Re-Occupancy of Breeding Territories by Ferruginous Hawks in Wyoming: Relationships to Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors

Zachary P Wallace; Patricia L Kennedy; John R Squires; Robert J Oakleaf; Lucretia E Olson; Katie M Dugger

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0152977

Re-Occupancy of Breeding Territories by Ferruginous Hawks in Wyoming: Relationships to Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors

PLoS One. 2016 Apr 6;11(4):e0152977. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152977. eCollection 2016.

Authors

Zachary P Wallace^{1

2}, Patricia L Kennedy^{1

2}, John R Squires³, Robert J Oakleaf⁴, Lucretia E Olson³, Katie M Dugger⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America.
² Eastern Oregon Agriculture and Natural Resource Program, Oregon State University, Union, Oregon, United States of America.
³ USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula, Montana, United States of America.
⁴ Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Lander, Wyoming, United States of America.
⁵ U.S. Geological Survey, Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America.

Abstract

Grassland and shrubland birds are declining globally due in part to anthropogenic habitat modification. Because population performance of these species is also influenced by non-anthropogenic factors, it is important to incorporate all relevant ecological drivers into demographic models. We used design-based sampling and occupancy models to test relationships of environmental factors that influence raptor demographics with re-occupancy of breeding territories by ferruginous hawks (Buteo regalis) across Wyoming, USA, 2011-2013. We also tested correlations of territory re-occupancy with oil and gas infrastructure-a leading cause of habitat modification throughout the range of this species of conservation concern. Probability of re-occupancy was not related to any covariates we investigated in 2011, had a strong negative relationship with cover of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) in 2012, was slightly higher for territories with artificial platforms than other nest substrates in 2013, and had a positive relationship with abundance of ground squirrels (Urocitellus spp.) that was strong in 2012 and weak in 2013. Associations with roads were weak and varied by year, road-type, and scale: in 2012, re-occupancy probability had a weak positive correlation with density of roads not associated with oil and gas fields at the territory-scale; however, in 2013 re-occupancy had a very weak negative correlation with density of oil and gas field roads near nest sites (≤500 m). Although our results indicate re-occupancy of breeding territories by ferruginous hawks was compatible with densities of anthropogenic infrastructure in our study area, the lack of relationships between oil and gas well density and territory re-occupancy may have occurred because pre-treatment data were unavailable. We used probabilistic sampling at a broad spatial extent, methods to account for imperfect detection, and conducted extensive prey sampling; nonetheless, future research using before-after-control-impact designs is needed to fully assess impacts of oil and gas development on ferruginous hawks.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Breeding*
Ecosystem*
Hawks / physiology*
Probability
Wyoming

Grants and funding

The U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and Bureau of Land Management provided funding and assisted with study design and data collection. Additional funding was provided by the Wyoming Wildlife Heritage Foundation, Wyoming Governor’s Office, PacifiCorp, and Pathfinder Renewable Wind Energy, none of whom were involved in research design, collection and analysis of data, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.