Factors Influencing Habitat Use by Migratory Grassland Birds in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico

Macías‐Duarte, Alberto; Montoya, Angel B.; Méndez-González, Cesar E.; Rodríguez-Salazar, J. Roberto; Hunt, W. Grainger; Krannitz, Pam G.

doi:10.1525/auk.2009.08251

Cited by 45 publications

(37 citation statements)

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“…These habitat structure variables have previously been identified as factors influencing the abundance and distribution of wintering Baird's and Grasshopper sparrows in the Chihuahuan Desert (Macías‐Duarte et al. , Panjabi et al. , Pool et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, different species may respond differently to the characteristics of winter habitat (Macías‐Duarte et al. , Panjabi et al. , Pool et al.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both species prefer relatively tall and dense grasslands (Macías‐Duarte et al. ), avoid shrubs (Macías‐Duarte et al. , Pool et al.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…), avoid shrubs (Macías‐Duarte et al. , Pool et al. ), and rely on grass for thermal cover at night and as source of food (Titulaer ).…”

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Winter survival of North American grassland birds is driven by weather and grassland condition in the Chihuahuan Desert

et al. 2017

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Populations of grassland birds that overwinter in the Chihuahuan Desert are declining more rapidly than other grassland birds, and survival during the non‐breeding season may have a strong influence on population trends of these species. Habitat loss and deterioration due to desertification may be contributing to these declines, and the winter ecology of grassland birds under these changing environmental conditions remains relatively unexplored. To fill this information gap, we estimated the survival of two grassland‐obligate sparrows, Baird's Sparrows (Ammodramus bairdii) and Grasshopper Sparrows (A. savannarum), on their wintering grounds in the Chihuahuan Desert, and investigated the role of habitat structure and weather on survival rates. We deployed radio‐transmitters on Baird's (N = 49) and Grasshopper (N = 126) sparrows near Janos, Chihuahua, and tracked birds from November to March during the winters of 2012–2013 and 2013–2014. Causes of mortality included avian predators, mammals, and possibly weather. We estimated an overall weekly winter survival probability of ŝ = 92.73% (95% CI[s] = 88.63–95.44%) for Baird's Sparrows in 2012–2013. We estimated a weekly winter survival probability of ŝ = 93.48% (95% CI[s] = 90.29–96.67%) and ŝ = 98.78% (95% CI[s] = 97.88–99.68%) for Grasshopper Sparrow in 2012–2013 and 2013–2014, respectively. Weekly winter survival was lower with colder daily minimum temperatures for both species and in areas with taller shrubs for Grasshopper Sparrows, with the shrubs potentially increasing predation risk by providing perches for Loggerhead Shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus). Our results highlight the need to maintain healthy grass structure in wintering areas to provide birds with food, protection from predators, and adequate cover from inclement weather. Our results also demonstrate that the presence of shrubs can lower winter survival, and suggest that shrub encroachment into the winter habitat of these sparrows may be an important driver of their population declines. Shrub removal could increase survival of wintering sparrows in the Chihuahuan Desert by reducing availability of perches for avian predators, thus reducing predation risk.

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confidence: 99%

“…However, different species may respond differently to the characteristics of winter habitat (Macías‐Duarte et al. , Panjabi et al. , Pool et al.…”

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Winter survival of North American grassland birds is driven by weather and grassland condition in the Chihuahuan Desert

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“…Both species overwinter in the Chihuahuan desert grasslands [3] where it is known that there is a strong pressure on the ecosystem [8] that in addition to the selection process of wintering habitat can cause differences in the body condition of individuals, that will ultimately affect their survival [9]. The size and body mass are used to know the nutritional status and health of the birds, more recently changes in body condition of birds have been of interest in studies of evolutionary ecology, where the adaptation ability of birds to different environmental conditions is analyzed [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphometric Characterization of the Grasshopper Sparrow (<i>Ammodramus savannarum</i>) and Baird’s Sparrow (<i>Ammodramus bairdii</i>) during the Wintering Season

