AVE ECO + MAN EXAM 2

grassland songbird decline

most widespread out of all NA bird groups.

grassland songbird decline percentages

48% are of conservation concern, 55% are in significant decline

western grasslands changes

went from grazing buffalo to fenced cattle. Fire suppression, habitat fragmentation and ag intensification changed the landscape. Conversion to non-native species occured

eastern grasslands changes

Fire suppression, agricultural intensification, conversion to non-natives, habitat fragmentation

bird conservation regions (BCR)

tallgrass, mixedgrass, shortgrass prairies, (central NA) desert grasslands, Pine (longleaf) savannah

grassland bird

a sp. adapted to or reliant on some variety of grassland habitat for part or all of its lifestyle. Can be resident or migratory

facultative grassland bird

part-time

obligate grassland bird

full-time (specialists)

Grassland bird life history

2-6 eggs, 11-13 day incubation, 8-12 days fledge, 1-2 nests (can be 3). Lifespan is 3-5 yrs (25-80% annual survival)

Grassland bird nest mortality

human induced, snakes, rodents, mid-size carnivores

Grassland bird mortality

raptors, exposure

Grassland bird breeding habitat requirements

variability in vegetation structure and composition, field size

Eastern Meadowlark breeding hab. requirements

tall grass, dense ground veg., litter cover

Grasshopper sparrow breeding hab. requirements

open grasslands, open patches, avoids extensive shrub cover

Dickcissel breeding hab. requirements

tall grass, dense cover, moderate litter depth.

Scale of habitat requirements of grassland birds

varies by spatial scale and animals selection of habitat; landscape vs. microhabitat scale

Savannah sparrow range

NA, northern breeding, southern nonbreeding, small southern patch of year round

Dickcissel range

Winter in SA, core breeding in central US

Henslow's sparrow breeding range

SE US winter, N US breeding

Exotic forage grasses

Bermuda, Bahia, Fescue- very poor quality habitat. Sod forming, dense, hard to control, no nutritional value, no cover value

Native warm season grasses

big/little bluestem, Indiangrass, switchgrass, eastern gamagrass, broomsedge

clump grasses

spaces (near bare ground) in between clumps of grass allows movement (opposite of sod-forming, dense non-native grasses)

forbs

common ragweed, Illinois bundleflower, partridge pea, lance-leaves coreopsis, purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, butterfly pea

restoring native grass communities

removal of cedars (mechanical, prescribed fire), planting

mechanical removal of non-native species

requires 1-2 herbicide applications usually in tandem with prescribed fire. non-native grasses must be COMPLETELY eradicated to be successful.

conventional seed spreader planting

must have good seed bed (soil exposed), spread seed (must use de-bearded seed), culti-pack (press seed into soil), success is highly variable

native grass drill planting

seeds placed into the ground, good seed-to-soil contact, fairly high success

Planting success time

doesn't always look good after the first growing season, wait until after the 2nd growing season to make an assessment

Planting failure reasons

1) planted too deep (1/8"-1/4" is best)

2) inadequate weed control

3) planted too late (mid april - early june optimal)

4) drill not properly calibrated

5) no patience

managing/maintaining native warm season grass

prescribed fire every 2-3 years, chemical control of hardwoods if needed, single pass strip disking if fire is not an option (will kill some plants), mowing is not a good choice (thatch build up, cover elimination)

other grassland habitat options

habitat buffers, pasture conversion, rotational grazing, corridor establishment

habitat buffers

noncrop herbaceous field margin communities. Strips of permanent vegetation to intercept pollutants and other environmental concerns

habitat buffer benefits

provides increased usable space, nesting hab., brood-rearing hab., roosting hab., holds birds on landscape. mainly consisting of grasses and forbs (shrub cover can be added)

types of buffer practices

Riparian buffers, grassed waterways, filter strips, shelterbelts, field borders

habitat buffer vegitation

natural regeneration (see what comes up): ragweed, goldenrod, foxtail. Native warm season grass MUST ELIMINATE EXOTIC FORAGE GRASSES

