Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Duck Populations as Indicators of Landscape
Condition in the Prairie Pothole Region
Jane E. Austin, Thomas K. Buhl, Glenn R. Guntenspergen,
Wayne Norling, and H. Thomas Sklebar
Abstract: The Prairie Pothole Region of the northern Great Plains
is an important region for waterfowl production because of the abundance of
shallow wetlands. The ecological significance of the region and impacts from
intensive agriculture prompted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to select
it as one of the first areas for developing and evaluating ecological indicators
of wetland condition. We examined hypothesized relations between indicators
of landscape and wetland conditions and waterfowl abundance on 45 40 km²
study sites in North Dakota for 1995-96. Landscape condition was defined a
priori as the ratio of cropland area to total upland area surrounding wetlands.
Measures of waterfowl abundance included estimated numbers of breeding pairs
(by species and total numbers) and γ,
a species-specific correction factor which effectively adjusts breeding pair
estimates for annual or area-related differences in pond size. Landscape indicators
and waterfowl measures varied among regions. Results indicated that most areas
in the Coteau region are of much higher quality for ducks than those in the
Drift Plain, and areas in the Red River Valley are of the poorest quality for
ducks. Regression models demonstrated the impact of agricultural development
on breeding duck populations in the Prairie Pothole Region. The most consistent
landscape indicators of waterfowl abundance were percent of cropland and grassland.
Models were inconsistent among years and species. The potential biotic indicators
of landscape and wetland condition examined here would be appropriate for temporal
trend analyses, but because of inherent geographic variability would not be
appropriate for single-year geographic trend analyses without more extensive
evaluations to improve explanatory models.
Keywords: dabbling duck population, indicator, landscape condition,
North Dakota, prairie pothole region, wetlands
This resource is based on the following source (Northern Prairie Publication
1129):
Austin, Jane E., Thomas K. Buhl, Glenn R. Guntenspergen, Wayne
Norling, and H. Thomas Sklebar. 2001. Duck populations
as indicators of landscape condition in the prairie pothole
region. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 69:29-47.
This resource should be cited as:
Austin, Jane E., Thomas K. Buhl, Glenn R. Guntenspergen, Wayne
Norling, and H. Thomas Sklebar. 2001. Duck populations
as indicators of landscape condition in the prairie pothole
region. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 69:29-47.
Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/dpopland/index.htm
(Version 05DEC2001).
Table of Contents
Tables and Figures
- Table 1 -- Analysis of variance results
and least squares mean estimates of landscape variables among 45 study areas.
- Table 2 -- Analysis of variance results
of the effect of three landscape variables on estimated numbers of breeding
pairs and gamma coefficients for 45 study areas.
- Table 3 -- Interactions between total
drainage length and percentage of total upland habitat for number of breeding
pairs.
- Table 4 -- Regression models to explain
number of breeding pairs and gamma coefficient (γ)
based on four landscape variables.
- Figure 1 -- Location of study areas in
North Dakota used to examine duck populations as indicators of landscape
condition.
- Figure 2 -- Least squares means for
estimated numbers of breeding duck pairs among 45 study areas.
- Figure 3 -- Least squares means for
gamma (γ) coefficients among
45 study areas.
- Figure 4 -- Effects of high or low levels
of cropland on estimated numbers of breeding pairs in 45 study areas.
- Figure 5 -- Interactions between percent
of modified wetlands and (A) percent of total upland habitat for number
of mallard pairs and (B) total number of wetlands drained for number of
pintail pairs.
- Figure 6 -- Effects of high or low levels
of cropland, as a percentage of total upland habitat, on gamma coefficients,
on 45 study areas in North Dakota.
Jane E. Austin*, Thomas K. Buhl, and H.
Thomas Sklebar, U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research
Center, Jamestown, North Dakota, U.S.A.
Glen R. Gutenspergen, U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife
Research Center, Laurel, U.S.A.
Wayne Norling, U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research
Center, Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.A.
*Author for correspondence, e-mail: jane_austin@usgs.gov
** The U.S. Government's right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty-free license
in and to any copyright is acknowledged.
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