Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/11681/36039
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dc.contributor.authorGuilfoyle, Michael P.-
dc.contributor.authorCalver, J. Stevan-
dc.contributor.authorJackson, Samuel S.-
dc.contributor.authorRichards, Mary E.-
dc.contributor.authorFischer, Richard A., Jr., 1964--
dc.date.accessioned2020-04-06T20:18:40Z-
dc.date.available2020-04-06T20:18:40Z-
dc.date.issued2020-01-
dc.identifier.govdocERDC/EL TR-20-2-
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11681/36039-
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.21079/11681/36039-
dc.descriptionTechnical Report-
dc.description.abstractThis report presents the results of a long-term habitat and trend analyses of bird community data from a monitoring effort conducted on five Dredged Material Containment Areas (DMCAs) from 1994 to 2012. The USACE Savannah District developed and implemented a Long-Term Management Strategy (LTMS) for the DMCAs in 1996 to mitigate lost wetland habitat due to maintenance operations in the Savannah Harbor, and to provide habitat for the floral and faunal communities that otherwise would be available if not for the urban and economic development of the area. Bimonthly surveys were conducted from 1994 to 2012 to assess the effectiveness of the LTMS to provide seasonal habitat for the bird community. Archived quarterly satellite imagery was collected and analyzed from 2001 to 2011 to assess year-round seasonal habitat availability. All bird community data collected were fitted to a negative binomial (mean abundance) or Poisson distribution (mean species richness) and used to assess trends for 180 individual species and 12 species groups for spring, summer, fall, and winter seasons from 1994 to 2012. Results indicate that the Savannah DMCAs support stable to increasing populations of most species and species groups during each season, including many species ranked as regional priority species.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipDredging Operations and Environmental Research Program (U.S.)en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipEngineering With Nature Program (U.S.)-
dc.description.tableofcontentsAbstract .......................................................................................................................................................... ii Figures and Tables ......................................................................................................................................... v Preface ......................................................................................................................................................... xiii Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................................... xv 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Objectives ........................................................................................................................ 3 1.3 Approach ......................................................................................................................... 4 1.3.1 Procure and assess aerial images of SHNP DMCAS ......................................................... 4 1.3.2 Procure and analyze population trends of the seasonal bird community ........................ 4 1.3.3 Statistically assess long-term seasonal bird community data to determine effects of habitat availability on seasonal bird population trends ............................... 5 1.4 Scope ............................................................................................................................... 5 2 Methods .................................................................................................................................................. 6 2.1 Study area ....................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 ArcGIS analysis and habitat mapping ............................................................................ 6 2.3 Seasonal bird community monitoring ............................................................................ 9 2.4 Statistical trends and habitat relationships data analyses ........................................ 10 2.4.1 Trend analyses ................................................................................................................... 10 2.4.2 Habitat relationships analyses ......................................................................................... 13 3 Results .................................................................................................................................................. 15 3.1 ArcGIS habitat mapping results ................................................................................... 15 3.2 Seasonal mean abundance and species richness trends ......................................... 20 3.2.1 Blackbirds .......................................................................................................................... 20 3.2.2 Grassland birds .................................................................................................................. 21 3.2.3 Gulls and terns................................................................................................................... 21 3.2.4 Large shorebirds ................................................................................................................ 21 3.2.5 Other non-passerines ........................................................................................................ 22 3.2.6 Other passerines ............................................................................................................... 22 3.2.7 Small shorebirds ................................................................................................................ 23 3.2.8 Wading birds ...................................................................................................................... 23 3.2.9 Warblers ............................................................................................................................. 24 3.2.10 Waterfowl ......................................................................................................................... 24 3.3 Seasonal mean abundance and species richness habitat relationships .................. 25 3.4 Nesting and reproductive behavior for select species, 1996-2012 .......................... 26 4 Discussion ............................................................................................................................................ 28 References ................................................................................................................................................... 33 Acronyms and Abbreviations .................................................................................................................... 37 Unit Conversion Factors ............................................................................................................................ 38 Appendix A: Habitat Type Availability for Seasonal Bird Communities on the Savannah Harbor Navigation Project, Dredged Material Containment Areas, 2002-2011 ................... 39 Appendix B: Individual Species and Species Groups Seasonal Trend Analysis Results on the Savannah Harbor Navigation Project, Dredged Material Containment Areas, 1994-2012. ........................................................................................................................................... 49 Appendix C: Select Individual Species Seasonal Trend Analysis Results, Savannah Harbor Navigation Project, Dredged Material Containment Areas, 1994-2012 ................... 59 Appendix D: Species Groups and Individual Species Seasonal Mean Abundance Trend Analysis Results, Savannah Harbor Navigation Project, Dredged Material Containment Areas, 1994-2012 ...................................................................................................... 85 Appendix E: Mean Species Richness Trend Analysis Results on the Savannah Harbor Navigation Project, Dredged Material Containment Areas, 1994-2012 ................................. 96 Appendix F: Habitat Relationships of Individual Species and Species Groups Analysis Results on the Savannah Harbor Navigation Project, Dredged Material Containment Areas, 2001-2011 ...................................................................................................... 97 Appendix G: Habitat Relationships of Mean Species Richness for Species Groups Analysis Results on the Savannah Harbor Navigation Project, Dredged Material Containment Areas, 2001-2011 ................................................................................................... 111 Appendix H: Notes on Nesting and Reproductive Behavior for Select Species, Savannah Harbor Navigation Project, Dredged Material Containment Areas, 1996-2012 (by J. Stevan Calver) ................................................................................................... 113 Report Documentation Page ................................................................................................................. 120-
dc.format.extent138 pages / 6.67 Mb-
dc.format.mediumPDF/A-
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherEnvironmental Laboratory (U.S.)en_US
dc.publisherEngineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)-
dc.relation.ispartofseriesTechnical Report (Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)) ; no. ERDC/EL TR-20-2-
dc.rightsApproved for Public Release; Distribution is Unlimited-
dc.sourceThis Digital Resource was created in Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat-
dc.subjectBird communitiesen_US
dc.subjectBirds--Habitaten_US
dc.subjectRestoration ecologyen_US
dc.subjectDredgingen_US
dc.subjectEnvironmental managementen_US
dc.subjectSavannah Harbor (Ga.)en_US
dc.subjectDOER-
dc.titleBenefits of engineered habitats to seasonal bird communities on the Savannah Harbor Navigation Project, Dredged Material Containment Areas, 1994-2012en_US
dc.typeReporten_US
Appears in Collections:Technical Report

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