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Article
The Effects of Drought on Foraging Habitat Selection of Breeding Wood Storks in Coastal Georgia
Waterbirds: The International Journal of Waterbird Biology (2000)
  • Karen F. Gaines, Eastern Illinois University
  • A. Lawrence Bryan, Jr.
  • Philip M. Dixon, Iowa State University
Abstract

Foraging habitat use by Wood Storks (Mycteria americana) during the breeding season was studied for three coastal colonies during a drought year and compared to habitat use during normal rainfall years. Information on the distribution of wetland habitat types was derived using U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetland In- ventory (NWI) data within a Geographic Information System (GIS). Foraging locations were obtained by following storks from their colonies in a fixed-winged aircraft. Differences in hydrologic condition and, the resulting prey availability in coastal zone freshwater wetlands greatly affected foraging habitat use and breeding success of the three stork colonies. In 1997 (dry), although the foraging range of each colony did not differ from wetter years, storks used estuarine foraging habitats much more extensively. Breeding success (fledged young/nest) in 1997 was less than half the success of the wetter years. Palustrine (freshwater) wetlands seem very important to storks breed- ing along the Georgia coast. During dry years, estuarine wetlands, by themselves, do not appear to be able to support the breeding population of storks in this region. Reasons why these productive wetlands do not provide sufficient resources for successful breeding are unclear, but could include limitations to only two foraging periods (low tides) in a 24-hr period.

Keywords
  • Coastal,
  • drought,
  • endangered species management,
  • foraging habitat,
  • Georgia,
  • GIS,
  • Mycteria amer- icana,
  • rainfall,
  • Wood Stork
Disciplines
Publication Date
2000
Citation Information
Karen F. Gaines, A. Lawrence Bryan and Philip M. Dixon. "The Effects of Drought on Foraging Habitat Selection of Breeding Wood Storks in Coastal Georgia" Waterbirds: The International Journal of Waterbird Biology Vol. 23 Iss. 1 (2000)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/philip-dixon/49/