Population Connectivity of Black-backed woodpeckers
Conservation of ecological connectivity is central to maintaining the viability of naturally fragmented populations. Because wildfire is the dominant disturbance in western North America, many species are adapted to post-fire ecosystems. Unfortunately, there is no information on how to maintain ecological connectivity among these temporarily available habitat patches.
The Black-backed woodpecker (Picoides arcticus; BBWO) is a naturally rare, wide-ranging species, which prefers early post-fire habitat. Existing information indicates the importance of fire to BBWO across their range. Many studies have documented BBWO nesting in post-burn habitats created by stand-replacement and mixed severity wildfires. In fact, the long-term persistence of BBWO populations may depend on the frequency of recently burned patches within their dispersal range. Unfortunately, we do not know the dispersal range of BBWO. The life history information we have indicates they use fire-disturbed areas for three to five years post-fire, with peak densities three to four years following a fire.
Federal and State agencies have directives to monitor BBWO populations and ensure there are reservoir populations to colonize newly burned habitats. However, agencies are currently unable to complete these tasks because 1) traditional definitions of populations do not apply to BBWO due to their life history, 2) there is no data on BBWO dispersal ability which determines their ability to colonize newly burned habitats.
Species Comparisons
We can often learn a great deal by contrasting closely related species with different life history patterns. Hairy woodpeckers (P. villosus; HAWO) are broadly sympatric in the northern part of BBWO’s range, however they occur closely together only in burned areas. BBWO are dependent on forest disturbances, particularly fire, for habitat, whereas HAWO are commonly found in burned areas and unburned areas that include a range of management activities. Both woodpeckers share a wide overlap in many habitat selection characteristics for nest-sites, nest trees and foraging behavior and resources. HAWO commonly occur in a wide range of habitats including all forest types and is a resident species that tends to range short distances (< 40 km ).
Therefore, comparing BBWO and HAWO genetic population structure will provide insight into the genetic population structure of a disturbance dependent species that is highly vagile species compared to a closely related species. Currently, there are no data on genetic structure HAWO, so this research will also add greatly to our knowledge of this common species.
Study Objectives
The objectives of this study are to:- Determine the genetic population structure of black-backed woodpeckers
This information will provide the first data on how to manage habitat connectivity for a fire-dependent species. Population structure can be used to decide the appropriate scale for surveying, monitoring and managing Black-backed woodpecker populations. - Determine the dispersal abilities of black-backed woodpeckers
Dispersal distance can be applied to fire-management polices such as salvage-logging, prescribed fire and wildland fire by planning these activities in areas most in need of habitat patches, thereby ensuring Black-backed woodpecker population connectivity. - Determine the genetic population structure of hairy woodpeckers
This information will facilitate the interpretation of black-backed woodpecker’s genetic structure and allow us test hypothesis concerning disturbance-dependent vs. generalist species
We obtain genetic samples by locating woodpecker nests to facilitate capture of both male and female adult birds. Woodpeckers are captured at their nest site using modified butterfly nets or target nets and spatial coordinates are recorded with a GPS unit.
Genetics
Genetic tools have become an important asset to answering ecological questions that have been difficult to address using traditional methods (telemetry, mark-recapture). Genetic techniques have been successfully used to determine the population structure of numerous avian species, including a European woodpecker species with similar or smaller sample sizes. Both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA will be used for genetic analysis. All of our genetic analysis is done in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Research Station’s Wildlife Genetics Laboratory. Please click on the following link to learn more about RMRS WGL.
Please visit the Collaborating Projects page to learn more about other ongoing black-backed woodpecker research.