Influence of patch habitat and landscape charact

Authors: Paige M Schmidt Robert A McCleery Roel R Lopez Nova J Silvy Jason A Schmidt Neil D Perry

Publish Date: 2011/11/08

Volume: 26, Issue: 10, Pages: 1419-1431

PDF Link

Abstract

Degradation of coastal systems has led to increased impacts from hurricanes and storm surges and is of concern for coastal endemics species Understanding the influence of disturbance on coastal populations like the endangered Lower Keys marsh rabbit Sylvilagus palustris hefneri is important to understanding longterm dynamics and for recovery planning We evaluated the effect of disturbance on the rabbits by determining which patch habitat and landscape characteristics influenced habitat use following Hurricane Wilma We determined patchlevel occurrence 6–9 months prior to Hurricane Wilma within 6 months following the hurricane and 2 years after the storm to quantify rates of patch abandonment and recurrence We observed high patch abandonment 375 of used patches 6 months after Hurricane Wilma and low rates of recurrence 381 of abandoned patches 2 years after the storm an indication that this storm further threatened marsh rabbit viability We found the proportion of salttolerant eg mangroves and scrub mangroves and saltintolerant eg freshwater wetlands vegetation within LKMR patches were negatively and positively correlated with probability of patch abandonment respectively We found patch size and the number of used patches surrounding abandoned patches were positively correlated with probability of recurrence We suggest habitat use following this hurricane was driven by the differential response of nonprimary habitats to saline overwash and habitat loss from past development that reduced the size and number of local populations Our findings demonstrate habitat use studies should be conducted following disturbance and should incorporate ongoing effects of development and climate changeWe received financial support from the US Department of Defense and the US Fish and Wildlife Service P Schmidt received support from Texas AM University the Alfred P Sloan Minority PhD Program and the Student Career Experience Program of the US Fish and Wildlife Service during data collection and analysis USDAAPHIS NWRC Ohio Field Station and US Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Biological Services provided support during manuscript preparation We would like to thank C Backlund E Barham and G Kenny at the Naval Air Station Key West Environmental Office for providing access and logistical support and the US Fish and Wildlife Service for access to the Lower Florida Keys Refuges We are grateful to A Dedrickson R Loughridge H Murray and D Schmidt for field support B Collier for analytical assistance A K Evans and J Hill and T DeVault B Blackwell and 3 anonymous reviewers for helpful comments on this manuscript

Keywords: