____________


Relationships of
Vertebrate Animals
to this Plant:

____________


Abies balsamea
(Balsam Fir) [Pinaceae]
(observations are from Martin et al., DeGraaf, Ludewig & Bowyer, and Lowe)

Birds
Columbidae: Zenaida macroura (Mourning Dove) [uses this tree for protective cover & nesting habitat] DGr2002; Corvidae: Cyanocitta cristata (Blue Jay) [feeds on seeds & uses this tree for protective cover & nesting habitat] DGr2002; Fringillidae: Coccothraustes vespertinus (Evening Grosbeak) [the seeds are a preferred source of food & uses this tree for protective cover & nesting habitat] DGr2002, Haemorhous purpureus (Purple Finch) [the seeds are a preferred source of food & uses this tree for protective cover & nesting habitat] DGr2002, Loxia curvirostra (Red Crossbill) [the seeds are a preferred source of food & uses this tree for protective cover & nesting habitat] DGr2002, Loxia leucoptera (White-winged Crossbill) [the seeds are a preferred source of food & uses this trees for protective cover & nesting habitat] DGr2002, Pinicola enucleator (Pine Grosbeak) [the seeds are a preferred source of food & uses this tree for protective cover & nesting habitat] DGr2002; Paridae: Poecile atricapillus (Black-capped Chickadee) [feeds on seeds & uses this tree for protective cover] DGr2002; Parulidae: Setophaga caerulescens (Black-throated Blue Warbler) [uses this tree for protective cover & uses its saplings as nesting habitat] DGr2002; Phasianidae: Bonasa umbellus (Ruffed Grouse) [feeds on seeds & uses this tree for protective cover] DGr2002; Picidae: Sphyrapicus varius (Yellow-bellied Sapsucker) [sucks tree sap and uses this tree for protective cover] DGr2002; Sittidae: Sitta canadensis (Red-breasted Nuthatch) [uses this tree for protective cover & uses the pitch of this tree to construct nests] DGr2002, Sitta carolinensis (White-breasted Nuthatch) [feeds on seeds & uses this tree for protective cover] DGr2002; Strigidae: Asio otus (Long-eared Owl) [uses this tree for protective cover] DGr2002; Turdidae: Catharus ustulatus (Swainson's Thrush) [uses this tree for protective cover & nesting habitat] DGr2002, Turdus migratorius (American Robin) [uses this tree for protective cover & nesting habitat] DGr2002

Mammals

Cervidae: Alces americanus (American Moose) [foliage & twigs of this tree comprise 10-25% of the diet in Isle Royale of Michigan, this tree provides 70.5% of the winter diet in Maine] MZN1951 LdBw1985, Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer) [this tree provides 14.6% of the winter diet in Maine] LdBw1985; Erethizontidae: Erethizon dorsatum (North American Porcupine) [this tree comprises 5-10% of the diet in Vermont during winter] MZN1951; Vespertilionidae: Myotis lucifugus (Little Brown Bat) [cavities & exfoliating bark of this tree were used as fall roost sites in Nova Scotia] Lw2012
________________________________________________________________________