Patterns of species co-occurrence of nesting colonial Ciconiiformes in Atlantic coast estuarine areas

摘要: -Patterns of co-occurrence 11 species nesting colonial Ciconiiformes in estuarine areas the Atlantic coast from Maine to Florida were examined using Reciprocal Averaging (RA) and Detrended Correspondence Analyses (DCA). The first RA ordination axis categorized into two groups: large birds that often nest tops trees, smaller usually lower down bushes, or on ground. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) showed largest positive score this axis, followed by Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) Egret (Casmerodius albus). other 8 clumped little separation. second an ordering relative abundances along apparent north-south gradient. There no consistent similarities scores any pairs groups all major axes, suggesting 2or 3-species "assemblages" found throughout entire Coastal Plain. Received March 1988, accepted 28 December 1988.