Avian community structure in Kansas riparian forests.

Abstract

The structure of bird communities in riparian forest successional seres in east central Kansas was analyzed for density, diversity. and equitability. Species were arranged into four residence classifications, monthly occurrence, four-and six-season occurrences, nesting gUild classification, food and foraging guild classifications, and foraging height percentages. Three categories of succession were recognized: a pioneer cottonwood-silver maple sere, an intermediate boxelder-mixed sere, and a climax bur oak sere. Bird densities, equability and diversity generally increased with forest succession with a decline at the climax forest stage. Physiognomic diversity and habitat heterogeneity associated with ecological succession were considered the major underlying controlling factors in riparian forest avian community organization.