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• 11. [Article] Hawaiian duck (Anas wyvilliana) behavior and response to wetland habitat management at Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge on Kaua'i

  The endangered Hawaiian Duck (koloa maoli; Anas wyvilliana), a non-migratory and island-endemic species, experienced a significant population decline during the twentieth century due to factors such as ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Hawaiian duck (Anas wyvilliana) behavior and response to wetland habitat management at Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge on Kaua'i Author: Malachowski, Christopher P. The endangered Hawaiian Duck (koloa maoli; Anas wyvilliana), a non-migratory and island-endemic species, experienced a significant population decline during the twentieth century due to factors such as habitat loss, overharvest, introduced mammalian predators, and hybridization with introduced feral Mallards (A. platyrhynchos). A key objective for Hawaiian Duck recovery is to establish a protected and managed network of wetland habitats; however, development of effective habitat management plans is stymied by the lack of information on patterns of habitat use in relation to fundamental resource requirements. Furthermore, many generalizations regarding dabbling duck behavior and resource requirements that guide seasonal wetland management objectives in North America may not apply to tropical regions and island systems. In this thesis, I compare the behavioral repertoire of the Hawaiian Duck with closely related island-endemic waterfowl and migratory North American Anas, I investigate the behavioral response of Hawaiian Ducks to wetland habitat management and taro cultivation, and I examine the effects of environmental, climatic, temporal, and social factors on the activity budgets of Hawaiian Ducks. I conducted instantaneous focal sampling (n = 984 observation sessions; 328.8 hr) throughout the annual cycle from September 2010 to August 2011 at managed wetlands and taro lo'i within Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Kaua'i. I documented 73 specific Hawaiian Duck behaviors in eight broad behavior categories including foraging, maintenance, resting, locomotion, alert, courtship, and intraspecific and interspecific agonistic interactions. I found that the behavioral repertoire of the Hawaiian Duck was similar to that of the Mallard; however, subtle variations in the form and linkage of certain courtship displays, such as nod-swimming, were observed. Additionally, male Hawaiian Ducks were occasionally associated with brood-rearing females (11% of brood observations), and this behavior appeared to be a male strategy whereby females received little perceived benefit , but males may have potentially garnered additional breeding attempts or maintained pair-bonds for subsequent breeding seasons. After accounting for sex, pair status, month, and time of day, the diurnal behavioral activities of Hawaiian Ducks differed between managed wetlands and taro habitats (F₆,₉₆₀ = 30.3, P < 0.001). Hawaiian Ducks utilized taro predominantly for resting (44%), maintenance (21%), and foraging (15%), while birds used managed wetlands for a variety of activities, including foraging (11%), maintenance (28%), resting (27%), and locomotion (22%). Social activities, particularly courtship, occurred more frequently in managed wetlands than in taro (H₁ = 11.9, P < 0.001). In managed wetlands, birds foraged slightly more with increasing cover of Cyperus spp. (r = 0.18, P < 0.001) and Fimbristylis littoralis (r = 0.17, P < 0.01) and decreasing cover of Urochloa mutica (r = -0.15, P < 0.01) and wetland vegetation height (r = -0.22, P < 0.001). Within taro habitat, the behavioral activities of Hawaiian Ducks differed significantly between birds in lo'i and on dikes (F₆,₄₆₈ = 142.8, P < 0.001); birds utilized lo‘i dikes for resting (60%) and maintenance activities (21%), whereas birds entered lo‘i primarily to forage (45%). The activity budget of Hawaiian Ducks was strongly influenced by time of day (F₁₈,₂₇₁₅.₇₈ = 6.4, P < 0.001), and birds spent more time engaged in active behaviors (i.e., foraging, locomotion, and alert) and less time resting during early morning and evening than during late morning and afternoon. While strong seasonal shifts in most behavioral patterns were not detected, males allocated more time to courting (1.1 vs. 0.3%; H1 = 6.92, P = 0.009) and mate-guarding (0.5 vs. <0.1%; H₁ = 9.83, P = 0.002) in managed wetlands between November and March than the remainder of the year. The effects of sex (F₆,₉₆₀ = 6.06, P < 0.001) and social status (F₆,₆₈₂ = 6.69, P < 0.001) on activity budgets were also significant. Females spent more time foraging (18 vs. 12%) and less time in alert, locomotor, and social behaviors than males. Paired birds allocated more time to aggression towards conspecifics, mate-guarding, and courtship, and within taro lo‘i, paired birds foraged more and rested less than unpaired birds. Overall, Hawaiian Duck allocated diurnal activity budgets differently in managed and cultivated wetland habitat at Hanalei NWR, suggesting that both systems may play an important role in fulfilling fundamental daily and seasonal resource requirements. The increased range of activities and foraging tactics used in managed wetlands may indicate the greater habitat diversity (e.g., vegetation structure, patchiness, plant species richness, range of water depths) provided by seasonal wetlands. In general, Hawaiian Duck allocated less time to diurnal foraging than North American Anas, such Mallard and Mottled Duck (A. fulvigula), suggesting that Hawaiian Duck may have lower daily and seasonal energy demands, have access to higher quality diet, or allot more time to nocturnal foraging activities. Also, unlike many North American migratory waterfowl that demonstrate significant behavioral plasticity in adjusting activity budgets to meet seasonal