Auditory brainstem responses in the Eastern Screech Owl: An estimate of auditory thresholds
E.F. Brittan-Powell, B. Lohr, D.C. Hahn, R.J. Dooling
2005, Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (118) 314-321
The auditory brainstem response (ABR), a measure of neural synchrony, was used to estimate auditory sensitivity in the eastern screech owl (Megascops asio). The typical screech owl ABR waveform showed two to three prominent peaks occurring within 5 ms of stimulus onset. As sound pressure levels increased,...
Efficient statistical mapping of avian count data
J. Andrew Royle, C. K. Wikle
2005, Environmental and Ecological Statistics (12) 225-243
We develop a spatial modeling framework for count data that is efficient to implement in high-dimensional prediction problems. We consider spectral parameterizations for the spatially varying mean of a Poisson model. The spectral parameterization of the spatial process is very computationally efficient, enabling effective estimation and prediction in large problems...
Estimating size and composition of biological communities by modeling the occurrence of species
Robert Dorazio, J. Andrew Royle
2005, Journal of the American Statistical Association (100) 389-398
We develop a model that uses repeated observations of a biological community to estimate the number and composition of species in the community. Estimators of community-level attributes are constructed from model-based estimators of occurrence of individual species that incorporate imperfect detection of individuals. Data from the North American Breeding Bird...
Modelling occurrence and abundance of species when detection is imperfect
J. Andrew Royle, James D. Nichols, Marc Kery
2005, Oikos (110) 353-359
Relationships between species abundance and occupancy are of considerable interest in metapopulation biology and in macroecology. Such relationships may be described concisely using probability models that characterize variation in abundance of a species. However, estimation of the parameters of these models in most ecological problems is impaired by imperfect detection....
Effects of tag loss on direct estimates of population growth rate
Jay J. Rotella, James E. Hines
2005, Ecology (86) 821-827
The temporal symmetry approach of R. Pradel can be used with capture– recapture data to produce retrospective estimates of a population's growth rate, λi, and the relative contributions to λi from different components of the population. Direct estimation of λi provides an alternative to using population projection matrices to estimate asymptotic λ...
Effects of contaminant exposure on reproductive success of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting in Delaware River and Bay, USA
P. C. Toschik, Barnett A. Rattner, P. C. McGowan, M. C. Christman, Daniel B. Carter, R. C. Hale, C. W. Matson, M. A. Ottinger
2005, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (24) 617-628
Despite serious water-quality problems and pollutant loading and retention, Delaware River and Bay(USA) provide important wildlife habitat. In 2002, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of contaminant exposure and reproduction of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) breeding in Delaware River and Bay. Sample eggs were collected from 39 nests and analyzed for organochlorine...
Individual quality, survival variation and patterns of phenotypic selection on body condition and timing of nesting in birds
Peter Blums, James D. Nichols, James E. Hines, Mark S. Lindberg, Aivars Mednis
2005, Oecologia (143) 365-376
Questions about individual variation in “quality” and fitness are of great interest to evolutionary and population ecologists. Such variation can be investigated using either a random effects approach or an approach that relies on identifying observable traits that are themselves correlated with fitness components. We used the latter approach with...
Research for the development of best management practices for minimizing horse trail impacts on the Hoosier National Forest
M.W. Aust, J. L. Marion, K. Kyle
2005, Report
This research investigates horse trail impacts to gain an improved understanding of the relationship between various levels of horse use, horse trail management alternatives, and subsequent horse trail degradation. A survey of existing horse trails on the Hoosier National Forest was used to collect data on use-related, environmental and...
Approaches for the direct estimation of rate of increase in population size using capture-recapture data
J.D. Nichols, T. Scott Sillett, J.E. Hines, Richard T. Holmes
C. John Ralph, Terrell D. Rich, editor(s)
2005, Book chapter, Bird Conservation Implementation and Integration in the Americas: Proceedings of the Third International Partners in Flight Conference 2002
Recent developments in the modeling of capture-recapture data permit the direct estimation and modeling of population growth rate Pradel (1996). Resulting estimates reflect changes in numbers of birds on study areas, and such changes result from movement as well as survival and reproductive recruitment. One measure of the...
