A comparison of bird use and species diversity of created and natural salt marshes in the Galveston Bay complex, Texas /

2.43 km away increased marsh use by some colonial waterbirds.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Melvin, Stefani Lynn
Format: Thesis eBook
Language:English
Published: [Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified] ; 1996.
Subjects:
Online Access:Link to OAKTrust copy
Description
Summary:2.43 km away increased marsh use by some colonial waterbirds.
abundance was greater in created than natural salt marshes.
and gulls and tems was positively related to plant density in
and marsh size. Bay habitat was positively related to number
Birds were censused in seven natural and seven created salt
density of plants in marshes. Since created marshes differed
differed significantly, however not consistently. Bird
differed.
directly correlated to higher species diversity within the
directly related to species diversity. This study indicates
in Galveston. Six common marsh species were analyzed
in some of these characteristics, bird utilization also
marsh origin, size, and age. Birds were grouped by foraging
marsh. Number of habitats within each sample site was
marshes in lower Galveston Bay from October 1990 through
marshes more than created marshes. Year round residents were
marshes. Marsh size and presence of all habitat types were
marshes. Natural marshes supported more rails and shorebirds
method, prey items, habitat use, and season they are present
more abundant in created marshes. Abundance of miscellaneous
of summer, winter, and year round residents. Bird abundance
or old created marshes. Gulls and tems occurred more in
related to fall plant height. Gulls and tems were positively
related to spring height. Abundance of year round species
separately. Bird use was tested for relationships with
September 1991 to evaluate differences in bird use due to
Species diversity was greater in natural than created
species, shorebirds, sparrows and all residence categories
than created marshes. Sparrows were more abundant in natural
than young created marshes. Winter residents used natural
that bird use is influenced by marsh size, habitat types
the inner marsh during spring. Location of active colonies <
to active colonies. Bird use of created and natural marshes
vegetation characteristics, habitat components, and distance
was directly related to plant height. Year round species
was positively related to amount of vegetated marsh habitat
were positively related and waterfowl numbers negatively
within marshes, distance to bird colonies, and height and
young created marshes than either older created or natural
Young created salt marshes supported more birds than natural
Item Description:"Major subject: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences".
Vita.
Physical Description:xi, 62 leaves : illustrations, maps ; 28 cm.
Also available online.
Issued also on microfiche from Lange Micrographics.
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references.