Very High Densities of Middle Spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos Médius in Mature timber Forest in the Allier (central France): A result of Anthropic Modifications of Woodlands

27 Mar Very High Densities of Middle Spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos Médius in Mature timber Forest in the Allier (central France): A result of Anthropic Modifications of Woodlands

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Abstract

English Abstract

Lowland oak (Quercus robur and Q. petraea) forests
in the Allier département (Central France) managed
by the French forestry commission (ONF) for timber
production, have held for the past 25, in the more
mature parts (150 to 200 years old) very high densities
of Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus
medius): over 1.5 territory per 10 ha on average,
with plots holding two to three territories per 10 ha.
Middle Spotted Woodpecker tends to dominate
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major) in
oak forest managed for the production of quality timber
for a long time. At the mature timber forest stage,
trees with large trunks dominate: oaks with a trunk
diameter of 45 cm represent over 80% of all trees.
These mature plots guaranty the presence of highdensity
Middle Spotted Woodpecker population
nucleus, and this despite all standing dead wood
being removed. As for the study species other cavitynesting
birds are found in densities much than those
recorded in primary forest in Poland. Starlings are
especially numerous with the breeding population
supplemented by a large number on non-breeding
birds, this does not affect Middle Spotted
Woodpeckers nor Nuthatches (S/ffa europaea)
which can be found at densities higher than 7 territories
per 10 ha. We still need to asses the actual
breeding population and monitor breeding success
in this modified forest.