Predicting bird response to alternative management scenarios on a ranch in Campeche, Mexico
P.A. Wood, D.K. Dawson, J.R. Sauer, M.H. Wilson
C. John Ralph, Terrell D. Rich, editor(s)
2005, Book chapter, Bird Conservation Implementation and Integration in the Americas: Proceedings of the Third International Partners in Flight Conference 2002
We developed models to predict the potential response of wintering Neotropical migrant and resident bird species to alternative management scenarios, using data from point counts of birds along with habitat variables measured or estimated from remotely sensed data in a Geographic Information System. Expected numbers of occurrences at points...
Coastal foredune displacement and recovery, Barrett Beach-Talisman, Fire Island, New York, USA
N.P. Psuty, J.P. Pace, J.R. Allen
Norbert P. Psuty, Douglas J. Sherman, Klaus Meyer-Arendt, editor(s)
2005, Book chapter, Coasts under Stress II
Coastal foredune mobility has been tracked at Fire Island National Seashore since 1976 with annual field surveys and analysis of frequent aerial photography. Sequential mapping of the foredune crestline depicts nearly islandwide displacement during major storm events, such as in 1992, and localized displacement during alongshore passage of inshore...
Forest management under uncertainty for multiple bird population objectives
C. T. Moore, W.T. Plummer, M.J. Conroy
C. John Ralph, Terrell D. Rich, editor(s)
2005, Book chapter, Bird Conservation Implementation and Integration in the Americas: Proceedings of the Third International Partners in Flight Conference 2002
We advocate adaptive programs of decision making and monitoring for the management of forest birds when responses by populations to management, and particularly management trade-offs among populations, are uncertain. Models are necessary components of adaptive management. Under this approach, uncertainty about the behavior of a managed system...
Characterizing stopover sites of migrating passerine birds in the lower Chesapeake Bay region for conservation: an integrated radar-habitat study
S. Mabey, B. Watts, B. Paxton, F. Smith, B. Truitt, D. Dawson
2005, Book chapter, One Hundred and Twenty-Third Stated Meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union: abstract book
Many conservation organizations and initiatives including Partners-in-Flight and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's regional Joint Ventures have identified migratory songbird stopover habitat as a priority conservation target. However, the spatial and temporal variability inherent in migration presents a number of challenges to both identifying and characterizing stopover habitat....
Abundance and distribution of the common eider in eastern North America during the molting season
Jean-Pierre L. Savard, B. Allen, D. McAuley, G.R. Milton, S. Gililand
2005, Book chapter, Second North American Sea Duck Conference, November 7-11, 2005, Annapolis, Maryland. Program and Abstracts
Like most other sea ducks, male common eiders (Somateria mollissima) concentrate in large groups to molt following the breeding season. Although Maine conducted surveys in the 1980s, little was known of eider molting sites in Atlantic Canada until recently, when surveys and research conducted in Quebec, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova...
Population trends of North American sea ducks based on Christmas Bird Count and Breeding Bird Survey data
D.K. Niven, J.R. Sauer, G.S. Butcher
2005, Book chapter, Second North American Sea Duck Conference, November 7-11, 2005, Annapolis, Maryland. Program and Abstracts
Due to the difficulty of conducting range-wide surveys of either breeding or wintering populations, few data are available to assess the population trends of sea ducks with confidence. We analyze sea duck data from the Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) using hierarchical modeling methods that control for varying effort...
Monitoring Puerto Rican avifauna using roadside surveys
K.L. Pardieck, B.G. Peterjohn
C. John Ralph, Terrell D. Rich, editor(s)
2005, Book chapter, Bird Conservation Implementation and Integration in the Americas: Proceedings of the Third International Partners in Flight Conference 2002
In 1997 we began investigating the use of roadside point counts to monitor the long-term status and trends of Puerto Rican bird populations. If such a methodology proves feasible it may provide the empirical data needed for the development of sound conservation plans for the island's avifauna in much...
The effect of varying protein levels on blood chemistry, food consumption, and behavior of captive seaducks
A. M. Wells-Berlin, Matthew C. Perry, Glenn H. Olsen
2005, Book chapter, Second North American Sea Duck Conference, November 7-11, 2005, Annapolis, Maryland. Program and Abstracts
The Chesapeake Bay is a primary wintering area for scoters and the long-tailed ducks (Clangia hyemalis) that migrate along the Atlantic Flyway. Recently, the Chesapeake Bay had undergone an ecosystem shift and little is known about how this is affecting the seaduck populations. We are determining what are the...
