Migration efficiency sustains connectivity across agroecological networks supporting sandhill crane migration
Abstract Preserving avian flyway connectivity has long been challenged by our capacity to meaningfully quantify continental habitat dynamics and bird movements at temporal and spatial scales underlying long‐distance migrations. Waterbirds migrating hundreds or thousands of kilometers depend on netwo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Ecosphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3543 |
| _version_ | 1818937269643378688 |
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| author | J. Patrick Donnelly Sammy L. King Jeff Knetter James H. Gammonley Victoria J. Dreitz Blake A. Grisham M. Cathy Nowak Daniel P. Collins |
| author_facet | J. Patrick Donnelly Sammy L. King Jeff Knetter James H. Gammonley Victoria J. Dreitz Blake A. Grisham M. Cathy Nowak Daniel P. Collins |
| author_sort | J. Patrick Donnelly |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Preserving avian flyway connectivity has long been challenged by our capacity to meaningfully quantify continental habitat dynamics and bird movements at temporal and spatial scales underlying long‐distance migrations. Waterbirds migrating hundreds or thousands of kilometers depend on networks of wetland stopover sites to rest and refuel. Entire populations may rely on discrete wetland habitats, particularly in arid landscapes where the loss of limited stopover options can have disproportionately high impacts on migratory cost. Here, we examine flyway connectivity in water‐limited ecosystems of western North America using 108 GPS tagged greater sandhill cranes. Bird movements were used to reconstruct wetland stopover networks across three geographically unique sub‐populations spanning 12 U.S.–Mexican states and Canadian provinces. Networks were monitored with remote sensing to identify long‐term (1988–2019) trends in wetland and agricultural resources supporting migration and evaluated using network theory and centrality metrics as a measure of stopover site importance to flyway connectivity. Sandhill crane space use was analyzed in stopover locations to identify important ownership and landscape factors structuring bird distributions. Migratory efficiency was the primary mechanism underpinning network function. A small number of key stopover sites important to minimizing movement cost between summering and wintering locations were essential to preserving flyway connectivity. Localized efficiencies were apparent in stopover landscapes given prioritization of space use by birds where the proximity of agricultural food resources and flooded wetlands minimized daily movements. Model depictions showing wetland declines from 16% to 18% likely reflect a new normal in landscape drying that could decouple agriculture–waterbird relationships as water scarcity intensifies. Sustaining network resilience will require conservation strategies to balance water allocations preserving agricultural and wetlands on private lands that accounted for 67–96% of habitat use. Study outcomes provide new perspectives of agroecological relationships supporting continental waterbird migration needed to prioritize conservation of landscapes vital to maintaining flyway connectivity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T05:49:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c9bf398cbcbc4a5281169273dffeb2d2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2150-8925 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T05:49:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-c9bf398cbcbc4a5281169273dffeb2d22022-12-21T19:51:14ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252021-06-01126n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.3543Migration efficiency sustains connectivity across agroecological networks supporting sandhill crane migrationJ. Patrick Donnelly0Sammy L. King1Jeff Knetter2James H. Gammonley3Victoria J. Dreitz4Blake A. Grisham5M. Cathy Nowak6Daniel P. Collins7Intermountain West Joint Venture ‐ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Program Missoula Montana USAU.S. Geological Survey Louisiana Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit School of Renewable Natural Resources Louisiana State University Baton Rouge Louisiana USAIdaho Department of Fish and Game Boise Idaho USAColorado Parks and Wildlife Fort Collins Colorado USAWildlife Biology Program Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences Avian Science Center W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation University of Montana Missoula Montana USADepartment of Natural Resources Management Texas Tech University Lubbock Texas USAOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area La Grande Oregon USAU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 2 Migratory Bird Office Albuquerque New Mexico USAAbstract Preserving avian flyway connectivity has long been challenged by our capacity to meaningfully quantify continental habitat dynamics and bird movements at temporal and spatial scales underlying long‐distance migrations. Waterbirds migrating hundreds or thousands of kilometers depend on networks of wetland stopover sites to rest and refuel. Entire populations may rely on discrete wetland habitats, particularly in arid landscapes where the loss of limited stopover options can have disproportionately high impacts on migratory cost. Here, we examine flyway connectivity in water‐limited ecosystems of western North America using 108 GPS tagged greater sandhill cranes. Bird movements were used to reconstruct wetland stopover networks across three geographically unique sub‐populations spanning 12 U.S.–Mexican states and Canadian provinces. Networks were monitored with remote sensing to identify long‐term (1988–2019) trends in wetland and agricultural resources supporting migration and evaluated using network theory and centrality metrics as a measure of stopover site importance to flyway connectivity. Sandhill crane space use was analyzed in stopover locations to identify important ownership and landscape factors structuring bird distributions. Migratory efficiency was the primary mechanism underpinning network function. A small number of key stopover sites important to minimizing movement cost between summering and wintering locations were essential to preserving flyway connectivity. Localized efficiencies were apparent in stopover landscapes given prioritization of space use by birds where the proximity of agricultural food resources and flooded wetlands minimized daily movements. Model depictions showing wetland declines from 16% to 18% likely reflect a new normal in landscape drying that could decouple agriculture–waterbird relationships as water scarcity intensifies. Sustaining network resilience will require conservation strategies to balance water allocations preserving agricultural and wetlands on private lands that accounted for 67–96% of habitat use. Study outcomes provide new perspectives of agroecological relationships supporting continental waterbird migration needed to prioritize conservation of landscapes vital to maintaining flyway connectivity.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3543agricultural irrigationagroecologyflyway connectivitymigratory networksnetwork analysisNorth America |
| spellingShingle | J. Patrick Donnelly Sammy L. King Jeff Knetter James H. Gammonley Victoria J. Dreitz Blake A. Grisham M. Cathy Nowak Daniel P. Collins Migration efficiency sustains connectivity across agroecological networks supporting sandhill crane migration Ecosphere agricultural irrigation agroecology flyway connectivity migratory networks network analysis North America |
| title | Migration efficiency sustains connectivity across agroecological networks supporting sandhill crane migration |
| title_full | Migration efficiency sustains connectivity across agroecological networks supporting sandhill crane migration |
| title_fullStr | Migration efficiency sustains connectivity across agroecological networks supporting sandhill crane migration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Migration efficiency sustains connectivity across agroecological networks supporting sandhill crane migration |
| title_short | Migration efficiency sustains connectivity across agroecological networks supporting sandhill crane migration |
| title_sort | migration efficiency sustains connectivity across agroecological networks supporting sandhill crane migration |
| topic | agricultural irrigation agroecology flyway connectivity migratory networks network analysis North America |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3543 |
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