The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Thick-billed Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii)

Abstract

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Detecting Ecological Traps in Human-Altered Landscapes: A Case Study of the Thick-billed Longspur Nesting in Croplands

“…In addition, the range of nest initiation dates and therefore length of nesting period was significantly shorter during the drought year in 2021. Longspurs are known to forego nesting or experience lower reproductive success during periods of extreme drought (Felske, 1971;Shaffer et al, 2019). Our results indicate that longspurs may initiate nests earlier in crop than native sites but experience a shorter breeding period in both site types during drought.…”

“…In native prairie habitats, longspurs select territories on south-facing slopes during the early breeding season where snow melts and the ground warms faster (Felske, 1971;Greer, 1988;Shaffer et al, 2019). Bare ground cover was higher in crop fields than native sites throughout the breeding season, and exposed soils warm faster than vegetated soils (Song et al, 2013).…”

“…Habitat for longspurs is patchy within native mixed-grass prairie, limiting distributions at regional scales and making this a focal species for federal conservation efforts (Somershoe, 2018). Unlike many other grassland birds, longspurs have a unique preference for recently disturbed or sparsely vegetated habitats, and historically relied on large-scale disturbance regimes to maintain suitable habitat patches through spatial-temporal interactions of soil, precipitation, fire, and intensive periodic defoliation by native herbivores (e.g., bison [Bison bison ], locusts [chiefly Melanoplus spretus ]) (Mickey, 1943;Felske, 1971;Samson et al, 2004;McLachlan, 2007;Shaffer et al, 2019;With, 2021). However, these dynamic processes that once shaped prairie ecosystems are largely absent in today's Northern Great Plains (Samson and Knopf, 1996;Fuhlendorf and Engle, 2004;Samson et al, 2004;Hovick et al, 2015).…”

“…Row-crop agriculture is the dominant disturbance factor producing extensive bare ground at large scales in the Northern Great Plains. Sporadic reports of longspurs occurring in crop fields during the breeding season (Felske, 1971;Shaffer et al, 2019) suggest that crop fields may resemble suitable nesting habitat as longspurs arrive on the breeding grounds in April. However, the selection of crop fields during territory establishment could contribute to population declines if reproductive success is depressed through 1) destruction of nests by discing, seeding, and herbicide/pesticide application, and 2) abandonment of nests or territories in response to rapid changes in vegetation conditions or disturbance by farming activity.…”

Detecting ecological traps inhuman‐alteredlandscapes: A case study of the thick‐billed longspur nesting in croplands

“…As such, longspur habitat preferences limit distributions at regional scales and make this a focal species for federal conservation efforts (Somershoe, 2018). Unlike many other grassland birds, longspurs have a unique preference for recently disturbed or sparsely vegetated habitats and historically relied on large‐scale disturbance regimes to maintain suitable habitat patches through spatial–temporal interactions of soil, precipitation, fire, and intensive periodic defoliation by native herbivores (e.g., bison [ Bison bison ] and locusts [chiefly Melanoplus spretus ]) (Felske, 1971; Samson et al, 2004; Shaffer et al, 2019; With, 2021). However, these dynamic processes that once shaped prairie ecosystems are largely absent in today's Northern Great Plains (Fuhlendorf & Engle, 2004; Hovick et al, 2015; Samson & Knopf, 1996).…”