SUMMARY
Trophic structure of breeding bird communities in isolated forests (1.8-600 ha) in east-central Illinois was studied 1979-1981. Breeding species were assigned to one of seven trophic groups; two groups (nectarivore-frugivore, granivore) were represented by few species or individuals. Abundance and species richness within the remaining five groups varied with forest area and appeared tied to the size and structure of the forest itself and to the composition of the surrounding landscape. Small forests were dominated by omnivores that frequently foraged in surrounding farmland. Foliage insectivores, primarily Neotropical migrants, were uncommon in smaller forests, but comprised the largest component of bird communities in large forests. Species totals in major trophic groups were significantly correlated with area in all years. Highest correlations were observed for foliage insectivores and bark insectivores. The former group had the highest slope, indicating the most rapid increase in species number with area, a reflection of the increase in number of long-distance migrants in larger forests. Correlation with area generally was not as high for abundance of individuals within trophic groups. However, abundances of both foliage and bark insectivores were strongly correlated with area. Over the size range of forests covered, distribution of species within major trophic groups differed from that expected if species occurrences were independent of forest area. Omnivores were more common that expected in small forests, whereas ground insectivores and bark insectivores were more common than expected in large forests. Foliage insectivores were underrepresented over the entire range of forest size. Thus, trophic groups were not represented in all forests simply according to their contribution to the total species pool, suggesting that abundance of different food resources varied in dissimilar ways with forest area.
Consideration of the trophic structure of avian communities (e.g., Will-
son 1974, Terborgh 1977, Faaborg 1982) provides information on com-
munity structure and organization that simple analyses of species richness,
diversity, and density do not. Trophic structure reflects, at least in part,
the importance of various food resources and variation in trophic structure
may therefore reflect variation in availability of food resources among com-
munities.
Trophic structure of avian communities has been studied by many re-
searchers (e.g., Pearson 1975, Karr 1980, Landres and MacMahou 1980,
Wagner 1981, Blake 1982), but only Martin (1980, 1981) has applied the
concept to bird communities found in isolated patches of forest ("forest
islands"). Instead, the relationship between area and species richness has
been the focus of most forest island studies (e.g., Moore and Hooper 1975;
Galli et al. 1976; Whitcomb et al. 1977, 1981). Forest islands differ in size
and vegetation composition, factors that are likely to influence variety and
quantity of food resources (Ghiselin 1977; Muhlenburg et al. 1977a, b;
Jaenike 1978; Ranney et al. 1981). As a consequence, species richness
and abundance of individuals within different trophic assemblages may
differ in their relationship to forest size and structure (Martin 1980, 1981).
Analysis of trophic structure and, in particular, how different groups vary
in response to area, may provide a more complete understanding of the
factors that govern overall community structure.
In the following discussion I examine the distribution of species and
individuals among different trophic groups found in isolated patches of
forest in east-central Illinois. Total species richness and abundance of
individuals was strongly correlated with forest area, but the relationship
differed among the various trophic groups. Ecological generalists were
more abundant in small forests; many used habitat outside forest bound-
aries for foraging. More specialized species, including many foliage and
bark gleaning insectivores, were poorly represented in small forests but
were more abundant in large forests.
METHODS
! studied breeding bird communities in 15 forest tracts ranging in size from 1.8-600 ha in
east-central Illinois. Thirteen tracts were censused in 1979, 14 in 1980, and six in 1981. All
tracts possessed a mature canopy and well-developed understory, and did not show evidence
of recent, heavy disturbance. With the exception of a minor amount of edge clearing that
416
Blake ß COMMUNITY TROPHIC STRUCTURE 417
occurred on several sites during winter 1979-80, forests were not disturbed during this study.
Large tracts of forest (i.e., over 100 ha) are rare in east-central Illinois and are associated
with rivers in almost all cases. As a consequence, both upland and bottomland forest oc-
curred on some study areas.
Birds were surveyed using the point-count technique (Ferry and Frochot 1970, Robbins
1978). Within each forest, one or more study sites were established (hereafter, study area
refers to an entire forest tract and study site to a specific census area within the forest).
