American White Pelicans and Recreational Boaters on Lakes of the North American Great Plains: Habitat Use Overlap

Gaudet, Carolyn A.; Somers, Christopher M.

doi:10.2174/1874453201407010001

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The results of model averaging were ambiguous as to whether cormorants and pelicans were avoiding boats specifically, or whether some other factor was influencing the observed pattern. More direct observations of pelican responses to the presence of boats have also yielded similar, uncertain outcomes [18]. However, our own observations on both lakes suggest that foraging flocks of cormorants flush at distances greater than 600 m when approached by a moving powerboat (C. Somers, unpublished data).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

“…Recent economic prosperity based on fossil fuel extraction has resulted in an increasing human population, and additional demand for recreational property and activities on a small number of fish-bearing lakes [18]. Populations of American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorynchos; hereafter pelican) and double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus; hereafter cormorant) have been increasing substantially over the previous few decades [19], escalating potential fisheries conflicts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Somers¹,

Heisler²,

Doucette³

et al. 2015

TOOENIJ

Self Cite

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show abstract

“…2007; Kitchen et al . 2011; Gaudet and Somers 2014). Such differences in coping with stress have been linked to distinct behavioural traits such as breeding performance (Bókony et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The present study supports these findings based on findings from an entire, unfragmented landscape scale. Individual tolerance of human presence or even individual habituation to human activities has been shown in several bird species (Arlettaz et al 2007;Kitchen et al 2011;Gaudet and Somers 2014). Such differences in coping with stress have been linked to distinct behavioural traits such as breeding performance (Bókony et al 2009) and individual personalities (Carere et al 2010;Wolf and Weissing 2012;Merrick and Koprowski 2017).…”

Section: Human Disturbancementioning

confidence: 99%

High-quality habitats and refuges from tourism reduce individual stress responses in a forest specialist

Rösner

Schabo²,

Palme³

et al. 2023

Wildlife Res.

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Context. The assessment of suitable habitat for a species is often evaluated based merely on where the species is most abundant. However, a variety of environmental factors such as temperature, resources and human disturbances might force animals to avoid otherwise high-quality habitats. Additionally, individuals' capacities to cope with such factorsas reflected in physiological stress responsesmay also contribute to avoidance. Combining measures of stress response of individual animals with habitat suitability models may contribute essential insights to the development of species conservation plans. Aims. We used a landscape-level approach to assess whether habitat quality, abiotic factors and human disturbance affect the physiological stress response of a forest specialist, the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), and to what extent these relationships are determined by variation between individuals. Methods. We applied a noninvasive approach by collecting 1096 droppings across the entire species range in two adjacent national parks spanning the border between the Czech Republic and Germany. We measured faecal corticosterone metabolites (FCMs) to evaluate the physiological stress response. To test the influences of temperature, habitat quality, season and sex, as well as forest management and tourism intensity on FCM levels, we used generalised additive mixed effect models (GAMMs). The same models were applied for a reduced subset of randomly selected samples that were attributed to individuals via DNA profiling using 10 microsatellite loci. This approach allowed us to control for possible individual differences (through repeated measures within individual genotypes). Key results. Both models revealed decreasing FCM levels with increasing habitat quality and showed no relationship between increasing forestry intensity and FCMs. When accounting for individual identity, we found a significant positive effect from increasing tourism intensity, although this relationship was not significant in the full dataset. Conclusions. Our results highlight three conclusions for the conservation of capercaillie: (1) high-quality habitats reduce stress levels; (2) tourism-free refuge areas are important, and (3) individuality appears to be a strong determinant of response to environmental factors. Implications. Generalising management recommendations from observations for single individuals to an entire population may be inappropriate.

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Implications of spring water levels on the production of American white pelicans nesting at marsh lake, Minnesota

2015

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We investigated the relationship between spring water levels and production of American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) nesting colonially at Marsh Lake in southwest Minnesota during 2003–2012. We obtained estimates of pelican nest and chick numbers from aerial photographs to determine population levels. We used historical streamflow data to characterize April water conditions, a period when nest‐site selection typically occurs. Pelicans used 4 islands and 1 peninsula for nesting, ranging from relatively high‐elevation sites connected to or near the mainland to more distant low‐elevation sites in the middle of the lake. The number and proportion of nests on high‐elevation sites are positively related to discharge in the Upper Minnesota River during April. In years when high water inundates low‐elevation sites during pelican nest‐site selection, pelican nests were located on the high‐elevation locations near or connected to the mainland. Over 90% of the variation in the number of nests on high‐elevation sites is related to the mean daily discharge in the Upper Minnesota River during April. In addition, the proportion of nests on high‐elevation sites also increases as mean daily discharge during April increases. However, chick production was negatively related to discharge during April. More than 84% of the variation in the number of near‐fledged chicks produced per nest was related to mean daily discharge during April. Although high‐elevation sites in close proximity to the mainland offered nesting pelicans refuge from high water levels, they also expose American white pelican nests to greater predator risk. Nest camera monitoring indicated that high‐elevation sites exhibited significantly higher predator activity than low‐elevation sites, and experienced lower nest success (i.e., probability that at least 1 egg from the nest hatched). Proposed changes in the management of Marsh Lake call for the installation of a water control structure at the Marsh Lake dam that will allow for active management of lake levels. Our study provides managers with models for predicting impacts of water levels on American white pelican production. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.

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American White Pelicans and Recreational Boaters on Lakes of the North American Great Plains: Habitat Use Overlap

Cited by 4 publications

References 29 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

High-quality habitats and refuges from tourism reduce individual stress responses in a forest specialist

Implications of spring water levels on the production of American white pelicans nesting at marsh lake, Minnesota

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