Wet Meadow Habitats Research Articles

Body size constrains the annual apparent survival of lekking Great Snipe Gallinago media males of eastern, lowland population

Survival of adult individuals is a key demographic parameter, that is critical for conservation programs of species and evolutionary research focused on life-history traits. Here, we present the estimates of the apparent annual survival of lekking male Great Snipes of the lowland population, breeding in wet meadow habitats in the valley of the Pripyat River. We also investigate individual traits such as body size and body condition, that may influence birds’ survival. The annual apparent survival in the studied population was low (Φ (.) = 0.43), but no change in this parameter was found over the period of 22 years. The chances for survival increased with the body size of an individual. We hypothesize that smaller individuals with shorter bills might face limited foraging options compared to larger birds, which may result in insufficient nutrition during challenging life cycle events such as moulting of primaries combined with preparation for long-distance migration conducted in one non-stop flight. Additionally, the presented results indicate that the wet meadow in the Pripyat River Valley provides suitable breeding habitat for this species with sufficient conservation practices held there, and the low annual apparent survival is probably a life-history trait of this species resulting from a “high pace of life” and elevated metabolic rate. To our knowledge, this study provides the first estimates of the long-term population characteristic for the eastern, lowland population of this species, which could prove helpful in the assessment of population viability for this globally declining species.

Analysis of habitats and bioecological composition of communities with the participation of species of the genus Delphinium in the southeast of European Russia

Between 2013 and 2020, 47 communities with seven species of the genus Delphinium were studied on the territory of 12 regions of the southeast of European Russia. The analysis of habitats by vegetation cover using the ecological scales of L. G. Ramensky showed that soils under communities with species of the genus Delpinium are often quite rich and very slightly alluvial.
 D. subcuneatum communities grow in habitats with the highest moisture-meadow-steppe (moist-steppe) and wet-meadow habitats; communities of D. duhmbergii grow in less humid habitats with dry-meadow (and fresh-meadow) moisture; with dry-meadow (and fresh-meadow) and meadow-steppe (moist-steppe) humidification - communities of D. dictyocarpum, D. litwinowii, and
 D. pubiflorum; in meadow-steppe (moist-steppe) humidification, communities of D. sergii. D. puniceum communities grow in the least moisture-provided habitats, with moisture ranging from dry-steppe and middle-steppe to semi-desert (desert-steppe). The biomorphological composition of communities with species of the genus Delphinium is dominated by hemicryptophytes, among which, the most numerous are tap-rooted, short-rhizomatous, and long-rhizomatous. The composition of cenomorphs reflects the confinement of communities with the majority of Delphinium species presented in the study to the forest-steppe zone, and communities with D. sergii and D. puniceum - to the steppe and semi-desert zone. In communities, the first place among trophomorphs is occupied by mesotrophs, and the second by megatrophs. The spectrum of hygromorphs is quite wide and includes species from xerophytes to ultrahygrophytes, however, xerophytes, mesoxerophytes, xeromesophytes, and mesophytes are the predominant groups most often. Judging by the predominance of heliophytes among heliomorphs, communities with all studied species of the genus Delphinium prefer open spaces. The spectrum of thermomorphs of all studied communities is dominated by mesotherms, for which the ecological optimum coincides with a moderate heat supply regime.

Decline of Black Alder Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. along the Narewka River in the Białowieża Forest District

Abstract Black Alder Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. is an important tree commonly growing in Poland. Alders are actinorhizal plants that play an important ecological role in riparian ecosystems through atmospheric nitrogen fixation, filtration and purification of waterlogged soils as well as providing a refuge for terrestrial and aquatic organisms thus helping to stabilize stream banks. Black alder used to be considered a very pest and disease resistant species but, the situation changed in 2000, when an unprecedented decline of Alders was observed in Poland. In the Białowieża Forest District, this decline has been observed on wet meadow habitats and along rivers or watercourses. Currently, there are several hypotheses explaining Alder dieback, among them climatic changes and Phytophthora infections. In terms of climate, Black Alder requires a high atmospheric humidity during all phases of its reproductive cycle. It tolerates neither long-term summer flooding nor a significant decrease in the groundwater level. In terms of pests, oomycete pathogens of the genus Phytophthora are the most destructive plant pathogens known and many of them are present in forests and nurseries all over Europe. The aim of this study was to evaluate the health of Black Alder along the Narewka River in the Białowieża Forest District. Selected areas were monitored in 2012 and 2018, but no relationship between drought and alder health was found. A preliminary analysis of soil and water samples by real time PCR revealed the presence of two Phytophthora species: P. alni and P. cactorum. Further and more detailed research is required to elucidate the role of these pathogens in Alder dieback.

