Exclosure fences around nests of imperiled Florida Grasshopper Sparrows reduce rates of predation by mammals

Ragheb, Erin L. Hewett; Miller, Karl E.; Leone, Erin H.

doi:10.1111/jofo.12310

Cited by 11 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…The implementation of firerelated research recommendations has been relatively successful in recent years because of the small number of properties (4) and outside stakeholders (<15) involved. The working group holds biannual meetings to exchange information and has been pivotal in establishing standardized monitoring methods, communicating research on novel predation management techniques (Hewett Ragheb et al, 2019a), and implementing a captive propagation and release program (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS], 2019d). The working group has attended habitat management workshops (Cox, 2014) and recently assisted federal and state agencies with the development of a 5-year Strategic Vision document intended to guide future conservation and management actions for the subspecies (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS], 2019d).…”

Section: Communication and Application Of Fire Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…First, the conversion of private cattle pastures to suitable grasslands will be necessary to meet the recovery goal of 10 populations (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS], 1999). This is a substantial challenge because previous habitat alterations aimed to improve cattle grazing (e.g., planting nonnative grasses) appear to increase threats from non-native redimported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta; Tucker et al, 2010), a formidable nest predator (Hewett Ragheb et al, 2019a). Second, little to no research has been conducted to understand how mechanical removal of woody vegetation, exotic plant treatments, or alterations to hydrology impact sparrow demography.…”

Section: Challenges To Recoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Still other life-history traits could influence the positive or negative effects of burn extents. Given the importance of nesting success to both sparrows (Baiser et al, 2008;Hewett Ragheb et al, 2019a), attempts to manage prominent nest predators using large-extent fires might be pursued (Jones et al, 2004;Carter et al, 2007); however, managing habitat for predators will be complicated compared to managing for vegetative structure. While the woodpecker does not appear to be affected directly by burn extent, pressures to burn smaller units for other species on ANF (e.g., butterflies and quail) could lead to further reductions in the fire frequency in woodpecker habitat.…”

Section: Season and Extentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Interpreting Smoke Signals: Fire Ecology and Land Management for Four Federally Listed Birds

et al. 2020

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Recovery of listed species requires that land managers and research biologists work together to address the factors affecting population stability and growth. In Florida, an essential factor affecting rare species habitat quality and restoration is fire management. Fire plays an essential role in restoring and maintaining almost every upland ecosystem in Florida, but fires also have negative effects (e.g., mortality and displacement) that play out today within an altered landscape where rare species are often limited to small, fragmented areas and negative effects may be accentuated. Fire effects also are complex, not well studied experimentally, and likely to change as urbanization and global temperatures increase over coming decades. These conditions can create missteps in both fire research and fire management without regular communication between scientists and practitioners. We assessed the fire-related research associated with four federally listed birds in Florida: Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis), Florida grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum floridanus), Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens), and red-cockaded woodpecker (Dryobates borealis). Fire research has not addressed the needs of some of these species for starkly different reasons. Land managers, in turn, have not successfully applied the recommendations of fire research in other instances. Our results point to fire frequency as an important focus for practitioners managing habitat for rare species in Florida. Our review also suggests that successful integration of research and management will be best served when (1) ecological burning practices are used, (2) local fire management goals are prioritized annually, (3) instructional products are developed for managers, (4) land manager tenure is promoted, (5) stakeholders meet regularly, and (6) creative solutions are devised to overcome staff and equipment shortages.

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Section: Communication and Application Of Fire Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Challenges To Recoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Season and Extentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Interpreting Smoke Signals: Fire Ecology and Land Management for Four Federally Listed Birds

