DOI: 10.5061/dryad.k44303c
title: Data from: Impacts of biomass production at civil airports on grassland bird conservation and aviation strike risk

description: Growing concerns about climate change, foreign oil dependency, and
 environmental quality have fostered interest in perennial native grasses
 (e.g. switchgrass [Panicum virgatum]) for bioenergy production while also
 maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function. However, biomass
 cultivation in marginal landscapes such as airport grasslands may have
 detrimental effects on aviation safety as well as conservation efforts for
 grassland birds. In 2011–2013 we investigated effects of vegetation
 composition and harvest frequency on seasonal species richness and habitat
 use of grassland birds and modeled relative abundance, aviation risk, and
 conservation value of birds associated with biomass crops. Avian relative
 abundance was greater in switchgrass monoculture plots during the winter
 months, whereas Native Warm-Season Grass (NWSG) mixed species plantings
 were favored by species during the breeding season. Conversely, treatment
 differences in aviation risk and conservation value were not biologically
 significant. Only 2.6% of observations included avian species of high
 hazard to aircraft, providing support for semi-natural grasslands as a
 feasible landcover option at civil airports. Additionally, varied harvest
 frequencies across a mosaic of switchgrass monocultures and NWSG plots
 allows for biomass production with multiple vegetation structure options
 for grassland birds to increase seasonal avian biodiversity and habitat
 use.
description: Data
 VariablesThis file lists and
 describes all the variables used in the final analysis.Data_variables_Conkling et
 al.rtfSpeciesDataData on species, aviation hazard score, estimated hazard rating, PIF Conservation Value, season, and mean individuals/10ha surveyed by year in Clay Co. Mississippi, USA (2011-2013). An explanation of the variables is included in the supplementary file "Data_variables_Conkling et al.rtf".NMDS_SpeciesDataData on plot, season, treatment, year, survey area, species, and mean individuals/10ha surveyed in Clay Co. Mississippi, USA (2011-2013) used for NMDS analyses. An explanation of the variables is included in the supplementary file "Data_variables_Conkling et al.rtf".NMDS_VisObstructDataData on plot, season, and mean vegetation visual obstruction (cm) by year collected in Clay Co. Mississippi, USA (2011-2013) used for NMDS analyses. An explanation of the variables is included in the supplementary file "Data_variables_Conkling et al.rtf".VisObstructData_SeasonTrtYearData on season, treatment, and mean and 95% CIs for vegetation visual obstruction (cm) by year collected in Clay Co. Mississippi, USA (2011-2013) used for NMDS analyses. An explanation of the variables is included in the supplementary file "Data_variables_Conkling et al.rtf".ModelDataData on season, treatment, year, survey area, mean vegetation visual obstruction, relative density, weighted hazard scores, and weighted conservation values for avian species across all treatments by season in Clay Co. Mississippi, USA (2011-2013). An explanation of the variables is included in the supplementary file "Data_variables_Conkling et al.rtf".