USE OF REFUGIA BY CALIFORNIA GNATCATCHERS DISPLACED BY HABITAT LOSS

Abstract

Because the California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica) is one of the focal species for conservation of coastal sage scrub being planned under the state of California's Natural Community Conservation Planning (NCCP) program (Atwood and Noss 1994; Reid and Murphy 1995), the species' response to large-scale loss of habitat is an important factor that may influence both the design of habitat reserves and the development of future habitat management strategies.