Geographic Information Systems: Investigating Anthropogenic Effects on Woodpecker Foraging
Type of Presentation
Poster Session
Location
University Library
Start Date
4-9-2026 2:00 PM
End Date
4-9-2026 3:15 PM
Description of Program
The presentation will go over background on current woodpecker foraging behavior and research in eastern United States, geographic information systems, and how these systems can be used in environmental science in regards to observational wildlife studies.
Abstract
Woodpeckers act as ecosystem engineers, indicators, and pest control in forests. By doing so, they play a role in maintaining biodiversity within their habitats. Some studies suggest they may also be a keystone species. Numerous studies have investigated the effects of anthropogenic landscapes on avian populations, but few investigating the effects on woodpecker foraging specifically. Several human factors can affect the foraging behavior of woodpeckers in these landscapes, such as bird feeders, habitat fragmentation, and human disturbance. The study area included three suburban woods and three agricultural woods in northeast Illinois. Four data layers will be used to build the GIS: human density (TIGER files), noise pollution, roads, and habitat type (LandSat) and will be overlaid onto a base map using ArcGIS Pro. Geospatial analyses will be run in ArcGIS Pro to correlate woodpecker foraging observation points in relation to distance from these attributes. I hypothesize that: (1) there will be a statistically significant difference in the foraging preferences of woodpeckers between anthropogenic landscapes and (2) foraging behavior will be affected by proximity to anthropogenic disturbance. I predict that woodpeckers will prefer to forage farther away from the forest borders, where anthropogenic disturbance is likely, and that this behavior will be more pronounced in urban and suburban landscapes than in agricultural ones. Preliminary data suggests that downy woodpeckers (Dryobates pubescens) prefer to forage on smaller trees in agricultural forests and larger trees in suburban forests.
Identify Grant
Funded in part by the NSF Optimization Computing Grant
Faculty / Staff Sponsor
Dr. John Yunger
Geographic Information Systems: Investigating Anthropogenic Effects on Woodpecker Foraging
University Library
Woodpeckers act as ecosystem engineers, indicators, and pest control in forests. By doing so, they play a role in maintaining biodiversity within their habitats. Some studies suggest they may also be a keystone species. Numerous studies have investigated the effects of anthropogenic landscapes on avian populations, but few investigating the effects on woodpecker foraging specifically. Several human factors can affect the foraging behavior of woodpeckers in these landscapes, such as bird feeders, habitat fragmentation, and human disturbance. The study area included three suburban woods and three agricultural woods in northeast Illinois. Four data layers will be used to build the GIS: human density (TIGER files), noise pollution, roads, and habitat type (LandSat) and will be overlaid onto a base map using ArcGIS Pro. Geospatial analyses will be run in ArcGIS Pro to correlate woodpecker foraging observation points in relation to distance from these attributes. I hypothesize that: (1) there will be a statistically significant difference in the foraging preferences of woodpeckers between anthropogenic landscapes and (2) foraging behavior will be affected by proximity to anthropogenic disturbance. I predict that woodpeckers will prefer to forage farther away from the forest borders, where anthropogenic disturbance is likely, and that this behavior will be more pronounced in urban and suburban landscapes than in agricultural ones. Preliminary data suggests that downy woodpeckers (Dryobates pubescens) prefer to forage on smaller trees in agricultural forests and larger trees in suburban forests.