Upland-nesting ducks as surrogate species for avian conservation in the dry mixed-grass prairie / Nicola Koper
Material type:
TextPublication details: Edmonton, AB : University of Alberta, 2004Description: 192 leaves : 29 cm illOnline resources: Abstract: Surrogate species are frequently used to simplify conservation planning,but the effectiveness of this strategy has not been sufficiently evaluated. I hypothesized that upland-nesting ducks as a group may have potential to be effective surrogate species for avian conservation in the dry mixed-grass prairie, as they have a number of characteristics of flagship and umbrella species. I determined whether ducks might be effective surrogate species for upland and wetland songbirds and shorebirds by comparing effects of habitat management (cattle grazing and field size), distance to other habitats (water, cropland/forage, or roads), local vegetation characteristics, and landscape context (amount and distribution of upland habitat), on the richness, density, and nest success of ducks, songbirds, and shorebirds. Data were collected on density, richness, and nest success of ducks, songbirds and shorebirds in 39 native dry mixed-grass fields in southern Alberta, ranging from 11-3239 ha, that al
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Electronic Report
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Electronic Library Theses | Non-fiction | KOP (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | Available | 5342 |
Thesis(Ph.D)--University of Alberta, 2004.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 165-187).
Surrogate species are frequently used to simplify conservation planning,but the effectiveness of this strategy has not been sufficiently evaluated. I hypothesized that upland-nesting ducks as a group may have potential to be effective surrogate species for avian conservation in the dry mixed-grass prairie, as they have a number of characteristics of flagship and umbrella species. I determined whether ducks might be effective surrogate species for upland and wetland songbirds and shorebirds by comparing effects of habitat management (cattle grazing and field size), distance to other habitats (water, cropland/forage, or roads), local vegetation characteristics, and landscape context (amount and distribution of upland habitat), on the richness, density, and nest success of ducks, songbirds, and shorebirds. Data were collected on density, richness, and nest success of ducks, songbirds and shorebirds in 39 native dry mixed-grass fields in southern Alberta, ranging from 11-3239 ha, that al