Bird abundance is highly dynamic across succession in early seral tree plantations

Tree plantations are integral for meeting society’s demand wood products and increasing in total area worldwide. It is therefore critical to understand how affect native biodiversity. Our aim was examine the degree which biodiversity by 1) quantifying songbird abundance across a gradient forest stand age (stand initiation through canopy closure), 2) estimating duration of early seral habitat, 3) testing if structural compositional elements prolong habitat availability. This approach equivalent modeling ‘yield curves’ common management but applied indicator. We used chronosequence sampling design survey songbirds vegetation 283 aged 0–30 years Oregon Coast Range, USA. Stands were randomly selected within strata surveys temporally replicated order use N-mixture models estimate after accounting imperfect detection. The Range considered one most productive regions world occur on over 50% forested land base. encompasses assumed closure, we anticipated be point at declines. detected 5074 birds 71 species during 2018 2019 breeding seasons. Canopy closure occurred approximately 12 following clearcut harvest replanting. found that bird changed dynamically this short stage. Twenty peaked either very development or with approximate timing then subsequently declined low levels end 30-year chronosequence. estimated 3 increased closure. also found, contrary our hypothesis, amount broadleaf cover longevity only – Wilson’s warbler. To knowledge, study provides first quantitative estimates abundances change throughout entire stage tree western North America information can assess tradeoffs between timber production generally cannot ameliorated managing higher cover. finding has important implications rapidly shifting mosaic plantation landscapes.