreal spruce biogeoclimatic zone. The Bowron and Willow River valleys which form the study area have been logged extensively in the past 30 years. Logging in some parts of the study area is a dispersed-cut with 100-300 ha clear-cuts creating a checker-board pattern with 100-ha patches of unlogged forest. This landscape represents the 'medium' connectivity treatment. In the other part of the study area, the landscape is an aggregate 50,000-ha clear-cut with 150-ha patches of forest remaining. This landscape represents the 'low' connectivity treatment. Currently, spruce grouse are being radio-marked, and population parameters are being measured in 12 study sites, each 170 ha. Experimental density increases will allow examination of population processes among study sites with different levels of habitat connectivity. Densities will be increased by introducing eggs or young chicks to radio-marked females. Four treatment combinations (medium connectivity/no density change; medium connectivity/increase density; low connectivity/no density change; low connectivity/increase density) are replicated three times for the 12 study sites as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design.
Key words: British Columbia, Canada, connectivity, Dendragapus canadensis, hierarchy theory, landscape, metapopulation theory, spruce grouse
Scott Harrison, University of British Columbia, Centre for Applied Conservation Biology, c/o Research Section, Ministry of Forests, 1011 - 4th Ave., Prince George, British Columbia, V2L 3H9, Canada
Ben Chatterson & David Paul, Research Section, Ministry of Forests, 1011 - 4th Ave., Prince George, British Columbia, V2L 3H9, Canada