Influence of Drought on Annual Survival of the Mountain Plover in Montana

Dinsmore, Stephen J.

doi:10.1525/cond.2008.110.1.45

Cited by 29 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Although we did not measure reproductive success in our study, selection for historical disturbances is likely related to increased plover reproduction and/or survival. Adult survivorship of mountain plovers breeding on black‐tailed prairie dog colonies in Montana increased in drought years and decreased in wet years (Dinsmore 2008). We found large patches with >35% bare soil occurred on burns and prairie dog colonies in dry years (2007–2008), whereas bare soil declined in all habitats following above‐average precipitation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disturbance regimes and mountain plover habitat in shortgrass steppe: Large herbivore grazing does not substitute for prairie dog grazing or fire

Augustine

Derner

2012

J Wildl Manag

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Restoring historical disturbance regimes to enhance habitat for grassland birds can conflict with livestock production goals and has been controversial because of uncertainty in the frequency and pattern of different disturbances prior to European settlement. We studied nesting habitat for the mountain plover (Charadrius montanus) in relation to prescribed fire, grazing by large herbivores (cattle), and grazing by black‐tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) in the shortgrass steppe of northeastern Colorado. Breeding mountain plovers primarily occurred on black‐tailed prairie dog colonies or areas burned during the previous dormant season. Vegetation surrounding mountain plover nests and foraging locations was characterized by a fine‐scale mosaic of prostrate (<4 cm tall) vegetated patches interspersed with >35% bare soil in a given square meter, with this fine‐scale pattern distributed over a broad (>100‐m radius) area. Mountain plovers rarely occupied grassland lacking prairie dogs or recent fire, but those that did selected sites with similar vegetation height and bare soil exposure as sites on burns and prairie dog colonies. Vegetation structure at mountain plover‐occupied sites was also similar to random sites on burns and prairie dog colonies, but differed substantially from sites managed only with cattle. Intensive cattle grazing at twice the recommended stocking rate during spring (Mar–May) or summer (May–Oct) for 6 years produced significantly less bare soil than burns and prairie dog colonies, particularly following years with average or above‐average precipitation. Thus, intensive cattle grazing did not substitute for prairie dog grazing or fire in terms of effects on vegetation structure and mountain plover habitat. Both prescribed burning and increased size and distribution of black‐tailed prairie dog colonies appear to be effective and complementary means to manage for mountain plover breeding habitat in shortgrass steppe. Provision of mountain plover habitat has tradeoffs with traditional management for livestock production. Thus, managers need to clearly define desired outcomes for management to provide multiple ecosystem goods and services. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disturbance regimes and mountain plover habitat in shortgrass steppe: Large herbivore grazing does not substitute for prairie dog grazing or fire

Augustine

Derner

2012

J Wildl Manag

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The role of drought as an ecological driver of plover population recruitment is further supported by the correlation of annual survival of adult Mountain Plovers with dry climatic conditions (Dinsmore 2008) and drought-induced recruitment of young (Wunder 2007). The Colorado and Montana nest survival studies differed in the actual metric that best described the relationship; the best-fitting daily precipitation metric in our study was an extended lack of precipitation (droughts when ≥ 10 days had passed with ≤ 1 mm total rainfall), whereas Dinsmore et al (2002) reported lower survival with rain events ≥ 2.54 cm.…”

Section: Daily Precipitation Depressed Nest Survival Of Mountainmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drought and Cooler Temperatures Are Associated with Higher Nest Survival in Mountain Plovers

Dreitz¹,

Conrey²,

Skagen³

2012

ACE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ABSTRACT. Native grasslands have been altered to a greater extent than any other biome in North America. The habitats and resources needed to support breeding performance of grassland birds endemic to prairie ecosystems are currently threatened by land management practices and impending climate change. Climate models for the Great Plains prairie region predict a future of hotter and drier summers with strong multiyear droughts and more frequent and severe precipitation events. We examined how fluctuations in weather conditions in eastern Colorado influenced nest survival of an avian species that has experienced recent population declines, the Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus). Nest survival averaged 27.2% over a 7-yr period (n = 936 nests) and declined as the breeding season progressed. Nest survival was favored by dry conditions and cooler temperatures. Projected changes in regional precipitation patterns will likely influence nest survival, with positive influences of predicted declines in summer rainfall yet negative effects of more intense rain events. The interplay of climate change and land use practices within prairie ecosystems may result in Mountain Plovers shifting their distribution, changing local abundance, and adjusting fecundity to adapt to their changing environment.RÉSUMÉ. Les prairies naturelles ont été plus grandement modifiées que tout autre biome en Amérique du Nord. L'habitat et les ressources nécessaires pour favoriser la performance reproductrice des oiseaux de prairie endémiques de ces écosystèmes sont actuellement menacés par les pratiques de gestion des terres et les changements climatiques imminents. Les modèles climatiques pour les prairies des Grandes Plaines prévoient des étés plus chauds et plus secs, des sécheresses sévères durant plusieurs années et des évènements de précipitation plus fréquents et intenses que ce qu'on observe présentement. Nous avons examiné les effets des fluctuations des conditions météorologiques dans l'est du Colorado sur la survie des nids chez une espèce aviaire ayant subi un récent déclin des populations, le Pluvier montagnard (Charadrius montanus). Le taux de survie des nids s'élevait à 27,2 % en moyenne sur une période de 7 ans (n = 936 nids) et diminuait à mesure que progressait la saison de reproduction. La survie des nids était supérieure quand les conditions étaient sèches et les températures fraîches. Les changements prévus dans les tendances régionales des précipitations influenceront vraisemblablement la survie des nids : tandis que la diminution des précipitations estivales prévue entraînera un effet positif sur la survie, les évènements de précipitation plus intenses prévus auront, quant à eux, un effet négatif. L'interaction des changements climatiques et des pratiques d'utilisation des sols dans les écosystèmes de prairie amènera peut-être le Pluvier montagnard à modifier sa répartition, son abondance locale et sa fécondité pour s'adapter à l'environnement changeant.

