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Burr PC, Dorr BS, Avery JL, Street GM, Strickland BK. Long term changes in aquaculture influence migration, regional abundance, and distribution of an avian species. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284265. [PMID: 37053237 PMCID: PMC10101503 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Agricultural development has been causing changes to the environment and the abundance and distribution of avian species. Agriculture is dynamic with changes in products occurring at large scales over relatively short time periods. The catfish aquaculture industry is one such agriculture industry that has undergone dramatic changes over the last 25 years. The double-crested cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) is a piscivorous bird that has an extensive history with the aquaculture industry of Mississippi due to its depredation of cultured catfish. A large-scale monitoring program began in 1989 to estimate the abundance and location of cormorants at every known roost in the primary catfish producing region of the state, regionally known as the Delta. We used this data set to address hypotheses pertaining to cormorant ecology within the Delta over time, particularly in relation to aquaculture. We found that, although the Midwest breeding population of cormorants has been increasing, the abundance of cormorants wintering in the Delta has been decreasing, closely following the decline of aquaculture, suggesting aquaculture area is the primary reason for cormorant inhabitation of the region. We also modeled cormorant presence and abundance at all roost sites to determine what factors most influenced cormorant distribution. Aquaculture area around roosts was a significant predictor of both cormorant presence and abundance. However, the influence of aquaculture area was seasonally dependent, with greater positive influences occurring prior to migration. Lastly, we found peak cormorant abundance in the Delta is occurring 2.14 days earlier each year, which may be indicative of changes to migration phenology. Information gained using this large dataset aids in cormorant damage mitigation and to further our understanding of cormorant ecology. Data indicate changes in agriculture, and potentially climate change, can influence phenology, distribution, and abundance of avian species at large geographic scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul C Burr
- Mississippi Field Station, National Wildlife Research Center, Wildlife Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Brian S Dorr
- Mississippi Field Station, National Wildlife Research Center, Wildlife Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Jimmy L Avery
- National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Mississippi State University, Stoneville, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Garrett M Street
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Bronson K Strickland
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States of America
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Burr PC, Avery JL, Street GM, Strickland BK, Dorr BS. Piscivorous Bird Use of Aquaculture and Natural Water Bodies in Mississippi. J Wildl Manage 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paul C. Burr
- Mississippi State University, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture Box 9690, Mississippi State MS 39762 USA
| | - Jimmy L. Avery
- Mississippi State University, National Warmwater Aquaculture Center 127 Experiment Station Road, Stoneville MS 38776 USA
| | - Garrett M. Street
- Mississippi State University, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture Box 9690, Mississippi State MS 39762 USA
| | - Bronson K. Strickland
- Mississippi State University, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture Box 9690, Mississippi State MS 39762 USA
| | - Brian S. Dorr
- United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center Box 6099, Mississippi State MS 39762 USA
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