Micro-Habitat Characteristics of Mountain Plover Nest Sites
Volume 18, No. 1-4, 2012 • Manuscript[pdfjs-viewer url=”http://www.intermountainjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IJS-2012-v18-n1-4-Manuscript-Javersak-Uresk-Trlica-pp26-30.pdf” viewer_width=644px viewer_height=700px fullscreen=false download=false print=true openfile=false]
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Authors
Javersak, Jody J., Uresk, Daniel W., Trlica, Milton Joe
Keywords
Ecology, habitat, grazing, Soil sciences, Mountain plover, plovers, plover, plant height, soil surface, visual obstruction, Charadrius montanus, Colorado
Scientific Disciplines
Biological Sciences - Terrestrial
Abstract Text
This study was conducted on shortgrass prairie in northeast Colorado to determine micro-habitat characteristics of nest sites for mountain plover (Charadrius montanus Townsend). Vegetation and soil surface characteristics were sampled in the spring of 1996-97 at and near 16 nests to identify important micro-habitat characteristics for site selection. We collected data on plant structure and canopy cover near nests in the spring during 2 years. Mean bare ground within a 15 m radius of the nest was 24 percent and bare ground patch size was 29 cm2. Mountain plovers selected nest sites that had short plant structure and a mean visual obstruction reading (VOR) of 0.6 cm. Plant structure (VOR) from 4 m to 15 m was significantly greater than structure at 0 to 2 m from the nest.
Meeting Info
The research was in cooperation with Colorado State University Agricultural Experiment Station, Cooperative Agreement No. 28-C5-884.
Citation
Javersak, J. J., Uresk, D. W., & Trlica, M. J. 2012. Micro-Habitat Characteristics of Mountain Plover Nest Sites. Intermountain Journal of Sciences 18(1-4): 26-30.