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The article discusses valuable contributions to our understanding of factors potentially affecting aerial insectivorous bird populations. Most of the papers in this collection were presented as part of the symposium. Topics include the diversity of stressors potentially contributing to aerial insectivore declines at multiple scales and during different parts of the annual cycle.

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Beaver management requires understanding beaver habitat preferences. Despite the American beaver (Castor canadensis Kuhl, 1820) being relatively common in the upper Midwest region of the United States, there are no beaver habitat relationship models based on this area. We used 1735 colonization events from long-term monitoring data generated by the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin, USA, to determine what geomorphological and biological factors were selected by beavers colonizing new sites. We developed and evaluated prediction performance for three colonization models: geomorphology factors only, geomorphology and vegetation factors, and a full colonization model based on geomorphology, vegetation, and availability of dispersing beavers. Overall, the geomorphology–vegetation–colonizer model was the best model, predicting actual colony locations better than the other two models. Spatially, the landscape open to beaver colonization was a mosaic of streams with suitable and unsuitable habitat. These models improve our understanding of how beaver site selection factors in the upper Midwest region differ from factors identified in the literature for the western and eastern United States. This information may be useful for land managers in this region seeking to spatially target resources for restoring northern forest landscapes such as the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article discusses research which estimated the home-range size and habitat preferences of adult Canada Jays in the spring and summer period in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario using radio telemetry and resource selection functions. Topics covered include the multiple types of habitat used by adult Canada Jays during the post-breeding period, and their preference for remaining near forested areas to maximize protection from predators and take advantage of emergent prey.

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Understanding habitat use of declining species is essential for their management and successful recovery. We examined habitat selection at multiple spatial scales by Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica (Le Sueur, 1817)), a species at risk, in the St. Lawrence Islands National Park, Ontario, Canada. At the scale of the home range, Map Turtles generally avoided deep water (>2 m) and selected home ranges in waters <1 m deep. Importantly, turtles used home ranges with significantly more natural than developed shoreline. At the scale of the location, adult females used deep water more often and males preferred areas with surface cover. Management efforts should implement regulations concerning further shoreline development. La gestion et la récupération réussie des espèces en déclin nécessitent une compréhension de leur utilisation de l'habitat. Nous examinons la sélection de l'habitat à plusieurs échelles spatiales chez la tortue géographique (Graptemys geographica (Le Sueur, 1817)), une espèce vulnérable, dans le parc national des Îles-du-Saint-Laurent, Ontario, Canada. À l'échelle du domaine vital, les tortues géographiques évitent généralement les eaux profondes (>2 m) et choisissent des domaines vitaux dans des eaux de <1 m de profondeur. Ce qui est plus important, les tortues utilisent des domaines vitaux qui possèdent significativement plus de ligne de rivage naturelle que modifiée. À l'échelle du site, les femelles adultes utilisent les eaux profondes plus fréquemment et les mâles préfèrent les zones qui possèdent un couvert en surface. Les efforts de gestion devraient inclure la mise en vigueur de règlements concernant les modifications futures des rivages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonideal habitat selection occurs when preferred habitat attributes differ from those associated with increased fitness. These mismatches have been widely studied in open cup-nesting birds, but the relationship between habitat-associated preferences and fitness in cavity-nesting birds has received relatively little attention. We studied patterns of preference and fitness during 2006-2007 in an Idaho, USA, population of Red-naped Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus nuchalis S.F. Baird, 1858). Using a suite of nonparametric tests, we examined the associations between habitat attributes and both nesting-area preferences and nest productivity (number of fledglings per pair) across four spatial scales. Nest productivity was associated with tree- and cavity-scale attributes, whereas preference was associated with attributes of home ranges. Live trees and