Forest tracts smaller than 20 ha contained a single study site; tracts larger than 20 ha were
subdivided into two or more sites. Study sites were located in both edge and interior sections
of large forests. Areas containing both bottomland and upland habitat had study sites in
each. Within each study site, two or more observation points, ca. 150 m apart, were selected
so that the entire study site was covered as thoroughly as possible.
Censuses were conducted from 30 rain before sunrise to 2.5 h after sunrise, with two study
sites surveyed each morning. Each observation point was visited for 15 rain per census. Each
15-rain period was divided into three 5-rain segments, during each of which all birds seen
or heard were recorded. Birds flying above the canopy, raptors, and nocturnal species were
not included. Singing males, family groups, and nests of all other species were counted as
one pair; all other observations of single birds were counted as one-half pair. Scientific names
of all species recorded are in the Appendix.
The point-count technique does not provide estimates of absolute density (pairs/ha) but it
does provide data for comparison of relative levels of bird activity or abundance. Abundance
for a study area or site was expressed as the sum of maximum recorded abundance of
individual species at all points, divided by the number of points within the study area or
site. The value for abundance thus gives average maximum number of individuals observed
per point and allows comparison of observable levels of bird activity. Abundances of indi-
vidual species were used to determine abundance within trophic groups.
Species were divided into trophic groups, including omnivore, granivore, ground, bark,
foliage, and aerial insectivore, and nectarivore-frugivore. Classifications were based on pri-
mary food type and foraging location using personal observations and data from the literature
(Martin et al. 1951, Willson 1974).
Area relationships were examined by linear regression using an exponential model: S =
k In A + c, where S is number of species or individuals within a trophic group, A is forest
area (in ha), and k and c are fitted constants. I use the exponential model rather than the
power function (In S = z In A + In c) because the former model explained a greater pro-
portion of variance in community composition (Blake 1983). Species richness and abundances
were tested for normality (Shapiro-Wilks test, Barr et al. 1979) and with one exception, no
data sets showed a significant departure from normality. Distribution of aerial insectivore
richness values was not normal (P < 0.05) and tests of significance were not applied.
As species richness increases, the number of species within trophic groups is expected to
increase simply as a function of species richness. Therefore, I compared the observed dis-
tribution of species within trophic groups to the distribution expected by chance. I generated
a series of randomly assembled sets of species, using the total pool of species recorded from
forest islands. For each species richness value (5, 10, 15, . . . , 40), 10 sets of species were
drawn with no species included more than once in a single draw. Distribution of species
among trophic groups within these randomly assembled communities was then compared to
observed distributions (binomial probability test, Sokal and Rohlf 1981).
RESULTS
Species richness within trophic groups.--Only nectarivore-frugivore (two
species) and granivore (two species) groups contained fewer than three
418 THE WILSON BULLETIN ß Vol. 95, No. 3, September 1983
TABLE 1
NUMBER OF SPECIES (SP) AND ABUNDANCE OF INDIVIDUALS (IND, IN PAIRS/OBS. POINT)
IN THE FIVE MAJOR TROPH1C GROUPS IN EAST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS FORESTS, AVERAGED
OVER 3 YEARS--1979--1981
Bark Ground Foliage Aerial
Omnivotes insects insects insects insects
Size
Area (ha) SP IND SP IND SP IND SP IND SP IND
1 1.8 5.3 9.6 1.3 0.8 1.0 0.9 0.3 0.3 1.7 1.7
2 2.3 4.5 6.2 2.0 1.1 2.5 2.4 3.0 3.4 2.0 3.0
3 a 4.7 7.0 12.2 6.0 6.0 4.0 4.2 3.0 3.0 2.0 3.0
4 5.1 6.5 8.2 2.0 1.1 3.5 3.4 2.5 3.6 2.0 2.6
5 6.5 6.5 9.5 3.0 2.5 3.0 3.9 3.5 4.4 2.0 3.0
6 a 9.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 3.0 3.0 2.0 2.0
7 16.2 6.0 6.9 3.5 1.8 3.0 3.1 3.0 4.6 2.0 2.2
8 24 7.3 9.4 4.3 2.5 4.3 5.0 6.0 5.5 2.7 2.5
9 24 7.0 8.0 4.3 2.6 4.0 6.8 6.0 4.3 2.3 2.4
10 28 8.3 8.4 7.3 6.1 4.7 3.7 7.0 5.5 2.0 3.2
11 a'b 40 8.0 12.8 6.0 7.4 4.0 2.4 10.0 9.4 3.0 3.9
12 65 8.0 7.8 7.0 5.8 5.0 3.6 7.5 4.4 3.0 2.6
13 65 7.7 5.8 7.0 5.8 5.0 4.5 8.3 5.0 2.7 3.1
14 118 7.5 6.2 6.5 4.6 5.5 5.6 8.5 6.2 3.0 3.2
15 600 8.7 8.3 8.0 6.4 6.0 4.2 12.0 7.9 3.7 3.8
Censused only in 1 year; not included in regression analyses ('Fable 2).
