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Effects of local and landscape-scale habitat variables on abundance and reproductive success of wetland birds

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Abstract

Both local and landscape-scale habitat variables influence the abundance of wetland breeding birds. Few studies, however, simultaneously assess the effects of habitat variables at multiple spatial scales or consider effects on reproductive success. Therefore, we examined the effects of wetland and landscape-scale habitat variables on the abundance of nine breeding bird species and the effects of nest, wetland, or landscape-scale habitat variables on the nest success, clutch size, or number of fledglings of four species at 15 cattail (Typha sp.)-dominated wetlands in an agricultural region around Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. The abundance of Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis), Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), and Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) increased as wetland water depth increased; the abundance of Common Moorhen and Marsh Wren increased as wetland size increased; and the abundance of Marsh Wren increased as the amount of wetland in the surrounding landscape increased. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) nest success decreased as nest cover increased. Clutch sizes were uninfluenced by the habitat variables that we considered. The number of Red-winged Blackbird fledglings per successful nest increased as wetland size increased and as the amount of wetland in the surrounding landscape increased. We speculate that food limitation in small wetlands may be responsible for the pattern in Red-winged Blackbird fledging success. The abundance and nest success of Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) and Sora (Porzana carolina) were uninfluenced by the habitat variables we considered. Future research should consider mate attraction and productivity in relation to local and landscape-scale habitat variables for these and other secretive species. Our study suggests that wetland conservation will be most effective if it considers habitat variables at multiple spatial scales.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Melanie Radder, Andrea Stewart, and Mary Van Sleeuwen for working long hours in the field. Andrea Stewart also meticulously kept track of the nest records. Karla Falk provided statistical advice and other helpful suggestions. Comments by Bruce Pond and Jeff Bowman improved the paper and were invaluable with the landscape analysis. Tom Whillans kindly took time to explain the complexities of pollution runoff. James McHatie, Barbara Zabarowski, Larry Bradt, and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources provided access to landscape data. This research was made possible by support from Bird Studies Canada in partnership with Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Trent University, United States Geological Survey, Canadian Wildlife Service—Ontario Region (Science Division), Ducks Unlimited Canada, and The Ontario Trillium Foundation. DCT was supported by an Ontario Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Environmental Science Centre, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9J 7B8, Canada

    Douglas C. Tozer

  2. Biology Department, Environmental Science Centre, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9J 7B8, Canada

    Erica Nol

  3. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Trent University, 2140 East Bank Drive, DNA Building, Peterborough, ON, K9J 7B8, Canada

    Kenneth F. Abraham

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  1. Douglas C. Tozer
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  2. Erica Nol
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Correspondence to Douglas C. Tozer.

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Tozer, D.C., Nol, E. & Abraham, K.F. Effects of local and landscape-scale habitat variables on abundance and reproductive success of wetland birds. Wetlands Ecol Manage 18, 679–693 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-010-9187-x

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