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“…The Florida spotted skunk has also been reported using suburban areas (Gompper and Jachowski ), improved pasture, and native dry prairie (E. L. Hewett Ragheb, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, unpublished data). The Florida spotted skunk is a confirmed nest predator of dry prairie ground‐nesting birds (Hewett Ragheb et al ), including the endangered Florida grasshopper sparrow ( Ammodramus savannarum floridanus ; Federal Register ), an endemic of the dry prairie (Pranty and Tucker ). Nest success has been low for Florida grasshopper sparrows (between 10% and 33%), and nest predation has been identified as the primary cause of nest failures (Perkins et al , Hewett Ragheb et al ), but it is currently unknown how Florida spotted skunks use dry prairie, or how habitat management for Florida grasshopper sparrows (including prescribed fire) influences skunk behavior.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Nest success has been low for Florida grasshopper sparrows (between 10% and 33%), and nest predation has been identified as the primary cause of nest failures (Perkins et al , Hewett Ragheb et al ), but it is currently unknown how Florida spotted skunks use dry prairie, or how habitat management for Florida grasshopper sparrows (including prescribed fire) influences skunk behavior. Currently, Florida grasshopper sparrow nest predation by Florida spotted skunks and other mammalian predators is mitigated at all known populations through the installation of predator deflection fencing around nests (Hewett Ragheb et al ). Predator deflection (alternatively, exclusion) fencing, which involves fencing off a known ground‐nesting bird nest location to prevent terrestrial predators from accessing the nest, increases nest hatching success (Smith et al ).…”

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confidence: 99%

Den Site Selection by the Florida Spotted Skunk

et al. 2019

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The eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) is a species of conservation concern in much of its range and has experienced a decline since the early to mid‐1990s. But the subspecies that inhabits peninsular Florida, the Florida spotted skunk (S. p. ambarvalis), might still be abundant and is an important nest predator of the endangered Florida grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum floridanus). To gain insight on this little‐studied subspecies and inform potential management strategies, we conducted a resource selection study on the Florida spotted skunk. We examined 5 hypotheses for den site selection related to den type, vegetation, and landscape characteristics in a dry prairie ecosystem in central Florida. We tracked 36 individual skunks to 757 den sites. Using discrete choice analysis, we found that male and nonbreeding female skunks at our study site were 5 times more likely to select a mammal burrow over a gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) burrow, that selection of a den site increased 34% for each 1‐burrow increase in the number of nearby burrows, and that selection of a den site increased 3% for every 10‐cm increase in a visual obstruction index. Similarly, breeding female skunks were more likely to select mammal burrows and shallow depressions over gopher tortoise burrows by 16‐fold and 13‐fold, respectively, and selection of a den site increased by 75% for every 1‐burrow increase in the number of nearby burrows. In contrast to previous studies that occurred in forested, mountainous environments elsewhere in the species' range, our findings suggest that den characteristics might be more important than landscape or vegetation characteristics to Florida spotted skunk den site selection in dry prairie. Additionally, the frequency of prescribed fires on the landscape did not appear to affect Florida spotted skunk den site selection. Thus, Florida spotted skunks in this ecosystem might be landscape generalists, thereby potentially limiting the ability of managers to control nest predation by this subspecies through habitat management. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.

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Pesticide‐free management of invasive ants impacting ground‐nesting wildlife populations

King

2024

Wildlife Society Bulletin

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Nonnative, invasive ants, and especially the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, are a widespread threat to ground‐nesting wildlife. In this paper I describe a method of controlling fire ants using hot water. The hot water approach was applied to reduce fire ant impacts on sea turtles and ground‐nesting songbirds and to demonstrate its utility in protection of different ground‐nesting species in different habitats. Fire ant controls using hot water provided 90% or greater control, significantly improving survival of both turtle and bird hatchlings, without the use of pesticides. The success of the method and the availability of necessary equipment shows that hot water control of fire ant populations should be considered as a tool for wildlife affected by fire ants and is useful for a wide variety of scenarios where fire ant controls are desirable or necessary. The method does require that 1) wildlife nest locations are known and that 2) nearby fire ant colonies can be found and treated with hot water. The method can be used as a complement to broadcast or bait‐station baiting strategies or as a stand‐alone method for managing fire ants.

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Exclosure fences around nests of imperiled Florida Grasshopper Sparrows reduce rates of predation by mammals

Cited by 11 publications

References 53 publications

Interpreting Smoke Signals: Fire Ecology and Land Management for Four Federally Listed Birds

Interpreting Smoke Signals: Fire Ecology and Land Management for Four Federally Listed Birds

Den Site Selection by the Florida Spotted Skunk

Pesticide‐free management of invasive ants impacting ground‐nesting wildlife populations

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