Population Size of Snowy Plovers Breeding in North America

Thomas, Susan M.; Lyons, James E.; Andres, Brad A.; Mith, E Lise Elliott-S; Palacios, Eduardo; Avitt, John F. C; Royle, J. Andrew; Fellows, Suzanne D.; Maty, Kendra; Howe, William H.; Mellink, Eric; Melvin, Stefani L.; Zimmerman, Tara

doi:10.1675/063.035.0101

Cited by 30 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Snowy Plover has been given the highest conservation priority by the Gulf Coast Prairie Working Group (GCPWG 2000). Recently, Thomas et al (2012) estimated the total breeding population of Snowy Plovers in North America as 23,555 (95 % confidence limits ¼ 17,999-29,859), and noted that they may be one of the rarest of shorebirds in North America.…”

Section: Snowy Plovermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Results from a recent survey of breeding Snowy Plovers in North America, conducted in 2007 and 2008, indicated that 42 % of all breeding Plovers resided in Great Salt Lake in Utah and Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma (Thomas et al 2012). The total population for the coast of the Gulf of Mexico was 4,515 (19 % of total).…”

Section: Snowy Plovermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The total population for the coast of the Gulf of Mexico was 4,515 (19 % of total). Approximately 9 % of the North American breeding population occurs in Mexico (Thomas et al 2012).…”

Section: Snowy Plovermentioning

confidence: 99%

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Avian Resources of the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Burger¹

2017

Habitats and Biota of the Gulf of Mexico: Before the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

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Section: Snowy Plovermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Snowy Plovermentioning

confidence: 99%

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Avian Resources of the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Burger¹

2017

Habitats and Biota of the Gulf of Mexico: Before the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

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“…For example, Great Salt Lake hosts approximately 25,000 breeding white-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi), which is the world's largest breeding population (Cavitt and others, 2014). Additionally, approximately 5,500 snowy plovers (Charadrius nivosus) breed in Great Salt Lake, which is the species' largest breeding population and represents 23% of the continental population and 63% of the inland population (Thomas and others, 2012). Because of the continental and hemispheric importance of Great Salt Lake to several migratory and breeding waterbirds, it has been designated a site of Hemispheric Importance in the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (Aldrich and Paul, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury and selenium contamination in waterbird eggs and risk to avian reproduction at Great Salt Lake, Utah

Ackerman¹,

Herzog²,

Hartman³

et al. 2015

Open-File Report

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For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment-visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprodTo order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner.Suggested citation: Ackerman, J.T., Herzog, M.P., Hartman, C.A., Isanhart, J., Herring, G., Vaughn, S., Cavitt, J.F., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Browers, H., Cline, C., and Vest, J., 2015, Mercury and selenium contamination in waterbird eggs and risk to avian reproduction at Great Salt Lake, Utah: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2015-1020. ISSN 2331ISSN -1258 iii Tables Table 1. Acknowledgments Executive SummaryThe wetlands of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem are recognized regionally, nationally, and hemispherically for their importance as breeding, wintering, and migratory habitat for diverse groups of waterbirds. Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is the largest freshwater component of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem and provides critical breeding habitat for more than 60 bird species. However, the Great Salt Lake ecosystem also has a history of both mercury and selenium contamination, and this pollution could reduce the health and reproductive success of waterbirds. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of mercury and selenium contamination to birds breeding within Great Salt Lake, especially at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, and to identify the waterbird species and areas at greatest risk to contamination. We sampled eggs from 33 species of birds breeding within wetlands of Great Salt Lake during 2010 ̶ 2012 and focused on American avocets (Recurvirostra americana), blacknecked stilts (Himantopus mexicanus), Forster's terns (Sterna forsteri), white-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi), and marsh wrens (Cistothorus palustris) for additional studies of the effects of contaminants on reproduction.Mercury concentrations in eggs differed substantially among the 33 bird species studied. Caspian terns (Hydroprogne caspia; 0.87±0.09 micrograms per gram fresh wet weight [µg/g fww]) and Forster's terns (0.64±0.05 µg/g fww) had the highest egg mercury concentrations and Canada geese (Branta canadensis; 0.01±0.01 µg/g fww) had the lowest egg mercury concentrations. Trophic level alone did not explain the majority of the variation observed in egg mercury concentrations among species. Snowy plovers (Charadrius nivosus; 0.44±0.08 µg/g fww) had the third highest egg mercury concentrations and were 189% higher than those in the closely related killdeer (Charadrius v...

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“…The Great Salt Lake hosts approximately 23% of Snowy Plovers breeding in North America (Thomas et al 2012). Changing habitat conditions at Great Salt Lake from encroachment of nonnative common reeds (Phragmites australis; Kulmatiski et al 2010) and reduced freshwater inflow provide conservation challenges that may impact Snowy Plovers.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%