Use of survey data to define regional and local priorities for management on National Wildlife Refuges
J.R. Sauer, John F. Casey, H. Laskowski, J.D. Taylor, J. Fallon
C. John Ralph, Terrell D. Rich, editor(s)
2005, Book chapter, Bird Conservation Implementation and Integration in the Americas: Proceedings of the Third International Partners in Flight Conference 2002
National Wildlife Refuges must manage habitats to support a variety of species that often have conflicting needs. To make reasonable management decisions, managers must know what species are priorities for their refuges and the relative importance of the species. Unfortunately, species priorities are often set regionally, but refuges...
Wetland restoration and birds: lessons from Florida, San Francisco Bay, and Chesapeake Bay
R.M. Erwin, P. C. Frederick
2005, Book chapter, One Hundred and Twenty-Third Stated Meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union: abstract book
Many wetland restoration projects are underway across the North American landscape, ranging from small, community - based projects of less than 1 ha, to thousands of ha, as in San Francisco Bay or the Everglades. The goals of small projects are generally focused on replanting and sustaining native wetland...
Estimating the number of animals in wildlife populations
R.A. Lancia, W. L. Kendall, K. H. Pollock, J.D. Nichols
Clait E. Braun, editor(s)
2005, Book chapter, Techniques for Wildlife Investigations and Management
INTRODUCTION In 1938, Howard M. Wight devoted 9 pages, which was an entire chapter in the first wildlife management techniques manual, to what he termed 'census' methods. As books and chapters such as this attest, the volume of literature on this subject has grown tremendously. Abundance...
Landscape level reforestation priorities for forest breeding landbirds in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley
D.J. Twedt, W.B. Uihlein III
L.H. Fredrickson, S.L. King, R.M. Kaminski, editor(s)
2005, Book chapter, Ecology and Management of Bottomland Hardwood Systems: the state of our understanding: a symposium, March 11-13, 1999, Memphis, TN
Thousands of ha of cleared wetlands are being reforested annually in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV). Despite the expansive and long-term impacts of reforestation on the biological communities of the MAV, there is generally a lack of landscape level planning in its implementation. To address this deficiency we...
Population trends of North American sea ducks as revealed by the Christmas Bird Count
D.K. Niven, J.R. Sauer, G.S. Butcher
2005, Book chapter, One Hundred and Twenty-Third Stated Meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union: abstract book
Relative to other waterfowl, sea ducks are not well understood, yet evidence from a variety of analyses suggests that as many as 10 of the 15 species of North American sea ducks may be declining in population. However, because of the difficulty of conducting surveys of breeding populations and...
Delineation of surf scoter habitat in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland: macrobenthic and sediment composition of surf scoter feeding sites
D.M. Kidwell, Matthew C. Perry
2005, Book chapter, Second North American Sea Duck Conference, November 7-11, 2005, Annapolis, Maryland. Program and Abstracts
Surveys of surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) along the Atlantic coast of the United States have shown population declines in recent decades. The Chesapeake Bay has traditionally been a key wintering area for surf scoters. Past and present research has shown that bivalves constitute a major food item for...
Estimating population abundance and mapping distribution of wintering sea ducks in coastal waters of the mid-Atlantic
M.D. Koneff, J. Andrew Royle, D.J. Forsell, J.S. Wortham, G.S. Boomer, Matthew C. Perry
2005, Book chapter, Second North American Sea Duck Conference, November 7-11, 2005, Annapolis, Maryland. Program and Abstracts
Survey design for wintering scoters (Melanitta sp.) and other sea ducks that occur in offshore waters is challenging because these species have large ranges, are subject to distributional shifts among years and within a season, and can occur in aggregations. Interest in winter sea duck population abundance surveys has...
Wildlife and habitat damage assessment from Hurricane Charley: recommendations for recovery of the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge Complex. [Final report to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service]
J.M. Meyers, C.A. Langtimm, T. J. Smith III, K. Pednault-Willett
2005, Book
On 13 August 2004, the first of four hurricanes to strike Florida in <6 weeks came ashore near J. N. ?Ding? Darling National Wildlife Refuge (JNDDNWR) Complex, Sanibel Island, FL. Hurricane Charley passed just north of Sanibel Island with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (123 knots) and a...
