Military Overflight Effects on American...
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Tracy E Borneman 1 and Theodore R Simons 2 1 North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 2 U.S. Geological Survey, North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC AMOY Working Group Meeting Charleston, SC Nov 2011 Effects of Human Activity on American Oystercatchers Breeding at Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina Photo: Eli Rose
Transcript of Military Overflight Effects on American...
Tracy E Borneman1 and Theodore R Simons2 1North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Biology,
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 2U.S. Geological Survey, North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit,
Department of Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
AMOY Working Group Meeting Charleston, SC
Nov 2011
Effects of Human Activity on American Oystercatchers
Breeding at Cape Lookout National Seashore, North
Carolina
Photo: Eli Rose
Study Area
Background
Human Activity
Habitat
• Atlantic barrier island
− open beach backed by dunes or sand flats
• Species of High Concern – US Shorebird Conservation Plan • Bird of Conservation Concern – US Fish and Wildlife Service • Species of Special Concern – North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission
American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)
1) Behavior Changes
2) Physiology Changes
3) Reproductive Success
Target Metrics
1) To assess if low-altitude military overflights affect behavior, physiology, and reproductive success.
2) To assess if other human activities affect behavior, physiology, and reproductive success.
Objectives
Research Approach
• Breeding Productivity − Nest and brood surveying and monitoring
Research Approach
• Breeding Productivity − Nest and brood surveying and monitoring
• Nest Environment Monitoring − Audio monitoring of ambient sound and noise events
− Video monitoring of nest surroundings
Research Approach
• Breeding Productivity − Nest and brood surveying and monitoring
• Nest Environment Monitoring − Audio monitoring of ambient sound and noise events
− Video monitoring of nest surroundings
• Behavioral Response − Video monitoring of incubation behavior
Research Approach
• Breeding Productivity − Nest and brood surveying and monitoring
• Nest Environment Monitoring − Audio monitoring of ambient sound and noise events
− Video monitoring of nest surroundings
• Behavioral Response − Video monitoring of incubation behavior
• Physiological Response − Heart rate monitoring
Research Approach
Credit: Eli Rose
Breeding Pairs Nests
Nests Hatched
Chicks Hatched Nest Survival
Chicks Fledged Chick Survival
Productivity (Chicks
Fledged/Pair)
NCB 2011 32 54 18 37 0.333 24 0.649 0.750
NCB 2010 31 58 15 30 0.259 15 0.500 0.484
NC Summary (1995-2010)
0.318 0.424 0.376
Productivity
Credit: Eli Rose
Breeding Pairs Nests
Nests Hatched
Chicks Hatched Nest Survival
Chicks Fledged Chick Survival
Productivity (Chicks
Fledged/Pair)
NCB 2011 32 54 18 37 0.333 24 0.649 0.750
NCB 2010 31 58 15 30 0.259 15 0.500 0.484
NC Summary (1995-2010)
0.318 0.424 0.376
Productivity
Productivity
American Oystercatcher Nest Locations
Productivity
28.57
41.96
10.71
7.14
11.61
0
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40
45
Hatched Predation Overwash/Wind
Abandoned Failed:Unknown
Cause
% o
f To
tal N
est
s
Nest Fate
62 nests monitored (55%)
Video and Audio Monitoring
Nesting Environment
Human Activity Observed Around Nests
Nesting Environment
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20 Min. Before Flights During Flights 20 Min. After Flights
Sou
nd
Exp
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re L
eve
l (d
BA
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Sound Levels Before, During, and After Target Military Flights
Behavioral Response
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100
% o
f Ti
me
On
Ne
st
Human Activity Type
Behavior of American Oystercatchers Before and During Human Activity
20 Min.Before
During
Event Type Altitude (ft) Speed (kts) Event Length
(sec) SEL (dBA) Behavior 20 min before
Target Flight 8,100 320 71 78.1 On Nest
Behavioral Response
Behavioral Response
Incubation Behavior
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Avg
% T
ime
on
Ne
st
Individual Nests
Nest Attendance Failed Nests
Hatched Nests
42 nests monitored (38% of nests)
Heart Rate Monitoring
Physiological Response
Physiological Response
020406080
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TargetFlights
MilitaryFixed Wings
Civilian FixedWings
PassengerVehicles
ATV
He
art
Rat
e (
be
ats/
min
)
Human Activity Type
Heart Rate of American Oystercatchers Before and During Human Activity
20 Min.Before
During
Event Type Altitude
(ft) Speed (kts)
Event Length (sec) SEL (dBA)
Behavior 20 min. Before
Target Flight 3,000 300 36 87.0 On Nest
Physiological Response
Summary
• Reproductive success has not been low in study breeding seasons
• We are not currently finding a behavioral response to aircraft events
• Current data suggest a behavioral response to off-road vehicles and pedestrians
• We are not currently finding a physiological response to human activity
• Carmen Lombardo • Jessica Guilianelli • Michael Rikard • Jon Altman • Sarah Karpanty • Jim Fraser • Matt Hillman • Audrey DeRose-
Wilson
• Eli Rose • Nick Haddad • Jaime Collazo • Jessica Stocking • John Wettroth • Syed Hussain • Matthew Krachey • Megan Thoemmes • Allison Nolker
• Matt Peterson • Jeff Smith • Katie Pierson • Imari Colon • Jessica Hampton • Michael Fisk • Wendy Moore • Meredith Henry • Jennifer Arnold
• Steve Oswald • Paula Dailey • Tom Faughnan • Britt Brown • Amy Westmark • Amy Preston • Felicia Nawn
Acknowledgments
Behavioral Response
Nesting Environment
