Habitat restoration improves Western Snowy Plover nest survival

Katelyn M. Raby; Mark A. Colwell

doi:10.18194/ws.00199

Snowy plover nest survival in Kansas and effective management to counter negative effects of precipitation

Journal of Wildlife Management ◽

10.1002/jwmg.405 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 76 (8) ◽

pp. 1587-1596 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Matthew G. Sexson ◽

Greg H. Farley

Keyword(s):

Nest Survival ◽

Effective Management ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Snowy Plover

Download Full-text

Spotted Towhee Population Dynamics in a Riparian Restoration Context

The Condor ◽

10.1093/condor/109.4.721 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 109 (4) ◽

pp. 721-733

Author(s):

Stacy L. Small ◽

Frank R. Thompson ◽

Geoffrey R. Geupel ◽

John Faaborg

Keyword(s):

Nest Predation ◽

Large Scale ◽

Habitat Restoration ◽

Multiple Scales ◽

Nest Survival ◽

Breeding Habitat ◽

Population Increase ◽

Adult Survival ◽

Host Nest ◽

Nest Concealment

Abstract We investigated factors at multiple scales that might influence nest predation risk for Spotted Towhees (Pipilo maculatus) along the Sacramento River, California, within the context of large-scale riparian habitat restoration. We used the logistic-exposure method and Akaike's information criterion (AIC) for model selection to compare predator search, predator abundance, restoration, and temporal effects hypotheses. Our candidate models represented restoration, temporal, nest activity, nest concealment, agriculture, and flood effects. Restoration sites did function as breeding habitat, with nest survival comparable to mature forest sites and some young being produced. The best-supported models contained the covariates cowbird young in host nest and calendar date. All supported models contained the covariate cowbird young, the only variable with a strong effect. In contrast to our prediction, nest survival increased with cowbird young in the nest, implicating adult cowbirds in nest predation events. Nest survival declined throughout the breeding season and increased marginally with nest concealment. We calculated the finite rate of population increase (λ), using a model that incorporated nest success estimates for parasitized and unparasitized nests, double brooding, the locally observed cowbird parasitism rate for Spotted Towhees, number of young fledged from successful parasitized and unparasitized nests, adult survival and a range of juvenile survival values, estimated as percentages of adult survival. Values of λ did not approach the replacement level of one, indicating that this population is not self-sustaining. We recommend extensive habitat restoration in the floodplain landscape, ideally in conjunction with cowbird control, to reduce nest predation and parasitism pressures.

Download Full-text

Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) nest protection reduces depredation and increases success, but annual variation influences its effectiveness

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/cjz-2020-0064 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (11) ◽

pp. 715-724

Author(s):

T.A. Bougie ◽

N.W. Byer ◽

C.N. Lapin ◽

M. Zachariah Peery ◽

J.E. Woodford ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Habitat Restoration ◽

Annual Variation ◽

Nest Survival ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Adult Mortality ◽

Freshwater Turtles ◽

Management Actions ◽

Glyptemys Insculpta ◽

Nest Protection ◽

Wood Turtle

Habitat loss is the leading cause of species extinctions and is especially detrimental to habitat specialists. Freshwater turtles require specific habitat types at different points in their life cycle; notably, the loss of nesting habitat has led to increased nest depredation and adult mortality. In response, conservationists have implemented nest protection and habitat restoration programs to recover declining populations. Although assumed to increase nest survival, effectiveness of these methods has not been rigorously quantified. We located Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta (Le Conte, 1830)) nests in Wisconsin (USA) and conducted two analyses — logistic regression and logistic exposure — to investigate the influence of management actions and environmental factors on nest survival. The depredation rate decreased by 47% for protected nests and declined as nests aged; the success rate increased by 28% for protected nests and increased for nests in areas with fewer roads. We found high annual variation in success, and although weather variables were not predictive, likely due to their coarse scale, we posit that this inter-annual variation was driven by variation in weather conditions. Our results suggest that nest protection is effective at increasing nest survival, but future efforts should span multiple years to account for the effects of annual variation in environmental conditions.

Download Full-text