Factors Influencing Wood Stork Prey Biomass in Roadside Created Wetlands

Abstract

Infrastructure associated with a growing human population has disrupted hydrologic patterns and impacted wetland species such as Mycteria americana (Wood Stork). However, storks are commonly observed foraging along roadways in created wetlands and nesting in urban environments, suggesting that these areas may provide novel foraging habitat. We sampled both permanently inundated and ephemeral created wetlands to determine which hydrologic, vegetative, and physical attributes are associated with high stork prey biomass. Factors influencing stork prey biomass differed between permanently inundated and ephemeral created wetlands. Landscape-level vegetation and the physical properties of a wetland were more influential in permanently inundated ponds and canals whereas local-scale vegetation and hydrologic conditions were most influential in ephemeral ponds and swales. Furthermore, aquatic fauna biomass in permanently inundated created wetlands was 9x greater than in natural wetlands, and aquatic fauna biomass was even greater in the urban landscape. These findings suggest that created wetlands may serve as additional foraging habitat for Wood Storks. As natural wetlands continue to be lost and managed for human purposes, created wetlands should be considered in conservation plans and future management decisions for Wood Storks and other wading birds given their ability to produce wading bird prey.