Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Impact of the Conservation Reserve Program on Duck
Recruitment in the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region
Ronald E. Reynolds, Terry L. Shaffer, Randy W. Renner,
Wesley E. Newton, and Bruce D. J. Batt
Abstract: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Conservation
Reserve Program (CRP) resulted in the conversion of about 1.9 million ha of
cropland to perennial grass cover in the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota,
South Dakota, and northeastern Montana by 1992. Many wildlife managers believed
this cover would provide benefits to wildlife, including upland nesting ducks.
During 1992-1995, we evaluated success of 5 duck species nesting in CRP fields
and nearby Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA) throughout the region. We examined
relationships between daily survival rates (DSR) of duck nests in CRP cover
and landscape-level habitat and population parameters. We computed DSR of duck
nests in other major cover types in our study area from data collected during
1980-1984 (pre-CRP) and 1990-1994 (CRP) periods. We then applied recruitment
models to estimate duck production in our study area during peak CRP years (1992-1997)
and compared these results with those that simulated the scenario in which cropland
was in place of CRP cover (i.e., the CRP had not occurred). DSR were higher
in all habitats combined during the CRP period compared to the pre-CRP period.
Regressions of DSR in CRP cover on the percent of each study plot in perennial
cover and geographic location were significant (P < 0.01) for 4 of 5
duck (Anas spp.) species. Estimated nest success and recruitment rates
for the 5 species combined during 1992-1997 were 46% and 30% higher, respectively,
with CRP cover on the landscape compared to a scenario where we simulated cropland
in place of CRP. Our model estimated an additional 12.4 million recruits from
our study area to the fall flight as a consequence of the CRP during 1992-1997.
Our results document benefits to 5 duck species in the northern plains associated
with a farm program that provided financial incentives to landowners for planting
undisturbed grass cover as an alternative to annual crops.
Keywords: Anas acuta, Anas clypeata, Anas
discors, Anas platyrhynchos, Anas strepera, blue-winged
teal, Conservation Reserve Program, CRP, ducks, gadwall, mallard, nest success,
northern pintail, northern shoveler, Prairie Pothole Region, recruitment.
This resource is based on the following source (Northern Prairie Publication
1147):
Reynolds, Ronald E., Terry L. Shaffer, Randy W. Renner, Wesley E.
Newton, and Bruce D. J. Batt. 2001. Impact of the Conservation
Reserve Program on duck recruitment in the U.S. prairie pothole
region. Journal of Wildlife Management 65(4):765-780.
This resource should be cited as:
Reynolds, Ronald E., Terry L. Shaffer, Randy W. Renner, Wesley E.
Newton, and Bruce D. J. Batt. 2001. Impact of the Conservation
Reserve Program on duck recruitment in the U.S. prairie pothole
region. Journal of Wildlife Management 65(4):765-780. Jamestown,
ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/duckrecr/index.htm
(Version 27AUG2002).
Table of Contents
Tables and Figures
- Table 1 -- Input parameters for duck
production models and data sources used in analyses to estimate production
for 5 principal duck species.
- Table 2 -- Number of replicates and area
of CRP cover and WPA planted cover that were searched for duck nests.
- Table 3 -- Number of usable duck nests
found in CPR cover and WPA planted cover in the Prairie Pothole Region.
- Table 4 -- Least squares estimates of
daily survival rates of duck nests in CRP and WPA planted cover.
- Table 5 -- Correlation of daily survival
rates of nests for 5 species of ducks with breeding population size, numbers
of ponds, area wet, percent of landscape in perennial cover, location, and
indices to red fox and coyote abundance.
- Table 6 -- Results of stepwise regression
models using daily survival rates of duck nests in CRP cover by species
as the response variable.
- Table 7 -- Relative preference that 5
species of ducks show for 8 habitats in the Prairie Pothole Region of North
Dakota.
- Figure 1 -- Study area for assessing the
impact of the Conservation Reserve Program on duck recruitment.
- Figure 2 -- Relationship between daily
survival rate of nests and percent total perennial cover for 5 species of
ducks.
- Figure 3 -- Geographic variation in daily
survival rate and nest success of mallard nests.
Ronald E. Reynolds, Habitat and Population Evaluation Team Office,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 3425 Miriam Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58501, USA.
E-mail: ron_reynolds@fws.gov
Terry L. Shaffer and Wesley E. Newton, Northern Prairie
Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 8711 37th Street SE, Jamestown,
ND 58401, USA.
Randy W. Renner, Great Plains Regional Office, Ducks Unlimited
Incorporated, 2424 River Road, Bismarck, ND 58501, USA.
Bruce D. J. Batt, National Headquarters, Ducks Unlimited Incorporated,
One Waterfowl Way, Memphis, TN, 38120, USA.
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