Bottomland forest habitat ody.
species. Neither group was represented by many individuals in any year
and I have focused attention on the number of species and individuals
within the remaining five groups (Table 1).
All five major trophic groups were represented by at least one species
on all study areas in 1979 but not in 1980 or 1981, when foliage insectivores
were absent from the smallest tract. Dominant groups (i.e., those repre-
sented by the most species or individuals) varied among areas. Omnivores
were dominant on all areas less than 28 ha in 1979. However, because the
number of omnivores did not vary greatly among areas (5-8 species, Table
1), percentage representation of this group decreased with area (Fig. 1).
By contrast, both foliage and bark insectivores increased in species rich-
ness with area, with the increase especially great for foliage insectivores
(Fig. 1). Thus, as forest size increased, community composition changed
from omniyore dominated to foliage insectivore dominated in 1979.
More omnivores were recorded in 1980 than in 1979, but numbers of
species in all other groups remained unchanged (Table 1). As a conse-
quence, there was not a clear change in 1980 from omniyore dominated
to foliage insectivore dominated communities as area increased (Fig. 1).
Blake ß COMMUNITY TROPHIC STRUCTURE 419
0 co40-
mo20
Ld
n
1979 1980
0 40
n' 20_
SIZE CLASS
O :(c)
Bl=o
FI=+
AI:o
3 4
SIZE CLASS
FIG. l. Composition of breeding bird communities based on abundance of individuals
and number of species within five major trophic groups. Size classes of forests are: 1 = 1.8-
16.2 ha; 2 = 24=10 ha; 3 = 65-118 ha; and 4 = 600 ha. O = omnivores; BI, GI, FI, and
AI = bark, ground, fohage, and aerial insectivores, respectively.
However, percentage representation by omnivores was still highest at the
smallest area and lowest at the largest forest (Fig. 1).
Patterns in 1981 were most similar to 1979. (Only six areas were cert-
sused and results are not shown graphically.) Fewer foliage insectivores
were recorded, but larger areas were still dominated by this group.
Species richness within the five major trophic-groups was significantly
correlated with area in all years (Table 2). Foliage insectivores are pre-
dominantly long-distance migrants, many of which prefer large forest tracts
for breeding (Whitcomb et al. 1981) and species richness within this group
increased strongly with area. The rate of increase (slope) in bark insecti-
vore richness with area also was high (Table 2). The importance of area
for these two groups was further demonstrated by intercept values that
did not differ from zero (Table 2), indicating that very small patches of
forest were unsuitable for members of these groups. By contrast, ground
insectivores, which also were strongly correlated with area, had a higher
intercept, indicating that a number of species were not restricted by area
420 THE WILSON BULLETIN ß Vol. 95, No. 3, September 1983
TABLE 2
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AREA (LN) AND NUMBER OF SPECIES AND INDIVIDUALS (PAIRS/
POINT) IN MAJOR TROPHIC GROUPS; RESULTS AVERAGED OVER 3 YEARS, 1979-1981; ONLY
AREAS GENSUSED IN 20a 3 YEARS ARE INCLUDED (N = 12)
Trophic group Slope Intercept R P<
Species richness
Omnivores 0.65 5.0 0.875 0.001
Bark insectivores 1.29 0.7 0.917 0.001
Ground insectivores 0.79 1.5 0.933 0.001
Foliage insectivores 1.87 -0.1 0.962 0.001
Aerial insectivores a 0.32 1.4 0.913 --
Abundance of individuals
Omnivores -0.20 8.5 -0.250 NS
Bark insectivores 1.10 0.1 0.856 0.001
Ground insectivores b 0.52 2.3 0.582 0.05
Foliage insectivores 0.94 1.7 0.868 0.001
Aerial insectivores 0.21 2.1 0.647 0.05
Distribution of values not normal, significance vMue olnitted.
