Source: FOREST AND WILDLIFE RES CENTER submitted to
NEOTROPICAL WETLANDS HABITAT AND WILDLIFE STUDIES
 
PROJECT DIRECTOR: Vilella, F. J.
 
PERFORMING ORGANIZATION
DEPT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES
FOREST AND WILDLIFE RES CENTER
MISSISSIPPI STATE,MS 39762
 
NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Wetland ecosystems of the New World tropics represent one of the greatest reservoirs of biodiversity in the world. Our current knowledge of techniques and approaches to restore, conserve, and manage these resources is descriptive at best. No quantitative approaches exist to determine what functional roles these wetland habitats play for resident and migratory waterfowl. Additionally, disturbed wetlands continue to deteriorate in the absence of manipulations and habitat prescriptions.
 
OBJECTIVES: Ecology and management of waterfowl and wetland habitats in the United States has been fairly well documented. However, neotropical waterfowl and wetlands differ from those found in temperate zones. Therefore, the objectives are: 1. Experimentally test effects of water level management and mechanical manipulations on composition, structure, distribution, productivity, and availability of plants, invertebrates, and waterbirds in coastal wetlands of Puerto Rico, 2. Evaluate survival, habitat use and movements of resident neotropical waterfowl species in coastal wetlands of Puerto Rico, 3. Provide conservation and management recommendations on conservation and management of coastal wetland habitats and wildlife.
 
APPROACH: Impoundments located in coastal wetlands will be designated as experimental blocks because of different pre-treatment vegetation structure. Different impoundments will be used each year to replicate treatments spatially within the study area. Four square replicate plots/habitat treatment will be established within each impoundment. Subsampling plots will be randomly located using a grid system and a random numbers table. Habitat treatments will be assigned randomly and performed during dry and wet seasons to test for differences in temporal treatment application on response variables. Habitat treatments will be randomly assigned to plots. Control burns will be performed on plots. Impoundments will be flooded to a depth of approximately 30-45 cm. Invertebrates will be sampled seasonally. Vegetative variables will include above-ground standing crop, plant species diversity, and seed mass. We will assess bird abundance and diversity using transects. Approximate distance to bird, species, and general habitat classification; i.e., open water, wetland edge, wetland interior, will be recorded. Searches for nesting white-cheeked pintail females will be conducted yearly, particularly from March to August. Nesting pintails will be trapped and radiomarked. Radio-marking will be performed late in the incubation period. Pintails will be banded and radiomarked, then returned to the nest immediately following. Pintail nests will be closely monitored to assure expected hatch dates to radiomark ducklings. Ducklings will be removed from the nest and placed in a covered bucket. Three randomly selected ducklings will be sexed and radiomarked. Differences in survival rates at different times during the year and cause-specific mortality rates of ducklings and hens will be tested. Radio failure, emigration or other censorship mechanisms will be considered random. Censored observations will not be considered dead or alive; only the number of days an individual was known to be alive will be used for calculations.
 
CRIS NUMBER: 0186536 SUBFILE: CRIS
PROJECT NUMBER: MISZ-085060 SPONSOR AGENCY: OCI
PROJECT TYPE: STATE PROJECT STATUS: TERMINATED MULTI-STATE PROJECT NUMBER: (N/A)
START DATE: Aug 1, 2000 TERMINATION DATE: Jul 31, 2010

GRANT PROGRAM: (N/A)
GRANT PROGRAM AREA: (N/A)

CLASSIFICATION
Knowledge Area (KA)Subject (S)Science (F)Objective (G)Percent
135082010706.420%
135083010706.410%
135085010606.450%
135086010706.420%

CLASSIFICATION HEADINGS
KA135 - Aquatic and Terrestrial Wildlife
S0850 - Wildlife habitats
S0820 - Wild birds
S0830 - Wild animals
S0860 - Endangered species
F1060 - Biology (whole systems)
F1070 - Ecology
G6.4 - Protect and Enhance Wildlife Habitat


