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Factors Associated With Occurrence And Density Of Wetland Birds In The Prairie Pothole Region Of Iowa, Steve E. Fairbairn, James J. Dinsmore

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Wetlands within wetland complexes in northwestern, north-central, and central Iowa were surveyed for bird use in 1997 and 1998. Species occurrence, species richness, and density of nesting species were related to wetland habitat variables. A habitat diversity index measuring the evenness of distribution of the different habitats within a wetland was the best predictor of species richness in both years. The habitat diversity index was also the best predictor of the occurrence of individual species in both 1997 and 1998. Eight of 11 species (7 3%) in 1997 and 13 of 18 species (72%) in 1998 had greater densities in …