Nutritional value and management of waterfowl and shorebird foods in Atlantic coastal moist-soil impoundments / Mark H. Sherfy
Material type:
TextPublication details: Blackburg, VA : Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1999.Description: xxx, 309 leaves : ill. ; 29 cmOnline resources: Abstract: The mid-Atlantic coast region, an area of continental significance to migratory and wintering waterfowl and shorebirds, contains numerous moist-soil impoundments that are managed for waterbirds. Positive relationships between nonbreeding body condition and subsequent survival and reproduction have been documented for waterfowl , yet few evaluations of habitat management consider nutritional value of foods. I assessed 2 types of impoundment manipulation, using nutritional data as a basis for evaluation. Invertebrate and plant seed production were measured in disced and control plots in impoundments at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Seed production was higher in disced than in control plots. Discing produced higher Chironomid larva abundance during spring, and higher abundance of Amphipods and nonchironomid diptera during fall. Waterbird predation reduced abundance of chironomid larvae,non-chironomid diptera and amphipods. The predation effect on total invertebrate dry mass was 2x
| Item type | Current library | Collection | Call number | Status | Date due | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Electronic Report
|
Electronic Library | Non-fiction | SHE (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | Available | 3584 |
Thesis(Ph.D.)--Virginia State University, 1999.
Includes bibliographical references.
The mid-Atlantic coast region, an area of continental significance to migratory and wintering waterfowl and shorebirds, contains numerous moist-soil impoundments that are managed for waterbirds. Positive relationships between nonbreeding body condition and subsequent survival and reproduction have been documented for waterfowl , yet few evaluations of habitat management consider nutritional value of foods. I assessed 2 types of impoundment manipulation, using nutritional data as a basis for evaluation. Invertebrate and plant seed production were measured in disced and control plots in impoundments at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Seed production was higher in disced than in control plots. Discing produced higher Chironomid larva abundance during spring, and higher abundance of Amphipods and nonchironomid diptera during fall. Waterbird predation reduced abundance of chironomid larvae,non-chironomid diptera and amphipods. The predation effect on total invertebrate dry mass was 2x