Viability of piping plover Charadrius melodus metapopulations

Abstract

, "Viability of piping plover Charadrius melodus metapopulations" (2000). USGS AbstractThe metapopulation viability analysis package, vortex, was used to examine viability and recovery objectives for piping plovers Charadrius melodus, an endangered shorebird that breeds in three distinct regions of North America. Baseline models indicate that while Atlantic Coast populations, under current management practices, are at little risk of near-term extinction, Great Plains and Great Lakes populations require 36% higher mean fecundity for a signi®cant probability of persisting for the next 100 years. Metapopulation structure (i.e. the delineation of populations within the metapopulation) and interpopulation dispersal rates had varying eects on model results; however, spatially-structured metapopulations exhibited lower viability than that reported for single-population models. The models were most sensitive to variation in survivorship; hence, additional mortality data will improve their accuracy. With this information, such models become useful tools in identifying successful management objectives; and sensitivity analyses, even in the absence of some data, may indicate which options are likely to be most eective. Metapopulation viability models are best suited for developing conservation strategies for achieving recovery objectives based on maintaining an externally derived, target population size and structure. #

Can river management improve the piping plover’s long-term survival on the Missouri River?

“…For example, increasing outflows from upstream dams has a direct negative impact on the growth and survival of plover chicks downstream from those dams, presumably through food limitation and flooding , but the results of this study indicate that the effects of increased densities (potentially food limitation) can have a further effect, decreasing HY and AHY annual survival by as much as 9%. As in many species with relatively high adult survival, plover population dynamics are highly sensitive to changes in adult survival (McGowan and Ryan, 2009;Plissner and Haig, 2000). In a study of the viability of plover populations across their range, Plissner and Haig (2000) found that an increase of <10% in adult survival values would substantially increase the probability of persistence of both the Great Plains and Great Lakes populations of plovers.…”

“…As in many species with relatively high adult survival, plover population dynamics are highly sensitive to changes in adult survival (McGowan and Ryan, 2009;Plissner and Haig, 2000). In a study of the viability of plover populations across their range, Plissner and Haig (2000) found that an increase of <10% in adult survival values would substantially increase the probability of persistence of both the Great Plains and Great Lakes populations of plovers.…”

Recent Declines in Apparent Survival and Survey Counts of Snowy Plovers Breeding in the Southern High Plains of Texas

“…Species with low reproductive rates (i.e., few offspring produced per female) and relatively high adult survivorship are highly sensitive to declines in adult survival (Hitchcock and Gratto-Trevor 1997, Plissner and Haig 2000, Sandercock 2003). Adult and juvenile apparent survival estimates can also be used to calculate recruitment thresholds for population maintenance, which can be used to understand current population growth and stability, and evaluate source-sink dynamics (Ricklefs 1973, Page et al 1983, Mullin et al 2010.…”

Apparent Survival of Breeding Western Sandpipers on the Yukon-Kuskokwim River Delta, Alaska

“…Sensitivity analyses have found that adult survival often has the highest elasticity value and potentially the greatest impact on population growth rates (Hill and Carter 1991, Hitchcock and Gratto-Trevor 1997, Reed et al 1998, Plissner and Haig 2000, Larson et al 2002, Sandercock 2003. Effective conservation of migratory shorebirds requires reliable estimates of annual survival rates, but estimates are available for ,10% of shorebird species worldwide (Sandercock 2003).…”