The Florida sandhill crane Antigone canadensis pratensis is state-listed as threatened in Florida, where there is an urgent need to map and quantify remaining habitat. First, we used habitat suitability index (HSI) modelling to map and assess potential nesting habitat for sandhill cranes in Florida. Second, we used spatial optimization approaches to calculate the maximum number of breeding pairs that can simultaneously occupy potential nests given that they both must be of some minimum quality and must be spaced some minimal distance apart. The mapping results reveal that nesting habitat is concentrated in the central portion of the state, with adequate brooding habitat appearing to be the most limiting factor affecting habitat suitability. Assuming nesting only occurs in habitat rated as high quality (HSI {greater than or equal to} 0.7) and spacing between adjacent nests is at least 1,000 m, we conservatively estimate that 5,540 nesting pairs of Florida sandhill cranes can potentially be supported. Additional nesting pairs may be supported in habitats of marginal (HSI {greater than or equal to} 0.3; 14,530) to moderate (HSI {greater than or equal to} 0.5; 8,723) quality. The suitability maps and breeding pair estimates can be used to identify important habitat areas to focus crane conservation efforts, determine potentially limiting habitat features across the landscape, and potentially guide future population monitoring efforts. For example, grassland/prairie restoration could be used to potential increase nesting pairs in the southern portion of the state where emergent wetlands are abundant but brooding habitat is lacking.
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Research Article|
June 30 2020
Spatial analysis of potential nesting habitat for Florida sandhill cranes
Joni Downs;
Joni Downs
*
4202 E fowler ave
tampa
FL
33620
United States of America
University of South Florida
8134492834downs@usf.edu
*Corresponding Author
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Courtney Buck;
Courtney Buck
University of South Florida
NAcourtneybuck@mail.usf.edu
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Faisal Qarah;
Faisal Qarah
University of South Florida
NAfaisalq@mail.usf.edu
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Yujie Hu
Yujie Hu
University of Florida
(352) 294-7514yujiehu@ufl.edu
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Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management (2020)
Article history
Received:
September 17 2019
Revision Received:
April 10 2020
Accepted:
May 20 2020
Citation
Joni Downs, Courtney Buck, Faisal Qarah, Yujie Hu; Spatial analysis of potential nesting habitat for Florida sandhill cranes. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 2020; doi: https://doi.org/10.3996/092019-JFWM-077
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