Predicting breeding shorebird distributions on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska

Saalfeld, Sarah T.; Lanctot, Richard B.; Brown, Stephen C.; Saalfeld, David T.; Johnson, James A.; Andres, Brad A.; Bart, Jonathan

doi:10.1890/es12-00292.1

Cited by 15 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Many Arctic shorebirds and passerines prefer lowland habitat types for feeding and nesting (e.g., Bart and Smith 2012;Saalfeld et al 2013), and some species select highly concealed nest sites in graminoid-dominated habitat types (Boal and Anderson 2005;Smith et al 2007;Walpole et al 2008). In contrast, some highly vigilant species such as the Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) or Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) actively select nest sites with an open view of the surroundings (Smith et al 2007).…”

Section: Impacts On Sympatric Species' Habitat Availabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Do hyperabundant Arctic-nesting geese pose a problem for sympatric species?

Flemming

Calvert²,

Nol

et al. 2016

Environ. Rev.

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Arctic-breeding geese are at record high population levels and are causing significant changes to some of their breeding and staging habitats. These changes could influence sympatric wildlife, but the nature and strength of these effects are unknown. Here, we review the interactions between geese and sympatric species and propose future research that could help to fill important knowledge gaps. We suggest that geese may be indirectly affecting other species through changes to nesting habitat, prey availability, and predator–prey interactions. Many ground-nesting Arctic birds prefer vegetated wet tundra habitats that offer concealed nest sites; areas also heavily used by breeding and staging geese. Where goose foraging exceeds the capacity of the plants to regenerate, habitats have shorter graminoids and more exposed substrate, potentially reducing the availability of concealed nest sites for other birds. Studies have documented local reductions in the abundance of these concealed-nesting species, such as shorebirds. Despite the nutrient enrichment contributed by goose feces, habitats heavily altered by geese have also been shown to host a reduced diversity and abundance of some invertebrate groups. In contrast, generalist predators show positive functional and numerical responses to the presence of breeding geese. Therefore, the risk of predation for alternative or incidental prey (e.g., lemmings or small bird nests) is likely elevated within or near breeding colonies. Studies have demonstrated a reduced abundance of small mammals in areas heavily used by geese, but it is unknown whether this is related to shared predators or habitat alteration. Sympatric wildlife could be further affected through higher stress-levels, altered body condition, or other physiological effects, but there is currently no evidence to demonstrate such impacts. Few studies have explored the potential effects of geese at larger spatial scales, but we suggest that hyperabundant geese could result in regional declines in the abundance and diversity of shorebirds and passerines. We recommend coordinated studies across multiple regions to quantify nesting habitat, arthropod communities, and predator–prey interactions in response to nearby goose colonies. To align with current multispecies approaches to conservation, adequate knowledge of the potential effects of hyperabundant goose populations on other wildlife should be a priority.

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Section: Impacts On Sympatric Species' Habitat Availabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Do hyperabundant Arctic-nesting geese pose a problem for sympatric species?

Flemming

Calvert²,

Nol

et al. 2016

Environ. Rev.

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show abstract

“…Goose-induced habitat alteration in Arctic wetlands has the potential to influence the availability of habitat for shorebirds that breed sympatrically with geese (Flemming, Calvert, Nol, & Smith, 2016;Sammler, Andersen, & Skagen, 2008;Swift, Rodewald, & Senner, 2017). Many shorebirds nest among grasses and sedges in graminoid-dominated habitats (Cunningham, Kesler, & Lanctot, 2016;Saalfeld et al, 2013;Smith, Gilchrist, & Smith, 2007) to conceal their nests from predators (Smith et al, 2007). By doing so, some species increase their nest survival (Bentzen et al, 2017;Walpole, Nol, & Johnston, 2008) and may receive thermoregulatory benefits (Miller, Nol, Nguyen, & Turner, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hyperabundant herbivores limit habitat availability and influence nest site selection of Arctic‐breeding birds

