Woodpecker Use and Fall Rates of Snags Created by Killing Ponderosa Pine Infected211 with Dwarf Mistletoe

摘要

Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.) killed as part of a forest211u001emanagement project to reduce dwarf mistletoe (Arcuthobium sp.) in the Gila 211u001eNational Forest, New Mexico, were evaluated for wildlife value. One hundred and 211u001etwo dwarf mistletoe-infected trees were killed by basal burning, basil girdling 211u001eor by a combination of both burning and girdling. Trees began to fall within 2 211u001eyears. Most killed trees (96 percent) served as forage substrate for woodpeckers. 211u001eTwenty percent of the trees contained woodpecker nest cavities 7 or 9 years after 211u001etreatment. Larger diameter trees of all treatments contained more cavities and 211u001estood longer than smaller diamter trees. The probability of cavity presence was 211u001ebest predicted by regression that included diameter and decay class. Standing 211u001elife of the snag was not a significant predictor of cavity presence. The use of 211u001epredictive models for analyzing the utility of snag-creation treatments is 211u001ediscussed.