Abstract
This is a response to the Alexander, Jorgensen, and Bomberger-Brown (Ecology and Evolution, XX, 2018, XX; hereafter, AJB) Letter to the Editor critiquing Farnsworth etal. (Ecology and Evolution, 7, 2017, 3579; hereafter, our study), which investigates the reproductive ecology of interior least terns and piping plover in relation to Platte River hydrology and sandbar dynamics. Herein, we address each of AJBs' technical arguments, demonstrating that our technical approach and model assumptions were reasonable and provide a conservatively high estimate of the potential for reproductive success when compared to observed nest inundation events. We conclude with a description of the realities faced by the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program (PRRIP) as we integrate learning to adjust management actions. Linked Article: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4109.
Highlights
We appreciate the opportunity to respond to Alexander, Jorgensen, and Bomberger-Brown’s letter to the editor of Ecology and Evolution (Alexander et al 2018)
From a subpopulation viability perspective, we have found reproductive success of AHR nests initiated late in the breeding season is often lower due to fewer eggs typically being laid in a clutch and can further be reduced if not initiated in time to successfully fledge chicks (DMB, pers. obs.)
Ninety percent of reported lower Platte River (LPR) nest initiation dates fell within the 90% nesting periods we developed using AHR data (Brown & Jorgensen, 2008, 2009, 2010; Brown et al, 2011, 2012, 2013; Farnsworth, Baasch, Smith, & Werbylo, 2017; PRRIP 2015)
Summary
We appreciate the opportunity to respond to Alexander, Jorgensen, and Bomberger-Brown’s (hereafter AJB’s) letter to the editor of Ecology and Evolution (Alexander et al 2018). AJBs’ critique of our emergent sandbar habitat model focuses on four main issues: (1) the use of primarily off-channel nest initiation dates to develop the least tern and piping plover nesting periods; (2) the lack of a detailed description of sandbar height data collection and analysis methods; (3) the model assumption of a constant maximum sandbar height in relation to peak stage of habitat-forming flow events (AJB refer to this as the stage gap); and (4) the model assumption that species nests occur at mean sandbar height. Our model necessarily under-predicts the potential for nest inundation on any given day This portion of AJBs’ critique asserts that the fledge ratio-based assessment of the potential for long-term maintenance of stable, on- channel species subpopulations (no off-channel habitat) described in TA B L E 3 Comparisons of observed on-channel habitat conditions and nesting in the lower Platte River in relation to Farnsworth et al (2017) emergent sandbar habitat model predictions.
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