Sierra-Franco¹,

Pereda-Solís²,

Martínez-Guerrero³

et al. 2015

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Grassland bird populations have declined more than any other group of bird species in North America. Some species such as the grasshopper (Ammodramus savannarum) and Baird's sparrows (Ammodramus bairdii) are of particular conservation concern, since they have shown negative trends in their population over the last 50 years. Their winter ecology has only begun to be studied recently and information is limited. The purpose of this study is to achieve the morphometric characterization of these two grassland species during the wintering season. The study is conducted in the Ran-

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Restoration of a shrub‐encroached semi‐arid grassland: Implications for structural, hydrologic, and sediment connectivity

et al. 2021

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Cross‐scale structural and functional connectivity feedbacks can amplify exogenous forces in dryland environments leading to ecosystem state change (e.g., from grassland to shrubland). Attenuation of these connectivity feedbacks would ostensibly be required to restore transitioned ecosystems to their former state. We compared structural, hydrologic, and sediment connectivity on a shrub‐encroached semi‐arid grassland in south‐eastern Arizona, USA, to that of a nearby site experiencing an increase in non‐native perennial grass (Lehmann lovegrass) abundance 5‐year following treating shrubs with tebuthiuron herbicide. Soil/vegetation attributes were quantified and paired with hydrologic experiments at fine (0.5 m2) to hillslope (50 m2) scales. Fine‐scale rainfall simulations (120 mm·h−1 rainfall intensity; 45 min) showed interspaces between shrubs were hydrologically similar on the treated and control sites, whereas herbicided shrub patches were more resource conserving than those within the control (terminal infiltration rates of 105 and 71 mm·h−1, respectively). High structural connectivity of bare ground (basal gap lengths >200 cm) was correlated with increased concentrated flow run‐off and accompanied by greater sediment yields within the untreated site at a coarse scale (~9 m2). Hillslope‐scale modelling suggested a divergence between hydrologic and sediment connectivity: run‐off from high intensity rainfall was similar between sites, while predicted sediment yield was 44% less within the tebuthiuron‐treated site. Our results indicate (i) hydraulic properties of soils between shrubs are unresponsive to herbicide treatment, (ii) disruption of structural connectivity of these interspaces associated with grass cover increases subsequent to herbicide application attenuated run‐off and the energy needed for sediment transport, and (iii) sediment connectivity is reduced by conversion to a novel grassland ecological state.

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Factors Influencing Habitat Use by Migratory Grassland Birds in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico

Cited by 45 publications

References 18 publications

Winter survival of North American grassland birds is driven by weather and grassland condition in the Chihuahuan Desert

Winter survival of North American grassland birds is driven by weather and grassland condition in the Chihuahuan Desert

Morphometric Characterization of the Grasshopper Sparrow (<i>Ammodramus savannarum</i>) and Baird’s Sparrow (<i>Ammodramus bairdii</i>) during the Wintering Season

Restoration of a shrub‐encroached semi‐arid grassland: Implications for structural, hydrologic, and sediment connectivity

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Factors Influencing Habitat Use by Migratory Grassland Birds in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico

Cited by 45 publications

References 18 publications

Winter survival of North American grassland birds is driven by weather and grassland condition in the Chihuahuan Desert

Winter survival of North American grassland birds is driven by weather and grassland condition in the Chihuahuan Desert

Morphometric Characterization of the Grasshopper Sparrow (&lt;i&gt;Ammodramus savannarum&lt;/i&gt;) and Baird’s Sparrow (&lt;i&gt;Ammodramus bairdii&lt;/i&gt;) during the Wintering Season

Restoration of a shrub‐encroached semi‐arid grassland: Implications for structural, hydrologic, and sediment connectivity

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Morphometric Characterization of the Grasshopper Sparrow (<i>Ammodramus savannarum</i>) and Baird’s Sparrow (<i>Ammodramus bairdii</i>) during the Wintering Season