02502nas a2200217   4500008004100000245013700041210006900178300001300247490000700260520170000267653003001967653002301997653002002020653002202040653002602062100001702088700001702105700001802122700001802140856012602158       2010                        eng d00aLong-term community dynamics of small landbirds with and without exposure to extensive disturbance from military training activities0 aLongterm community dynamics of small landbirds with and without   a203 -2160 v453 aMilitary training activities are known to impact individual species, yet our understanding of how such activities influence animal communities is limited. In this study, we used long-term data in a case study approach to examine the extent to which the local small landbird community differed between a site in northeast Kansas that experienced intensive disturbance from military training activities (Ft. Riley Military Installation) and a similar, nearby site that experienced minimal human disturbance (Konza Prairie Biological Station). In addition, we characterized how the regional pool of potential colonizers influenced local community dynamics using Breeding Bird Survey data. From 1991 to 2001, most species of small terrestrial landbirds (73%) recorded during breeding surveys were found at both sites and the mean annual richness at Ft. Riley (39.0 ± 2.86 [SD]) was very similar to that of Konza Prairie (39.4 ± 2.01). Richness was maintained at relatively constant levels despite compositional changes because colonizations compensated local extinctions at both sites. These dynamics were driven primarily by woodland species that exhibited stochastic losses and gains and were present at a low local and regional abundance. Our results suggest that military training activities may mimic natural disturbances for some species in this area because the small landbird community did not differ markedly between sites with and sites without extensive human disturbance. Although our results suggest that military training is not associated with large changes in the avian community, additional studies are needed to determine if this pattern is found in other ecological communities.10aAnthropogenic disturbance10aCommunity dynamics10aGrassland birds10aMilitary training10aSongbird conservation1 aRivers, J.W.1 aGipson, P.S.1 aAlthoff, D.P.1 aPontius, J.S.  uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/long-term-community-dynamics-small-landbirds-and-without-exposure-extensive-disturbance