Demonstrating the destruction of the habitat of the Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis)

Abstract

The Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis) is Federally protected under the Endangered Species Act of the United States of America. This legislation prohibits direct or indirect take -the killing or harming -of the protected species. In 1993 and 1995, the opening of floodgates into Everglades National Park during the normal dry season resulted in a direct take of the sparrow. The argument was also made that there was indirect take through destruction of the habitat upon which the sparrow depends. Using a combination of fieldwork and satellite image analysis, we show that the floods did damage to the habitat of the sparrow. Moreover, they did so for a period longer than the actual flooding, further increasing the sparrow's extinction risk. Recovery of the sparrow population to pre-flood levels will require an adequate and stable amount of habitat. We now have a technique for monitoring that habitat and ensuring that poor water management does not threaten it. More broadly, this technique has the potential for monitoring the habitat of many other species and avoiding another situation such as the sparrow faces.

Applications of network analysis for adaptive management of artificial drainage systems in landscapes vulnerable to sea level rise

“…This is a region vulnerable to high rates of sea level rise (Moorhead and Brinson, 1995;Titus and Richman, 2001), storm surge from hurricanes, and peat fires following drought (Poulter et al, 2006). There is evidence showing the drainage networks in the southeastern United States have altered the timing and frequency of flooding (Windemuller et al, 1997), soil and water biogeochemistry (Corstanje et al, 2006), wildlife habitat (Jenkins et al, 2003), and the resilience of wetland systems to disturbance (Poulter, 2005). Following the development of the network and application of graph theory, we provide examples from simulations that can be used to develop recommendations for future hydrologic monitoring and adaptation to sea level rise.…”

Influence of water depth on nest success of the endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow in the Florida Everglades

“…There is existing evidence that when Everglades water depths are very high, Cape Sable seaside sparrow nests are physically flooded and thus fail (Nott et al ., 1998; Lockwood et al ., 2001). If this high water persists over even a few years, there is also evidence that vegetation structure and composition is changed to such an extent that sparrows no longer find it suitable for nesting (Jenkins et al ., 2003; Ross et al ., 2006). Together, these two forces have driven some Cape Sable seaside sparrow subpopulations to near extirpation (A and D; Nott et al ., 1998; Cassey et al ., 2007; Elderd & Nott, 2008).…”

“…1). These declines have been attributed to greatly increased managed water flows in those years that precluded sparrow breeding and greatly altered available habitat (Nott et al ., 1998; Jenkins et al ., 2003). The increased managed flows have since been moderated in an attempt to recover this subspecies (Walters et al ., 2000).…”

Hydrology, habitat change and population demography: an individual‐based model for the endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis

“…1), which is the focus of our modelling efforts, is located along the western edge of the Shark River Slough, and was heavily impacted during a series of dry‐season anthropogenic water releases from 1993 to 1996 (Nott et al . 1998; Jenkins et al . 2003).…”