Structure and Composition of Subalpine Conifers in the Emerald Lake WATERSHED, Sequoia National Park, California

Abstract The Emerald Lake watershed forms a subalpine basin in the upper drainage of the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River in Sequoia National Park, California, with elevations ranging from 2804–3416 m. Five conifer species are present in the basin, with western white pine (Pinus monticola Douglas ex D. Don) as the most dominant species forming 71% of the stems and 82% of basal area censused in 1985 and 1986. Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Loudon subsp. murrayana (Grev. & Balf.) Critchf.) was the second most dominant in the watershed as measured by numbers of individuals and basal area, but was almost entirely restricted to mesic bench and wet meadow habitats in the lower elevations of the watershed. Foxtail pine (Pinus balfouriana Grev. & Balf.) comprised 9.5% of the stems and 13.7% of the basal area within the basin, but was largely present on higher north-facing ridgelines where it formed 52% of stems and 65% of basal area. Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf.), and red fir (Abies magnifica A. Murr...

Space use and social ecology of coyotes (Canis latrans) in a high-elevation ecosystem: relative stability in a changing environment

Coyote (Canis latrans) spatial and social ecology are variable, but have been little studied in high-elevation environments. In these temperate ecosystems, large ungulates are prevalent and coyote pack size may be large in order for them to scavenge and defend ungulate carcasses from conspecifics in neighboring packs. We initiated a study to understand the spatial and social ecology of coyotes on the Valles Caldera National Preserve, a high-elevation (2450–3400 m) protected area in northern New Mexico. Our objectives were to (1) describe the home range size and habitat use of coyotes in the preserve, (2) describe coyote movements within and outside of packs, and (3) to evaluate the relationship between coyote social cohesion and the amount of elk (Cervus elaphus) in the coyote diet. We acquired global positioning system and telemetry locations from 33 coyotes from August 2005 to July 2009. We classified 23 coyotes (70 % of individuals) as residents (i.e., territorial) during at least part of the study and ten coyotes (30 %) as transients. Overall mean home range size of resident packs was 10.6 ± 2.2 (SD) km2. Home range size varied between packs, but did not vary by season or year. Coyotes used dry and wet meadow habitats as expected based on availability; coyotes used riparian habitat more than expected, and forests less than expected. Social cohesion did not vary among biological seasons. Alpha coyotes were more socially cohesive with each other than with other pack members, and a transient exhibited temporal–spatial avoidance of pack members while inside the pack’s territory followed by integration into the pack. Contrary to expectations, we found no relationship between coyote social cohesion and the proportion of elk in coyote diets. We concluded that coyote space use and sociality on the preserve were relatively stable year-round despite changes in biological needs, snow depth, and utilization of variously sized prey.

Habitat Conditions of Montane Meadows associated with Restored and Unrestored Stream Channels of California

Mountain meadow habitats are valued for their ecological importance. They attenuate floods, improve water quality, and support high biodiversity. Many meadow habitats in the western US are degraded, and efforts are increasing to restore these montane meadow ecosystems. Rewatering projects such as pond-and-plug quickly raise the water table by blocking the existing incised stream channel and can result in the rapid recovery of wet meadow habitats. Based on the existing literature, however, it is difficult to determine realistic expectations for outcomes of restoration projects across a range of hydrogeologic conditions. We compared wetland, vegetation, soil carbon, and channel condition variables between ten randomly selected restored and ten paired unrestored montane meadows in California to provide a comparison of habitat conditions. We found that unrestored meadows had a higher proportion of wetland habitat, fewer indicators of channel instability, and greater topsoil carbon stores compared to restored meadows. Restored meadows had more herbaceous biomass within their wetland habitats, but also had more cattle exclosures. The restoration category of the meadow remained important when watershed variables were included in models. While restored meadows were highly degraded prior to project implementation, our results suggest that, in general, conditions do not improve beyond the average conditions of nearby unrestored meadows. Realistic expectations of outcomes and consequences are necessary for managers to make appropriate decisions about restoration options and whether or not to implement rewatering projects that often greatly alter the meadow landscape.

