Long-term changes in bird community in the unmanaged post-fire eastern Québec boreal forest

Abstract

Little information is available on long-term changes in bird communities following fire in the unmanaged forest. We have evaluated and compared bird species communities along two long-term chronosequences after fire (0 to >200 years post-fire) in the eastern Quebec boreal forest, which is known for its long fire-return intervals. By characterizing forest habitat in stands of different ages (time since fire), we were able to model species richness and bird community characteristics in three habitat types: mature forests, forest-edge, and open-forests. Although bird species richness did not vary greatly, our results show changes in species composition following successional stages and highlight the need to protect the forest at all stages, especially old-growth, which provides a heterogeneous environment suitable for several species. Keeping a mosaic composed of all-age, fire-disturbed forests should facilitate the conservation of bird diversity in the eastern boreal forest.