Status review of the Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) in Alaska and British Columbia

Piatt, John F.; Kuletz, Kathy J.; Burger, A E; Hatch, Scott A.; Friesen, Vicki L.; Birt, Tim P.; Arimitsu, Mayumi L.; Drew, Gary S.; Harding, Ann M. A.; Bixler, Kirsten S.

doi:10.3133/ofr20061387

Cited by 37 publications

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“…A large northward population shift would suggest that breeding individuals are shifting nest locations, which is not supported by the limited information on nest-site fidelity. Nest-site fidelity is common in other alcids (Divoky and Horton 1995), and individual Marbled Murrelets renest in the same stands and trees in successive years, suggesting fidelity to nest areas (Hebert et al 2003, Piatt et al 2007. Also, population-trend data from British Columbia from the 1990s to 2006 do not support a shift to the north.…”

Section: Potential Uncertainties In Samplingmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…The small isolated population at the southern end of the species' range in central California appears be at risk for further decline (Peery et al 2006). In the northern portion of its range, where it is most numerous, the species appears to have declined in Alaska by about 70% over a period of 25 years, with similar declines likely in British Columbia (Burger 2002, Piatt et al 2007.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Also, population-trend data from British Columbia from the 1990s to 2006 do not support a shift to the north. Regression of data from multiple transects along the west coast of Vancouver Island and from a single transect in Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) implies a decline for that period, suggesting a large-scale decline (Piatt et al 2007). Finally, Piatt et al (2007) reported a substantial and continuing loss of likely murrelet nesting habitat on Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii since the 1970s.…”

Section: Potential Uncertainties In Samplingmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Unlike most seabirds, however, the murrelet flies up to 50 km inland to nest (Nelson 1997). In most of its range, it is strongly associated with late-successional and old-growth forests, nesting mostly on large branches or other suitable platforms in large trees (Ralph et al 1995, McShane et al 2004, Piatt et al 2007. Largely because of timber harvesting, only a small percentage (5 to 20%, depending on region) of original old-growth coastal forest remains in the Pacific Northwest south of Canada (Morrison 1988, Norheim 1996, 1997, Strittholt et al 2006, mostly in relatively small, fragmented patches or in forest parks and reserves.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Conservation of the Marbled Murrelet requires knowledge of the status and trends of both populations and nesting habitat and of interactions between the two (Ralph et al 1995, USFWS 1997, Raphael 2006, Piatt et al 2007); the Plan monitors both (Madsen et al 1999). Nesting habitat is monitored by combining ground-based data with remote imagery to model habitat conditions and trends (Raphael et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Recent Population Decline of the Marbled Murrelet in the Pacific Northwest

et al. 2012

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Section: Potential Uncertainties In Samplingmentioning

confidence: 78%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Potential Uncertainties In Samplingmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Recent Population Decline of the Marbled Murrelet in the Pacific Northwest

et al. 2012

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Techniques for monitoring Brachyramphus murrelets: A comparison of radar, autonomous acoustic recording and audio‐visual surveys

2016

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Conditions in Alaska, USA, pose a challenge for monitoring populations of Brachyramphus murrelets using standard survey methods, because of strong winds, 2 sympatric species, short nights, and variable nesting habitat. We tested 3 methods for monitoring Brachyramphus murrelets breeding in the Kodiak Archipelago, Alaska, in 2010-2012. In addition to standard audio-visual and radar methods, we tested-for the first time with murrelets in Alaska-the application of autonomous acoustic recorders for monitoring vocal activity. We completed 74 radar, 124 audio-visual, and 134 autonomous acoustic surveys, focused on presunrise activity peaks; this yielded 26,375 murrelet detections. Marbled (B. marmoratus) and Kittlitz's murrelets (B. brevirostris) could not be distinguished using combinations of radar and acoustic recordings; therefore, at-sea surveys will be required to determine localized species proportions. Of the 3 methods, radar sampled the largest area and detected silently flying murrelets, providing the most reliable data on local populations; however, radar identification of murrelets was unreliable in winds exceeding 18 km/hr. Audio-visual surveys were useful for species identification and to document behaviors associated with local nesting, whereas autonomous acoustic recorders allowed season-long monitoring of murrelet vocal activity. Within potential forest-nesting habitat of marbled murrelets, all 3 methods gave similar measures of presunrise murrelet activity, but only radar reliably sampled murrelets commuting between nest and ocean. Because of their low cost and flexible programming, automated sound recorders offer an affordable way to sample vocal activity prior to more intensive or expensive radar and audio-visual surveys. We recommend that population monitoring and habitat studies of Brachyramphus murrelets in Alaska include combinations of all 3 methods. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

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The Importance of Reproduction for the Conservation of Slow-Growing Animal Populations

Manlik

2019

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology

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Status review of the Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) in Alaska and British Columbia

Cited by 37 publications

References 0 publications

Recent Population Decline of the Marbled Murrelet in the Pacific Northwest

Recent Population Decline of the Marbled Murrelet in the Pacific Northwest

Techniques for monitoring Brachyramphus murrelets: A comparison of radar, autonomous acoustic recording and audio‐visual surveys

The Importance of Reproduction for the Conservation of Slow-Growing Animal Populations

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