King Rail (<i>Rallus elegans</i>) Occupancy and Abundance in Fire Managed Coastal Marshes in North Carolina and Virginia

Rogers, Samantha L.; Collazo, Jaime A.; Drew, C. Ashton

doi:10.1675/063.036.0207

Cited by 10 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(31 reference statements)

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“…Rogers et al. () also reported no statistical differences for the same vegetation structure variables between recently burned (0–1 YSB) and ⩾2 YSB marshes. The lack of differences in emergent vegetation structure suggests that regrowth can occur rapidly during the period between burning (winter months) and the onset of reproduction (late April).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Wind speed during each survey was below the upper surveying limit of 5.56 m/s (Conway , Rogers et al. ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the aforementioned species of rails benefit from prescribed burning (Conway et al 2010), little is known about the use of firemanaged marshes by breeding King Rails. Rogers et al (2013) found that King Rail occupancy was greater in recently burned marsh plots (0-1 year-since-burn [YSB]) than in ≥2 YSB plots in the Back Bay region, but the estimates of occupancy did not provide any indication that recently burned marshes were used by nesting King Rails. Measures of reproductive effort and performance would be stronger indicators of the quality of recently burned marshes because those expressions of fitness are directly related to population growth (Van Horne 1983).…”

Section: Resumen Ocurrencia De Nidos Y Supervivencia Del Rascón Realmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nest occurrence and survival of King Rails in fire-managed coastal marshes in North Carolina and Virginia

Rogers

Collazo

Drew

2013

Journal of Field Ornithology

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ABSTRACT. Prescribed burning maintains marsh habitat, but its impact on breeding King Rails (Rallus elegans) is poorly understood. This practice may serve as a means to enhance populations of a species whose numbers are declining in the southeastern United States. We used call-broadcast surveys and nest searches to categorize the state of occupied plots by the presence or non-presence of nesting activity in the Back Bay region, North Carolina and Virginia, in 2010. We also used nest video surveillance to estimate nest survival in 2009 and 2010. The probabilities that a surveyed plot was occupied ( 1 ) and contained an active nest ( 2 ) were higher in recently burned marsh plots (0-1 year-since-burn [YSB]) than in plots with ≥2 YSB at Mackay Island and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs). Highest probabilities were recorded in 0-1 YSB plots at Mackay Island NWR ( 1 = 0.96 ± 0.04, 2 = 0.75 ± 0.18), and the lowest in ≥2 YSB plots at Back Bay NWR ( 1 = 0.21 ± 0.10, 2 = 0.03 ± 0.04). Nest survival from egg laying to hatching (31 d) was 0.48 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.06-0.83), with an estimated 0.79 (95% CI = 0.29-0.96) survival rate for the incubation stage (21 d). These nest survival estimates for King Rails in fire-managed marshes were similar to estimates for other populations. Measures of vegetation cover, proxies for concealment, did not differ between nest sites and unused sites, even within recently burned marshes. This lack of differences in vegetation structure suggests that regrowth occurs rapidly during the period between burning (winter months) and the onset of reproduction (late April). Thus, recently burned marshes may benefit nesting King Rails by providing nest concealment. In addition, burned marshes may enhance availability of many invertebrates. Although we found that the probability that surveyed plots contained active nests was higher in recently burned marsh plots, estimates of fledging success are needed before marsh burns can be considered an effective means of fostering population growth. RESUMEN. Ocurrencia de nidos y supervivencia del Rascón real en pantanos costeros con manejo de fuego en Carolina del Norte y VirginiaLos incendios controlados ayudan a mantener los pantanos, pero su impacto en la reproducción del Rascón real (Rallus elegans) está poco estudiado. Esta práctica puede servir como un medio de incrementar poblaciones de una especie cuyos números han declinado en el sudeste de Estados Unidos. Usamos censos con playback y búsqueda de nidos a fin de categorizar el estado de ocupación de parcelas por la presencia o ausencia de actividad de nido en la región de Back Bay, en Carolina del Norte y Virginia, en 2010. Utilizamos también monitoreo por video de nidos para estimar la supervivencia de nido en 2009 y 2010. Las probabilidades de que una parcela censada se encontrara ocupado ( 1 ) y de que contuviese nidos activos ( 2 ) fueron más altos en pantanos recientemente incendiados (0-1 años desde quema [ADQ]) que en parcelas con ≥2 ADQ en Isla Mackay y en el Refugio Nacion...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Wind speed during each survey was below the upper surveying limit of 5.56 m/s (Conway , Rogers et al. ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resumen Ocurrencia De Nidos Y Supervivencia Del Rascón Realmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nest occurrence and survival of King Rails in fire-managed coastal marshes in North Carolina and Virginia

