Population-Specific Demographic Estimates Provide Insights Into Declines of Lark Buntings (Calamospiza Melanocorys)

Publisher: Other (Auk, The) | Format: .PDF

www.fort.usgs.gov — This publication is a report on the Population-Specific Demographic Estimates and how they might Provide Insights Into Declines of Lark Buntings (Calamospiza Melanocorys). Many North American prairie bird populations have recently declined, and the causes of these declines remain largely unknown. To determine whether population limitation occurs More... This publication is a report on the Population-Specific Demographic Estimates and how they might Provide Insights Into Declines of Lark Buntings (Calamospiza Melanocorys). Many North American prairie bird populations have recently declined, and the causes of these declines remain largely unknown. To determine whether population limitation occurs during breeding, scientists evaluated the stability of a population of prairie birds using population-specific values for fecundity and postfledging survival. During 2001-2003, 67 female Lark Buntings (Calamospiza melanocorys) were radiomarked to determine annual fecundity and evaluate contributing factors such as nest survival and breeding response (number of breeding attempts and dispersal). Less...