Human disturbance and stage-specific habitat requirements influence snowy plover site occupancy during the breeding season

摘要: Habitat use has important consequences for avian reproductive success and survival. In coastal areas with recreational activity, human disturbance may limit of otherwise suitable habitat. Snowy plovers Charadrius nivosus have a patchy breeding distribution along the on Florida Panhandle, USA. Our goal was to determine relative effects seasonal habitat requirements snowy plover use. We surveyed 303 sites plovers, disturbance, features between January July 2009 2010. made multiple visits during three different sampling periods that corresponded breeding: pre-breeding, incubation, brood-rearing used multi-season occupancy models examine whether features, or both influenced site occupancy, colonization (probability transition from an unoccupied occupied site), extinction site). negatively associated positively disturbance. Interdune vegetation had negative effect colonization, indicating were less likely uniform, dense among dunes. Also, dune shape, beach debris, access low-energy foraging extinction. Plovers based characteristics provided stage-specific resource needs; however, strongest predictor occupancy. addition, plantings enhance rehabilitation impact Management actions decrease such as symbolic fencing signage, increase amount available Panhandle in other high activity. The specific require this protection vary across life history stages.