Selection of lake habitats by waterbirds in the boreal transition zone of northeastern Alberta

Found, C.; Webb, Shevenell M.; Boyce, Mark S.

doi:10.1139/z07-137

Cited by 15 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…On Buffalo Pound Lake, western grebes had relatively similar densities in areas with and without high levels of shoreline development. Interestingly, our findings are similar to those at the wholelake level for western grebes in Alberta, which selected waterbodies with high levels of recreational use [17]. Boat density was a strong positive predictor for western grebe density on both of our study lakes; i.e., grebes were present in higher density when boats were more abundant.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Lake Use by Three Avian Piscivores and Humans: Implications for Angler Perception and Conservation

Somers¹,

Heisler²,

Doucette³

et al. 2015

TOOENIJ

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Humans and colonial piscivorous birds are often perceived to be in conflict over shared aquatic habitats and fisheries resources in inland lakes. We examined angler perception of birds and the relative abundance of American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), western grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis), and boats on two lakes in Saskatchewan, Canada. Anglers perceived cormorants to be the biggest threat to fisheries (60%), compared to pelicans (47%), and western grebes (34%). The density of these birds and boats varied significantly between sections of the two study lakes. Boat density was higher in developed sections with shoreline communities (range 0-7/km 2 ) compared to those surrounded by agricultural land or native prairie (0-1/km 2 ). In contrast, cormorant and pelican densities were highest in areas with an undeveloped shoreline (0-22/km 2 ), and were reduced to near zero in developed sections. Western grebes did not follow the same pattern as the other two species; grebe density was generally more uniform within lakes (0-23/km 2 in all sections). Boat density was a negative predictor of pelican and cormorant density on one lake, but was a positive predictor for grebes on both lakes. Our results indicate that pelicans and cormorants avoid sections of lakes that have higher levels of human development, potentially altering the location of their foraging sites on the scale of kilometres. In contrast, western grebes were abundant in all areas of the two lakes and did not appear to avoid human development or activity. We conclude that angler perceptions are not congruent with levels of habitat use overlap with birds. In addition, western grebe responses to human activities appear counterintuitive, making interpretations difficult in a conservation context; further study is required.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Lake Use by Three Avian Piscivores and Humans: Implications for Angler Perception and Conservation

Somers¹,

Heisler²,

Doucette³

et al. 2015

TOOENIJ

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“…The explanatory variable minimum-distance-to-human-populationcenter was featured at every scale in the statewide models, providing evidence that loons prefer to situate nests on lakes further from human disturbance. A lake habitat selection study for waterbirds in Canada also found that loons prefer lakes that are farther from human activity or have more forested land within a 500-m zone (Found et al 2008). …”

Section: General Habitat Suitability Model For Common Loonmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Anthropogenic disturbances that affect loons on the breeding lakes include habitat degradation from shoreline development, encroachment of buildings on traditional nesting sites, decreased water clarity from erosion and surface runoff, nutrient enrichment, increased predator densities, changes in fish species composition, and increased human recreational activity (Titus and VanDruff 1981, Heimberger et al 1983, Jung 1991, Newbrey et al 2005, Desorbo et al 2007, Found et al 2008. Lake acidification, accidental ingestion of lead fishing tackle, and bioaccumulation of environmental contaminants such as methylmercury are other significant stressors threatening loon productivity and overall fitness (Barr 1986, Alvo et al 1988, Meyer et al 1998, Kamman et al 2005, Evers et al 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling Habitat Associations for the Common Loon (Gavia immer) at Multiple Scales in Northeastern North America

Kuhn¹,

Copeland²,

Cooley³

et al. 2011

ACE

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ABSTRACT. Common Loon (Gavia immer) is considered an emblematic and ecologically important example of aquatic-dependent wildlife in North America. The northern breeding range of Common Loon has contracted over the last century as a result of habitat degradation from human disturbance and lakeshore development. We focused on the state of New Hampshire, USA, where a long-term monitoring program conducted by the Loon Preservation Committee has been collecting biological data on Common Loon since 1976. The Common Loon population in New Hampshire is distributed throughout the state across a wide range of lake-specific habitats, water quality conditions, and levels of human disturbance. We used a multiscale approach to evaluate the association of Common Loon and breeding habitat within three natural physiographic ecoregions of New Hampshire. These multiple scales reflect Common Loon-specific extents such as territories, home ranges, and lake-landscape influences. We developed ecoregional multiscale models and compared them to single-scale models to evaluate model performance in distinguishing Common Loon breeding habitat. Based on information-theoretic criteria, there is empirical support for both multiscale and single-scale models across all three ecoregions, warranting a model-averaging approach. Our results suggest that the Common Loon responds to both ecological and anthropogenic factors at multiple scales when selecting breeding sites. These multiscale models can be used to identify and prioritize the conservation of preferred nesting habitat for Common Loon populations.RÉSUMÉ. Le Plongeon huard (Gavia immer) est considéré comme un représentant emblématique et écologiquement important de la faune dépendante du milieu aquatique en Amérique du Nord. L'aire de reproduction du Plongeon huard a subi une contraction depuis le siècle passé en raison de la dégradation de son habitat consécutive au dérangement humain et à l'augmentation de l'occupation humaine sur les bords de lacs. Nous avons choisi le cas du New Hampshire, É.-U., car il y existe un programme de suivi à long terme effectué par le Loon Preservation Committee, qui collige les données biologiques sur l'espèce depuis 1976. La population du Plongeon huard est répartie partout dans cet État, selon une grande variété de milieux lacustres, de conditions de qualité d'eau et de degrés de dérangement humain. Nous avons utilisé une approche multi-échelles afin d'évaluer la relation entre le Plongeon huard et son habitat de nidification, dans trois écorégions physiographiques naturelles au New Hampshire. Ces différentes échelles reflètent d'autres caractéristiques relatives au Plongeon huard, comme les territoires, les domaines vitaux et les influences lac-paysage. Nous avons élaboré des modèles multi-échelles écorégionaux et les avons comparés à des modèles tenant compte d'une seule échelle pour évaluer leur performance à distinguer correctement l'habitat de nidification du Plongeon huard. D'après les critères de la théorie de l'information, les observations empiriq...

