Use of Dredged-Material Deposition Sites by Birds in Coastal North Carolina, USA

Parnell, James F.; Needham, Robert N.; join(, Robert F. Soots; join(, John O. Fussel; Dumond, David M.; join(, Donald A. McCrimmon; Bjork, Robin; Shields, Mark A.

doi:10.2307/1521215

Cited by 12 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Moreover, emergent plants can be distributed according to suitable water depth, enhancing the structural diversity of wetland habitats for waterbirds (Hoffman et al 1994). In addition, island uplands and levees (including dredge-material islands) in wetlands can be used as resting, roosting, preening, and even nesting and molting sites by waterbirds (Parnell et al 1986;Warnock and Takekawa 1995;Pyrovetsi 1997;Holm 2002;Warnock et al 2002;Erwin and Beck 2007). Many studies have suggested that the combination of variable topography with suitable water depth provides habitats accessible for diverse waterbirds (Colwell and Taft 2000;Isola et al 2002;Taft et al 2002).…”

Section: Topographymentioning

confidence: 99%

Managing Wetland Habitats for Waterbirds: An International Perspective

et al. 2009

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The loss and degradation of wetlands worldwide has adversely affected waterbirds, which depend on wetland habitats. Many studies have indicated that effectively managed wetlands can provide alternative or complementary habitats for waterbirds and mitigate the adverse effects of wetland loss and degradation. We review the studies on the habitat variables affecting use of wetlands by waterbirds, and we suggest how wetlands can be managed to provide waterbird habitat. These habitat variables include water depth, water level fluctuation, vegetation, salinity, topography, food type, food accessibility, wetland size, and wetland connectivity. Overall, the practice of wetland management requires integrated knowledge related to the entire wetland ecosystem, and ecosystem-based approach is needed to improve the habitat quality of managed wetlands with considering multiple spatial scales, temporal variability, and trade-off among diverse habitat requirements of different waterbirds. Several priorities for future research and management are also suggested in this paper.

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Section: Topographymentioning

confidence: 99%

Managing Wetland Habitats for Waterbirds: An International Perspective

et al. 2009

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“…However, an alternative in the longer term is to create islets using dredge spoil which would enable Little Terns to nest in sites that are free from predators and people (Burgess & Hirons 1992;Krogh & Schweitzer 1999). This method has been successfully employed the USA and now a large proportion of some regional tern populations nest on artificial islands (Parnell et al 1986;Visser & Peterson 1994). In southern England, Little Terns typically breed on natural islets in saline lagoons or estuaries rather than beaches (Pickerell 2004), but such habitats are unavailable throughout much of East Anglia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Little Terns require small areas of habitat that can be restored or created quickly and inexpensively, and these can be sited in areas where threats to breeding success are lower. For example, creation of dredge spoil islands offshore could reduce predation and disturbance without need for fencing and wardening (Parnell et al 1986;Burgess & Hirons 1992;Erwin et al 2001), and sediment recharge of eroded narrow beaches could mitigate loss of habitat or colony flooding risks (Charlton & Allcorn 2004). The characteristics of Little Tern colony sites need to be quantified and means of creation or restoration have to be tested in order to achieve this (Gill 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Colony habitat selection by Little Terns Sternula albifrons in East Anglia: implications for coastal management

Ratcliffe,

Schmitt,

Mayo

et al. 2008

Seabird

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Little Terns Sternula albifrons are unusual among UK seabirds in that a large proportion of the population breed on mainland beaches in East Anglia. Relative sea-level rise means that such habitats are under threat in this region, and so we quantified colony habitat selection of beach nesting Little Terns in order to inform habitat restoration and creation initiatives. Random 1 km sections of beach were selected and the presence or absence of a Little Tern colony within each was related to physical (substrate type, height and width), biotic (vegetation cover, predator activity) and anthropogenic (disturbance) characteristics using logistic regression models. Little Terns positively selected for beaches with vegetation cover and negatively for those with high disturbance levels. They showed no selection according to width and height or Red Fox Vulpes vulpes presence, even though these are likely to affect flood and predation risk respectively. Red Foxes were found to be widespread on beaches irrespective of tern colony presence, and so movement of tern colonies will not always result in predator avoidance. Little Tern habitat creation needs to be integrated into coastal management plans in order to safeguard their population from the combined threats of relative sea-level rise, predation and disturbance.

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“…One tool that can increase habitat in coastal environments is the targeted, intentional placement of dredged materials to develop new habitat or improve existing habitat. A wealth of knowledge exists about the use of dredged placement material to create and renourish coastal islands as suitable breeding habitat for numerous species of colonial nesters such as terns, gulls, skimmers, pelicans as well as numerous species of beach-nesting shorebirds (Parnell et al 1986). In addition to providing breeding habitat, dredged-material islands are used extensively by birds for loafing, roosting, and feeding (Soots and Landin 1978).…”

Section: Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

An assessment of long-term, multipurpose ecosystem functions and engineering benefits derived from historical dredged sediment beneficial use projects

Berkowitz¹,

Beane²,

Philley³

et al. 2021

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The beneficial use of dredged materials improves environmental outcomes while maximizing navigation benefits and minimizing costs, in accordance with the principles of the Engineering With Nature® (EWN) initiative. Yet, few studies document the long-term benefits of innovative dredged material management strategies or conduct comprehensive life-cycle analysis because of a combination of (1) short monitoring time frames and (2) the paucity of constructed projects that have reached ecological maturity. In response, we conducted an ecological functional and engineering benefit assessment of six historic (>40 years old) dredged material–supported habitat improvement projects where initial postconstruction beneficial use monitoring data was available. Conditions at natural reference locations were also documented to facilitate a comparison between natural and engineered landscape features. Results indicate the projects examined provide valuable habitat for a variety of species in addition to yielding a number of engineering (for example, shoreline protection) and other (for example, carbon storage) benefits. Our findings also suggest establishment of ecological success criteria should not overemphasize replicating reference conditions but remain focused on achieving specific ecological functions (that is, habitat and biogeochemical cycling) and engineering benefits (that is, storm surge reduction, navigation channel maintenance) achievable through project design and operational management.

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Use of Dredged-Material Deposition Sites by Birds in Coastal North Carolina, USA

Cited by 12 publications

References 3 publications

Managing Wetland Habitats for Waterbirds: An International Perspective

Managing Wetland Habitats for Waterbirds: An International Perspective

Colony habitat selection by Little Terns Sternula albifrons in East Anglia: implications for coastal management

An assessment of long-term, multipurpose ecosystem functions and engineering benefits derived from historical dredged sediment beneficial use projects

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