Selection of Sap Well Trees by a Keystone Species : the Red-Naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus Nuchalis)

Abstract

Conserving keystone species requires understanding their feeding requirements. One of the most important keystone species is the Red-naped Sapsucker, a woodpecker that excavates its nest holes in aspens and drills sap wells in aspens and other trees/shrubs. This study investigated the criteria used by sapsuckers in their choice of sap well trees in aspen woodlands of the Rocky Mountains.