Ground insectivore abundance was not correlated with area in any one year.
of forest habitat. Flycatching or aerial insectivores were few in number
and showed little increase in species richness with area (Table 2). Omni-
vores displayed the weakest correlation with area and had the highest
intercept in all years. The high intercept reflects dominance of omnivores
in small forests and also indicates that many species were not restricted
to large tracts of forest.
Increased species richness within larger forests is at least partially due
to spatial segregation of species; not all species occur within the same
section (study site) of a forest that occur within the entire forest (study
area). Data from study sites partially reflect spatial segregation of species
and can be used to compare species richness within subsections of a series
of forests as total forest area increases. In this study, patterns observed
among study areas generally held among study sites, although correlations
and slopes generally were lower. The relationship between aerial insecti-
vores and area differed least between study areas and sites. Bark and
foliage insectivores remained strongly correlated with area, but with re-
duced rates of increase. Species richness in omnivore and ground insec-
tivore groups was not correlated with area among study sites.
As species richness in forests increases, species richness within major
trophic groups also should increase. I compared observed species richness
in trophic groups to that expected from randomly assembled species groups.
Blake ß COMMUNITY TROPHIC STRUCTURE 421
8
o
8 16 24 32 40
SPECIES RICHNESS
FIG. 2. Species richness of major trophic groups plotted as a function of total species
richness. Dashed lines represent the relationship between total species richness and species
richness in tnajor trophic groups within randomly generated cotntnunities. 1979closed cir-
cles; 1980---x's; and 1981--open circles. O - omnivorcs; BI, GI, and FI = bark, ground,
and foliage insectivores, respectively.
(Aerial insectivores were not considered in this fashion because of low
species richness.) Previous studies from New Jersey (Galli et al. 1976) and
Illinois (Blake 1983) have indicated that the rate of increase in species
richness with area begins to level off at approximately 20-24 ha. In Illinois
forests, areas smaller than 20 ha ranged from 2-16 ha and, with one ex-
ception (area 3, 4.7 ha), supported fewer than 20 species. Forests >20 ha
ranged from 24-600 ha and all supported more than 20 species. (Area 3
was connected by a hedgerow to a larger forest and had a higher than
422 THE WILSON BULLETIN ß Vol. 95, No. 3, September 1983
expected species total [Blake 1983].) I divided forests into those with fewer
than 20 species and those with more than 20 species. I then compared
distribution of points above and below the regression line for random as-
semblages for all forests and, separately, for forests with less than and
more than 20 species, "small" and "large" forests, respectively.
Omnivores were, overall, more common than expected over the entire
range of areas (P < 0.02) (Fig. 2). However, when small and large forests
were examined separately, omniyore richness was higher than expected
in small tracts (P < 0.003) but not in large tracts (P = 0.14). Apparently,
many omnivores are attracted to small forests, perhaps as a consequence
of the greater proportion of available edge habitat and the accessibility of
surrounding habitat for additional foraging.
More bark insectivore species were present than expected (P < 0.04)
over the entire range of islands and in large forests (P < 0.003), but not
in small forests (P = 0.12). Ground insectivores were more common than
expected over all size classes (P < 0.001), in large forests (P < 0.03), and
non-significantly (P < 0.10) in small forests (Fig. 2). Foliage insectivores
displayed the greatest deviation from expected. In no case was observed
species richness greater than expected based on random assemblages
(P < 0.001) (Fig. 2).