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“…Past studies have reported factors correlated with occupancy of the Western Grebe, including fish-bearing lakes and ice-free periods for nesting (Nuechterlein 1975, Riske 1976, Forbes 1984, Found et al 2008, as well as correlates of persistence (constancy in occupancy over time) (Rahel 1990) probability. The relative probability of persistence of the Western Grebe was modeled relative to key habitat variables on Alberta lakes throughout its breeding range that were known to have supported the species (Erickson et al 2014); Western Grebe persistence on a subset of once-occupied lakes was positively correlated with the proportion of shoreline bulrush (Scirpus lacustris), and was inversely related to the proportion of forested backshore.…”

Section: Fig 1 Decline In Westernmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within a geographical information system (GIS) ArcMap (Environmental Systems Research Institute 2008), we used both georeferenced aerial photography and satellite imagery (0.5-1.0 m resolution) to digitize and calculate additional variables, including shoreline perimeter and linear extent of emergent vegetation, as well as proportion of human development and proportion/type of backshore vegetation within a 500-m buffer surrounding each lake (see Found et al 2008, Erickson et al 2014. Anthropogenic development and emergent vegetation were digitized using ground-truthed data and digital aerial photography as a reference.…”

Section: Habitat Surveysmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat associations with counts of declining Western Grebes in Alberta, Canada

Erickson¹,

Found-Jackson²,

Boyce³

2017

ACE

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ABSTRACT. During the past several decades, numbers of Western Grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis) have declined throughout their breeding and wintering ranges in North America. We estimated Western Grebe abundance and documented habitat factors between 2007 and 2009 from 43 lakes in Alberta, Canada where Western Grebes historically have occurred, to (1) compare Western Grebe abundance with the relative probability of persistence, and (2) identify habitat correlates of grebe abundance. The relative probability of Western Grebe persistence was correlated with abundance in the study area, although only 19% of the variation in persistence probability was explained by abundance. Western Grebe abundance was positively correlated with the shoreline extent of emergent bulrush (Scirpus lacustris), which is consistent with past studies and underlies the importance of protecting emergent vegetation in efforts to conserve Western Grebes. Grebe abundance also was positively correlated with a longer shoreline perimeter, but was inversely correlated with the amount of forested backshore, which occurred on lakes primarily at the northern margins of Western Grebe range. The amount of backshore development was positively associated with Western Grebe abundance, which might reflect a preference for similar lake characteristics by humans and grebes. These relationships are important to consider in the context of implementing and managing recovery of the Western Grebe in Alberta. La probabilité relative de persistance du Grèbe élégant était corrélée avec son abondance dans l'aire d'étude, quoique 19 % seulement de la variabilité de la probabilité de persistance était expliquée par l'abondance. L'abondance de ce grèbe était positivement corrélée avec l'étendue de joncs émergents (Scirpus lacustris) sur les rives, un résultat conforme aux études passées et qui souligne l'importance de protéger la végétation émergente pour la conservation du Grèbe élégant. L'abondance de ce grèbe était aussi corrélée positivement avec un grand périmètre de rive, mais était inversement corrélée avec la quantité de haut de plage forestier, qu'on trouve principalement sur les lacs situés à la limite nord de l'aire du Grèbe élégant. Le degré de sinuosité du haut de plage était positivement associé avec l'abondance de ce grèbe, ce qui reflète sans doute une préférence pour des caractéristiques de lacs similaires chez les humains et les grèbes. Ces relations sont importantes à considérer dans la mise en place et la gestion du rétablissement du Grèbe élégant en Alberta. Associations entre l'habitat et les dénombrements de

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Selection of lake habitats by waterbirds in the boreal transition zone of northeastern Alberta

Cited by 15 publications

References 18 publications

Lake Use by Three Avian Piscivores and Humans: Implications for Angler Perception and Conservation

Lake Use by Three Avian Piscivores and Humans: Implications for Angler Perception and Conservation

Modeling Habitat Associations for the Common Loon (Gavia immer) at Multiple Scales in Northeastern North America

Habitat associations with counts of declining Western Grebes in Alberta, Canada

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