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Thesis
THE INFLUENCE OF A GRADIENT IN HABITAT STRUCTURE ON APPLE SNAIL (POMACEA PALUDOSA) DEMOGRAPHY AND SNAIL KITE (ROSTRHAMUS SOCIABILIS PLUMBEUS) FORAGING
University of West Florida
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2013
Abstract
Everglades restoration efforts focus on improving habitats that support associated endangered wildlife. This study focused on the influence of habitat structure and prey density on the endangered Florida snail kite and the kite's exclusive prey, the Florida apple snail. Snail densities and egg production were estimated across a habitat gradient, from the sawgrass ecotone to wet prairie habitat. Kite foraging was examined as a function of habitat and snail densities at varying spatial scales. Snail densities were relatively low, which may be attributed to a depensation effect and the distribution of snails among habitat types within a site was highly variable. Egg densities were greater along the sawgrass ecotone; however, egg abundance in wet prairie contributed more to total egg production. Kite foraging data suggested prey density variation in small patches within a site was not a good predictor of where kites concentrated their foraging. However, as scale increased (sites within a wetland, and between wetlands), snail density may explain kite occupancy. These results support the idea that restoration efforts should focus on creating habitats with a range of characteristics (sawgrass, wet prairie, and slough habitats) at varying temporal and spatial scales to support kite foraging and apple snail populations.
Details
- Title
- THE INFLUENCE OF A GRADIENT IN HABITAT STRUCTURE ON APPLE SNAIL (POMACEA PALUDOSA) DEMOGRAPHY AND SNAIL KITE (ROSTRHAMUS SOCIABILIS PLUMBEUS) FORAGING
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Publisher
- University of West Florida
- Format
- text
- Identifiers
- 99380090758206600
- 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