Habitat selection by mountain plovers in shortgrass steppe

Augustine, David J.

doi:10.1002/jwmg.57

Cited by 9 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(68 reference statements)

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“…To our knowledge, no studies have investigated Upland Sandpiper migration habitats, and the few studies that have examined breeding habitat generally found increased nesting densities and survival in areas that were not recently disturbed with fire or grazing (Bowen andKruse 1993, Sandercock et al 2015). However, Mountain Plovers (Charadrius montanus) rely heavily on sites disturbed by fire and prairie dogs for breeding sites and portions of their migration (Augustine 2011). Although burned landscapes (i.e., <2 yr post fire) have been found to provide breeding and nesting habitat for European Golden-plovers in moorlands (Whittingham et al 2000(Whittingham et al , 2002, no research from North American has shown that American Golden-plovers rely on burned areas during migration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Restoring fire to grasslands is critical for migrating shorebird populations

Hovick

Carroll

Elmore

et al. 2017

Ecological Applications

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Fire is a disturbance process that maintains the structure and function of grassland ecosystems while sustaining grassland biodiversity. Conversion of grasslands to other land uses coupled with altered disturbance regimes has greatly diminished the habitat available to many grassland-dependent species. These changes have been linked to declines in breeding bird populations, but may also be critical for migrating bird populations such as those shorebird species that depend on mesic grasslands during migration. We examined migratory shorebird use of burned grasslands in the southern Great Plains of North America using DISTANCE sampling to estimate and compare bird densities across recently burned and not recently burned landscapes (1-5 yr post fire). We conducted two surveys per week for 8-10 weeks along a 54-km route starting at the end of March and concluding in mid-May during 2014-2015. We encountered 2,509 total shorebirds in recently burned areas compared to 130 individuals in areas that were unburned. Fire was a major attractant for our three focal species with American Golden-plover (Pluvialis dominica), Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda), and Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) densities of 20.48, 11.09, and 26.09 birds/km in burned areas compared with 0.00, 1.27, and 0.92 birds/km in unburned areas, respectively. This research illustrates the importance of burned grassland for migrating shorebirds, a phenomenon that has largely gone unreported previously. Generally, these findings add to a body of knowledge that demonstrates the value of managing grasslands with historic disturbances that vary over space and time. The application of these findings should improve decision-making for shorebird conservation and provides evidence that prescribed fire planning should include consideration for breeding, transient, and non-breeding populations that vary in their temporal use of the landscape.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Restoring fire to grasslands is critical for migrating shorebird populations

Hovick

Carroll

Elmore

et al. 2017

Ecological Applications

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“…We studied approximately 60,900 ha of publicly managed grassland on Pawnee National Grassland and Central Plains Experimental Range in northeastern Colorado (Augustine 2011). The climate was semiarid, with cold, dry winters; most precipitation fell as rain between April and September (Lauenroth and Milchunas 1992).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such habitat conditions arise from the combined influence of semiarid to arid climates, where moisture availability limits plant cover, and disturbance by grazers and fire. In the shortgrass steppe of the southwestern Great Plains (Lauenroth et al 1999) breeding mountain plovers occur in grasslands grazed by livestock and lacking prairie dogs (Knopf and Miller 1994), but substantially greater densities occur on black‐tailed prairie dog colonies and recent burns (Tipton et al 2009, Augustine 2011). Because prairie dogs can compete with livestock (Derner et al 2006), some livestock producers and range managers have questioned whether intense livestock grazing, in the absence of prairie dogs, could generate mountain plover habitat.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because prairie dogs can compete with livestock (Derner et al 2006), some livestock producers and range managers have questioned whether intense livestock grazing, in the absence of prairie dogs, could generate mountain plover habitat. Restoration of the historical role of fire has also been suggested as a potential means to create habitat for mountain plovers and other declining wildlife (Thompson et al 2008, Knopf 2008, Augustine 2011), but has been controversial because of perceived loss of forage for livestock. This again raises the question of whether intense livestock grazing could achieve the same result.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the 1990s, mountain plover densities declined substantially in the area (Knopf 2008). However, over the past 15 years, the area occupied by black‐tailed prairie dog colonies has increased by an order of magnitude, a prescribed burning program was initiated, and substantially greater mountain plover densities have been observed on prairie dog colonies and prescribed burns compared to moderately‐grazed grassland (Augustine 2011).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Disturbance regimes and mountain plover habitat in shortgrass steppe: Large herbivore grazing does not substitute for prairie dog grazing or fire