RESEARCH EFFORT CATEGORIES
BASIC 30%
APPLIED 70%
DEVELOPMENTAL (N/A)%

KEYWORDS: wetlands; wild birds; wildlife habitats; tropical areas; biodiversity; waterfowl; wildlife ecology; wildlife management; watershed management; water management; species composition; spatial distribution; plant ecology; ecosystem management; invertebrates; puerto rico; coastal areas; recommendations; conservation; habitat management; vegetation; pintails

PROGRESS: Jan 1, 2009 TO Dec 31, 2009
OUTPUTS: Caribbean: A total of 3 separate studies are being conducted on the island of Puerto Rico; 1) Population estimates and landscape habitat models of the endangered Puerto Rican Nightjar (Caprimulgus noctitherus), 2) Comparative spatial ecology of the Scaly-naped Pigeon (Patagioneas squamosa) and the Plain Pigeon (Patagioneas inornata wetmorei), and 3) A patch occupancy approach to model geographic distribution of the Puerto Rican Nightjar). These studies involve 2 graduate students (1 M.S., 1 Ph.D.). Study #1 is near completion. Data analysis and thesis have been completed. Thesis currently under review by graduate student committee. Study #2 currently in filed research phase. Field activities will continue throgh July 2011. Study #3 completed and final report submitted to sponsor. South America: Argentina: Currently co-advising a doctoral student in Argentina at the Universidad Nacional de Cordoba where Dr. Vilella holds an adjunct appointment. Student involved in examining dynamics of avian communities in forest fragments within agrcultural landscapes. Student completed filedwork in 2009 and is currently analyzing data before preparation of doctoral dissertation. 2. Brazil: Collaborating with Dr. Carlos Ruiz, Chair IUCN Reintroduction Specialist Group for the Neotropical region in developing research approaches for reintroduction of several endangered species of mammals and birds in the Atlantic Rainforest Region of southeastern Brazil, a global biodiversity hotspot. PARTICIPANTS: Rafael Gonzalez (M.S. student), Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Aquaculture, Mississippi State University. Huisheng Chen (Ph.D. student), Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Aquaculture, Mississippi State University. Dr. Francisco J. Vilella, Principal Investigator, USGS Cooperative Research Unit, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Aquaculture, Mississippi State University. Eduardo Ventosa, Wildlife Division, Puerto Rico Department of Natural & Environmental Resources. Marelisa Rivera, Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Caribbean Field Office. Noelia Calamari (Ph.D. student), Universidad Nacional de Cordoba, Cordoba, Argentina. Dr. Carlos Ruiz, Chair, IUCN Reintroduction Specialist Group, Neotropical Region, and Associate Professor, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Estadual Norte Fluminense, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. TARGET AUDIENCES: Private landowners in Puerto Rico Agricultural producers in Argentina Wildlife biologists in Argentian Resource management agencies in Brazil Conservation biologists in Brazil Protected area managers in Brazil PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

IMPACT: 2009-01-01 TO 2009-12-31 Caribbean: Results of Study #1 will be instrumental for the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Caribbean Field Office. Both agencies will apply information from this study to identify areas for habitat protection and to evaluate impacts of proposed developments to nightjar habitat. BirdLife International will use the information in its global assessments of bird species of concern. Once completed, findings from Study #2 will allow the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources to effectively implement Safe Harbor Policy agreements with private landowners in the regions occupied by the Plain Pigeon, a species listed as endangered. Products from Study #3 will provide spatial tools for the protection of Puerto Rican Nightjar populations in private lands. Additionally, findings from this study will form an integral part of the revised Recovery Plan for this species. South America: Argentina - Results from our research will provide guidance to agricultural producers and government agencies in Argentina to effectively manage and conserve bird populations restricted to forest fragments in agricultural landscapes. Brazil - Research results will be utilized to delvelop reintroduction crteria and protocols for captive-reared individuals as well as individuals confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade and selected for release in protected areas within their native range.

PUBLICATION INFORMATION: 2009-01-01 TO 2009-12-31
Llerandi-Roman, I., J. M. Rios-Cruz, and F. J. Vilella. 2009. Cliff nesting by the Red-tailed Hawk in moist karst forests of northern Puerto Rico. Journal of Raptor Research 43(2): 167-169.

PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION
NAME: Leopold, B. D.
PHONE: 662-325-3830
FAX: 662-325-8726