Population and Habitat Objectives for Avian Conservation in California’s Central Valley Grassland–Oak Savannah Ecosystems

DiGaudio, Ryan; Dybala, Kristen E.; Seavy, Nathaniel E.; Gardali, Thomas

doi:10.15447/sfews.2017v15iss1art6

Cited by 5 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(26 reference statements)

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“…Habitat objectives can be set by modeling how much habitat is needed to support the energetic needs of the population (CVJV 2006;Dybala et al 2017c, this volume), or by using densities of focal species, each representing the collective requirements of larger groups of species with similar ecological needs, to estimate the extent of habitat required to reach population objectives (DiGaudio et al 2017;Dybala et al 2017b;Strum et al 2017, all this volume). Unfortunately, none of these approaches was feasible for Central Valley waterbirds, given the lack of historical population estimates, the paucity of data on current population sizes and densities, and the broad range of food sources and habitat types used by waterbirds (which precluded bioenergetics modeling).…”

Section: Approaches To Objective Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation Objectives for Wintering and Breeding Waterbirds in California's Central Valley

Shuford¹,

Dybala²

2017

SFEWS

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Birds associated with wetlands have declined historically across North America from extensive habitat loss and degradation. Among the regions most affected is California's Central Valley, where over 90% of the wetland base has been lost. Still, this region remains of continental importance to waterbirds. On-the-ground conservation efforts for all bird groups are the focus of the Central Valley Joint Venture, guided by a periodically updated implementation plan. To track progress toward goal attainment, that plan sets time-bound, quantitative conservation goals. Lacking robust data on the size and trends of populations of most species of waterbirds in the Central Valley, we set conservation goals for this group by selecting 10 focal species. These species are of heightened conservation concern or are otherwise representative of the habitat needs of Central Valley waterbirds. Given the great loss of historical habitat, we assumed focal species populations have declined by ≥ 50%. Hence, we defined population objectives for most focal species as increasing their current populations by 10% over 10 years and doubling them in 100 years. The corresponding habitat objectives are to increase wetlands or enhance suitable crops for waterbirds in proportion to the population objectives. These include an increase over 10 years of 7,948 ha (19,641 acres) of winter seasonal wetlands, 921 ha (2,276 acres) each of semi-permanent and summer seasonal wetlands, and 573 ha (1,416 acres) of strategically placed riparian forest. Agricultural needs include additional winter flooding of 15,160 ha (37,461 acres) of rice and 2,137 ha (5,281 acres) of corn. We distributed the habitat objectives across five planning regions, in some cases favoring proportionally larger increases in those regions with the greatest need. To maximize success, however, conservationists must take into account the specific needs of individual waterbird species, as a one-size-fits-all approach will not support the highest diversity of waterbirds.

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Section: Approaches To Objective Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation Objectives for Wintering and Breeding Waterbirds in California's Central Valley

Shuford¹,

Dybala²

2017

SFEWS

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“…Two papers present the processes used to set population and habitat objectives for conservation of birds in riparian (Dybala et al 2017b) and grassland-oak savannah ecosystems (DiGaudio et al 2017). Shuford and Hertel (2017) present a framework for setting objectives for at-risk species in the Central Valley.…”

Section: The Central Valley Joint Venture Implementation Planmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Science of Setting Conservation Objectives for Birds in California’s Central Valley: An Introduction

Gardali¹,

Marty²,

Yarris³

2017

SFEWS

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“…To enable development of a conceptual framework for setting population or habitat objectives for at-risk species in the Central Valley, we first reviewed the methods being used to set such objectives for the various bird groups in the update of the CVJV implementation plan (DiGaudio et al 2017;Dybala et al 2017aDybala et al , 2017bShuford and Dybala 2017;Strum et al 2017, all this volume; 2016 email from G. Yarris, CVJV, to D. Shuford, unreferenced, see "Notes") and to what degree, if at all, these methods addressed at-risk species. We then developed a tiered approach for how population and habitat objectives for at-risk species not currently addressed might be set in the future.…”

Section: Framework For Setting Population or Habitat Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An update of the implementation plan currently underway will include chapters on the various bird groups included in the prior plan plus one on breeding grassland-oak savannah landbirds and another on at-risk birds that cuts across taxonomic groups and habitats. Other papers in the current volume provide detailed documentation of how population objectives were set for the various bird groups, except non-breeding and breeding waterfowl, covered by the CVJV's updated implementation plan (DiGaudio et al 2017;Dybala et al 2017aDybala et al , 2017bShuford and Dybala 2017;Strum et al 2017; all this volume). The technical papers and implementation plan chapters, however, vary substantially in whether they address at-risk taxa and, if so, to what degree and in what manner.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bird Species at Risk in California’s Central Valley: A Framework for Setting Conservation Objectives

Shuford¹,

Hertel²

2017

SFEWS

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Populations of many species of birds are declining worldwide from habitat loss and degradation and the effects of contamination, disease, and alien species. Effects have been great in California's Central Valley from the loss of over 90% of its historical wetland and riparian habitats. Conservation initiatives at various geographic scales have ranged from protecting and restoring habitats or ecosystems for broad suites of species to ones identifying individual declining and vulnerable taxa and spurring actions to halt or reverse their population declines. In taking the first approach, the Central Valley Joint Venture initially focused on restoring habitats and populations of wintering and breeding waterfowl but currently promotes the conservation of all birds. This joint venture is setting population and habitat objectives for seven taxonomic or habitat bird groups, but to date little attention has been paid to at-risk species of particular conservation concern. We identified 38 at-risk species, subspecies, or distinct populations of birds that warrant heightened conservation efforts in the Central Valley. At-risk birds are unevenly distributed among subregions and habitat types in this valley, but most face the primary threat of habitat loss and degradation. The treatment of at-risk species varies greatly among the seven bird groups considered by the joint venture, and, overall, conservation objectives are not addressed specifically for 50% of the region's at-risk taxa, though some surely benefit from objectives set for other groups. To adequately treat at-risk species, we recommend a framework for setting conservation objectives that evaluates assumptions about limiting factors, considers objectives already set for threatened and endangered species, assesses whether objectives set for other groups or focal species meet the needs of at-risk species lacking such objectives, establishes objectives for at-risk species for habitats or seasons not currently considered, and highlights information gaps to be filled to effectively set new or refined objectives.

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Population and Habitat Objectives for Avian Conservation in California’s Central Valley Grassland–Oak Savannah Ecosystems

Cited by 5 publications

References 20 publications

Conservation Objectives for Wintering and Breeding Waterbirds in California's Central Valley

Conservation Objectives for Wintering and Breeding Waterbirds in California's Central Valley

The Science of Setting Conservation Objectives for Birds in California’s Central Valley: An Introduction

Bird Species at Risk in California’s Central Valley: A Framework for Setting Conservation Objectives

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