Population dynamics of the endangered Cape Sable seaside-sparrow

Curnutt, John L.; Mayer, Audrey L.; Brooks, Thomas M.; Manne, Lisa L.; Bass, Oron L.; Fleming, D. Martin; Nott, M. Philip; Pimm, Stuart L.

doi:10.1017/s1367943098001024

Cited by 13 publications

(42 citation statements)

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“…Seaside (Ammodramus maritimus) and Saltmarsh sparrows are predominantly insectivorous and are tidal marsh obligates. The specific habitat requirements of these sparrows make them sensitive to habitat alterations such as marsh ditching (Austin 1983;Greenlaw 1992), water table manipulations (Walters 1992), rising sea levels (Shriver and Gibbs 2004), fire management (Curnutt et al 1998;Taylor 1983;Werner 1975), and possibly, Hg contamination (Shriver et al 2006). Seaside and Saltmarsh sparrows breed sympatrically, have similar diets, are site-tenacious, complete their entire annual cycle in salt marsh ecosystems, are long lived, and are relatively easy to sample (Greenlaw and Rising 1994;Post 1974;Post andGreenlaw 1994, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury concentrations in tidal marsh sparrows and their use as bioindicators in Delaware Bay, USA

Warner

Shriver

Pepper

et al. 2010

Environ Monit Assess

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Mercury (Hg) contamination from industrial sources is pervasive throughout North America and is recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency as a health hazard for wildlife and humans. Avian species are commonly used as bioindicators of Hg because they are sensitive to contaminants in the environment and are relatively easy to sample. However, it is important to select the appropriate avian species to use as a bioindicator, which should be directly related to the project objectives. In this study, we tested the utility of two tidal marsh sparrows, Seaside (Ammodramus maritimus) and Saltmarsh (Ammodramus caudacutus) sparrows, as bioindicator species of the extent of Hg contamination in tidal marshes along the Delaware Bay. To determine the possibility of using one or both of these species, we estimated sparrow blood Hg burden in five Delaware watersheds. We found no difference in Hg concentrations between species (F (1,133) < 0.01, P=0.99), but Saltmarsh Sparrows had limited sample size from each site and were, therefore, not appropriate for a Delaware Bay-wide Hg indicator. Seaside Sparrows, however, were abundant and relatively easy to sample in the five watersheds. Seaside Sparrow blood Hg levels ranged from 0.15 to 2.12 ppm, differed among drainages, and were greatest in two drainages distant from the Delaware Bay shoreline (F (4,95) =2.51, P=0.05). Based on a power analysis for Seaside Sparrow blood Hg, we estimated that 16 samples would be necessary to detect differences among sites. Based on these data, we propose that Seaside Sparrows may be used as a tidal marsh Hg bioindicator species given their habitat specificity, relative abundance, widespread distribution in marsh habitats, ease of sampling, and limited variation in blood Hg estimates within a sampling area. In Delaware Bay, Saltmarsh Sparrows may be too rare (making them difficult to sample) to be a viable tidal marsh Hg bioindicator.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury concentrations in tidal marsh sparrows and their use as bioindicators in Delaware Bay, USA

Warner

Shriver

Pepper

et al. 2010

Environ Monit Assess

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“…1). Cape Sable seaside sparrows occur in six primary local populations that are separated by unsuitable habitats, such as sloughs and wooded areas (Curnutt et al . 1998; Pimm et al .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1996; Gray 2005). Our motivating example was estimating effects of hydrological changes on the Cape Sable seaside sparrow Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis (L.), a small, passerine bird endemic to wetlands in the southern Everglades, Florida, USA (Kushlan & Bass 1983; Curnutt et al . 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A quantile count model of water depth constraints on Cape Sable seaside sparrows

Cade

Dong²

2007

Journal of Animal Ecology

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Summary 1.A quantile regression model for counts of breeding Cape Sable seaside sparrows Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis (L.) as a function of water depth and previous year abundance was developed based on extensive surveys, 1992-2005, in the Florida Everglades. The quantile count model extends linear quantile regression methods to discrete response variables, providing a flexible alternative to discrete parametric distributional models, e.g. Poisson, negative binomial and their zero-inflated counterparts. 2.Estimates from our multiplicative model demonstrated that negative effects of increasing water depth in breeding habitat on sparrow numbers were dependent on recent occupation history. Upper 10th percentiles of counts (one to three sparrows) decreased with increasing water depth from 0 to 30 cm when sites were not occupied in previous years. However, upper 40th percentiles of counts (one to six sparrows) decreased with increasing water depth for sites occupied in previous years. 3. Greatest decreases (-50% to -83%) in upper quantiles of sparrow counts occurred as water depths increased from 0 to 15 cm when previous year counts were ≥ 1, but a small proportion of sites (5-10%) held at least one sparrow even as water depths increased to 20 or 30 cm. 4. A zero-inflated Poisson regression model provided estimates of conditional means that also decreased with increasing water depth but rates of change were lower and decreased with increasing previous year counts compared to the quantile count model. Quantiles computed for the zeroinflated Poisson model enhanced interpretation of this model but had greater lack-of-fit for water depths > 0 cm and previous year counts ≥ 1, conditions where the negative effect of water depths were readily apparent and fitted better with the quantile count model.

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“…This correction is based on the range at which we can detect the sparrow's distinctive songa circle with a radius of 200 m or one eighth of a square kilometre -and on the assumption that one female accompanies each singing male; Curnutt et al (1998) provide details.…”

Section: The Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow Its Habitat and Its Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1, it is possible to distinguish between the wetter vegetation in the central part of Shark River Slough and the drier prairies on either side. In colour (see Curnutt et al, 1998) and at a finer resolution, it is possible to distinguish many other more subtle vegetative features.…”

Section: Stage I: Predicting the Habitatmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demonstrating the destruction of the habitat of the Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis)

Jenkins¹,

Powell²,

Bass³

et al. 2003

Animal Conservation

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The Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis) is Federally protected under the Endangered Species Act of the United States of America. This legislation prohibits direct or indirect take -the killing or harming -of the protected species. In 1993 and 1995, the opening of floodgates into Everglades National Park during the normal dry season resulted in a direct take of the sparrow. The argument was also made that there was indirect take through destruction of the habitat upon which the sparrow depends. Using a combination of fieldwork and satellite image analysis, we show that the floods did damage to the habitat of the sparrow. Moreover, they did so for a period longer than the actual flooding, further increasing the sparrow's extinction risk. Recovery of the sparrow population to pre-flood levels will require an adequate and stable amount of habitat. We now have a technique for monitoring that habitat and ensuring that poor water management does not threaten it. More broadly, this technique has the potential for monitoring the habitat of many other species and avoiding another situation such as the sparrow faces.

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Population dynamics of the endangered Cape Sable seaside-sparrow

Cited by 13 publications

References 0 publications

Mercury concentrations in tidal marsh sparrows and their use as bioindicators in Delaware Bay, USA

Mercury concentrations in tidal marsh sparrows and their use as bioindicators in Delaware Bay, USA

A quantile count model of water depth constraints on Cape Sable seaside sparrows

Demonstrating the destruction of the habitat of the Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis)

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