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The use of nesting initiation dates of roseate spoonbills ( Ajaia ajaja) in northeastern Florida Bay as an ecosystem indicator for water management practices, 1935--1999

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Date Issued:
2001
Summary:
Quantity and timing of freshwater flow from the Everglades to Florida Bay varied under different water management practices in the twentieth century, with negative ecological repercussions. Ecological indicators that respond to differences in hydrology, such as wading bird colony dynamics, can be used for hydrological restoration projects. I examined the possibility of using timing of nesting of Roseate Spoonbills (Ajaia ajaja) in northeastern Florida Bay as an ecological indicator. Nest initiation dates (N = 51) from 1936--1999 (x = November 25) were calculated from numerous published and unpublished sources. The dates were strikingly consistent and did not show significant trends over the entire study period, nor did the dates differ among periods of different water management practices. Early dates were not correlated with favorable hydrologic conditions (low water levels, fast drying rates) in spoonbill foraging habitat. Spoonbill timing of nesting appears to be a poor ecological indicator for Florida Bay.
Title: The use of nesting initiation dates of roseate spoonbills ( Ajaia ajaja) in northeastern Florida Bay as an ecosystem indicator for water management practices, 1935--1999.
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Name(s): Alvear Rodriguez, Elsa Marcella.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Ogden, John C., Thesis advisor
Mahoney, Sheila A., Thesis advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 2001
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 42 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Quantity and timing of freshwater flow from the Everglades to Florida Bay varied under different water management practices in the twentieth century, with negative ecological repercussions. Ecological indicators that respond to differences in hydrology, such as wading bird colony dynamics, can be used for hydrological restoration projects. I examined the possibility of using timing of nesting of Roseate Spoonbills (Ajaia ajaja) in northeastern Florida Bay as an ecological indicator. Nest initiation dates (N = 51) from 1936--1999 (x = November 25) were calculated from numerous published and unpublished sources. The dates were strikingly consistent and did not show significant trends over the entire study period, nor did the dates differ among periods of different water management practices. Early dates were not correlated with favorable hydrologic conditions (low water levels, fast drying rates) in spoonbill foraging habitat. Spoonbill timing of nesting appears to be a poor ecological indicator for Florida Bay.
Identifier: 9780493098128 (isbn), 12763 (digitool), FADT12763 (IID), fau:9641 (fedora)
Note(s): Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2001.
Subject(s): Roseate spoonbill--Nests
Indicators (Biology)--Florida--Florida Bay
Water quality biological assessment--Florida--Florida Bay
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12763
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.