field border usage

must be used on multiple fields to be effective

habitat buffers and bobwhite quail

23% in breeding season abundance, 66% increase in fall density: may increase foraging efficiency for chicks

habitat buffers and winter sparrows

birds/ha significantly higher in bordered fields vs. non-bordered fields

common agricultural lands management

establishing native warm season grasses, strip disking, prescribed fire, herbicide applications

pastures/ old fields/ idle grassy areas management

working with nature: initial disturbance, see what comes up, spot spray to remove undesirables, examine the following season, spot spray to remove undesirables

pasture buffers

fencing out cattle; travel corridors, nesting habitat, roosting habitat, escape cover, thermal cover.

waterfowl wintering ecology

diverse, continental home range, distinct periods

annual waterfowl cycles

oct-mar (migration and winter, 58%), mar-june (nesting and brood rearing 25%), jun-oct (molt and postbreeding 17%)

wintering

following food, courtship, pair bonding. Building nutrient reserves, recovering from migration. Females and some males molt

waterfowl food requirements

carbs- seeds, tubers, acorns, nutrients- native weed seeds, inverts, protein- invertebrates

oct-nov waterfowl food avaliability

moist soil seeds, inverts, tubers, crops

dec-jan waterfowl food avaliability

flooded crops, acorns, moist soil seeds, tubers, crustaceans

jan-mar waterfowl food avaliability

inverts, crustaceans, moist soil seeds, flooded crops, acorns

waterfowl resources in winter

only so much time and energy available in each location, each day

DDT

hydroperiod determining wetland type: depth, duration, and timing

mudflats

result from drawdown or tides, very short-lived, can provide excellent crustacean and invert foraging

moist-soil wetland use

provides preferred annual seeds, invert and some crustacean foraging. Loafing habitat- safety in numbers, open courtship space

emergent marsh

used my waterfowl for feeding, roosting, and loafing. Excellent source of crustaceans and inverts. provides summer feeding and brood rearing for wood ducks

shrub/scrub swamp

used for loafing, roosting, feeding. Provide excellent crust and invert prod. Provides thermal cover, pair bond isolation

flooded bottomland hardwood

variable acorn production, limited annual seeds and inverts. secure roosting and loafing sites, inclement weather protection, pair bond isolation

greentree reservoirs

A forest stand flooded to create a seasonal wetland. does not flood until dormancy, early fall flooding can be detrimental, flooding should mimic natural hydroperiods. Alternate flooding regimes, times, and years

natural bottomland hardwoods

manage for diverse canopy structure, favor utilized red oaks. Opening are important for diverse foods and bird access

deep, open water

loafing and roosting, some food by submerged aquatic vegetation. Over 3' deep

flooded ag crops

important mid Dec- mid Feb. High energy, used to keep warm, overnight. Provides fat storage, DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE DIET

ag crop composition

contains- carbs, fatty acids, lipids, low protein. DOES NOT CONTAIN- vitamins and amino acids, essential minerals, adequate protein, balanced diet

habitat types and food production for waterfowl

moist-soil, ag crops, emergent marsh, BLH, scrub/shrub, DOW: most to least avaliability.

flooded waterfowl food deterioration

soybean, millet, corn degrade the most, paspalum, rice, smartweed maintain form the most

DED

duck energy days- food required to feed one duck for one day. # of dabbling ducks sustained in a given area for a given amount of time.

