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Thesis
QUANTIFYING HABITAT AND APPLE SNAIL (POMACEA PALUDOSA) DENSITY EFFECTS ON PREY AVAILABILITY TO SNAIL KITES (ROSTRHAMUS SOCIABILIS PLUMBEUS)
University of West Florida
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2016
Abstract
Everglades restoration efforts rely on quantitative data when modelling the effects of management on endangered wildlife populations. The focus of this study was to quantify the influence of environmental factors on Florida apple snail (Pomacea paludosa) availability to snail kites (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus) within the Everglades. A mesocosm study with observations of live apple snails was performed within Everglades wetlands to determine the influence of water depth, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and emergent vegetation structure on the proportion of apple snails available to foraging snail kites. In addition, a study analyzing snail kite prey species (native P. paludosa versus exotic P. maculata) and size preference was performed. The proportion of apple snails available to kites was most influenced by water depth and temperature, where warm, shallow water contained the highest proportion of snails available. Emergent vegetation did not affect snail surfacing behavior; however, it did influence the relative detectability of snails. Snail kites preferentially consumed intermediate-sized snails and showed no species preference. This study supports the recommendation that demographic modeling of Everglades-dependent wildlife should incorporate the most ecologically-pertinent parameters. Estimates of snail availability can be used to link two thus far-independent simulation models for snail kite and apple snail populations.
Details
- Title
- QUANTIFYING HABITAT AND APPLE SNAIL (POMACEA PALUDOSA) DENSITY EFFECTS ON PREY AVAILABILITY TO SNAIL KITES (ROSTRHAMUS SOCIABILIS PLUMBEUS)
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Publisher
- University of West Florida
- Format
- text
- Identifiers
- 99380090736906600
- Academic Unit
- Biology
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Science (MS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida