Print PageForest pathogens can dramatically modify the nature of the stands in which they occur. These changes can in turn alter the extent to which animal species can utilize an impacted area. Oak wilt is a fatal disease of live and red oaks caused by the fungus Ceratocystis fagacearum (Bretz) Hunt. Loss or degradation of breeding habitat due to the presence of the disease may pose a threat to the recovery of the federally endangered golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia). To assess how oak wilt affects golden-cheeked warbler patch occupancy and use, I determined presence/absence of golden-cheeked warblers and assessed territory placement in reference to centers of oak wilt mortality at 12 locations. Since golden-cheeked warblers are known to disperse from their territories post-breeding, I conducted additional late season surveys at sites where warblers were located previously.
Results/Conclusions
I detected golden-cheeked warbler territories at 33% of sites surveyed. None of the 15 territories were placed in an oak wilt mortality center. I made 8 detections at 2 of the 4 post-breeding survey locations, 25% of which were made in an area heavily impacted by oak wilt. Total canopy cover was 29% lower in areas with oak wilt than in areas without the disease. Similarly, canopy cover in oaks was 26% lower in affected areas. These results suggest that while golden-cheeked warblers do utilize centers of oak wilt mortality post-breeding, they do not use it prior to fledging young.