show abstract

“…Little is known about Mountain Plover migratory ecology or wintering ground locations. Differences amongst breeding populations in their migration patterns or winter locations could lead to sex-specific survival differences in adults, possibly explaining why annual survival is similar for males and females in a breeding population of Mountain Plovers in Montana (Dinsmore 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex ratios of Mountain Plovers from egg production to fledging

Riordan¹,

Lukacs²,

Huyvaert³

et al. 2015

ACE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ABSTRACT. Skewed sex ratios can have negative implications for population growth if they do not match a species' life history. A skewed tertiary sex ratio has been detected in a population of Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus), a grassland shorebird experiencing population declines. To study the cause of the observed male skew, we examined three early life stages between egg and fledgling in eastern Colorado from 2010 to 2012. This allows us to distinguish between egg production and chick survival as an explanation for the observed skew. We examined the primary sex ratio in eggs produced and the secondary sex ratio in hatched chicks to see if the sex ratio bias occurs before hatching. We also determined the sex ratio at fledging to reveal sex-specific mortality of nestlings. The primary sex ratio was 1.01 (± 0.01) males per female. The secondary sex ratio consisted of 1.10 (± 0.02) males per female. The probability of a chick surviving to fledging differed between males (0.55 ± 0.13) and females (0.47 ± 0.15), but the precision of these survival estimates was low. Sex ratios in early life stages of the Mountain Plover do not explain the skewed sex ratio observed in adults in this breeding population. Sex-ratios de la production d'oeufs à l'envol chez le Pluvier montagnardRÉSUMÉ. Des sex-ratios déséquilibrées peuvent avoir des effets négatifs sur la croissance d'une population si elles sont trop éloignées de la biodémographie naturelle de l'espèce. Une sex-ratio tertiaire déséquilibrée a été détectée chez une population de Pluvier montagnard (Charadrius montanus), un oiseau de rivage qui se reproduit dans les prairies et dont les populations sont en baisse. Dans le but d'étudier la cause du déséquilibre observé favorisant les mâles, nous avons examiné trois stades précoces des oeufs à l'envol, dans l'est du Colorado de 2010 à 2012. Cet examen nous a permis d'établir si la production d'oeufs ou la survie des jeunes pouvait expliquer la sex-ratio déséquilibrée. Nous avons examiné la sex-ratio primaire des oeufs et la sex-ratio secondaire des poussins éclos afin de déterminer si le déséquilibre de la sex-ratio était présent avant l'éclosion. Nous avons aussi déterminé la sex-ratio des jeunes à l'envol pour obtenir la mortalité spécifique au sexe des oisillons. La sex-ratio primaire s'élevait à 1,01 (± 0,01) mâle par femelle. La sex-ratio secondaire était de 1,10 (± 0,02) mâle par femelle. La probabilité qu'un oisillon survive jusqu'à l'envol était différente entre les mâles (0,55 ± 0,13) et les femelles (0,47 ± 0,15), mais la précision de ces estimations de survie était faible. La sex-ratio observée aux stades précoces n'explique pas le déséquilibre de la sex-ratio chez les adultes de cette population nicheuse de Pluvier montagnard.

show abstract

Influence of Drought on Annual Survival of the Mountain Plover in Montana

Cited by 29 publications

References 28 publications

Disturbance regimes and mountain plover habitat in shortgrass steppe: Large herbivore grazing does not substitute for prairie dog grazing or fire

Disturbance regimes and mountain plover habitat in shortgrass steppe: Large herbivore grazing does not substitute for prairie dog grazing or fire

Drought and Cooler Temperatures Are Associated with Higher Nest Survival in Mountain Plovers

Sex ratios of Mountain Plovers from egg production to fledging

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About