Augustine

Derner

2012

J Wildl Manag

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Restoring historical disturbance regimes to enhance habitat for grassland birds can conflict with livestock production goals and has been controversial because of uncertainty in the frequency and pattern of different disturbances prior to European settlement. We studied nesting habitat for the mountain plover (Charadrius montanus) in relation to prescribed fire, grazing by large herbivores (cattle), and grazing by black‐tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) in the shortgrass steppe of northeastern Colorado. Breeding mountain plovers primarily occurred on black‐tailed prairie dog colonies or areas burned during the previous dormant season. Vegetation surrounding mountain plover nests and foraging locations was characterized by a fine‐scale mosaic of prostrate (<4 cm tall) vegetated patches interspersed with >35% bare soil in a given square meter, with this fine‐scale pattern distributed over a broad (>100‐m radius) area. Mountain plovers rarely occupied grassland lacking prairie dogs or recent fire, but those that did selected sites with similar vegetation height and bare soil exposure as sites on burns and prairie dog colonies. Vegetation structure at mountain plover‐occupied sites was also similar to random sites on burns and prairie dog colonies, but differed substantially from sites managed only with cattle. Intensive cattle grazing at twice the recommended stocking rate during spring (Mar–May) or summer (May–Oct) for 6 years produced significantly less bare soil than burns and prairie dog colonies, particularly following years with average or above‐average precipitation. Thus, intensive cattle grazing did not substitute for prairie dog grazing or fire in terms of effects on vegetation structure and mountain plover habitat. Both prescribed burning and increased size and distribution of black‐tailed prairie dog colonies appear to be effective and complementary means to manage for mountain plover breeding habitat in shortgrass steppe. Provision of mountain plover habitat has tradeoffs with traditional management for livestock production. Thus, managers need to clearly define desired outcomes for management to provide multiple ecosystem goods and services. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.

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Mountain plover nest survival in relation to prairie dog and fire dynamics in shortgrass steppe

Augustine

Skagen

2014

J Wildl Manag

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Disturbed xeric grasslands with short, sparse vegetation provide breeding habitat for mountain plovers (Charadrius montanus) across the western Great Plains. Maintaining local disturbance regimes through prairie dog conservation and prescribed fire may contribute to the sustainability of recently declining mountain plover populations, but these management approaches can be controversial. We estimated habitatspecific mountain plover densities and nest survival rates on black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies and burns in the shortgrass steppe of northeastern Colorado. Mountain plover densities were similar on prairie dog colonies (5.9 birds/km 2 ; 95% CI ¼ 4.7-7.4) and sites burned during the preceding dormant season (6.7 birds/km 2 ; 95% CI ¼ 4.6-9.6), whereas the 29-day nest survival rate was greater on prairie dog colonies (0.81 in 2011 and 0.39 in 2012) compared to the burned sites (0.64 in 2011 and 0.17 in 2012). Reduced nest survival in 2012 compared to 2011 was associated with higher maximum daily temperatures in 2012, consistent with a previous weather-based model of mountain plover nest survival in the southern Great Plains. Measurements of mountain plover density relative to time since disturbance showed that removal of prairie dog disturbance by sylvatic plague reduced mountain plover density by 70% relative to active prairie dog colonies after 1 year. Plover densities declined at a similar rate (by 78%) at burned sites between the first and second post-burn growing season. Results indicate that black-tailed prairie dog colonies are a particularly important nesting habitat for mountain plovers in the southern Great Plains. In addition, findings suggest that prescribed burning can be a valuable means to create nesting habitat in landscapes where other types of disturbances (such as prairie dog colonies) are limited in distribution and size. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

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Habitat selection by mountain plovers in shortgrass steppe

Cited by 9 publications

References 38 publications

Restoring fire to grasslands is critical for migrating shorebird populations

Restoring fire to grasslands is critical for migrating shorebird populations

Disturbance regimes and mountain plover habitat in shortgrass steppe: Large herbivore grazing does not substitute for prairie dog grazing or fire

Mountain plover nest survival in relation to prairie dog and fire dynamics in shortgrass steppe

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