Distribution of species richness patterns in trophic groups is not inde-
pendent because the total species pool was divided into relatively few
groups. Thus, if one group appears under-represented at one area, some
other group(s) must be over-represented. However, the consistency of the
patterns argues for their validity. Trophic groups are not represented in
all islands simply according to their contribution to the total species pool.
Abundance of individuals within trophic groups.--Based on abundance
of individuals, larger areas were not dominated by foliage insectivores to
the same extent that they were when species richness was considered
(Table 1, Fig. 1). Omnivores showed a slight tendency to decrease in total
numbers with increasing area, but the decline was not great. Omnivores
not only remained numerically dominant on smaller areas (Table 1), but
also were usually the most abundant group on all areas. Percentage rep-
resentation declined as area increased (Fig. 1), due to increases in other
trophic groups.
Correlations between area and abundance within trophic groups gen-
erally were not as high as correlations between area and species richness
(Table 2). Bark and foliage insectivores were most strongly correlated with
area; intercepts were low and not different from zero. The rate of increase
(slope) in abundance was approximately the same for both groups. As area
increased, bark insectivores added individuals at approximately the same
rate as species, but this was not true for foliage insectivores. As a result,
Blake ß COMMUNITY TROPHIC STRUCTURE 423
average abundance per species within the latter group decreased (P <
0.05) with increasing area. Of the remaining groups, only aerial insecti-
vores were significantly associated with area in a single year and only in
1979. As a consequence, increased abundance in forests was primarily
due to increased numbers of bark and foliage insectivores with some in-
crease in aerial insectivore abundance. With all years combined, ground
insectivore abundance was significantly correlated (P < 0.05) with area
(Table 2), but correlation with area was not significant in any single year.
Patterns generally were similar among study sites. Aerial insectivore
abundance was significantly correlated with area in 1979 and 1980. Unlike
species richness, rates of increase in abundance within trophic groups
were not generally less among study sites when compared to study areas.
DISCUSSION
Bird commuities within small patches of forest are not random subsets
of all species that commonly breed in forests (Galli et al. 1976, Whitcomb
et al. 1981); many species are restricted to forests that exceed some min-
imum area requirement. The influence of area on patterns of species dis-
tribution also is apparent when bird communities are examined from a
trophic standpoint.
Small patches of forest consist largely of edge habitat (Forman and
Godron 1981) and are dominated by birds that feed on a wide variety of
food items both within the forest and in surrounding fields (Galli et al.
1976, Martin 1981, Whitcomb et al. 1981), illustrating a major difference
between habitat islands and oceanic islands. Many omnivores and ground
insectivores are short-distance migrants that winter north of the tropics.
Many do not require large tracts of forest for breeding and many species
present in small forest tracts are more typically found in thickets and
second growth. Such species may occur in small forests because of their
ability to forage outside actual forest boundaries. As a consequence, hab-
itat surrounding forest islands may have a strong impact on the distribution
and abundance of species and guilds within the island.
Forest edges may support a greater diversity and abundance of food
than does forest interior habitat because of their high levels of productivity
(Ranney et al. 1981). Species that prefer edge habitat do better in such
areas than species more restricted in foraging behavior. In addition, species
that are unable to supplement their diet by foraging in surrounding habitat
may be influenced to a greater extent by competition or resource limita-
tion. This may be particularly true if the more adaptable species are nu-
merous enough to cause local resource depletion.
Species that glean insects from foliage generally were restricted in dis-
tribution among forests. Over the entire range of areas censused, foliage
424 THE WILSON BULLETIN ß Vol. 95, No. 3, September 1983
insectivores were less common than expected, suggesting that some fac-
tor(s) limited occurrence of some species. Many foliage insectivores were
long-distance migrants that winter in Central and South America. Neo-
tropical migrants, as a group, have been most severely affected by forest
reduction and fragmentation (Lynch and Whitcomb 1978, Keast and Mor-
ton 1980, Whitcomb et al. 1981). The apparently greater susceptibility of
Neotropical migrants to population reduction following forest loss may be
a consequence of several life history traits typically associated with long-
distance migration (Whitcomb et al. 1981). For example, Neotropical mi-
grants frequently construct open nests in low vegetation or on the ground
and such nest-sites may be particularly susceptible to predation (Best
1978, Gates and Gysel 1978, Willis and Eisenmann 1979, Loiselle and
Hoppes 1983) or parasitism by the Brown-headed Cowbird (Mayfield 1977,
Payne 1977, Gates and Gysel 1978).
