Common reed (Phragmites australis) forms dense stands with deep layers of residual organic matter that negatively affects plant diversity and possibly habitat use by wetland birds. We sought to determine whether seasonal relative abundance and species richness of birds varied among 3 habitat types in Great Lakes coastal wetland complexes recently invaded by common reed. We used fixed-distance point counts to determine species relative abundances and species richness in edge and interior locales within common reed, cattail (Typha spp.), and meadow marsh habitats of various sizes during 2 summers (2001 and 2002) and 1 autumn (2001) at Long Point, Lake Erie, Ontario, Canada. We found that total relative abundance and species richness of birds were greater in common reed habitat compared to cattail or meadow marsh habitats. However, we also found that relative abundance of marsh-nesting birds was greater in meadow marsh habitat than in cattail and common reed during summer. Lastly, we found that, irrespective of habitat type, habitat edges had higher total relative abundance and species richness of birds than did habitat interiors. Our results show that common reed provides suitable habitat for a diversity of landbirds during summer and autumn but only limited habitat for many marsh-nesting birds during summer. Based on these results, we recommend restoration of meadow marsh habitat through reduction of common reed in Great Lakes wetlands where providing habitat for breeding marsh-nesting birds is an objective. Managers also might consider reducing the size of nonnative common reed stands to increase edge effect and use by birds, possibly including wetland birds.
Determining the source areas of harvested individuals is important for effective conservation and management of migratory game birds. Banding has provided much information about source areas, but obtaining samples of marked individuals representative of all potential breeding areas is difficult for most species. To add to previous knowledge of harvest derivation based on banding data and to assist with regulatory decisions, we used stable hydrogen isotope (d 2 H) techniques to estimate natal and molt source areas of Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) harvested in southern Canada in 2014 and 2017. We found that most birds harvested in southern Saskatchewan, southern Manitoba, northern Ontario, and southern Ontario likely originated in the prairie and boreal plains regions of Canada and the United States, which is the core production area for the species. Based on feather d 2 H values, some birds harvested in Ontario may have also originated in Ontario. Our results differ from those of a long-term analysis of band recovery data that revealed that most Blue-winged Teal harvested in Ontario originated in the eastern part of the province and areas along the lower Great Lakes and southwestern Quebec. We found that nearly all birds harvested in Ontario in our study likely originated from areas north and west of the province. Together, banding and stable isotopes likely provide the best information available on source areas of harvested birds for regulatory decision making. RESUMEN.Areas de origen de Spatula discors cazadas en Ontario y Prairie Canad a con base en is otopos estables: implicaciones para el manejo sostenible Es importante determinar las areas de origen de animales de caza para la conservaci on efectiva y el manejo de aves de caza migratorias. El anillamiento ha provisto mucha informaci on sobre estas areas, pero obtener muestras de individuos marcados que sean representativas de todas las areas de reproducci on potenciales es dif ıcil para la mayor ıa de las especies. Con el fin de contribuir con informaci on previa del origen de las aves cazadas con base en datos de anillos y para asistir en la toma de decisiones regulatorias, utilizamos t ecnicas de isotopos estable de hidr ogeno (d 2 H) para estimar areas de nacimiento y muda de Spatula discors cazadas en el sur de Canad a entre 2014 y 2017. Encontramos que la mayor ıa de las aves fueron cazadas en el sur de Saskatchewan, el sur de Manitoba, el norte de Ontario y el sur de Ontario probablemente se originaron en la regi on de praderas y planicies boreales de Canad a y Estados Unidos, el cual es el area nuclear de reproducci on de esta especie. Con base en los valores de d 2 H de las plumas, algunas aves que fueron cazadas en Ontario pueden, tambi en, haberse originado en Ontario. Nuestros resultados difieren de los resultados de los an alisis de largo plazo utilizando datos de anillos recuperados que suger ıan que la mayor ıa de Spatula discors cazados en Ontario se originaban en la regi on este de la provincia y las areas a lo largo de la regi on baja d...
Common reed (Phragmites australis) forms dense stands with deep layers of residual organic matter that negatively affects plant diversity and possibly habitat use by wetland birds. We sought to determine whether seasonal relative abundance and species richness of birds varied among 3 habitat types in Great Lakes coastal wetland complexes recently invaded by common reed. We used fixed‐distance point counts to determine species relative abundances and species richness in edge and interior locales within common reed, cattail (Typha spp.), and meadow marsh habitats of various sizes during 2 summers (2001 and 2002) and 1 autumn (2001) at Long Point, Lake Erie, Ontario, Canada. We found that total relative abundance and species richness of birds were greater in common reed habitat compared to cattail or meadow marsh habitats. However, we also found that relative abundance of marsh‐nesting birds was greater in meadow marsh habitat than in cattail and common reed during summer. Lastly, we found that, irrespective of habitat type, habitat edges had higher total relative abundance and species richness of birds than did habitat interiors. Our results show that common reed provides suitable habitat for a diversity of landbirds during summer and autumn but only limited habitat for many marsh‐nesting birds during summer. Based on these results, we recommend restoration of meadow marsh habitat through reduction of common reed in Great Lakes wetlands where providing habitat for breeding marsh‐nesting birds is an objective. Managers also might consider reducing the size of nonnative common reed stands to increase edge effect and use by birds, possibly including wetland birds.
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