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Patterns of species co-occurrence of nesting colonial Ciconiiformes in Atlantic coast estuarine areas

Colonial Waterbirds
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.2307/1521312

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Abstract

Patterns of co-occurrence of 11 species of nesting colonial Ciconiiformes in estuarine areas of the Atlantic coast from Maine to Florida were examined using Reciprocal Averaging and Detrended Correspondence Analyses. The first RA ordination axis categorized the species into two groups: species of large birds that often nest in the tops of large trees, and species of smaller birds that usually nest lower down in trees, bushes, or on the ground. The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) showed the largest positive ordination score on this axis, followed by the Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) and the Great Egret (Casmerodius albus). The other 8 species were clumped on the first ordination axis and showed little separation. The second RA axis showed an ordering of relative species abundances along an apparent north-south gradientThere were no consistent similarities of ordination scores of any species pairs or groups on all the major axes, suggesting that no consistent similarities in relative abundances of 2- or 3-species 'assemblages' were found throughout the entire Atlantic Coastal Plain.

Suggested Citation

Spendelow, J., Erwin, R., and Williams, B.K., 1989, Patterns of species co-occurrence of nesting colonial Ciconiiformes in Atlantic coast estuarine areas: Colonial Waterbirds, v. 12, no. 1, p. 51-59, https://doi.org/10.2307/1521312.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Patterns of species co-occurrence of nesting colonial Ciconiiformes in Atlantic coast estuarine areas
Series title Colonial Waterbirds
DOI 10.2307/1521312
Volume 12
Issue 1
Year Published 1989
Language English
Publisher Waterbird Society
Contributing office(s) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Description 9 p.
First page 51
Last page 59
Additional publication details