Fwd. ENVS THESIS DEFENSE: Karine Tokatlian THIS Wednesday 5/3, 1:30 WSQ 111: Evaluation of Oyster Shell Enhancement on Western Snowy Plover Breeding Success
Laura Bates
PLEASE FORWARD, ANNOUNCE, AND POST:
The Department of Environmental Studies at San José State University
pleased to present a public research presentation:
Wednesday, May 3, 2017 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM WASHINGTON SQUARE HALL 111 |
Karine TokatlianM.S. Candidate Environmental Studies Department San José State University
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Evaluation of Oyster Shell Enhancement on Western Snowy Plover Breeding Success
Many bird populations are declining as a result of habitat loss and anthropogenic impacts. Urbanization continues to fragment natural habitats, decrease habitat quality, and inflate predator populations which disrupt natural trophic balances. Breeding bird populations dependent on these human-altered landscapes can be negatively impacted. The Pacific Coast population of the Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus; plover) is listed as a federally threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act as a result of human-caused changes to their habitats. In California, plovers are primarily found on coastal sandy beaches, however, many also use dry salt evaporation ponds and wildlife-managed ponds in the South San Francisco Bay to breed and winter. Salt pond habitat used by plovers in this region is expected to be reduced by the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, which aims to restore 15,000 acres of former salt pond habitat back to native tidal marsh, forcing plovers to breed in smaller areas and in higher densities. Predation pressure from urbanized species is also very high here. In order to reach federal plover recovery goals in these conditions, remaining habitat can be enhanced using oyster shells which may camouflage breeding plovers, and decrease predation. This study evaluated the effect of oyster shell enhancement on nest density and nest success by comparing enhanced and non-enhanced areas. Plovers selected to nest in enhanced areas however nest survival and nest success were not affected by enhancement. It is likely that oyster shell enhancement will only improve nesting success if predators are concurrently controlled. Ultimately, plovers may benefit from the application of this enhancement method while habitat is being converted, as it attracts nesting effort and may be strategically used by resource managers.
LIGHT REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED. ALL ARE WELCOME. |
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