Dependence of the Endangered Black‐Capped Vireo on Sustained Cowbird Management

Wilsey, Chad B.; Lawler, Joshua J.; Cimprich, David A.; Schumaker, Nathan H.

doi:10.1111/cobi.12176

Cited by 25 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…This includes 3 endangered avian taxa (Kirtland's warbler [ Setophaga kirtlandii ], least Bell's vireo [ Vireo bellii pusillus ], and southwestern willow flycatcher [ Empidonax traillii extimus ]) and 1 recently delisted species (black‐capped vireo [ Vireo atricapilla ]). All 4 taxa are considered conservation‐reliant throughout large parts of their range, in part because of their presumed dependence on control of populations of an obligate brood parasite, the brown‐headed cowbird ( Molothrus ater ; Kus and Whitfield , Michigan Department of Natural Resources [MDNR] et al , Wilsey et al ).…”

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confidence: 99%

Reducing the conservation reliance of the endangered Kirtland's warbler through adaptive management

2019

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Species are considered conservation‐reliant when their continued existence is dependent on human assistance. Conservation reliance challenges the conservation community in terms of their ability to sustain the funding and public‐private partnerships needed for indefinite management. Although increased funding for conservation is critical, reducing conservation reliance through adaptive management represents an attractive alternative. We used a large‐scale ecological experiment as a case study in the use of adaptive management to reduce conservation reliance. For >40 years, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has trapped and lethally removed an obligate brood parasite, the brown‐headed cowbird (Molothrus ater), to protect the Kirtland's warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii) from the negative effects that brood parasitism has on its reproductive success. To determine if the conservation reliance of the Kirtland's warbler could be reduced through optimization of the cowbird control program, we used an adaptive management approach. In collaboration with stakeholders, we experimentally reduced cowbird trapping effort across nearly all of the Kirtland's warbler breeding range. We monitored the resulting cowbird abundance and rate of parasitism, and then adjusted the scale of trap reductions based on the previous year's results. Despite reducing (2015–2017) and eventually eliminating (2018) cowbird trapping, we detected only 20 cowbirds (2015–2017) and found that just 4 of 514 (<1%) nests were parasitized (2015–2018). Our results indicate that the cowbird control program can at least temporarily be suspended, thereby reducing conservation reliance in the Kirtland's warbler and freeing funds for other management. We urge the conservation community to consider the use of adaptive management to reduce conservation reliance in other threatened and endangered taxa. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.

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Reducing the conservation reliance of the endangered Kirtland's warbler through adaptive management

2019

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“…We simply develop our estimates based on the habitat quality of the landscape and don't include the mechanisms by which an individual territory may succeed or fail. Alternative approaches have combined nonspatial population growth models with individual-based spatially explicit models, making it possible to incorporate different population drivers (e.g., parasitism) to abundance estimates (Wilsey et al 2014). Both methods convert habitat suitability into population estimates, but our results are limited to the relative changes of the estimated maximum number of territories a landscape can support.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting effects of future development on a territorial forest songbird: methodology matters

et al. 2017

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Context Projected increases in human population size are expected to increase forest loss and fragmentation in the next century at the expense of forestdwelling species. Objectives We estimated landscape carrying capacity (N k ) for Ovenbirds in urban, suburban, exurban, and rural areas for the years 2000 and 2050, and compared changes in N k with changes in occupancy probability.Methods Maximum clique analysis, a branch of mathematical graph theory, was used to estimate landscape carrying capacity, the maximum potential number of territories a given landscape is capable of supporting (N k ). We used occupancy probability maps as inputs for calculating Ovenbird N k in the northeastern USA and a spatially explicit growth model to forecast future development patterns in 2050. We compared occupancy probability with estimates of N k for urban, suburban, exurban, and rural areas for the years 2000 and 2050.Results In response to human population growth and development, Ovenbird N k was predicted to decrease 123Landscape Ecol (2018Ecol ( ) 33:93-108 https://doi.org/10.1007 23% in urban landscapes, 28% in suburban landscapes, 43% in exurban landscapes, and 20% in rural landscapes. These decreases far exceeded decreases in mean occupancy probabilities that ranged between 2 and 5% across the same development categories. Thus, small decreases in occupancy probability between 2000 and 2050 translated to much larger decreases in N k . Conclusions For the first time, our study compares occupancy probability with a species population metric, N k , to assess the impact of future development. Maximum clique analysis is a tool that can be used to estimate N k and inform landscape management and communication with stakeholders.

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“…However, the eastward spread of brown‐headed cowbirds into BCVI breeding areas has had a recent negative effect on some populations (Wilsey et al. 2014), although the overall magnitude of the effect is unclear given that cowbirds have co‐occurred with vireos at least since the LGM. In addition, there is evidence of a consistent predatory species pool of mammals, reptiles, and raptors since the LGM and in Holocene localities in Texas (Blair 1952; Smith et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fluctuating fire regimes and their historical effects on genetic variation in an endangered shrubland specialist

Vázquez‐Miranda

Barr

Farquhar

et al. 2015

Ecology and Evolution

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The Pleistocene was characterized by worldwide shifts in community compositions. Some of these shifts were a result of changes in fire regimes, which influenced the distribution of species belonging to fire‐dependent communities. We studied an endangered juniper–oak shrubland specialist, the black‐capped vireo (Vireo atricapilla). This species was locally extirpated in parts of Texas and Oklahoma by the end of the 1980s as a result of habitat change and loss, predation, brood parasitism, and anthropogenic fire suppression. We sequenced multiple nuclear loci and used coalescence methods to obtain a deeper understanding of historical population trends than that typically available from microsatellites or mtDNA. We compared our estimated population history, a long‐term history of the fire regime and ecological niche models representing the mid‐Holocene, last glacial maximum, and last interglacial. Our Bayesian skyline plots showed a pattern of historical population fluctuation that was consistent with changing fire regimes. Genetic data suggest that the species is genetically unstructured, and that the current population should be orders of magnitude larger than it is at present. We suggest that fire suppression and habitat loss are primary factors contributing to the recent decline of the BCVI, although the role of climate change since the last glacial maximum is unclear at present.

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Dependence of the Endangered Black‐Capped Vireo on Sustained Cowbird Management

Cited by 25 publications

References 23 publications

Reducing the conservation reliance of the endangered Kirtland's warbler through adaptive management

Reducing the conservation reliance of the endangered Kirtland's warbler through adaptive management

Predicting effects of future development on a territorial forest songbird: methodology matters

Fluctuating fire regimes and their historical effects on genetic variation in an endangered shrubland specialist

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