southeasterly oriented cavities had higher nest productivity but were not preferred. Microclimates in nests with these attributes may enhance nestling survival, whereas nonpreference for these attributes may be due to energetic constraints in some individuals. Additional studies comparing patterns of nonideal habitat selection between open-cup nesters and cavity nesters should advance our understanding of how life-history characteristics influence selection patterns. La sélection non idéale de l’habitat se produit lorsque les caractéristiques de l’habitat diffèrent des caractéristiques associées à un accroissement de la fitness. Ces désassortiments ont été bien étudiés chez les oiseaux qui nichent dans des cuvettes ouvertes, mais les relations entre les préférences associées à l’habitat et la fitness chez les oiseaux qui nichent dans des cavités ont été peu examinées. Nous avons étudié en 2006-2007 les patrons de préférence et la fitness dans une population de pics à nuque rouge (Sphyrapicus nuchalis S.F. Baird, 1858) d’Idaho, É.-U. À l’aide d’une série de tests non paramétriques, nous examinons les associations entre les caractéristiques de l’habitat et à la fois les préférences de site de nidification et la productivité des nids (nombre de petits à l’envol par couple) sur quatre échelles spatiales. La productivité des nids est associée aux caractéristiques à l’échelle de l’arbre et de la cavité, alors que la préférence est associée aux caractéristiques de l’aire vitale. Les arbres vivants et les cavités orientées vers le sud-est entraînent une productivité des nids supérieure, mais ils ne sont pas préférés. Les microclimats dans les nids qui possèdent ces caractéristiques améliorent peut-être la survie des petits au nid, alors que l’absence de préférence pour ces caractéristiques peut être due à des contraintes énergétiques chez certains individus. Des études supplémentaires qui compareraient les patrons de sélection non idéale des habitats chez les nidificateurs en cuvette et en cavité devraient améliorer notre compréhension de l’influence des caractéristiques du cycle biologique sur les patrons de sélection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Woodland fragmentation through land consolidation practices (the merging of small fields by the removal of separating structures like hedgerows) is recognised as a major threat to biodiversity in Europe. While its impact on the occurrence of species has frequently been the object of focus, its impact on the movements of individuals has rarely been studied. We used paths of radio-tracked European pine martens (Martes martes (L., 1758)), a forest-dwelling species, with fixes taken at 3 min intervals to determine their habitat use in fragmented landscape. Our results differ from those generally reported in the literature. Monitored individuals were not confined to large forests, and made additional use of small wood plots and hedgerows. Indeed, individuals moved faster in forests than in all other habitat types, which suggests that martens preferentially foraged in small woods, edges, and hedgerows. Roads and buildings were not avoided; fields, however, were avoided, although they did not act as barriers. Martens stayed close to forest cover when venturing into open ground, which suggests that although not restricted to forests, pine martens exhibit a certain dependence on the presence of trees in the vicinity. La fragmentation du milieu forestier par le remembrement des terres agricoles (le fusionnement des petits champs par le retrait des barrières telles que les haies) est considérée comme une menace majeure pour la biodiversité en Europe. L’impact de cette fragmentation sur la présence des espèces a souvent été évalué, mais son effet sur les déplacements des individus a rarement été étudié. Notre étude avait pour but d’examiner l’utilisation des différents types d’habitats en paysage fragmenté par une espèce forestière, la martre d’Europe (Martes martes (L., 1758)). Pour ce faire, nous avons relevé les parcours d’individus équipés de colliers émetteurs sur la base de localisations effectuées toutes les 3 minutes. Nos résultats diffèrent de ceux généralement rapportés dans la littérature. Les martres suivies n’étaient pas confinées aux grands massifs forestiers, mais fréquentaient également les bosquets et les haies. Les martres se déplaçaient même plus rapidement dans les grands massifs que dans n’importe quel autre habitat, suggérant qu’elles chassaient préférentiellement dans les bosquets, les lisières et les haies. Les routes et les bâtiments n’étaient pas évités. Seul le milieu ouvert l’était, sans pour autant constituer une barrière. Les martres restaient à proximité du couvert forestier lorsqu’elles s’aventuraient en milieu ouvert. Soulignant ainsi leur attachement à la proximité du couvert forestier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the pattern of habitat-patch occupancy of radio-tagged common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula (L., 1758)) females in two sequential stages of the breeding season, the nest stage