Habitat associations of breeding mallards and Canada geese in southern Ontario, Canada
ABSTRACT Understanding habitat associations of breeding mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) in the eastern US and Canada is important for conservation planning, yet studies at spatial scales useful to conservation planners have mostly occurred in the midcontinen...
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Wiley
2015-09-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.550 |
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| author | David J. Messmer Scott A. Petrie Shannon S. Badzinski Mark L. Gloutney Michael L. Schummer |
| author_facet | David J. Messmer Scott A. Petrie Shannon S. Badzinski Mark L. Gloutney Michael L. Schummer |
| author_sort | David J. Messmer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Understanding habitat associations of breeding mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) in the eastern US and Canada is important for conservation planning, yet studies at spatial scales useful to conservation planners have mostly occurred in the midcontinent prairie pothole region (PPR). Our broad objective was to determine whether breeding pairs were associated with similar habitat types in an eastern ecozone, the mixed woodland plain of southern Ontario, Canada, as they are in the PPR, despite substantial differences in relative habitat availability and land use practices. We used helicopter surveys and remote sensing to investigate habitat associations at landscape (25 km2) and local (500 m wetland buffer [79 ha]) scales during the 2008 and 2009 breeding seasons. At both spatial scales, mallard indicated breeding pairs (IBP) were positively associated with the abundance or area of temporary open water and emergent (seasonal or semipermanent) wetland types, similar to the PPR. However, against expectations, we did not detect an effect of grassland area. Canada goose IBP were most strongly associated with total wetland abundance, and not specifically with emergent and permanent open‐water wetlands as expected. At the local scale, goose IBP presence was positively associated with riverine wetland area. Unlike the PPR, our study area contained a high proportion of forested and riverine wetlands; however, with the exception of the riverine wetland–Canada goose association noted above, we did not detect a disproportionate influence of these wetland types on mallards or geese. © 2015 The Wildlife Society. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-99a82241b64448ab97ed2ec19d48fc78 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2328-5540 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2015-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-99a82241b64448ab97ed2ec19d48fc782025-08-20T02:38:09ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402015-09-0139354355210.1002/wsb.550Habitat associations of breeding mallards and Canada geese in southern Ontario, CanadaDavid J. Messmer0Scott A. Petrie1Shannon S. Badzinski2Mark L. Gloutney3Michael L. Schummer4Department of BiologyUniversity of Western Ontario1151 Richmond St.LondonCanadaON N6A 5B7Long Point Waterfowl115 Front StreetPort RowanCanadaON N0E 1M0Long Point Waterfowl115 Front StreetPort RowanCanadaON N0E 1M0Ducks Unlimited Canada350 Sparks StreetOttawaCanadaON K1R 7S8Long Point Waterfowl115 Front StreetPort RowanCanadaON N0E 1M0ABSTRACT Understanding habitat associations of breeding mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) in the eastern US and Canada is important for conservation planning, yet studies at spatial scales useful to conservation planners have mostly occurred in the midcontinent prairie pothole region (PPR). Our broad objective was to determine whether breeding pairs were associated with similar habitat types in an eastern ecozone, the mixed woodland plain of southern Ontario, Canada, as they are in the PPR, despite substantial differences in relative habitat availability and land use practices. We used helicopter surveys and remote sensing to investigate habitat associations at landscape (25 km2) and local (500 m wetland buffer [79 ha]) scales during the 2008 and 2009 breeding seasons. At both spatial scales, mallard indicated breeding pairs (IBP) were positively associated with the abundance or area of temporary open water and emergent (seasonal or semipermanent) wetland types, similar to the PPR. However, against expectations, we did not detect an effect of grassland area. Canada goose IBP were most strongly associated with total wetland abundance, and not specifically with emergent and permanent open‐water wetlands as expected. At the local scale, goose IBP presence was positively associated with riverine wetland area. Unlike the PPR, our study area contained a high proportion of forested and riverine wetlands; however, with the exception of the riverine wetland–Canada goose association noted above, we did not detect a disproportionate influence of these wetland types on mallards or geese. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.550Anas platyrhynchosBranta canadensis maximabreeding habitatconservationland covermixed woodland plain |
| spellingShingle | David J. Messmer Scott A. Petrie Shannon S. Badzinski Mark L. Gloutney Michael L. Schummer Habitat associations of breeding mallards and Canada geese in southern Ontario, Canada Wildlife Society Bulletin Anas platyrhynchos Branta canadensis maxima breeding habitat conservation land cover mixed woodland plain |
| title | Habitat associations of breeding mallards and Canada geese in southern Ontario, Canada |
| title_full | Habitat associations of breeding mallards and Canada geese in southern Ontario, Canada |
| title_fullStr | Habitat associations of breeding mallards and Canada geese in southern Ontario, Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Habitat associations of breeding mallards and Canada geese in southern Ontario, Canada |
| title_short | Habitat associations of breeding mallards and Canada geese in southern Ontario, Canada |
| title_sort | habitat associations of breeding mallards and canada geese in southern ontario canada |
| topic | Anas platyrhynchos Branta canadensis maxima breeding habitat conservation land cover mixed woodland plain |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.550 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT davidjmessmer habitatassociationsofbreedingmallardsandcanadageeseinsouthernontariocanada AT scottapetrie habitatassociationsofbreedingmallardsandcanadageeseinsouthernontariocanada AT shannonsbadzinski habitatassociationsofbreedingmallardsandcanadageeseinsouthernontariocanada AT marklgloutney habitatassociationsofbreedingmallardsandcanadageeseinsouthernontariocanada AT michaellschummer habitatassociationsofbreedingmallardsandcanadageeseinsouthernontariocanada |