DED/acre

highest on rice, corn, moist soil habs., lowest on harvested crops and hardwoods.

nutritional contributions of food types for waterfowl

Mallards fed soybean and corn could not sustain weight, fed rice and millet they could. "Soybean, corn, and other ag crops do not provide a complete diet for waterfowl"

harsh weather and waterfowl

migrate south, seek wind blocking habitats, heat trapping habitats

evading predation and waterfowl

loafing, roosting habitats, hunting pressure

winding a mate and watefowl

diff spp. pair at different times, some pair for lime and some pair monogamously per season. Seek isolation

waterbird and molting

requires high protein, (feathers are 85%), invert foraging.

large wetland complexes (12-16 miles)

25% forested wetland, 44% flooded cropland (24% has no food value), 11% permanent wetland, 20% moist-soil

wintering waterfowl management key points

waterfowl need food diversity, different hab types provide diff food and cover. Habitat complexes can be used to meet all needs (12-16 mile radius). Requirements change daily, seasonally, and with weather

NRCS

Natural Resource Conservation Service woks in partnership with the American people to conserve and sustain natural resources on private lands

NRCS mission

to provide leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, improve, and sustain our natural resources and environment

why NRCS is important

1980's, 53% of wetlands in US lost. 60ac/hr lost in 1780's-1980's. Alabama has lost 50% of wetlands

hydrology restoration

construction to restore wetlands and allow management of period

hydrology restoration goals

provide a diversity of wetland types- large percentage developed for shallowly-flooded moist-soil-management

hydrology restoration requirements

topographic survey, biologist and engineer working together to design hydrology restoration

levee construction

for both flooding and draining- typically flashboard or full-round

What is microtopography?

Microtopography refers to small-scale variations in the landscape, such as ridges, swales, and depressional areas.

What historical events contributed to the formation of microtopography in riverine systems?

Historical flooding in riverine systems resulted in features like ridge/swale formations and braided channels.

What is the goal of creating microtopography?

The goal is to create additional variation in habitat, which provides environments for amphibians, shorebirds, wading birds, and resting waterfowl.

How is microtopography usually created?

Microtopography is usually created by excavation.

hydrology restoration as good habitat

does not alone back good habitat, it requires management

Food Security Act of 1985 and Amendments

"swampbuster" provisions deny USDA program benefits to landowners that convert wetlands for agriculture

Clean Water Act of 1972 and Amendments

section 404 authorized EPA and Corps to regulate certain activities in wetlands and other waters

NRCS agency responsibilities

identifies wetlands on ag lands and non ag lands for USDA participants

USDA participants

if land has an FSA farm and a tract number, they are a USDA participant

USACE responsibilities

identifies wetlands on non ag and non USDA program lands, perform jurisdictional determinations

role of USFWS and NOAA

evaluate impacts on fish and wildlife of all new federal projects, actions, and federally permitted projects. Provide consultation on trust species, provide technical assistance and review, upon request. Coordinate to update the National List of Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands (USFWS)

triggers for FSA 1985

planting an ag commodity on a wetland converted after 12/23/1985 or converting a wetland for the purpose, or to have the effect, of making production possible after 11/28/1990

trigger for CWA 1972

discharging dredge or placing fill in wetlands or other waters

swampbuster provisions and NRCS program participants

must adhere to both laws, can lose USDA benefits, must come to USDA anytime they might be impacting wetlands. Often have wetland determinations already completed by NRCS

CWA and USACE section 404

requires a permit to place fill or discharge dredge; permits are not issued if a practical alternative exists or impacts have no been minimized.

fill

"any pollutant which replaces waters of the US with dry land or which changes the bottom elevation of a water body". Includes rock, sand, soil, clay, plastics, construction debris, wood chips, and materials used to create any structure or infrastructure.

predation in an ecosystem

normal, natural component of ecosystem. Removes sick, diseased, injured. Keeps wild animals wild/wary, regulates prey populations. Predators are valuable hunting/trapping animals

predation removal

removing predators to increase prey populations is a legit management tool, but rarely reccomended

removing trapping methods

takes a tool out of the toolbox (foothold traps in Colorado)

why is predator removal not recommended?

not practical to do efficiently, has to be done correctly- access to correct land, time, resources. Many aspects of predators cannot be managed (hawks/owls, snakes are illegal to remove)

predation

consumption of one org. by another org. where org. consumed is alive when first attacked (true preds, grazers, parasitoids, parasites)

predation influences

weather (precipitation), habitat, prey, other prey sp., pred. comp., other pred sp. Habitat change and landscape context