Nest survival of piping plovers at a dynamic reservoir indicates an ecological trap for a threatened population

Anteau, Michael J.; Shaffer, Terry L.; Sherfy, Mark H.; Sovada, Marsha A.; Stucker, Jennifer H.; Wiltermuth, Mark T.

doi:10.1007/s00442-012-2384-y

Cited by 41 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Availability and quality of breeding habitats are critical to the conservation of Least Terns and Piping Plovers (Elliott-Smith and Haig 2004, Anteau et al 2012). An extraordinary challenge for these species is that there can be shifts in availability and quality of habitats within reservoir, river sandbar, and wetland nesting habitats in response to local weather events and water management activities within natural habitats in which both species have evolved.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An extraordinary challenge for these species is that there can be shifts in availability and quality of habitats within reservoir, river sandbar, and wetland nesting habitats in response to local weather events and water management activities within natural habitats in which both species have evolved. Thus, managers seem to be interested in creating or enhancing habitat in alternative ways (Sherfy et al 2009, Anteau et al 2012. Sandpits appear to provide a source population for Least Terns and Piping Plovers given the populations of both species continued to increase as additional nesting habitat was created within the AHR.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are a number of examples in which management of reservoirs and riverine systems presents threats to the nesting success of avian species (Brown and Johnson 1985, Whitehead and Tschirner 1990, Bayard and Elphick 2011, Anteau et al 2012. Inundation from flooding and loss of eggs and chicks can greatly reduce Least Tern and Piping Plover productivity (Faanes 1983, Sidle et al 1992, Dugger et al 2000, Szell and Woodrey 2003.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Water levels on the Platte River generally increase in late spring between the time Piping Plovers initiate and hatch nests, which is a result of Rocky Mountain snow melt and local precipitation. These increases result in the need for elevated habitat for Least Terns and elevated habitat near the shoreline for Piping Plovers to provide foraging opportunities within their territory and yet avoid inundation due to rising river levels (Anteau et al 2012. Elevated nesting habitat primarily exists only on managed off-channel sandpits and constructed off-channel sand and water sites within the AHR.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Interior Least Tern and Piping Plover nest and brood survival at managed, off-channel sites along the central Platte River, Nebraska, USA 2001-2015

Farrell¹,

Baasch²,

Farnsworth³

et al. 2018

ACE

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Interior Least Tern and Piping Plover nest and brood survival at managed, off-channel sites along the central Platte River, Nebraska, USA 2001-2015

Farrell¹,

Baasch²,

Farnsworth³

et al. 2018

ACE

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“…Under this premise, the cues of habitat quality (i.e., habitat structure) that birds use should expect to reduce the risk from predation and therefore directly correlate to the birds' nest survival rate during the breeding season (Martin 1993). However, birds sometimes face an abrupt and rapid change in environmental conditions (Anteau et al 2012), decoupling the cues used to assess nesting habitat quality, from the true quality of potential nesting sites (Schlaepfer et al 2002, Borgmann andRodewald, 2004). Consequently, they may select or 'settle for' much poorer quality habitats for nesting -a phenomenon referred to as an 'ecological trap' (Dwernychuk and Boag 1972, Battin 2004, Abrams et al 2011.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reed Parrotbill nest predation by tidal mudflat crabs: Evidence for an ecological trap?

Sun

Lloyd

et al. 2015

Ecosphere

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Abstract. Understanding the relationships between nesting habitat quality and predation risk is essential for developing appropriate conservation management for threatened species. This is particularly relevant where anthropogenic pressures could decouple the environmental cues used by birds to assess nesting habitat quality from increased predation risk. In this study, we conducted a series of surveys and nest experiments to examine the nest predation rates of Reed Parrotbill (Paradoxornis heudei ) a passerine bird between inland and tidal reed-bed wetland habitats, at Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve, Eastern China during 2008, and 2010-2012. We found significant differences in the habitat structural characteristics between the two adjacent wetland habitats that are critical for Reed Parrotbill nest-site selection. Experimental trials using recently constructed and abandoned Reed Parrotbill nests as 'artificial nests, quail eggs and predator-exclusion measures, revealed that tidal mudflat crab (Helice tientsinensis) was the primary cause of Reed Parrotbill egg predation in tidal reed-bed habitat. Annual predation rates of real nests from inland reed-bed habitat varied from 35% to 68%, and predation rates of artificial nests were much lower than those from real nests. Pitfall sampling revealed that the abundance of tidal mudflat crabs was significantly higher in tidal reed-bed habitat. Our data suggested that Reed Parrotbills breeding in tidal reed-bed habitats may be highly vulnerable due to extremely high rates of nest predation (up to 100%), caused primarily by the high density of tidal mudflat crabs. The incongruence between nest-site habitat preference and nest survival indicated an ecological trap scenario, which requires further studies on its proximate and ultimate causes as well as the development of effective conservation management for the Reed Parrotbill.

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Habitat selection and potential fitness consequences of two early‐successional species with differing life‐history strategies

Catlin

Gibson

Friedrich

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Habitat selection and its relationship to fitness is a fundamental concept in ecology, but the mechanisms driving this connection are complex and difficult to detect. Despite the difficulties in understanding such intricate relationships, it is imperative that we study habitat selection and its relationship with fitness. We compared habitat selection of least terns (Sternula antillarum) and piping plovers (Charadrius melodus) on the Missouri River (2012–2014) to examine the consequences of those choices on nest and chick survival. We hypothesized that plovers and terns would select habitat that minimized the chance of flooding and predation of eggs, chicks, and adults, but that plovers would also select habitat that would provide foraging habitat for their chicks. We developed an integrated habitat selection model that assessed selection across multiple scales (sandbar and nest scales) and directly modeled the effect of selection on nest and chick survival. In general, the species selected habitat in keeping with our hypotheses, such that predation and flooding, in particular, may have been reduced. Sandbar selection had either a negative or no appreciable effect on nest survival for both species across years. Nest‐site selection in 2012 had a generally positive effect on nest survival and chick survival for both terns and plovers, and this trended toward a negative effect by 2014. This result suggested that early selection decisions appeared to be adaptive, but we speculate that relatively high site fidelity and habitat degradation led to reduced benefit over time. Our results highlight the complex nature of habitat selection and its relationship to fitness.

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Nest survival of piping plovers at a dynamic reservoir indicates an ecological trap for a threatened population

Cited by 41 publications

References 37 publications

Interior Least Tern and Piping Plover nest and brood survival at managed, off-channel sites along the central Platte River, Nebraska, USA 2001-2015

Interior Least Tern and Piping Plover nest and brood survival at managed, off-channel sites along the central Platte River, Nebraska, USA 2001-2015

Reed Parrotbill nest predation by tidal mudflat crabs: Evidence for an ecological trap?

Habitat selection and potential fitness consequences of two early‐successional species with differing life‐history strategies

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