The role of human compliance for management actions to protect breeding shorebirds in coastal ecosystems

Hevia, Glenda Denise; Bala, Luis Oscar

doi:10.18194/ws.00110

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 28 publications

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“…Simple management actions toward the protection of beachnesting areas could have a direct conservation impact on breeding shorebirds. Symbolic fencing, for example, can restrict access to pedestrians and vehicles in specific beach areas, as a previous study case showed for TBPLs during the breeding season (Hevia and Bala 2018). From a conservation perspective, physiological assessments are a useful tool that benefits the decision making of wildlife managers (Coristine et al 2014, Madliger et al 2016.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Does human disturbance affect physiological traits of Two-banded Plovers nesting on an urban beach?

Hevia¹,

Bertellotti²,

Gibson³

et al. 2023

ACE

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In coastal Patagonia, Argentina, shorebird breeding habitats overlap with high levels of human recreational activities, such as dog-walking and driving motorized vehicles. We assessed physiological traits related to body condition, nutritional metabolites, cellular immunity, and stress responses of adult Two-banded Plovers (Charadrius falklandicus) in northern Chubut, Patagonia, Argentina. We examined blood samples from 46 individuals captured at an urban ("disturbed" treatment, n = 28) and a rural beach ("control" treatment, n = 18) between 2016 and 2017. We studied (1) body condition by size-correcting body mass to wing-chord lengths, (2) nutritional metabolites, such as the haematocrit, glucose, and concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol, and total proteins, (3) cellular immunity by counting total leukocytes, and the percentages of heterophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and monocytes, and (4) stress responses by obtaining the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio and quantifications of plasma baseline corticosterone. We determined the overall support of predictor variables: treatment, day of the year (DOY), interaction DOY × treatment, year, and sex on a multivariate assessment using MANOVA. Body condition and triglycerides decreased, and monocytes increased, during the breeding season at the control site (DOY × treatment). Body condition significantly differed by sex, with males exhibiting lower values than females. Triglycerides, cholesterol, and total leukocyte count significantly differed between years, showing higher values in 2017. The multivariate model showed the greatest variation only explanatory in DOY (n = 0.67, P < 0.001) and year (n² = 0.62, P = 0.001). Overall, birds exhibited depleted body condition and triglycerides throughout the season at the control site: a pattern likely biased by the capture date. Contrary to the disturbed site, most samples at the control site were collected from mid-to-late breeding season each year, and most birds were likely renesting. Sex differences observed for body condition suggest greater energy-costly reproduction activities for males, including territory defense and courtship behaviors. No significant differences were found in stress responses, and based on observations in the field, birds may tolerate human disturbance. Habituation was a previously suggested coping mechanism for reducing the costs of repeated exposure to non-lethal stimuli, such as human activity. Given that no treatment effects on physiological traits were observed, beyond triglycerides, our results may still help to improve the decisions of wildlife managers toward protecting beachnesting areas by preventing impacts to nests, chicks, and pairs during their breeding season.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Does human disturbance affect physiological traits of Two-banded Plovers nesting on an urban beach?

Hevia¹,

Bertellotti²,

Gibson³

et al. 2023

ACE

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Mixed evidence for effects of stewardship on Least Tern reproductive success in coastal Mississippi

Darrah

2020

The Condor

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Disturbance from human activity can cause reduced productivity of coastal birds that nest on sandy beaches. A common method to protect coastal birds from human disturbance is the use of signs and fencing to close off a section of beach used for breeding. This management action requires public compliance and might require enforcement, such as in the use of volunteer stewards stationed at protected colonies that provide education and enforcement. I assessed the effectiveness of active stewardship as a conservation measure to protect nesting Least Terns (Sternula antillarum) in coastal Mississippi by determining if colony-level productivity (fledglings produced per nest) was correlated with stewardship effort (hours that stewards protected each colony), the rate of disturbance from human and natural sources, and additional factors. Observers surveyed 24 Least Tern colonies in Harrison County, Mississippi, twice weekly during the 2017–2019 breeding seasons to record the number of nests present, the fate of marked nests, predator tracks within the colony, and the number of fledglings produced per colony. Concurrently, during their work shifts, stewards recorded all sources and durations of disturbance events that caused the terns to flush or respond with defense. Least Tern daily nest survival increased with colony size and stewardship effort, and was lower during intervals that included weekends and evidence of owl presence. Total productivity was negatively associated with avian predator disturbance rate and the total time adults spent flushed, but was not associated with stewardship effort. The results of this study demonstrate that active stewardship can have a positive effect on Least Tern productivity by increasing nest success, whereas current stewardship practices were not sufficient to increase chick survival, even in a system with a paucity of ground predators.

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Perceptions of Beach Stewards and Information Needs for Shorebird Stopover Sites Vary as a Function of Visitor Interests: Improving Stewardship Programs in Coastal Landscapes

Burger¹,

Dey²,

Dillingham³

et al. 2021

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The role of human compliance for management actions to protect breeding shorebirds in coastal ecosystems

Cited by 3 publications

References 28 publications

Does human disturbance affect physiological traits of Two-banded Plovers nesting on an urban beach?

Does human disturbance affect physiological traits of Two-banded Plovers nesting on an urban beach?

Mixed evidence for effects of stewardship on Least Tern reproductive success in coastal Mississippi

Perceptions of Beach Stewards and Information Needs for Shorebird Stopover Sites Vary as a Function of Visitor Interests: Improving Stewardship Programs in Coastal Landscapes

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