Secretive marsh bird habitat associations in the Mississippi Flyway: a meta-analysis

Avian Conservation and Ecology

article

Kristen M. Malone¹  Doreen Mengel³  Laura J. Kearns⁴  Sumner W. Matteson⁵  Ann E. McKellar⁶ 

[1] University of Missouri, School of Natural Resources;U.S. Geological Survey, Missouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit;Missouri Department of Conservation;Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Division of Wildlife;Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources;Canadian Wildlife Service

关键词: American Bittern;    full annual cycle conservation;    King Rail;    Least Bittern;    Sora;    Virginia Rail;    Yellow Rail;    wetland birds;    wetland habitat management;   

DOI  :  10.5751/ACE-01924-160212

学科分类：口腔科学

来源: Resilience Alliance Publications

【 摘 要 】

Secretive marsh birds, including rails and bitterns, have experienced widespread population declines due to the loss of wetland habitat on which they depend. Because of their cryptic behavior, secretive marsh birds are challenging to study and information on their habitat requirements is limited, especially across the full annual cycle. Quantifying habitat associations throughout the annual cycle and at broad geographic scales can advance a more comprehensive approach for secretive marsh bird conservation. The goal of this study was to quantitatively synthesize results from empirical studies that examined species-habitat relationships of secretive marsh birds in the North American Mississippi Flyway to identify general patterns and information gaps that can guide future management and conservation efforts. We performed a meta-analysis and incorporated results from 40 studies that quantitatively assessed habitat associations of American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus), Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis), King Rail (Rallus elegans), Sora (Porzana carolina), Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola), and Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis). Most studies examined breeding season habitat, whereas only 13% reported on habitat use during migration and none during winter. At landscape scales, breeding marsh birds were positively associated with amount of wetlands, especially in the Great Lakes region, and negatively associated with amount of urban land cover, particularly for American Bittern. At the local scale, breeding marsh birds were positively associated with cattail coverage (Typha spp) and other robust emergent vegetation. Overall, marsh birds were negatively associated with woody wetland vegetation, although effects were weaker in the Prairie region and varied among species. During autumn migration, moist-soil vegetation coverage was important for rails in the lower Midwest. The habitat use patterns we identified across studies provide a general characterization of marsh bird breeding habitat to aid in landscape-level multi-species conservation efforts. Our study also highlights the immediate research needs for full annual cycle conservation of secretive marsh bird habitat in North America: specifically, information during winter and migration.

【 授权许可】

CC BY