energy demands associated with breeding, molting, wintering, and migration, Hawaiian Duck did not exhibit a strong seasonal shift in most behaviors which may reflect their non-migratory nature and asynchronous life history cycle. Title: Hawaiian duck (Anas wyvilliana) behavior and response to wetland habitat management at Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge on Kaua'i Author: Malachowski, Christopher P. The endangered Hawaiian Duck (koloa maoli; Anas wyvilliana), a non-migratory and island-endemic species, experienced a significant population decline during the twentieth century due to factors such as habitat loss, overharvest, introduced mammalian predators, and hybridization with introduced feral Mallards (A. platyrhynchos). A key objective for Hawaiian Duck recovery is to establish a protected and managed network of wetland habitats; however, development of effective habitat management plans is stymied by the lack of information on patterns of habitat use in relation to fundamental resource requirements. Furthermore, many generalizations regarding dabbling duck behavior and resource requirements that guide seasonal wetland management objectives in North America may not apply to tropical regions and island systems. In this thesis, I compare the behavioral repertoire of the Hawaiian Duck with closely related island-endemic waterfowl and migratory North American Anas, I investigate the behavioral response of Hawaiian Ducks to wetland habitat management and taro cultivation, and I examine the effects of environmental, climatic, temporal, and social factors on the activity budgets of Hawaiian Ducks. I conducted instantaneous focal sampling (n = 984 observation sessions; 328.8 hr) throughout the annual cycle from September 2010 to August 2011 at managed wetlands and taro lo'i within Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Kaua'i. I documented 73 specific Hawaiian Duck behaviors in eight broad behavior categories including foraging, maintenance, resting, locomotion, alert, courtship, and intraspecific and interspecific agonistic interactions. I found that the behavioral repertoire of the Hawaiian Duck was similar to that of the Mallard; however, subtle variations in the form and linkage of certain courtship displays, such as nod-swimming, were observed. Additionally, male Hawaiian Ducks were occasionally associated with brood-rearing females (11% of brood observations), and this behavior appeared to be a male strategy whereby females received little perceived benefit , but males may have potentially garnered additional breeding attempts or maintained pair-bonds for subsequent breeding seasons. After accounting for sex, pair status, month, and time of day, the diurnal behavioral activities of Hawaiian Ducks differed between managed wetlands and taro habitats (F₆,₉₆₀ = 30.3, P < 0.001). Hawaiian Ducks utilized taro predominantly for resting (44%), maintenance (21%), and foraging (15%), while birds used managed wetlands for a variety of activities, including foraging (11%), maintenance (28%), resting (27%), and locomotion (22%). Social activities, particularly courtship, occurred more frequently in managed wetlands than in taro (H₁ = 11.9, P < 0.001). In managed wetlands, birds foraged slightly more with increasing cover of Cyperus spp. (r = 0.18, P < 0.001) and Fimbristylis littoralis (r = 0.17, P < 0.01) and decreasing cover of Urochloa mutica (r = -0.15, P < 0.01) and wetland vegetation height (r = -0.22, P < 0.001). Within taro habitat, the behavioral activities of Hawaiian Ducks differed significantly between birds in lo'i and on dikes (F₆,₄₆₈ = 142.8, P < 0.001); birds utilized lo‘i dikes for resting (60%) and maintenance activities (21%), whereas birds entered lo‘i primarily to forage (45%). The activity budget of Hawaiian Ducks was strongly influenced by time of day (F₁₈,₂₇₁₅.₇₈ = 6.4, P < 0.001), and birds spent more time engaged in active behaviors (i.e., foraging, locomotion, and alert) and less time resting during early morning and evening than during late morning and afternoon. While strong seasonal shifts in most behavioral patterns were not detected, males allocated more time to courting (1.1 vs. 0.3%; H1 = 6.92, P = 0.009) and mate-guarding (0.5 vs. <0.1%; H₁ = 9.83, P = 0.002) in managed wetlands between November and March than the remainder of the year. The effects of sex (F₆,₉₆₀ = 6.06, P < 0.001) and social status (F₆,₆₈₂ = 6.69, P < 0.001) on activity budgets were also significant. Females spent more time foraging (18 vs. 12%) and less time in alert, locomotor, and social behaviors than males. Paired birds allocated more time to aggression towards conspecifics, mate-guarding, and courtship, and within taro lo‘i, paired birds foraged more and rested less than unpaired birds. Overall, Hawaiian Duck allocated diurnal activity budgets differently in managed and cultivated wetland habitat at Hanalei NWR, suggesting that both systems may play an important role in fulfilling fundamental daily and seasonal resource requirements. The increased range of activities and foraging tactics used in managed wetlands may indicate the greater habitat diversity (e.g., vegetation structure, patchiness, plant species richness, range of water depths) provided by seasonal wetlands. In general, Hawaiian Duck allocated less time to diurnal foraging than North American Anas, such Mallard and Mottled Duck (A. fulvigula), suggesting that Hawaiian Duck may have lower daily and seasonal energy demands, have access to higher quality diet, or allot more time to nocturnal foraging activities. Also, unlike many North American migratory waterfowl that demonstrate significant behavioral plasticity in adjusting activity budgets to meet seasonal energy demands associated with breeding, molting, wintering, and migration, Hawaiian Duck did not exhibit a strong seasonal shift in most behaviors which may reflect their non-migratory nature and asynchronous life history cycle. Close