Low species richness in small forests may be a consequence, at least
partially, of higher predation or parasitism rates (Lynch and Whitcomb
1978, Robbins 1979, Whitcomb et al. 1981) than those characteristic of
large forests. If species characteristic of different trophic groups differed
in overall susceptibility to predation, then observed differences in distri-
bution patterns among trophic groups might be related to differences in
predation and parasitism. Many foliage insectivores are Neotropical mi-
grants that build open cup nests and the apparent paucity of foliage in-
sectivores in small forests may therefore reflect high predation pressures.
However, most omnivores, including both long-distance and short-distance
migrants, also nest close to the ground in open cut nests and are not scarce
in small forest tracts. Further, all bark insectivores nest in tree cavities
(or beneath bark, Brown Creeper) well above the ground. However, bark
insectivores were not abundant in small forests. (The scarcity of cavity
nesters may be due to a shortage of available nest-sites [e.g., von Haart-
man 1956], but insufficient data are available to examine the possibility.)
Increased nest predation and parasitism may influence bird communities
in small forests, but it is not immediately apparent that trophic groups
should be differentially affected.
Abundance and diversity of food resources also may influence distri-
bution of species and individuals. There is some evidence that diversity
and abundance of insects may be related to area (Muhlenberg et al. 1977a,
b; Faeth and Kane 1978; Jaenike 1978) and it is possible that resource
limitation may be partially responsible for the scarcity of foliage insecti-
vores in small forests. Because most foliage insectivores largely depend
on resources available within forest boundaries, the potential for resource
limitation may be greater than for species that frequently forage in non-
forest habitat (e.g., many ground insectivores, omnivores). If resources
Blake ß COMMUNITY TROPHIC STRUCTURE 425
are scarce, competitive interactions among foliage insectivores may influ-
ence observed distribution patterns. Previous studies have indicated that
competitive interactions, both intra- and inter-specific, may be important
among foliage insectivores (e.g., Morse 1967, 1970, 1974; Cody and Walter
1976; Catchpole 1978; Robinson 1981).
Bark insectivores were present over the entire range of areas censused;
both Red-headed and Downy woodpeckers were recorded from the small-
est area in 2 of the 3 years censused. The Red-headed Woodpecker uses
a wider variety of food and foraging behaviors than other bark insectivores,
frequently feeding on the ground in surrounding fields (pers. obs.). Greater
plasticity in behavior may partially account for its occurence in small
forests. By contrast, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and especially Hairy
Woodpeckers generally were confined to larger forests. Although large
territory requirements (Graber et al. 1977) were likely partially responsible
for the distribution patterns, competitive interactions, primarily with the
Red-headed Woodpecker (Graber et al. 1977; Williams and Batzli 1979a,
b), also may have influenced occurrence of Red-bellied and Hairy wood-
peckers and other bark gleaners (e.g., White-breasted Nuthatch). The
Hairy Woodpecker is generally uncommon in east-central Illinois and its
numbers have been declining over the past decades (Graber et al. 1977).
The decline may be related to concurrent losses of forest cover and in-
creased isolation of remaining tracts of woods.
Previous studies of bird communities in relatively large habitat islands
(Galli et al. [1976J--New Jersey; Whitcomb et al. [1981J--Maryland) have
not dealt with trophic structure in any detail. Although similarities exist,
important differences also are apparent. In all three regions, foliage and
bark insectivores were most abundant in large forests and showed the
greatest change in species richness from small to large forests. In addition,
omnivores were the most abundant group in small forests and declined in
relative importance as forest size increased. Abundance of omnivores in
small forests may reflect the disturbed nature of such forests and parallels
trends in fish communities, where disturbed habitats also are character-
ized by an increased abundance of omnivorous species (Karr 1981, Schlos-
ser 1982).