Conservation in Hine’s sight: the conservation genetics of the federally endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly, Somatochlora hineana

Hine’s emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana) is distributed in discrete fen and wet meadow habitats over its range from Ontario, Canada, to Missouri, USA. Habitat destruction in the vicinity of Chicago, IL, and other areas lead to its designation as an US federal endangered species in 1995. Our main goal was to delineate the population genetic structure of the species within the northern recovery unit centered on the Door Peninsula in Wisconsin and the southern recovery unit in the Des Plaines River Valley near Chicago, IL. Sites on the Door Peninsula, WI, are in a matrix of agricultural development and second-growth forest and were used as a best available approximation of a pristine system for the dragonfly. We nondestructively sampled 557 adults and larvae from 16 sites in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin from 2008 through 2011 and used ten microsatellite markers to estimate levels of genetic variability, and genetic structure. Mean allelic richness across all sites and years was 5.03 (±0.64) and expected heterozygosity was 0.52 (±0.032). Northern and southern recovery units as designated in the original recovery plan were genetically distinct. We delineated two genetic populations in the northern unit and three within the southern including two disjunct sites.

A Carex species-dominated marsh community represents the best short-term target for reclaiming wet meadow habitat following oil sands mining in Alberta, Canada

Oil sands mining creates vast areas of disturbed land with contaminated sediment and sub-saline water that require reclamation. Thus far reclamation of wetlands on oil sand leases has been sporadic, although some marshes and shallow water wetlands developing on the leases have begun to exhibit viable vegetation communities. To identify the communities found on oil sands leases that demonstrate ecological performance similar to that of natural wetlands, and to provide guidance on specific revegetation practices, we compared the vegetation communities of 25 natural fresh to sub-saline marshes, which represent the most realistic outcome of the reclaimed wetlands, and 20 oil sands reclaimed marshes. We found that wetlands did not have consistent vegetation communities on the basis of their construction history, and that exposure to oil sands process-affected water does not determine the vegetation community that will develop in reclaimed oil sands wetlands. We identified three wet meadow vegetation communities among our study wetlands using the statistical technique of hierarchical cluster analysis: sedge-dominated natural reference, reclaimed sedge, and disturbed/saline. Notably, the reclaimed sedge communities in the oil sands sites were different from sedge communities in natural marshes; Carex aquatilis Wahlenb. dominates reclaimed sites whereas Carex atherodes Spreng. dominates natural sites. The majority of vegetation communities that develop in reclaimed wetlands produce less aboveground biomass than natural wetlands, despite having similar species richness and percent cover. In general, oil sands reclaimed wetlands have lower levels of sediment nutrients and lower sediment water content than natural wetlands, and these deficiencies may be limiting vegetation community biomass production compared to natural wetlands. The presence of a Carex species-dominated vegetation community at some reclaimed sites shows promise for future reclamation success, if revegetation targets the establishment of this community.

Neighbour–stranger call discrimination in a nocturnal rail species, the Corncrake Crex crex

The acoustic signals of birds are commonly used for individual recognition. Calls or songs allow discrimination between parent and offspring, between mates and between territorial neighbours and strangers. In this study, we investigated vocal neighbour–stranger discrimination in a nocturnally calling rail species, the Corncrake, Crex crex. We conducted interactive playback experiments with 43 males. All males were tested twice on the same night, and their responses to the calls of a familiar neighbour and the calls of an unfamiliar stranger were measured. The Corncrake males responded more aggressively to the playback of a stranger’s calls. They approached the speaker more rapidly, spent more time close to the speaker and physically attacked the speaker more frequently. We found no significant differences between the vocal responses to the playback of neighbours’ and strangers’ calls. Thus, although calling plays an important role in Corncrake territorial interactions, it is only a first line of defence in which males signal aggression towards intruders by calling, similar to singing in passerines. The lack of differences in vocal responses and the presence of clear differences in other behavioural responses demonstrate that the absence of a differential vocal response does not imply the absence of discrimination. Although the individual nature of the Corncrake call has been mentioned in a few previous studies, this study provides the first experimental evidence that Corncrake males indeed use calls for neighbour–stranger discrimination. Notably, because of the Corncrake’s dense wet meadow habitat and its tendency to signal at night, it is probable that acoustic individual discrimination in the Corncrake is crucial for making correct decisions during aggressive encounters with rivals.

Foraging habitats and utilization distributions of Black-necked Cranes wintering at the Napahai Wetland, China

One of the most endangered populations of Black-necked Cranes (Grus nigricollis), the central population, is declining due to habitat loss and degradation, but little is known about their space use patterns and habitat preferences. We examined the space use and habitat preferences of Black-necked Cranes during the winter of 2007-2008 at the Napahai wetland in northwest Yunnan, China, where approximately 300 Black-necked Cranes (>90% of the total central population) spent the winter. Euclidean distance analysis was employed to determine the habitat preferences of Black-necked Cranes, and a local nearest-neighbor, convex-hull construction method was used to examine space use. Our results indicate that Black-necked Cranes preferred shallow marsh and wet meadow habitats and avoided farmland and dry grassland. Core-use areas (50% isopleths) and total-use areas (100% isopleths) accounted for only 1.2% and 28.2% of the study area, respectively. We recommend that habitat protection efforts focus on shallow marsh and wet meadow habitats to maintain preferred foraging sites. Core-use areas, such as the primary foraging areas of Black-necked Cranes, should be designated as part of the core zone of the nature reserve. Monthly shifts in the core-use areas of the cranes also indicate that the reserve should be large enough to permit changes in space use. In addition to preserving habitat, government officials should also take measures to decrease human activity in areas used by foraging Black-necked Cranes.