• 12. [Article] Habitat associations and life histories of odonata in riverine wetlands of the Willamette Valley, Oregon

  This thesis explored the distributions and life histories of dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) of the riverine wetlands of the Willamette Valley in western Oregon, USA. Odonate species distributions ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Habitat associations and life histories of odonata in riverine wetlands of the Willamette Valley, Oregon Author: Beatty, Christopher D. This thesis explored the distributions and life histories of dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) of the riverine wetlands of the Willamette Valley in western Oregon, USA. Odonate species distributions were characterized over two seasons in the autumn of 2000 and the spring of 2001-at twenty-seven wetlands located throughout the valley. Distributions of nymphs and adults were compared with wetland habitat conditions that may affect odonate diversity. Odonate nymph and adult distributions were analyzed through Hierarchical Agglomerative cluster analysis (HA). HA identified discrete clusters of sites based on the distributions of species in the genera Aeshna, Erythemis, Lestes, Libellula, Pachydiplax, Sympetrum and Tramea. To identify habitat associations with odonate species, nymph and adult data were analyzed by Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMS). NMS revealed that odonate distributions are associated with site hydrology, water depth and temperature, the presence of large emergent plants (e.g. Typha latifolia), the presence of fish, and surrounding landcover. These data will provide guidance for wetland managers in the use of odonates as indicators of wetland health. To further examine the relationship between odonate species and their wetland habitats, quantitative life history data for the 27 odonate species were analyzed to determine functional associations between species attributes and the environments in which they are found. Oviposition location, presence of a resting egg, over-wintering life stage, nymphal foraging strategy and adult flight season were subjected to NMS, to determine biological similarities between species occupying particular locations. Life history patterns correlated strongly with hydrology. Analysis of sites by odonate species ricimess found a relationship between richness and site hydrology, but failed to explain the distribution of several species associated with wetlands that dry during part of the year. We conclude from our results that species-level life history data are essential for explaining odonate distributions. We determined that the presence of odonate species in a wetland is indicative of habitat condition, that analysis of odonate distributions at the species level is necessary to understand habitat associations, and that analysis of life-history attributes provides a functional understanding of odonate distributions that measurements of species richness or the distributions of generaor families alone cannot explain. Title: Habitat associations and life histories of odonata in riverine wetlands of the Willamette Valley, Oregon Author: Beatty, Christopher D. This thesis explored the distributions and life histories of dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) of the riverine wetlands of the Willamette Valley in western Oregon, USA. Odonate species distributions were characterized over two seasons in the autumn of 2000 and the spring of 2001-at twenty-seven wetlands located throughout the valley. Distributions of nymphs and adults were compared with wetland habitat conditions that may affect odonate diversity. Odonate nymph and adult distributions were analyzed through Hierarchical Agglomerative cluster analysis (HA). HA identified discrete clusters of sites based on the distributions of species in the genera Aeshna, Erythemis, Lestes, Libellula, Pachydiplax, Sympetrum and Tramea. To identify habitat associations with odonate species, nymph and adult data were analyzed by Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMS). NMS revealed that odonate distributions are associated with site hydrology, water depth and temperature, the presence of large emergent plants (e.g. Typha latifolia), the presence of fish, and surrounding landcover. These data will provide guidance for wetland managers in the use of odonates as indicators of wetland health. To further examine the relationship between odonate species and their wetland habitats, quantitative life history data for the 27 odonate species were analyzed to determine functional associations between species attributes and the environments in which they are found. Oviposition location, presence of a resting egg, over-wintering life stage, nymphal foraging strategy and adult flight season were subjected to NMS, to determine biological similarities between species occupying particular locations. Life history patterns correlated strongly with hydrology. Analysis of sites by odonate species ricimess found a relationship between richness and site hydrology, but failed to explain the distribution of several species associated with wetlands that dry during part of the year. We conclude from our results that species-level life history data are essential for explaining odonate distributions. We determined that the presence of odonate species in a wetland is indicative of habitat condition, that analysis of odonate distributions at the species level is necessary to understand habitat associations, and that analysis of life-history attributes provides a functional understanding of odonate distributions that measurements of species richness or the distributions of generaor families alone cannot explain. Close

