ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN FOREST DECLINE AND BIRD AND INSECT COMMUNITIES IN NORTHERN HARDWOODS

Forest decline can be the result of multiple stresses such as air poll ution or natural processes. This phenomenon can directly affect trees as well as the fauna and nonarborescent nora within these ecosystems. From 1987 to 1989 we studied insectivorous bird, arthropod, and plant populations in 18 sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) stands affected by decline In southern Quebec. On average, there was a 20-30% foliage loss. Mean number of bird species and pairs per plot were negatively c orrelated with decline index (P = 0.08 and P = 0.09), mostly as a resu lt of negative trends obtained for canopy snatchers and canopy-and shr ub-foliage gleaners. Conversely, insect herbivores sampled in the cano py and an saplings as well as ground foragers were not correlated with decline index. Our data do not allow us to easily conclude that conte mporary maple decline alone can lead to drastic changes in bird and in sect communities. However, the data do not rule out the possibility th at subtle changes could be occurring in the wildlife communities in su gar maple forests in southern Quebec.