Slow spread of the aggressive invader, Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stiltgrass)

Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stiltgrass) is a non-native weed whose rapid invasion threatens native diversity and regeneration in forests. Using data from a 4 year experiment tracking new invasions in different habitats, we developed a spatial model of patch growth, using maximum likelihood techniques to estimate dispersal and population growth parameters. The patches expanded surprisingly slowly: in the final year, the majority of new seedlings were still within 1 m of the original patch. The influence of habitat was not as strong as anticipated, although patches created in roadside and wet meadow habitats tended to expand more rapidly and had greater reproductive ratios. The long-term projections of the patch growth model suggest much slower spread than has typically been observed for M. vimineum. The small scale of natural dispersal suggests that human-mediated dispersal, likely influenced by forest road management, is responsible for the rapid spread of this invasive species.

Influence of grazing and available moisture on breeding densities of grassland birds in the central Platte River Valley, Nebraska

We investigated the relationship between grassland breeding bird densities and both grazing and available moisture in the central Platte River Valley, Nebraska between 1980 and 1996. We also compared species richness and community similarity of breeding birds in sedge (Carex spp.) meadows and mesic grasslands. Densities of two species had a significant relationship with grazing and six of seven focal species had a significant relationship with available moisture. Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) and Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) densities were lower in grazed plots compared to ungrazed plots, whereas Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) densities were greater in sedge-meadow plots compared to mesic grassland plots. Bobolink, Dickcissel (Spiza americana), and Brown-headed Cowbird were negatively associated with available moisture with breeding densities peaking during the driest conditions. Our results suggest that wet conditions increase species richness for the community through addition of wetland-dependant and wetland-associated birds, but decrease densities of ground-nesting grassland birds in wet-meadow habitats, whereas dry conditions reduce species richness but increase the density of the avian assemblage. We propose that wet-meadow habitats serve as local refugia for grassland-nesting birds during local or regional droughts.

Vegetation Change in Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands: Deviation from the Historical Cycle

Water-level change is integral to the structure and function of Great Lakes coastal wetlands, and many studies document predictable relationships between vegetation and water level. However, anthropogenic stressors, such as invasive species, land-use change, and water-level stabilization, interact to shift the historical cycle (of native vegetation migration up- and down-slope) toward dominance by invasive Typha species. Knowing from earlier studies that water-level stabilization alters the historical vegetation cycle, we asked if similar shifts can occur where water levels are not stabilized. Using historical aerial photographs of three coastal wetlands (in Lake Michigan's Green Bay, Wisconsin), we determined that habitat dominated by Typha species has expanded to eliminate wet meadow habitat. Between 1974 and 1992, linear regressions showed strong, significant relationships of both meadow area (R 2 ≥ 0.894; p < 0.02) and marsh area (R 2 ≥ 0.784; p < 0.05) to water level in all three wetlands. In 2000, meadow area was below that predicted by the historical pattern due to the landward advance of marsh habitat during a year of decreasing water levels. In the same period, land use in the wetland watersheds converted from agriculture to urban. Urbanization and the replacement of native Typha latifolia by the invasive hybrid Typha xglauca may have overwhelmed the beneficial impact of water-level fluctuation. The documentation of vegetation shifts, as herein, is an essential step in the process of preserving and restoring ecological integrity.

