Graduation Date
Spring 2020
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Science degree with a major in Natural Resources, option Wildlife
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Mark Colwell
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Tim Bean
Second Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Dr. Luke Eberhart-Phillips
Third Committee Member Affiliation
Community Member or Outside Professional
Subject Categories
Wildlife Management
Abstract
Understanding the social and physical factors that influence the temporal and spatial distribution of a species is imperative for successful management. The Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus) selects for wide-open stretches of beach; yet within large expanses of ideal habitat, plover populations tend to be aggregated. Recent evidence suggests plovers may prioritize social information over ideal physical factors alone when selecting breeding locations. I analyzed data collected on an individually marked population of Snowy Plovers in Humboldt County, California from 2001 to 2018 to evaluate the influence of physical (beach width) and social (presence of conspecifics) landscape factors on the population’s breeding distribution. Using an information-theoretic framework, I conducted incidence function models and model selection analyses to examine how physical and social factors influenced inexperienced breeder occupancy of approximately 100 km of plover habitat. Beach width influenced where plovers bred, however, inexperienced plovers were more likely to colonize sites occupied by experienced conspecifics. Reproductive success had minimal influence on settlement of inexperienced breeders the following season. This information suggests the species’ successful recovery requires an added emphasis on social information for future habitat restoration efforts.
Citation Style
Journal of Wildlife Management
Recommended Citation
Pohlman, Jeremy John Mr, "Shifting sands: social cues influence the long-term dynamics of snowy plover distribution" (2020). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 396.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/396