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Numbers and lengths of Lepidoptera larvae (caterpillars, all species) were censused on shrub level foliage at biweekly intervals from late May/early June through late July/early August each year. Measurements were conducted on the Main bird plot in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest and on three additional plots within the White Mountain National Forest from 1986-1997. These data were gathered as part of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (HBES). The HBES is a collaborative effort at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, which is operated and maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 

Relations among territoriality, abundance and habitat suitability are fundamental to the ecology of many animal populations. Theory suggests two classes of possible responses to increasing abundance in territorial species: (1) the ideal free distribution (IFD), which predicts smaller territory sizes and decreased fitness as individuals adaptively pack into suitable habitats, and (2) the ideal despotic distribution (IDD), which predicts stable territory sizes and fitness in preferred habitats for dominant individuals and increased use of marginal habitats, reduced fitness and changes in territory sizes for subordinate individuals. We analysed the territory sizes and locations of seven migratory songbird species occupying a 10‐ha plot in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire, USA over a 52‐year period. Species varied in abundance over years from twofold to 22‐fold, and all species displayed clear patterns of habitat preference within the study plot. Consistent with IFD, and contrary to IDD, territory sizes decreased with local abundance for all species, irrespective of habitat preferences. There was at least a twofold variation in territory size within years. Conformity of territory size to predictions of the IFD argues for the efficacy of territorial defence in songbirds and has general consequences for population dynamics. 

The forest inventory surveys in the bird area were initiated in 1981 and transects were made permanent in 1991. The inventory is representative of approximately 2.5 km-squared of mid elevation northern hardwood forest. It consists of a total inventory of all trees >=10 cm dbh, within each of four 10 m wide belt transects. The parallel transects are placed approximately 200 m apart and run roughly in an east-west direction for 2200 to 2900 m. In 1991, each live stem >=10 cm dbh was tagged with a unique number. Tree vigor is assessed every two years and diameter is remeasured every ten years. Every two years, new tags are placed on stems that have grown into the 10 cm diameter class. A survey of smaller trees (>=2 to <10 cm dbh) was first taken in 1991 and is resurveyed every ten years. This dataset includes the initial inventory values measured in 1981. The full timeline of tree inventory data for this site is available at https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/58dfdebfd1b6440510def2394ab92c53 These data were gathered as part of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (HBES). The HBES is a collaborative effort at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, which is operated and maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 

In this study, we analyzed territory sizes of seven migratory songbirds occupying a 10-hectare plot in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire, USA over a 52-year period (1969-2021). All species varied in abundance over the duration of the study, some dramatically. Changes in territory sizes were inversely related to changes in abundance within the study plot despite differences in habitat preference, supporting the ideal free distribution. Territory sizes varied two-fold within a year across species. Results contribute to understanding how variation in territory size relates to 1) how habitat use changes with bird abundance and 2) the evolution of territory size. This dataset includes data, R code, and spatial files supporting this study. These data were gathered as part of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (HBES). The HBES is a collaborative effort at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, which is operated and maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. Associated datasets in the data catalog: Holmes, R.T., N.L. Rodenhouse, and M.T. Hallworth. 2022. Bird Abundances at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (1969-present) and on three replicate plots (1986-2000) in the White Mountain National Forest ver 8. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/6422a72893616ce9020086de5a5714cd (Accessed 2023-12-17). Zammarelli, M.B. and R.T. Holmes. 2023. Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest: 10-ha bird plot territory maps, 1969 - 2021 ver 1. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/df93595ba8df60570d472f6e6f58839e (Accessed 2024-01-11). 

In this study, we analyzed territory sizes of seven migratory songbirds occupying a 10-hectare plot in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire, USA over a 52-year period (1969-2021). All species varied in abundance over the duration of the study, some dramatically. Changes in territory sizes were inversely related to changes in abundance within the study plot despite differences in habitat preference, supporting the ideal free distribution. Territory sizes varied two-fold within a year across species. Results contribute to understanding how variation in territory size relates to 1) how habitat use changes with bird abundance, 2) the evolution of territory size, and 3) the role of territoriality in population dynamics. This dataset includes data, R code, and spatial files supporting this study. These data were gathered as part of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (HBES). The HBES is a collaborative effort at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, which is operated and maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. Associated datasets in the data catalog: Holmes, R.T., N.L. Rodenhouse, and M.T. Hallworth. 2022. Bird Abundances at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (1969-present) and on three replicate plots (1986-2000) in the White Mountain National Forest ver 8. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/6422a72893616ce9020086de5a5714cd (Accessed 2023-12-17). Zammarelli, M.B. and R.T. Holmes. 2023. Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest: 10-ha bird plot territory maps, 1969 - 2021 ver 1. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/df93595ba8df60570d472f6e6f58839e (Accessed 2024-01-11). 

