Substrate-Level Nest Site Selection of Sympatric Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) and American Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus) in New Jersey, USA

Grant, Dennis M.; Cohen, Jonathan B.; Stantial, Michelle L.; Linhart, Rebeca C.

doi:10.1675/063.042.0303

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…The slightly higher tolerance for areas with moderate vegetation that we observed in New England may also be reflected by MacIvor (1990), who found that 0.5‐m 2 plots had a mean vegetative cover of 15.2 ± 23.6% in Massachusetts. In addition, the particularly high importance of coarse‐grained or shelly substrates for Piping Plovers is also evident in localized studies in Massachusetts (MacIvor 1990, Jones 1997), New Jersey (Burger 1987, Maslo et al 2011, Grant et al 2019), and Maryland (Patterson 1988). In contrast with our results, a study on Long Island (Cohen et al 2008) suggested that predominantly sandy substrates were preferred.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Histograms showing the frequency of Piping Plover nests (used resource units) and associated leastcost path distances to low-energy shorelines with moist substrates (distance to MOSH). (MacIvor 1990, Jones 1997, New Jersey (Burger 1987, Maslo et al 2011, Grant et al 2019, and Maryland (Patterson 1988). In contrast with our results, a study on Long Island (Cohen et al 2008) suggested that predominantly sandy substrates were preferred.…”

Section: Range-wide Habitat Selection Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Piping plovers demonstrate regional differences in nesting habitat selection patterns along the U.S. Atlantic coast

et al. 2021

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Habitat studies that encompass a large portion of a species' geographic distribution can explain characteristics that are either consistent or variable, further informing inference from more localized studies and improving management successes throughout the range. We identified landscape characteristics at Piping Plover nests at 21 sites distributed from Massachusetts to North Carolina and compared habitat selection patterns among the three designated U.S. recovery units (New England, New York-New Jersey, and Southern). Geomorphic setting, substrate type, and vegetation type and density were determined in situ at 928 Piping Plover nests (hereafter, used resource units) and 641 random points (available resource units). Elevation, beach width, Euclidean distance to ocean shoreline, and least-cost path distance to low-energy shorelines with moist substrates (commonly used as foraging habitat) were associated with used and available resource units using remotely sensed spatial data. We evaluated multivariate differences in habitat selection patterns by comparing recovery unit-specific Bayesian networks. We then further explored individual variables that drove disparities among Bayesian networks using resource selection ratios for categorical variables and Welch's unequal variances t-tests for continuous variables. We found that relationships among variables and their connections to habitat selection were similar among recovery units, as seen in commonalities in Bayesian network structures. Furthermore, nesting Piping Plovers consistently selected mixed sand and shell, gravel, or cobble substrates as well as areas with sparse or no vegetation, irrespective of recovery unit. However, we observed significant differences among recovery units in the elevations, distances to ocean, and distances to low-energy shorelines of used resource units. Birds also exhibited increased selectivity for overwash habitats and for areas with access to low-energy shorelines along a latitudinal gradient from north to south. These results have important implications for conservation and management, including assessment of shoreline stabilization and habitat restoration planning as well as forecasting effects of climate change.

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