Factors Influencing the Abundance of Savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) at Restored Grasslands in Northwest Pennsylvania

Danch, Colin

Factors Influencing the Abundance of Savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) at Restored Grasslands in Northwest Pennsylvania

Persistent URL

https://dspace.allegheny.edu/handle/10456/50696

Author(s)

Danch, Colin

Date Issued

April 24, 2020

Abstract

Over the past half-century, grassland bird species have suffered dramatic declines, largely as a result of habitat loss and fragmentation. One of the potential solutions addressing these declines is habitat restoration, for which there have been several successful initiatives in the Eastern United States. Savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) are a fairly common, but declining grassland species. Research on the specific habitat preferences of these sparrows has yielded mixed and often conflicting results. This study was intended to determine what factors influence Savannah sparrow abundance at restored grasslands in Northwest Pennsylvania. Abundance was assessed through point count surveys at nine grassland sites in the region in June and July 2019. This study produced inconclusive results regarding whether the species of grass planted at each site, the year in which these sites were converted to grassland, or vegetation characteristics affected the abundance of Savannah sparrows. There was a statistically significant relationship between the abundance of Savannah sparrows and the proportion of forested and agricultural land surrounding study sites (p = .032 and p = .020, respectively). The pattern of forest avoidance detected in this study is well-documented in grassland bird species, and indicates that management of restored grasslands should be oriented towards establishing continuous or nearly-continuous stretches of habitat. Relatively few sites (n = 9) were sampled in this study, so this research topic could be more robustly addressed in a study with additional resources.

Major

Environmental Science

Honors

Environmental Science / Studies, 2020

First Reader(s)

Pearce, Kelly