Maps showing the estimated territorial boundaries of all bird species occupying the 10-ha bird plot in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, 1969-2021. These data were used in estimating the abundance of bird populations during this period (e.g., Holmes and Sturges 1975, Holmes et al. 1986, Holmes and Sherry 1988, 2001, Holmes 2011). These data were gathered as part of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (HBES). The HBES is a collaborative effort at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, which is operated and maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. Papers associated with this dataset: Holmes, R. T., & Sturges, F. W. (1975). Bird Community Dynamics and Energetics in a Northern Hardwoods Ecosystem. Journal of Animal Ecology, 44(1), 175–200. https://doi.org/10.2307/3857 Sherry, T. W. (1979). Competitive interactions and adaptive strategies of American Redstarts and Least Flycatchers in a northern hardwoods forest. The Auk, 96(2), 265-283. Holmes, R. T., Bonney, R. E., & Pacala, S. W. (1979). Guild Structure of the Hubbard Brook Bird Community: A Multivariate Approach. Ecology, 60(3), 512–520. https://doi.org/10.2307/1936071 Holmes, R. T., Sherry, T. W., & Sturges, F. W. (1986). Bird Community Dynamics in a Temperate Deciduous Forest: Long-Term Trends at Hubbard Brook. Ecological Monographs, 56(3), 201–220. https://doi.org/10.2307/2937074 Holmes, R. T., & Robinson, S. K. (1988). Spatial patterns, foraging tactics, and diets of ground-foraging birds in a northern hardwoods forest. The Wilson Bulletin, 377-394. Holmes, R. T., & Sherry, T. W. (1988). Assessing population trends of New Hampshire forest birds: local vs. regional patterns. The Auk, 105(4), 756-768. 10.2307/4087390 Holmes, R. T., & Sherry, T. W. (2001). Thirty-year bird population trends in an unfragmented temperate deciduous forest: importance of habitat change. The Auk, 118(3), 589-609. https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/118.3.589 Holmes, R. T. (2011). Avian population and community processes in forest ecosystems: Long-term research in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. Forest Ecology and Management, 262(1), 20-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2010.06.021 Associated datasets in the data catalog: Holmes, R.T., N.L. Rodenhouse, and M.T. Hallworth. 2022. Bird Abundances at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (1969-present) and on three replicate plots (1986-2000) in the White Mountain National Forest ver 8. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/6422a72893616ce9020086de5a5714cd (Accessed 2023-12-17). 

Bird abundances have been determined from timed censuses, territory maps and nest locations at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest from 1969 to the present. This data set includes counts of the number of adult birds (males and females) per 10 ha at HBEF (1969 - present) and on three additional plots within the White Mountain National Forest (1986 - 2000). These data were gathered as part of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (HBES). The HBES is a collaborative effort at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, which is operated and maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 

Numbers and lengths of Lepidoptera larvae (caterpillars, all species) were censused on shrub level foliage at biweekly intervals from late May/early June through late July/early August each year. Measurements were conducted on the Main bird plot in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest and on three additional plots within the White Mountain National Forest from 1986-1997. These data were gathered as part of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (HBES). The HBES is a collaborative effort at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, which is operated and maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 

This dataset provides counts of potential nest predators recorded on surveys conducted in black-throated blue warbler territories at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. Surveys occurred on three gridded study plots at the HBEF: low elevation (250-350 m; 85 ha), middle elevation (450-600 m; 65 ha), and high elevation (750-850 m; 35 ha). See Rodenhouse et al. 2003 for plot details. These data were gathered as part of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (HBES). The HBES is a collaborative effort at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, which is operated and maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 

This dataset provides body measurements and encounter histories for black-throated blue warblers. Birds were captured in mist nets, given unique combinations of colored leg bands and a numbered, aluminium USGS leg band, and aged as either yearlings or older breeders based on plumage characters. Standard body measurements were taken, following Pyle 1997 (Pyle, P. 1997. Identification guide to North American birds. Slate Creek Press, Bolinas, CA). All birds were released unharmed after banding and measurements were completed. Capture histories were generated from resightings of banded individuals on three gridded study plots at the HBEF: low elevation (250-350 m; 85 ha), middle elevation (450-600 m; 65 ha), and high elevation (750-850 m; 35 ha). See Rodenhouse et al. 2003 for plot details. These data were gathered as part of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (HBES). The HBES is a collaborative effort at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, which is operated and maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. Data have been described and published in: Rodenhouse, N. L., Sillett, T. S., Doran, P. J., & Holmes, R. T. (2003). Multiple density-dependence mechanisms regulate a migratory bird population during the breeding season. Proceedings. Biological sciences, 270(1529), 2105–2110. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2003.2438 Sillett, T. S., & Holmes, R. T. (2002). Variation in Survivorship of a Migratory Songbird throughout Its Annual Cycle. Journal of Animal Ecology, 71(2), 296–308. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2693447