Data from: Upland Sandpipers select for later time since fire and experience high nest survival in grasslands managed with patch-burn grazing
Data files
Feb 06, 2024 version files 16.85 KB
Abstract
Upland Sandpipers (Bartramia longicauda) are a grassland obligate shorebird that nests in dense vegetation structure near recently disturbed areas and could benefit from management practices that promote heterogenous vegetation structure. Although, Upland Sandpipers primary breeding range is generally managed for livestock production using traditional practices that lack patchy disturbances to facilitate higher levels of structural heterogeneity. Patch-burn grazing (PBG) could be an alternative management practice for Upland Sandpiper conservation for its ability to create areas of dense vegetation structure near recently disturbed areas. However, limited information is available regarding nest production of Upland Sandpipers within a PBG framework. To assess the compatibility of PBG with Upland Sandpiper conservation, we estimated nest site selection and survival of Upland Sandpiper nests on private lands managed with PBG in the unglaciated plains region of North Dakota. We located 59 nests from 2017–2020. Upland Sandpipers avoided 1 year since fire (YSF) patches and selected for 2 and 3 YSF patches for nest sites. Additionally, nest site selection decreased with increased bare ground and at intermediate distances to the nearest Upland Sandpiper nest. Upland Sandpipers experienced high overall nest survival during the study with 51 of 59 nests successfully hatching, which limited our ability to make inferences between daily survival rates and variables of interest. Our findings suggest that PBG can provide suitable nesting cover for Upland Sandpipers in later YSF patches despite annual prescribed fire and livestock grazing during the nesting season. PBG seems a suitable grassland management strategy that should be included in conservation planning within Upland Sandpiper’s breeding distribution.
README: Upland Sandpipers select for later time since fire and experience high nest survival in grasslands managed with patch-burn grazing
Authors: Alexander C Rischette, Benjamin A Geaumont, Cameron A Duquette, Torre J Hovick
Corresponding author: Alexander C Rischette (alexander.rischette@gmail.com)
Note: Contact Alexander C Rischette for questions about the analysis
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.tx95x6b4v
Data files include:
UPSA_DSR.csv = Daily survival data for nest survival analysis
UPSA_PastureRSF.csv = Pasture group data for nest site selection analysis
UPSA_VegRSF.csv = Vegetation group data for nest site selection analysis
UPSASelectionRatio.csv = Selection ratio data for nest site selection analysis
Note: Vegetation data was not able to be collected for certain nests in UPSA_DSR.csv and UPSA_VegRSF.csv and is represented as either blank cells or with NA.
Description of the data and file structure
Nest survival analysis (UPSA_DSR.csv)
Variable definitions by model groups
Generic variables of importance:
nest id = individual nest identifier
expos = calculated exposure period in days
survive = (1 = nest still active or successful during exposure period; 0 = suspected nest depredation during exposure period)
Time-related variables:
year = study year
date = date of nest check
Vegetation variables:
VOR = vegetation obstruction (dm)
Lt = percent litter (%)
BG = percent bare ground (%)
Pasture variables:
ysf = patch years since fire
Note: all distance data can be extracted from UPSA_PastureRSF.csv
Nest site selection analysis
Selection ratio (UPSASelectionRatio.csv)
Variable definitions:
year = study year
ysf = patch year since fire
Generalized linear mixed effect regression (UPSA_VegRSF.csv, UPSA_VegRSF.csv)
Variable definitions by model groups
Vegetation variables:
nest id = individual nest identifier
use = used and random location
year = study year
VOR = vegetation obstruction (dm)
Lt = percent litter (%)
BG = percent bare ground (%)
Pasture variables:
nest id = individual nest identifier
use = used and random location
near nest = distance to nearest neighboring UPSA nest (m)
fence = distance to nearest fence (m)
edge = distance to nearest habitat edge (m)
wetland = distance to nearest wetland (m)