Hierarchical distance sampling reveals increased population size and broader habitat use in the endangered Bahama Oriole
| Autor: | Kevin E. Omland, Jennifer L. Christhilf, Richard C. Stanley, Daniel C. Stonko, Michael G. Rowley, Scott B. Johnson, Janine M. Antalffy, T. Scott Sillett, Matthew E. Fagan, Colin E. Studds, Shelley Cant-Woodside |
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| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
Endangered species
Library science 02 engineering and technology Commission SB1-1110 0202 electrical engineering electronic engineering information engineering GE1-350 Sociology QK900-989 Plant ecology Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Nature and Landscape Conservation ANDROS Ecology biology 05 social sciences Plant culture 050301 education 020207 software engineering Bahama oriole endangered species Fagan inspection biology.organism_classification Environmental sciences island endemic Alliance Undergraduate research caribbean hierarchical distance sampling Animal Science and Zoology Club bahama oriole 0503 education |
| Zdroj: | Avian Conservation and Ecology, Vol 16, Iss 1, p 5 (2021) |
| ISSN: | 1712-6568 |
| DOI: | 10.5751/ace-01775-160105 |
| Popis: | The Caribbean is home to over 20 passerine species listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. The Bahama Oriole (Icterus northropi) is listed as critically endangered and is now restricted to Andros, a single island complex in The Bahamas. We investigated this species' habitat use and produced the first statistically robust estimate of population size. We conducted point counts during the Bahama Oriole's breeding season in May and June 2017, extensively surveying the northern part of North Andros over a study area covering 713 km². Hierarchical distance sampling models estimated 1269-2765 individuals within our study area, a substantially larger population on North Andros than was indicated by the previously published estimates. Earlier studies, which disproportionately sampled anthropogenic and coppice habitats, likely underestimated this species' abundance in pine forest. We found that the Bahama Oriole is widespread, most abundant in pine forest, and not dependent on developed habitats during the breeding season. These findings provide a better outlook for the species' persistence and indicate that conserving pine forest would benefit this critically endangered species. Our results also emphasize the importance of rigorously evaluating habitat use when developing conservation plans for endangered species. Systematic population counts and statistical analyses that account for detection probability are needed for endangered and vulnerable endemic birds across the Caribbean, especially in the face of increased hurricane strength and sea level rise due to climate change. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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