Small (under 20 ha) Illinois forests supported few foliage insectivores or
bark insectivores. By contrast, small forests in New Jersey and Maryland
had approximately twice as many species in each trophic group. Species
richness in other trophic groups did not differ as much among the three
areas. Forests in the eastern states are less isolated than forests in Illinois
and more non-agricultural habitat is available around and between forest
patches. As a consequence, some species nay be able to incorporate
habitat adjoining forest patches in their foraging area. Resource levels
426 THE WILSON BULLETIN ß Vol. 95, No. 3, September 1983
(e.g., insect abundance and diversity) within and immediately adjacent to
forest patches also may be influenced by differences in farming practices
between Illinois and more eastern states with consequent impacts on bird
community structure.
Trophic composition of an island community may be influenced by a
variety of factors, but an underlying factor is distribution, variety, and
abundance of food resources. Islands that do not differ in structural and
habitat features may support a similar resource base with similar conse-
quences on consumer distribution and abundance. Habitat islands such
as forest patches are not self-contained units to the same extent that true
oceanic islands are. Biotic exchanges between the habitat patch and the
surrounding matrix may have a large impact on the community associated
with the island or refuge (Kushlan 1979, Forman and Godron 1981). The
composition and structure of surrounding landscape can influence the
community structure, including trophic structure, of habitat islands to a
greater extent than is true for real islands. Thus, analyses of habitat island
communities should include consideration of regional patterns of habitat
structure.
Blake ß COMMUNITY TROPHIC STRUCTURE 427
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The present nanuscript has benefitted frown suggestions by J. C. Barlow, G. O. Batzli,
W. G. Hoppeg, J. R. Karr, B. A. Loiselle, M. R. Lynch, B. A. Mauer, G. D. Schnell, and
M. F. Willson. B. A. Loiselle and J. R. Karr, in particular, have provided support and
encouragenent throughout this project and their efforts are greatly appreciated. This study
was funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Contract No. 14-16-0009-79-23 to J. R.
Karr.
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606 E. HEALEY ST., VIVARIUM BLDG., UNIV. ILLINOIS, CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
61820. ACCEPTED 26 JAN. 1983.
APPENDIX
BIRD SPECIES RECORDED FROM FOREST TRACTS IN EAST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS DURING
BREEDING SEASONS, 1979--1981
Species Trophic group
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)
Black-billed Cuckoo (C. erythrophthalmus)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus )
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
Red-headed Woodpecker (M. erythrocephalus)
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)
Downy Woodpecker (P. pubescens)
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)
Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens)
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
Black-capped Chickadee (Parus atricapillus)
Tufted Titmouse (P. bicolor)
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
G
FI
FI
N-F
GI
BI
BI
BI
BI
AI
AI
A1
O
BI
BI
BI
430 THE WILSON BULLETIN ß Vol. 95, No. 3, September 1983
APPENDIX
CONTINUED
Species Trophic group a
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
Brown Thrasher (Toxostotna rufum)
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
Veery (Catharus fuscescens)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo fiaviJbons )
Red-eyed Vireo (V. olivaceus)
White-eyed Vireo (V. griseus)
Northern Parula (Parula americana)
Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea)
Yellow-throated Warbler (Dendroica dominica)
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus)
Kentucky Warbler (Oporornis formosus)
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
Yellow-breasted Chat ([cteria virens)
Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina)
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
Northern Oriole ([cterus galbula)
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)
American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)
Rufous-sided Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
Field Sparrow (S. pusilia)
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
BI
FI
FI
GI
GI
GI
GI
FI
N-F
O
FI
FI
FI
FI
FI
FI
GI
GI
FI
FI
FI
AI
O
O
FI
O
O
FI
O
FI
O
G
O
O
O
O
a Trophic groups are omniyore (O), granlvore (G), ground, bark, tbliage, and aerial insectivore (GI, BI, Fl. and AI), and
nectmivoredruglvore (N-F).