Influence of invasive hybrid cattails on habitat use by common loons

ABSTRACT An invasive hybrid cattail species, Typha × glauca (T. × glauca), is rapidly expanding across the United States and Canada. Dense clonal stands of T. × glauca outcompete native wetland plants, reduce open‐water habitats, and negatively affect native wetland plant diversity; however, effects...

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Main Authors: Spencer L. Wesche, Benjamin J. O'Neal, Steve K. Windels, Bryce T. Olson, Max Larreur, Adam A. Ahlers
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-03-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.863
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author Spencer L. Wesche
Benjamin J. O'Neal
Steve K. Windels
Bryce T. Olson
Max Larreur
Adam A. Ahlers
author_facet Spencer L. Wesche
Benjamin J. O'Neal
Steve K. Windels
Bryce T. Olson
Max Larreur
Adam A. Ahlers
author_sort Spencer L. Wesche
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT An invasive hybrid cattail species, Typha × glauca (T. × glauca), is rapidly expanding across the United States and Canada. Dense clonal stands of T. × glauca outcompete native wetland plants, reduce open‐water habitats, and negatively affect native wetland plant diversity; however, effects of hybrid cattail expansions on native wildlife are still unclear. We used multiple surveys and single‐season occupancy models to examine how the relative coverage of T. × glauca affected habitat use by common loons (Gavia immer) at 71 wetland sites in Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota, USA, during summer 2016. Delineated wetland sites (2 ha) were considered potential resource patches for common loons and positioned along a gradient of relative T. × glauca coverage. Detection of common loons was influenced negatively by the time of day surveys were conducted. Occupancy probabilities were greater at sites with deeper water levels, possibly indicating selection for areas with adequate water depths for pursuit‐based foraging for fish. Contrary to our hypothesis, common loons appeared insensitive to the relative coverage of T. × glauca at wetland sites. Future research should focus on elucidating potential threshold‐effects of T. × glauca expansions on additional loon demographic rates. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
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spelling doaj-art-4cc9dda33ddc42ec8780e9aa3f8b3d2e2025-08-20T02:36:28ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402018-03-0142116617110.1002/wsb.863Influence of invasive hybrid cattails on habitat use by common loonsSpencer L. Wesche0Benjamin J. O'Neal1Steve K. Windels2Bryce T. Olson3Max Larreur4Adam A. Ahlers5Department of BiologyFranklin CollegeFranklinIN46131USADepartment of BiologyFranklin CollegeFranklinIN46131USANational Park ServiceVoyageurs National ParkInternational FallsMN56649USANational Park ServiceVoyageurs National ParkInternational FallsMN56649USADepartment of Horticulture and Natural ResourcesKansas State UniversityManhattanKS66506USADepartment of Horticulture and Natural ResourcesKansas State UniversityManhattanKS66506USAABSTRACT An invasive hybrid cattail species, Typha × glauca (T. × glauca), is rapidly expanding across the United States and Canada. Dense clonal stands of T. × glauca outcompete native wetland plants, reduce open‐water habitats, and negatively affect native wetland plant diversity; however, effects of hybrid cattail expansions on native wildlife are still unclear. We used multiple surveys and single‐season occupancy models to examine how the relative coverage of T. × glauca affected habitat use by common loons (Gavia immer) at 71 wetland sites in Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota, USA, during summer 2016. Delineated wetland sites (2 ha) were considered potential resource patches for common loons and positioned along a gradient of relative T. × glauca coverage. Detection of common loons was influenced negatively by the time of day surveys were conducted. Occupancy probabilities were greater at sites with deeper water levels, possibly indicating selection for areas with adequate water depths for pursuit‐based foraging for fish. Contrary to our hypothesis, common loons appeared insensitive to the relative coverage of T. × glauca at wetland sites. Future research should focus on elucidating potential threshold‐effects of T. × glauca expansions on additional loon demographic rates. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.863cattailscommon loonGavia immerinvasive speciesT. × glaucaVoyageurs National Park
spellingShingle Spencer L. Wesche
Benjamin J. O'Neal
Steve K. Windels
Bryce T. Olson
Max Larreur
Adam A. Ahlers
Influence of invasive hybrid cattails on habitat use by common loons
Wildlife Society Bulletin
cattails
common loon
Gavia immer
invasive species
T. × glauca
Voyageurs National Park
title Influence of invasive hybrid cattails on habitat use by common loons
title_full Influence of invasive hybrid cattails on habitat use by common loons
title_fullStr Influence of invasive hybrid cattails on habitat use by common loons
title_full_unstemmed Influence of invasive hybrid cattails on habitat use by common loons
title_short Influence of invasive hybrid cattails on habitat use by common loons
title_sort influence of invasive hybrid cattails on habitat use by common loons
topic cattails
common loon
Gavia immer
invasive species
T. × glauca
Voyageurs National Park
url https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.863
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