and the brood stage, and whether the resources needed in nesting and brood-rearing are spatially inter-related as revealed by patch occupation rate of goldeneye females in these stages. We also studied patch-specific factors potentially explaining the rate of patch occupation separately during the nest stage and the brood stage. There was no association in patch occupation rate between the nest stage and the brood stage, indicating that all the critical resources needed to complete a successful breeding cycle were not met within the same habitat patch. At the nest stage, patch occupation rate increased with nest-site availability and decreased with nest predation rate but was not affected by vegetation luxuriance or patch size. Vegetation luxuriance had a positive effect on patch occupation rate at the brood stage, whereas nesting success of the focal patch had no effect. Results suggest that nest-site selection and brood-stage habitat selection are governed by different ecological factors. We conclude that breeding-stage-specific resource requirements redistributed individuals among habitat patches across the landscape, implying dynamic distribution of ducks between nesting and brooding stage. Nous avons étudié les patrons d’occupation des parcelles d’habitat par des femelles du garrot à œil d’or (Bucephala clangula (L., 1758)) durant deux périodes successives de la saison de reproduction, soit la nidification et l’élevage de la couvée; nous voulions voir si les ressources nécessaires pour la nidification et l’élevage sont reliées spatialement, d’après les taux d’occupation des parcelles par les garrots femelles durant ces périodes. Nous avons aussi étudié les facteurs spécifiques aux parcelles qui pourraient expliquer le taux d’occupation des parcelles différemment durant les stades de nidification et d’élevage. Il n’y a pas d’association dans les taux d’occupation des parcelles entre les stades de nidification et d’élevage, ce qui indique que les ressources essentielles requises pour compléter avec succès un cycle de reproduction ne se retrouvent pas toutes dans une même parcelle de l’habitat. Durant la nidification, le taux d’occupation des parcelles est fonction directe de la disponibilité des sites de nidification et fonction inverse du taux de prédation au nid, mais il n’est pas affecté par la luxuriance de la végétation, ni la taille des parcelles. La luxuriance de la végétation a un effet positif sur le taux d’occupation des parcelles au stade de l’élevage, alors que le succès de la nidification dans la parcelle considérée n’a aucun effet. Nos résultats laissent croire que la sélection du site de nidification et que la sélection de l’habitat durant l’élevage sont régies par des facteurs écologiques différents. Nous concluons que les besoins en ressources spécifiques à la période de reproduction répartissent les individus parmi les parcelles d’habitat dans l’ensemble du paysage, ce qui indique qu’il y a une répartition dynamique des canards entre les stades de nidification et d’élevage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Zoology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We studied the western screech-owl (Otus kennicottii) in the desert of the southern Baja California peninsula to determine its status and habitat selection and whether it benefits from moderate human-caused habitat changes. Based on the response to tape-recorded call broadcasts, western screech-owls were more abundant in undisturbed vegetation than in human-altered habitat. In man-made environments, more owls responded in rural than in urban areas; indeed, they were practically absent in urban areas. In natural areas, a total of 1.6 owls/km was estimated in the non-breeding season and 2.7 owls/km in the breeding season. The most important habitat features selected in natural areas were greater shrub cover in the strata containing shrubs 1-2 and 2-3 m high and greater canopy cover of trees >5 m high. In rural areas adjacent to cultivated areas, owls were present in areas with the greatest cover of shrubs 1-3 m high and a higher density of shrubs. The western screech-owl also occurs at lower densities in rural areas than in natural areas. Towns appear to be avoided in the arid desert of Baja California Sun Western screech-owls may be still able to persist in rural areas that occupy an intermediate position on the gradient from a functional natural system (desert vegetation) to a completely altered ecological system, urbanized areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the habitat selection and demography of woodland carbou population in Newfoundland. Effect of interaction among human-induced habitat selection; Impact of black bear predation; Pregnancy and recruitment rates; Potential causes of mortality.

Examines the patterns of home-range size and habitat selection of American marten in southeastern Labrador, a region of extensive and pristine forests. Availability of habitat types with their use; Variation in home-range size at two scales; Association between marten and dense-canopy coniferous forests.