The Role of Fishing Piers in Brown Pelican (<i>Pelecanus occidentalis</i>) Entanglement
Throughout their range, Brown Pelicans <i>(Pelecanus occidentalis</i>) are one of the most common species to become entangled in fishing gear. We surveyed four piers every other week for one year (6/2019–5/2020) in the Tampa Bay region, FL, USA, to determine frequency of pelican entangle...
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/18/2352 |
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| author | Fairl L. Thomas Elizabeth A. Forys |
| author_facet | Fairl L. Thomas Elizabeth A. Forys |
| author_sort | Fairl L. Thomas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Throughout their range, Brown Pelicans <i>(Pelecanus occidentalis</i>) are one of the most common species to become entangled in fishing gear. We surveyed four piers every other week for one year (6/2019–5/2020) in the Tampa Bay region, FL, USA, to determine frequency of pelican entanglement associated with fishing piers, and explored factors that might influence the rate of entanglement. We conducted a generalized linear model (GLM) to determine the influence that pier, pier closure due to COVID-19, time of day and season, number of anglers, and presence of human behaviors that might attract pelicans to the pier had on the number of entangled pelicans. We conducted 144 surveys and counted 3766 pelicans of which 254 (7%) were entangled. The variables significantly associated (<i>p</i> < 0.05) with entanglement were the pier, time of day, and pier closure status, while the number and behavior of anglers were not significant. The two piers that most significantly influenced the number of entanglements both had extensive perches within 10 m of the fishing pier. The management action most likely to reduce the number of entangled pelicans appears to be deterring pelicans from perching near piers or decreasing fishing near perching structures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:56:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b928904a5c5f4990a32077d14b991679 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:56:59Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-b928904a5c5f4990a32077d14b9916792023-11-23T14:41:31ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-09-011218235210.3390/ani12182352The Role of Fishing Piers in Brown Pelican (<i>Pelecanus occidentalis</i>) EntanglementFairl L. Thomas0Elizabeth A. Forys1Environmental Studies Discipline, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL 33711, USAEnvironmental Studies and Biology Disciplines, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL 33711, USAThroughout their range, Brown Pelicans <i>(Pelecanus occidentalis</i>) are one of the most common species to become entangled in fishing gear. We surveyed four piers every other week for one year (6/2019–5/2020) in the Tampa Bay region, FL, USA, to determine frequency of pelican entanglement associated with fishing piers, and explored factors that might influence the rate of entanglement. We conducted a generalized linear model (GLM) to determine the influence that pier, pier closure due to COVID-19, time of day and season, number of anglers, and presence of human behaviors that might attract pelicans to the pier had on the number of entangled pelicans. We conducted 144 surveys and counted 3766 pelicans of which 254 (7%) were entangled. The variables significantly associated (<i>p</i> < 0.05) with entanglement were the pier, time of day, and pier closure status, while the number and behavior of anglers were not significant. The two piers that most significantly influenced the number of entanglements both had extensive perches within 10 m of the fishing pier. The management action most likely to reduce the number of entangled pelicans appears to be deterring pelicans from perching near piers or decreasing fishing near perching structures.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/18/2352Brown PelicanCOVID-19 closureentanglementfishing pier<i>Pelecanus occidentalis</i> |
| spellingShingle | Fairl L. Thomas Elizabeth A. Forys The Role of Fishing Piers in Brown Pelican (<i>Pelecanus occidentalis</i>) Entanglement Animals Brown Pelican COVID-19 closure entanglement fishing pier <i>Pelecanus occidentalis</i> |
| title | The Role of Fishing Piers in Brown Pelican (<i>Pelecanus occidentalis</i>) Entanglement |
| title_full | The Role of Fishing Piers in Brown Pelican (<i>Pelecanus occidentalis</i>) Entanglement |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Fishing Piers in Brown Pelican (<i>Pelecanus occidentalis</i>) Entanglement |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Fishing Piers in Brown Pelican (<i>Pelecanus occidentalis</i>) Entanglement |
| title_short | The Role of Fishing Piers in Brown Pelican (<i>Pelecanus occidentalis</i>) Entanglement |
| title_sort | role of fishing piers in brown pelican i pelecanus occidentalis i entanglement |
| topic | Brown Pelican COVID-19 closure entanglement fishing pier <i>Pelecanus occidentalis</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/18/2352 |
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