Stand-level management practices increase occupancy by birds in exotic Eucalyptus plantations

Abstract Managing for wildlife in human-dominated matrices outside natural reserves has great importance to improve the efficacy of conservation efforts aiming to protect and restore biodiversity. As such, it is critical to understand which features of the matrix enhance habitat suitability to the remaining species and also to evaluate species responses to alternative management practices. We used hierarchical modeling to estimate the effect of stand level management practices adopted in Eucalyptus plantations on site occupancy by birds while accounting for species detection failure. Our models incorporated site-specific traits, such as management practice type and landscape attributes of each sampling unit. They also incorporate species-specific traits, particularly main foraging stratum. The major factor associated with differences in site occupancy by birds within our study site is the management practice type. Scattered native trees and early successional stage understory within mature stands were associated with an increase in the proportion of bird species from the regional pool that was able to occupy the silvicultural matrix. Landscape attributes had a relatively minor effect on site occupancy in our study area. We concluded that site occupancy by birds is positively associated with increasing spatial complexity within Eucalyptus stands, with species responding to the retention of native scattered trees and understory presence. Forestry managers interested in improving the conservation value for birds of Eucalyptus plantations in tropical areas should maintain existing native trees and adopt practices that trigger understory regeneration during site preparation and stand rotation.