text: Marbled Murrelet Use of Landscapes in Southern Oregon and California | Research Project Database | Grantee Research Project | ORD | US EPA
  Marbled Murrelet Use of Landscapes in Southern Oregon and California
  EPA Grant Number: U914997
  Title: Marbled Murrelet Use of Landscapes in Southern Oregon and California
  Investigators: Meyer, Carolyn B.
  The objective of this research project was to develop a predictive landscape-level habitat model of marbled murrelet occupancy and abundance within potential nesting habitat in a region extending from southwestern Oregon to central California. Specifically, I determined the important spatial sea and landscape variables that affect nesting use in old-growth forests and offshore bird densities.
  I centered overmore than 1,000 circular plots of varying radii (0.4, 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 km) on murrelet survey stations, and quantified landscape fragmentation indices on the vegetation polygons within the circles. Climatic and topographic variables were determined for each station. Distance to important marine features, roads, and streams were calculated from the center of the plots. Mean tree size (dbh) of the central stand also was also recorded. I regressed these variables against probability of occupancy and number of murrelet detections in occupied sites.
  fellowship, landscape-level habitat model, marbled murrelet, Oregon, California, occupancy, nesting use.