Rogers

Collazo

Drew

2013

Journal of Field Ornithology

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“…, Rogers et al. ). Facilitating marsh migration would likely come at the cost of habitat loss for forest‐associated wildlife, but the current rate of habitat loss for these species due to sea‐level rise is likely limited (P. J. Taillie et al., unpublished manuscript ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, Austin and Buhl , Rogers et al. ). As such, our results will help to direct future efforts to facilitate marsh migration and conserve coastal marsh birds in the context of rising sea level.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Marsh bird occupancy along the shoreline‐to‐forest gradient as marshes migrate from rising sea level

Taillie

Moorman

2019

Ecosphere

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One mechanism by which coastal marshes may persist as sea-level rises is to expand landward into existing forest, a process known as marsh migration. Though recent studies highlight the importance of marsh migration to the conservation of birds associated with coastal marshes, marsh bird responses to this transition from forest to marsh are poorly understood. To address this need, we conducted surveys of five focal marsh bird taxa at 92 points distributed across the gradient from the shoreline to the marsh-forest interface in one of the most vulnerable regions to sea-level rise in North America where marshes have been migrating landward for at least several decades. Given this landward movement of the forest-marsh interface, we modeled focal taxa occurrence as a function of distance-to-forest, thereby assuming that marshes closer to the forest were newer than those closer to the shoreline. In addition, we investigated the effects of vegetation conditions and fire frequency. Occupancy probability of marsh birds decreased closer to the forest-marsh interface where woody vegetation was taller and herbaceous cover was dominated by Cladium jamaicense, suggesting migrated marsh may provide limited habitat for these bird species, at least in the short term. Though parameter estimate uncertainty for black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis) was high due to a limited number of detections, occupancy of this species may increase with the conditions associated with migrated marsh, specifically greater C. jamaicense dominance and decreasing distance-to-forest. Clapper/king rail (Rallus crepitans/elegans) occupancy was greater at sites that had burned more frequently over the past decade, and occupancy of all focal taxa was greater in areas with vegetation conditions consistent with the effects of fire in coastal marshes, including reduced herbaceous vegetation density and shorter woody vegetation. As such, prescribed fire may serve as an effective method of facilitating marsh migration and increasing the quality and quantity of habitat for coastal marsh birds as sea-level rises.

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Seasonal home range dynamics and sex differences in habitat use in a threatened, coastal marsh bird

Kolts

McRae

2017

Ecology and Evolution

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A comprehensive understanding of spatiotemporal ecology is needed to develop conservation strategies for declining species. The king rail (Rallus elegans) is a secretive marsh bird whose range historically extended across the eastern United States. Inland migratory populations have been greatly reduced with most remaining populations inhabiting the coastal margins. Our objectives were to determine the migratory status of breeding king rails on the mid‐Atlantic coast and to characterize home range size, seasonal patterns of movement, and habitat use. Using radiotelemetry, we tracked individual king rails among seasons, and established that at least a segment of this breeding population is resident. Mean (±SE) home range size was 19.8 ± 5.0 ha (95% kernel density) or 2.5 ± 0.9 (50% kernel density). We detected seasonal variation and sex differences in home range size and habitat use. In the nonbreeding season, resident male home ranges coincided essentially with their breeding territories. Overwintering males were more likely than females to be found in natural emergent marsh with a greater area of open water. Females tended to have larger home ranges than males during the nonbreeding season. We report for the first time the use of wooded natural marsh by overwintering females. Brood‐rearing king rails led their young considerable distances away from their nests (average maximum distance: ~600 ± 200 m) and used both wooded natural and impounded marsh. King rails moved between natural marsh and managed impoundments during all life stages, but the proximity of these habitat types particularly benefitted brood‐rearing parents seeking foraging areas with shallower water in proximity to cover. Our results demonstrate the importance of interspersion of habitat types to support resident breeders. Summer draining of impounded wetlands that are seasonally flooded for wintering waterfowl allows regrowth of vegetation and provides additional habitat at a critical time for wading birds.

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King Rail (Rallus elegans) Occupancy and Abundance in Fire Managed Coastal Marshes in North Carolina and Virginia

Cited by 10 publications

References 21 publications

Nest occurrence and survival of King Rails in fire-managed coastal marshes in North Carolina and Virginia

Nest occurrence and survival of King Rails in fire-managed coastal marshes in North Carolina and Virginia

Marsh bird occupancy along the shoreline‐to‐forest gradient as marshes migrate from rising sea level

Seasonal home range dynamics and sex differences in habitat use in a threatened, coastal marsh bird

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