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Copyright of Journal of Animal Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Vasseur, P.L.; Collins, S.A., and Selman, W., 2023. Effects of tropical cyclones and other severe weather events on Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) populations in Louisiana, U.S.A. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(6), 1124–1136. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. Tropical cyclones (i.e. tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) and other extreme weather events directly impacting Louisiana from 2016–21 were examined to determine their effects on adult Reddish Egrets equipped with satellite transmitters in SE (n = 11) and SW (n = 14) Louisiana. Fourteen tropical cyclones (six hurricanes, five tropical storms, one tropical depression, and two extratropical cyclones) impacted Louisiana during the study, and telemetry data were reviewed immediately on and around (±1 day) the arrival of each storm to monitor any movements and individual survival. As many as nine of 25 (36%) transmittered Reddish Egrets presumably died from the direct impacts of five tropical cyclones; seven of nine mortalities were associated with three major hurricanes. Mortality was presumed based on stationary GPS fixes for multiple days or the termination of data transmission following a storm. All mortalities were presumed, as no carcasses were recovered. Previous telemetry studies reported Reddish Egrets often survived intense tropical cyclones and direct impacts were not appreciable at the population level. Yet, more than one-third of the transmittered birds in the sample population potentially died from storm-related impacts, and the population may have declined drastically, assuming some unmarked individuals also likely died. Because the Reddish Egret is restricted to coastal habitats, the species appears to be particularly vulnerable to tropical cyclone effects. If predictions of increased frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones by the end of this century are accurate, these storms pose a significant threat to Reddish Egret populations. With accelerated loss and degradation to suitable coastal habitats, protection and restoration of key foraging and nesting sites for sensitive species similar to the Reddish Egret are needed in Louisiana and other disturbance-prone areas along the Gulf Coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secretive marsh birds (SMBs) are important indicator species of coastal wetlands but are difficult to detect and monitor. In coastal Louisiana, an important stronghold for these species, climate and hydrological models predict that freshwater and intermediate marshes will expand in the next 50 years, while brackish marshes will shrink. We used a multi-species Bayesian hierarchical occupancy model to estimate detection and occupancy probabilities for 11 SMB species in low and high saline marshes using data from automated recording units at 33 sites in southwestern Louisiana from February–June 2012. A quadratic effect of Julian date, but not minimum daily temperature nor precipitation affected detection of SMB species. King Rail (Rallus elegans), American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus), Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata), and Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) occupied mainly freshwater and intermediate marshes. Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans), Seaside Sparrow (Ammospiza maritima), and Sora (Porzana carolina) predominantly occupied brackish and salt marshes. American Coot (Fulica americana), Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica), Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis), and Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) occupied both low and high saline marshes, showing flexibility that could maintain populations of these species as marsh salinities change in the future. If the current distribution of SMB species persists as marsh availability changes under future conditions, populations of the 4 species we found in low saline marshes may increase, whereas populations of at least 2 species found primarily in high saline marshes may decrease. Our modeling indicates that automatic recording units can produce comparable detection probabilities to other studies using traditional SMB sampling methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Field Ornithology is the property of Resilience Alliance and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)