The role of landscape features and density dependence in growth and fledging rates of Piping Plovers in North Dakota, USA

Abstract

ABSTRACT For species with precocial young, survival from hatching to fledging is a key factor influencing recruitment. Furthermore, growth rates of precocial chicks are an indicator of forage quality and habitat suitability of brood-rearing areas. We examined how growth and fledging rates of Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) chicks were influenced by landscape features, such as hatchling density (hatchlings per hectare of remotely sensed habitat [H ha−1]), island vs. mainland, and wind fetch (exposure to waves) at 2-km segments (n = 15) of Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota, during 2007–2008. Hatchling growth was comparable with published estimates for other habitats. Models for fledging rate (fledged young per segment) assuming density dependence had more support (wi = 96%) than those assuming density independence (wi = 4%). Density-dependent processes appeared to influence fledging rate only at densities >5 H ha−1, which occurred in 19% of the segments we sampled. When areas with densities >5 H ha−1 were exc...