Transcript Combining citizen science derived species distribution models and

Migratory Connectivity of
Sora, Virginia and Yellow Rails
Auriel M.V. Fournier – Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit –
University of Arkansas
Kiel Drake, Doug Tozer – Bird Studies Canada
David G. Krementz – USGS Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit –
University of Arkansas
@RallidaeRule
Stopover, Migration, Wetlands
•
Stopover habitat for wetland species has
been greatly reduced in the U.S (>60%)
•
Waterfowl connectivity has been studied
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Other wetland species are unknown
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Especially hard for small species with no
site fidelity
Why Rails? Why Stable Isotopes?
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Important connection
between wetland systems
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Sora and Virginia Rail are
game species
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Elusive, poorly studied,
wetland obligate
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No known site fidelity
•
Isotopes –
 Single capture needed
•
Butler et al. 2016 – Yellow
Rails in inland Canada
Sample Collection
•
Breeding Grounds
 Foam Lake, Saskatchewan
 All Species
•
Migration
 Sora
 Virginia Rail
 Yellow Rail
Stable Hydrogen Isotopes
Image: http://www.animalmigration.org/stable_isotopes/index.htm
Fournier & Sullivan et al 2016
Journal of Applied Ecology
DOI 10.1111/1365-2664.12723
Stable
Hydrogen
Species Distribution
Model
Stables Isotopes with
Species Distribution
Model Prior
Species Distribution Models
•
Regional, State and Provincial
Marshbird Monitoring Programs
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Logistic Regression
•
Used 21 environmental covariates
related to
 Temperature
 Wetland cover
 Rainfall
• Bayesian prior
• Van Wilgenburg, S.L., and K.A. Hobson. 2011. Combining stableisotope and band recovery data to improve probabilistic assignment
of migratory birds to origin. Ecological Applications 21: 1340-1351.
Model Results
•
Virginia Rail
 Standard Deviation of Temperature
 Modeling continues to be challenging
•
Sora and Yellow Rail
 Mean Temp Driest Quarter
 Mean Temp Warmest Quarter
 Mean of monthly temperature range
 Non-forested Wetland presence
Yellow Rail
Virginia Rail
Sora
Next Steps
• Better
east coast data for SDM
• Better
environmental/habitat data
to feed into SDM
• Bring
in additional isotopes
Butler et al 2016 found Sulphur to
be helpful
• Use
other forms of tracking
connectivity
Acknowledgements
Wonderful Technicians!
Funding From
•
Garden Club of America
Frances M. Peacock
Scholarship,
•
Arkansas Cooperative Fish
and Wildlife Research Unit
Presentation Available - tinyurl.com/rail-naoc16
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.3565578
[email protected]
@RallidaeRule
aurielfournier.github.io
Butler, C.J. Wilson J.K. Frazee S.R. Kelly J.F. 2016.
A Comparison of the origins of Yellow Rails wintering in Oklahoma
and Texas, USA Waterbirds
Fournier, A.M.V. Sullivan A.R. Bump J.K. Perkins M. Shieldcastle
M.C. King S.L. 2016.
Combining citizen science species distribution models and stable
isotopes reveals migratory connectivity in the secretive Virginia Rail.
Journal of Applied Ecology
Van Wilgenburg, S.L., and K.A. Hobson. 2011. Combining stableisotope and band recovery data to improve probabilistic assignment of
migratory birds to origin. Ecological Applications 21: 1340-1351.