Experimental evaluation of predator exclosures on nest, chick, and adult survival of piping plovers
Species of conservation concern often receive intensive management to improve vital rates and facilitate recovery. Piping plovers (Charadrius melodus) are federally listed in the United States and concerns over nest depredation have prompted widespread use of plover-permeable predator exclosures placed around nests (0.5–2-m radius). While effectiveness of exclosures for improving nest survival has been demonstrated, concerns remain about decreased chick survival (through predator cueing or density-dependent processes) or increased vulnerability of adults to predation (ambush as adult leaves exclosure). Either one of these concerns could demographically outweigh the benefits of increased nest survival. During 2014–2016, we conducted an experiment designed to evaluate survival of uniquely identified nests (n = 418), chicks (n = 453), and adults (n = 367) at wetlands across the Northern Great Plains, USA. We assigned wetlands (n2014 = 26, n2015 = 28, n2016 = 25) into 2 groups: wetlands in which half of the nests received exclosures and wetlands in which none of the nests received exclosures. Exclosed nests had greater cumulative survival (0.73 [85% CI = 0.70–0.77]) than unexclosed nests at treatment wetlands (0.58 [0.54–0.62]) or unexclosed nests at control wetlands (0.52 [0.49–0.56]). Survival to fledging was highest for chicks hatched from exclosed nests (0.51 [0.47–0.56]), and similar between chicks hatched from unexclosed nests at treatment (0.34 [0.30–0.39]) and control (0.37 [0.32–0.42]) wetlands. Cumulative survival of adults during incubation varied by exclosure status, but adults associated with exclosed nests (0.90 [0.88–0.93]) and unexclosed nests at treatment wetlands (0.89 [0.86–0.92]) had greater survival than those associated with unexclosed nests at control wetlands (0.75 [0.64–0.84]). Adult annual survival rates varied by year (0.79–0.95) but not by exclosure status. The positive influence of exclosures on nest survival was not offset by a reduction in chick or adult survival, indicating that exclosures are a viable tool for piping plover conservation.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2022 |
|---|---|
| Title | Experimental evaluation of predator exclosures on nest, chick, and adult survival of piping plovers |
| DOI | 10.1002/jwmg.22139 |
| Authors | Michael J. Anteau, Rose J. Swift, Mark H. Sherfy, David N. Koons, Kristen S. Ellis, Terry L. Shaffer, Dustin L. Toy, Megan Ring |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Journal of Wildlife Management |
| Index ID | 70228601 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center |
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Experimental evaluation of predator exclosures on nest, chick, and adult survival data for the Northern Great Plains piping plover, 2014 - 2016
Michael Anteau, PhD
Chief - Wildlife and Ecosystems Branch
Rose J. Swift, PhD
Research Ecologist
Mark Sherfy
Deputy Center Director
Kristen Ellis, PhD
Research Ecologist
Terry Shaffer
Statistician Emeritus
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Experimental evaluation of predator exclosures on nest, chick, and adult survival data for the Northern Great Plains piping plover, 2014 - 2016
This dataset presents four tabular data files that evaluate the effect of predator exclosures around piping plover (Charadrius melodus) nests on plover nest, chick, within-season, and annual adult survival. During 2014-2016, we designed an experiment to examine nest (n = 418), chick (n = 453), and adult (n = 367) survival at alkaline wetlands of the Northern Great Plains. Alkaline wetlands were di - Connect
Michael Anteau, PhD
Chief - Wildlife and Ecosystems BranchEmailPhoneRose J. Swift, PhD
Research EcologistEmailPhoneMark Sherfy
Deputy Center DirectorEmailPhoneKristen Ellis, PhD
Research EcologistEmailPhoneTerry Shaffer
Statistician EmeritusEmail