Breeding bird territory placement in riparian wet meadows in relation to invasive reed canary grass, Phalaris arundinacea

Invasive plants are a growing concern worldwide for conservation of native habitats. In endangered wet meadow habitat in the Upper Midwestern United States, reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) is a recognized problem and its prevalence is more widespread than the better-known invasive wetland plant purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). Although resource managers are concerned about the effect of reed canary grass on birds, this is the first study to report how common wet meadow birds use habitat in relation to reed canary grass cover and dominance. We examined three response variables: territory placement, size of territories, and numbers of territories per plot in relation to cover of reed canary grass. Territory locations for Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) and Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodid) were positively associated with reed canary grass cover, while those for Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) were not. Only Swamp Sparrow (M. georgiana) territory locations were negatively associated with reed canary grass cover and dominance (which indicated a tendency to place territories where there was no reed canary grass or where many plant species occurred with reed canary grass). Swamp Sparrow territories were positively associated with vegetation height density and litter depth. Common Yellowthroat territories were positively associated with vegetation height density and shrub cover. Song Sparrow territories were negatively associated with litter depth. Reed canary grass cover within territories was not associated with territory size for any of these four bird species. Territory density per plot was not associated with average reed canary grass cover of plots for all four species. Sedge Wrens and Song Sparrows may not respond negatively to reed canary grass because this grass is native to wet meadows of North America, and in the study area it merely replaces other tall lush plants. Avoidance of reed canary grass by Swamp Sparrows may be mediated through their preference for wet areas where reed canary grass typically does not dominate.

Small-format aerial photography for assessing change in wetland vegetation, Cheyenne Bottoms, Kansas

Abstract Cheyenne Bottoms is a Ramsar wetland site in central Kansas, where the Nature Conservancy (NC) has undertaken an effort since the mid-1990s to maintain and restore marsh and wet-meadow habitats for migrating shorebirds and waterfowl. Small-format aerial photography was conducted using kites and a helium blimp in order to document changing water and vegetation conditions during the years 2002–2005. Pictures were taken repeatedly throughout the growing seasons with various film and digital cameras from heights of 100–150 m. Invasive cattails (Typha sp.) are a major concern; the spread of cattail thickets during the 1990s reduced the open marshes on which migrating shorebirds depend for feeding. The NC adopted a strategy in which drought episodes are exploited for control of cattails. During our study, a drought cycle took place. Both color-visible and color-infrared images depict the impact of changing water level on cattails, which over the course of two years (2002 to 2004) were largely eliminate...

Environmental influences on the phenology and abundance of flowering by Androsace septentrionalis (Primulaceae)

We studied the timing and abundance of flowering by Androsace septentrionalis L. (Primulaceae), an indeterminate winter annual or short-lived perennial, in 2 × 2 m plots at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Colorado, USA, from 1982 to 2000. Flowers were counted every other day for most or all of the growing season in seven plots in a rocky meadow habitat and nine plots in a wet meadow habitat. The phenology and abundance of flowering were both highly variable, with mean dates of first flowering ranging from 16 May to 12 July and maximum daily counts of flowers ranging from 1 to 1187. Snowmelt date was the primary determinant of timing of flowering. For rocky meadow plots, the previous year's summer precipitation and the current year's average minimum temperature in May had significant effects on maximum number of flowers produced, but no environmental variable we considered was significantly correlated with flower abundance in the wet meadow plots. Length of flowering in individual plots ranged from 2 to 85 d, and many plot-years had both primary (about 1 mo) and secondary (about 10-12 d) flowering periods. The predicted increase in variability of precipitation accompanying climate change will affect negatively the long-term abundance and persistence of this species at our study site.

Diet selection in Arctic lemmings (Lemmus sibiricus and Dicrostonyx groenlandicus): demography, home range, and habitat use

In this study we explore the relationships between demography, patterns of habitat use, and the diets selected by Lemmus and Dicrostonyx at Igloolik Island, N.W.T. The demography of both species at Igloolik is similar to that recorded at other localities, but maximal densities vary between sites and may be related to the abundance of suitable forage. Home range characteristics and patterns of habitat use in each lemming species are related to the spatial and temporal distribution of preferred foods: in summer, Lemmus uses low-lying wet meadow habitats dominated by graminoids and mosses, whereas Dicrostonyx uses mainly upland dry heaths dominated by shrubs; in winter, both species make greater use of moist transitional habitats. Although the two species differ in their patterns of resource use, these differences may be altered through interspecific and intraspecific interactions.

Mimicry in North American checkerspot butterflies: Euphydryas phaeton and Chlosyne harrisii (Nymphalidae)

ABSTRACT. An examination of the phenetics, ecology and distribution of Chlosyne harrisii suggested that it was a potential mimic of the unpalatable Euphydryas phaeton. The wing undersurfaces of the adults are very similar and the larvae are virtually identical. The geographic range of both butterflies is the northeastern United States and both are inhabitants of wet meadow habitats where they may fly together. The life histories of both species are closely synchronized. A series of feeding experiments using blue‐jays as predators showed first, that C.harrisii is palatable, and second, suggested that the birds could not distinguish between C.harrisii and E.phaeton on the basis of visual cues. Thus, Charrisii seems to be an effective Batesian mimic of E.phaeton.