Flemming

Nol

Kennedy

et al. 2019

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Understanding an organism's habitat selection and behavioural flexibility in the face of environmental change can help managers plan for future conservation of that species. Hyperabundant tundra‐nesting geese are influencing Arctic environments through their foraging activities. Goose‐induced habitat change in Arctic wetlands may influence the availability of habitat for numerous shorebird species that breed sympatrically with geese. We explore whether goose‐induced habitat alteration affects shorebird breeding density and nest site selection. Using habitat data collected at sites with High, Moderate and Low goose influence, and samples collected during two periods separated by 11 years, we document the habitat characteristics influenced by geese. We describe the habitat characteristics preferred by shorebirds and relate their availability to goose influence and shorebird density. Finally, we examine whether shorebird nest site selection has changed over time and whether shorebirds select nest sites differently in habitat influenced by geese. We document spatial and temporal changes in sedge meadow habitat and lateral concealment relating to goose influence. The availability of sedge meadow habitat and the degree of lateral concealment declined with increasing goose influence, and also declined at two sites over the 11 years of the study. Densities of both cover‐ and open‐nesting shorebirds were highest where goose influence was lowest. At sites with Low goose influence, cover‐nesting shorebirds selected nest sites with more sedge meadow and concealment than at sites with Moderate and High goose influence, presumably because these high‐quality sites were more available. Synthesis and applications. Intensive foraging by a colony of hyperabundant geese is limiting the availability of preferred nesting habitat and densities of sympatric‐nesting shorebirds. Where goose‐induced habitat alteration is pronounced shorebird species that select concealed nest sites are nesting in areas with lower concealment and less sedge meadow. Studies examining the degree to which these effects scale up to impact the population sizes of declining shorebirds should be considered a future research priority. Moreover, management strategies for geese should incorporate the habitat needs of sympatric species and reinvigorate efforts for goose population reduction in order to achieve the population targets articulated by management agencies.

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“…In the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska, habitat suitability for eight species of shorebird was found to be positively related to the proportional cover of lowland habitat (Saalfeld et al. ). Snow and Ross’ Geese also nest in wet, lowland areas (Batt , Lecomte et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many shorebird and passerine species select wet sedge-dominated sites for nesting and, specifically, select nest sites with higher vegetative cover that conceals nests from predators (Smith et al 2007a, Walpole et al 2008, Cunningham et al 2016). In the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska, habitat suitability for eight species of shorebird was found to be positively related to the proportional cover of lowland habitat (Saalfeld et al 2013). Snow and Ross' Geese also nest in wet, lowland areas (Batt 1997, Lecomte et al 2008) and forage in wet sedge meadows (Jefferies and Rockwell 2002, Jefferies et al 2006, Slattery and Alisauskas 2007, Conkin and Alisauskas 2017.…”

Section: Habitat Effectsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Broad‐scale changes in tundra‐nesting bird abundance in response to hyperabundant geese

et al. 2019

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Environmental changes can propagate through food webs in complex ways via trophic cascades. In the North American Arctic, hyperabundant populations of geese are causing significant habitat change and the resulting trophic cascades are known to impact plant and invertebrate communities. However, the potential impacts on other tundra‐nesting birds are not fully understood. Here, we evaluate the impacts of light geese (Snow Geese, Chen caerulescens, and Ross’ Goose, Chen rossii) populations on other tundra‐nesting birds, using count data collected during bird surveys conducted at varying distances from light goose colonies across the Canadian Arctic. From a dataset of 920 12–16 ha plots distributed across the Canadian Arctic, we identified 527 that were within 200 km of the mapped extent of known light goose colonies. After accounting for regional variation, we demonstrate that densities of most Cover‐Nesting Shorebirds and passerines are depressed in the vicinity of light goose colonies. We suggest that these trends are the results of the combined effects of goose‐induced changes in habitat and predator–prey interactions. These direct and indirect effects of light geese could be contributing to the declines experienced by some tundra‐nesting bird populations in parts of their range. Ongoing climate‐related changes to habitat, predators, and arthropods could interact with this effect of geese to further alter the suitability of tundra habitats for Arctic‐breeding birds, in additive or even unanticipated ways.

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Predicting breeding shorebird distributions on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska

Cited by 15 publications

References 39 publications

Do hyperabundant Arctic-nesting geese pose a problem for sympatric species?

Do hyperabundant Arctic-nesting geese pose a problem for sympatric species?

Hyperabundant herbivores limit habitat availability and influence nest site selection of Arctic‐breeding birds

Broad‐scale changes in tundra‐nesting bird abundance in response to hyperabundant geese

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