Home Range Size, Nest-Site Selection and Nesting Success of Black Rails in Florida

Legare, Michael L.; Eddleman, William R.

doi:10.1648/0273-8570-72.1.170

Cited by 30 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 8 publications

(5 reference statements)

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“…Tall, dense woody cover from these riparian species may also provide refuge from high tides in the absence of an extended http://dx.doi.org/10.15447/sfews.2015v13iss4art4 marsh plain with elevation gradient connected to upland habitat, as is preferred by black rails in San Francisco Bay (Spautz et al 2005). In this respect, our findings are consistent with those of previous black rail habitat studies, indicating that, though preferred vegetation composition varies widely because of regional climate and other landscape factors, the species across their range is most commonly found among structural features that provide refuge from high tides and cover from predators (Flores and Eddleman 1995;Legare and Eddleman 2001;Spautz et al 2005;Tsao et al 2009;Richmond et al 2008). …”

Section: Habitat Associationssupporting

confidence: 91%

Distribution and Habitat Associations of California Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus) in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta

Tsao¹,

Melcer²,

Bradbury³

2015

SFEWS

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Past studies documenting the distribution and status of state "Threatened" California black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus; hereafter black rail) have largely omitted the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (hereafter Delta). During March to May of 2009-2011, we conducted call-playback surveys to assess the status of the species within a wide range of wetland habitats of the central Delta region. We detected black rails at 21 of 107 discrete wetland sites, primarily on in-channel islands with dense cover. To better understand the habitat and land cover characteristics, we developed a model of habitat suitability from these occurrence data and a fine-scale vegetation and land use dataset using MaxEnt. We also evaluated differences in the size of wetlands at sites where black rails were detected versus where they were not. Through surveys and quantitative modeling, we found black rail presence differed from other regions within California and Arizona, in that it was positively associated with tall (1 to 5 m) emergent vegetation interspersed with riparian shrubs. Specific plants correlated with black rail presence included emergent wetland (Bolboschoenus acutus, B. californicus, B. acutus, Typha angustifolia, T. latifolia, Phragmites australis) and riparian (Salix exigua, S. lasiolepis, Rosa californica, Rubus discolor, Cornus sericea) species. Median patch size was significantly larger and perimeter-to-area ratios were significantly lower at wetland sites where black rails were found. These results provide a preliminary characterization of black rail habitat in the Delta region and highlight the need for better understanding of this listed species' population size and habitat use in the region, in light of anticipated climate change effects and proposed large-scale restoration in the Delta.

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Section: Habitat Associationssupporting

confidence: 91%

Distribution and Habitat Associations of California Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus) in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta

Tsao¹,

Melcer²,

Bradbury³

2015

SFEWS

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“…Throughout the world, four species of invasive ants [Solenopsis invicta (Drees 1994;Mueller et al 1999;Allen et al 2000;Legare and Eddleman 2001;Tschinkel 2006;Smith et al 2007), Anoplolepis gracilipes (Feare 1999;Meek 2000), Linepithema humile (Fisher et al 2002;Suarez et al 2005), and Wasmannia auropunctata (Jourdan et al 2001)] are known to have negative effects on growth and/or survival of vertebrate species, including approximately 19 species of birds, 13 species of mammals, and more than 15 species of reptiles and amphibians (Holway et al 2002). Solenopsis invicta is implicated in the majority of these cases and is also the most widely studied (Drees 1994;Allen et al 2000;Legare and Eddleman 2001;Holway et al 2002;Tschinkel 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Solenopsis invicta is implicated in the majority of these cases and is also the most widely studied (Drees 1994;Allen et al 2000;Legare and Eddleman 2001;Holway et al 2002;Tschinkel 2006). Invasive ants are known to negatively affect oviparous animals by causing nest site abandonment (Feare 1999), increasing energy expenditure of parent birds (Smith et al 2007), and reducing hatching success (Giuliano et al 1996), growth rates (Giuliano et al 1996;Allen et al 1997), and survival (Drees 1994;Moulis 1996;Mueller et al 1999;Allen et al 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detrimental effects of two widespread invasive ant species on weight and survival of colonial nesting seabirds in the Hawaiian Islands

2008

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Invasive ants are a significant conservation concern and can have far-reaching effects in ecosystems they invade. We used the experimental control of ant numbers on two pairs of small (\5 ha) offshore islets dominated by either the big-headed ant, Pheidole megacephala or the tropical fire ant, Solenopsis geminata to investigate the influence of these species on seabird hatching success, fledging success and weight. Limited unpublished observations of both ant species attacking nesting seabirds exist, but the frequency of attacks or how they affect seabird growth and survival are unknown. Islandwide treatments with hydramethylnon resulted in the eradication of P. megacephala and the temporary reduction of S. geminata densities. No difference in hatching success, growth, or fledging success of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (Puffinus pacificus), a common colonial nesting seabird in the Hawaiian Islands was observed on the pair of islets dominated by P. megacephala. On islets dominated by S. geminata, ant control resulted in a temporary increase in fledging success. Injury frequency increased dramatically on the untreated islet (8.3-100%) while remaining the same on the treated islet (27-38%). Severely injured chicks (i.e., chicks that lost [20% of tissue on their feet) weighed significantly less than uninjured chicks and did not fledge. It is unclear if the chicks were being preyed upon or stung in defense of nearby ant colonies. Radical changes in invasive ant populations have been noted, and booming ant populations could cause short-term, but widespread damage to seabird colonies. The negative effects of invasive ants on seabirds may be difficult to detect, and therefore unknown or underestimated throughout the world where the two groups overlap.

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“…Fire ants have been implicated as a cause for the decline of common ground doves (Columbina passerina) in South Carolina (Cely and Glover, 2000). Fire ants were observed in Florida preying on a hatchling black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis) as it emerged from its egg (Legare and Eddleman, 2001). Legare and Eddleman (2001) noted that fire ant mounds were constructed under 16% (three nests) of the black rail nests in their study area.…”

Section: Impacts On Birdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fire ants were observed in Florida preying on a hatchling black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis) as it emerged from its egg (Legare and Eddleman, 2001). Legare and Eddleman (2001) noted that fire ant mounds were constructed under 16% (three nests) of the black rail nests in their study area. Twedt et al (2001) implicated fire ants as predators of forest birds in Mississippi including, but not limited to, blue-gray gnatcatchers (Polioptila caerulea), eastern towhees (Pipilo erythrophthalamus), indigo buntings (Passerina cyanea), northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) and yellow-billed cuckoos (Coccyzus americanus).…”

Section: Impacts On Birdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Red Imported Fire Ant Impacts on Wildlife: A Decade of Research

Allen

Epperson

Garmestani³

2004

The American Midland Naturalist

204

168

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Home Range Size, Nest-Site Selection and Nesting Success of Black Rails in Florida

Cited by 30 publications

References 8 publications

Distribution and Habitat Associations of California Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus) in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta

Distribution and Habitat Associations of California Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus) in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta

Detrimental effects of two widespread invasive ant species on weight and survival of colonial nesting seabirds in the Hawaiian Islands

Red Imported Fire Ant Impacts on Wildlife: A Decade of Research

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