• 13. [Article] Sauvie Island north unit wetlands project : biological opinion

  The objective of this Biological Opinion (BO) is to determine whether the action to restore emergent vegetation to wetlands on Sauvie Island is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of Upper Willamette ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Sauvie Island north unit wetlands project : biological opinion The objective of this Biological Opinion (BO) is to determine whether the action to restore emergent vegetation to wetlands on Sauvie Island is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of Upper Willamette River chinook salmon and Lower Columbia river chinook salmon or destroy, or adversely modify proposed critical habitat. Title: Sauvie Island north unit wetlands project : biological opinion The objective of this Biological Opinion (BO) is to determine whether the action to restore emergent vegetation to wetlands on Sauvie Island is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of Upper Willamette River chinook salmon and Lower Columbia river chinook salmon or destroy, or adversely modify proposed critical habitat. Close

• 14. [Article] Floodplain user guide.pdf

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Floodplain user guide.pdf Author: Defenders of Wildlife Title: Floodplain user guide.pdf Author: Defenders of Wildlife Close

• 15. [Article] Floodplain_Habitat_Metric_Calculator.Version_1.0.protected.xlsx

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Floodplain_Habitat_Metric_Calculator.Version_1.0.protected.xlsx Author: Defenders of Wildlife Title: Floodplain_Habitat_Metric_Calculator.Version_1.0.protected.xlsx Author: Defenders of Wildlife Close

• 16. [Article] McKenzie River Watershed Conservation Strategy

  Abstract -- Based on a recent watershed assessment, this document details goals and strategies for conservation and restoration within the McKenzie River watershed. It addresses river and stream habitats, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: McKenzie River Watershed Conservation Strategy Abstract -- Based on a recent watershed assessment, this document details goals and strategies for conservation and restoration within the McKenzie River watershed. It addresses river and stream habitats, floodplain areas and riparian vegetation, wetlands, pond turtle habitat, and rare upland habitats. Title: McKenzie River Watershed Conservation Strategy Abstract -- Based on a recent watershed assessment, this document details goals and strategies for conservation and restoration within the McKenzie River watershed. It addresses river and stream habitats, floodplain areas and riparian vegetation, wetlands, pond turtle habitat, and rare upland habitats. Close

• 17. [Article] The Nehalem Estuary

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Nehalem Estuary Title: The Nehalem Estuary Close

• 18. [Article] A Watershed Assessment for the Siuslaw Basin

  Abstract -- This assessments includes information on landscape and Siuslaw cultural history, socioeconomic history, hydrology, riparian vegetation and wetlands, channel habitat types, sediment, water quality, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A Watershed Assessment for the Siuslaw Basin Abstract -- This assessments includes information on landscape and Siuslaw cultural history, socioeconomic history, hydrology, riparian vegetation and wetlands, channel habitat types, sediment, water quality, aquatic resources, Siuslaw estuary, watershed conditions, ecological capital, and ongoing efforts to restore the aquatic ecosystem. Title: A Watershed Assessment for the Siuslaw Basin Abstract -- This assessments includes information on landscape and Siuslaw cultural history, socioeconomic history, hydrology, riparian vegetation and wetlands, channel habitat types, sediment, water quality, aquatic resources, Siuslaw estuary, watershed conditions, ecological capital, and ongoing efforts to restore the aquatic ecosystem. Close

