Effects of hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) and an insecticide treatment on food availability for three migratory bird species in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA
Falcone J. 2016. Effects of hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) and an insecticide treatment on food availability for three migratory bird species in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA
"The researcher was looking at the effects of treatments for the control of Hemlock Wooly Adelgids on invertebrate fauna and on the foraging behavior of three species of songbird: Black-throated Green Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, and Black-throated Blue Warbler. Treated Hemlock Conservation Areas were sampled along with untreated trees in close proximity and bird territories and behaviors were mapped. Bird densities did not vary with treatment status, but territories were more densly arranged where hemlock foliage was thickest. There were no differences in HWA ovisac infestation measures between treated and untreated stands, indicating that treated hemlock trees were not sampled at peak efficacy of imidacloprid treatments. There were no differences in between treatments for total arthropods or for arthropods of a size birds would feed upon. However, herbivorous Hemiptera and larval Lepidoptera (moths), were significantly reduced in treated hemlocks, despite the apparent low efficacy of imidacloprid treatments. Although larval Lepidoptera are primary prey for focal birds, lack of differences in bird densities suggests the birds are finding other food resources in these mixed hemlock-deciduous stands. Results of this study indicate that controlling HWA-induced defoliation through use of imidacloprid may in the short term benefit hemlock-associated birds. However, while imidacloprid treatments did not appear to affect most non-target arthropods, guilds of non-target herbivorous insects should be monitored for long-term declines."
- Type
- Generic Dataset
- Authors
- Falcone, Josephine
- Date of Issue
- 2016-10-11
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- Adelges tsugae, APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, conservation areas, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GRSM, hemlock woolly adelgid, HWA, insecticide, lepidoptera, moths, Origin:External, SER, Southeast Region, StudyID:GRSM-00453
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Infestations and Disease | Plant Diseases , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Forest/Woodland Communities