• 19. [Article] Determination of Trade-offs between Wetland Ecosystem Services in an Agricultural Landscape

  Wetland restoration mitigates effects of agricultural development on water quality, flooding, and habitat loss. Multi-objective optimization for wetland locations and sizes has not included objective functions ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Determination of Trade-offs between Wetland Ecosystem Services in an Agricultural Landscape Author: Garrison, Stacey L. Wetland restoration mitigates effects of agricultural development on water quality, flooding, and habitat loss. Multi-objective optimization for wetland locations and sizes has not included objective functions for water quality, hydrology, and habitat in unison, limiting analysis of trade-offs among these ecosystem services. This study establishes two methods to improve the accuracy of simulating wetland restoration with an optimization-simulation framework for analysis of trade-offs: identification of wetland type and constraining wetland and drainage area configurations to potential field-scale wetlands in the study area. Determination of a wetland habitat type used characteristics of the Hydrogeomorphic Method, and this type was utilized in a land-use/land-cover simulation linked to a species-habitat model. Multi-objective optimization identified optimal wetlands and drainage areas. These wetlands demonstrated redundancy among treatment ecosystem services. Modifying wetlands and drainage areas from the optimally-identified values caused shifts to the trade-off relationships. The habitat objective function conflicted with the treatment objective functions, but at low levels of confidence, demonstrating the necessity to incorporate all the objective function types together into a multi-objective optimization. The methods to increase accurate representation from this study can be incorporated into future studies to improve understanding of wetland ecosystem service processes for land-use planning. Title: Determination of Trade-offs between Wetland Ecosystem Services in an Agricultural Landscape Author: Garrison, Stacey L. Wetland restoration mitigates effects of agricultural development on water quality, flooding, and habitat loss. Multi-objective optimization for wetland locations and sizes has not included objective functions for water quality, hydrology, and habitat in unison, limiting analysis of trade-offs among these ecosystem services. This study establishes two methods to improve the accuracy of simulating wetland restoration with an optimization-simulation framework for analysis of trade-offs: identification of wetland type and constraining wetland and drainage area configurations to potential field-scale wetlands in the study area. Determination of a wetland habitat type used characteristics of the Hydrogeomorphic Method, and this type was utilized in a land-use/land-cover simulation linked to a species-habitat model. Multi-objective optimization identified optimal wetlands and drainage areas. These wetlands demonstrated redundancy among treatment ecosystem services. Modifying wetlands and drainage areas from the optimally-identified values caused shifts to the trade-off relationships. The habitat objective function conflicted with the treatment objective functions, but at low levels of confidence, demonstrating the necessity to incorporate all the objective function types together into a multi-objective optimization. The methods to increase accurate representation from this study can be incorporated into future studies to improve understanding of wetland ecosystem service processes for land-use planning. Close

• 20. [Article] Recommended NWI revisions and GIS layer development for tidal wetlands of the Yaquina and Alsea River Estuaries

  This project report provides a GIS map to accompany the 1999 tidal wetland prioritization in these estuaries. updates information on major changes at 1999 study sites, and recommends revisions to the NWI ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Recommended NWI revisions and GIS layer development for tidal wetlands of the Yaquina and Alsea River Estuaries Author: Brophy, Laura This project report provides a GIS map to accompany the 1999 tidal wetland prioritization in these estuaries. updates information on major changes at 1999 study sites, and recommends revisions to the NWI wetland classification for tidal wetlands. Study included emergent, scrub-shrub and forested tidal wetlands but excluded other tidal wetland habitat classes. Title: Recommended NWI revisions and GIS layer development for tidal wetlands of the Yaquina and Alsea River Estuaries Author: Brophy, Laura This project report provides a GIS map to accompany the 1999 tidal wetland prioritization in these estuaries. updates information on major changes at 1999 study sites, and recommends revisions to the NWI wetland classification for tidal wetlands. Study included emergent, scrub-shrub and forested tidal wetlands but excluded other tidal wetland habitat classes. Close