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Branta Bernicla Hrota) INTO 24 HOUR TIME-ACTIVITY AND INCORPORATING NOCTURNAL ACTIVITY OF WINTERING ATLANTIC BRANT (Branta bernicla hrota) INTO 24 HOUR TIME-ACTIVITY AND DAILY ENERGY EXPENDITURE MODELS by Jeremiah Richard Heise A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the University of Delaware in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Wildlife Ecology Spring 2012 © 2012 Jeremiah Richard Heise All Rights Reserved INCORPORATING NOCTURNAL ACTIVITY OF WINTERING ATLANTIC BRANT (Branta bernicla hrota) INTO 24 HOUR TIME-ACTIVITY AND DAILY ENERGY EXPENDITURE MODELS by Jeremiah Richard Heise Approved: ___________________________________________________________ Christopher K. Williams, Ph.D. Professor in charge of thesis on behalf of the Advisory Committee Approved: ___________________________________________________________ Douglas W. Tallamy, Ph.D. Chair of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology Approved: ___________________________________________________________ Robin W. Morgan, Ph.D. Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Approved: ___________________________________________________________ Charles G. Riordan, Ph.D. Vice Provost for Graduate and Professional Education ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank the Arctic Goose Joint Venture, Atlantic Flyway Council, and the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife for providing the funding and resources required for this research. Additional partnership support provided by Edwin B. Forsythe and Cape May National Wildlife Refuges and the University of Delaware are greatly appreciated and helped make this project a success. Great appreciation is due to my advisor Chris Williams who saw me through the analysis and write-up of this project and who never turned me away when I would stop in unexpectedly with a “Hey, you got a minute?” I would most certainly not have gotten through this process without his guidance and suggestion. Great thanks are also due to additional graduate committee members Paul Castelli and Jake Bowman. Were it not for Paul initially hiring me on as a technician, I would not be here with a completed Master’s thesis. His knowledge and mentoring while in the field has shaped me into the biologist that I am today. I would like to thank Jake for his assistance throughout this project. His input with planning out analyses, as well as editorial comments, allowed me to stay focused on progress towards this ultimate end. Many thanks are due to the numerous university and New Jersey state technicians that assisted with this project. Their dedication to data collection in the field through harsh and challenging conditions has proved them to be exemplary wildlife professionals. iii I would like to personally thank Orrin Jones, Jaan Kolts, Matthew Carney, Derek Brandt, Taylor Finger, Dane Cramer, Ken Duren, Trevor Watts, Kurt Bonds, Marissa Gnoinski, Andrew Dinges, Andrew Halbruner, Linda Morschauser, and Tom Clifford. This project truly rested on their shoulders and they are the reason behind its success. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank Ted Nichols, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife Waterfowl Program Coordinator, for graciously providing his technicians, equipment, and overall support to this project. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ vii LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... viii ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER 1 INCORPORATING NOCTURNAL BEHAVIOR OF WINTERING ATLANTIC BRANT (Branta bernicla hrota) INTO A 24 HOUR TIME-ACTIVITY MODEL Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1 Study Area .............................................................................................................. 4 Methods ................................................................................................................... 5 Data Collection .................................................................................................. 5 Data Analysis ..................................................................................................... 9 Results ................................................................................................................... 12 Observation Period Effects on Behavior ......................................................... 12 Explanatory Variable Effects on Behavior ...................................................... 14 Non-/Hunting Area Effects on Behavior .......................................................... 17 Discussion ............................................................................................................. 19 Management Implications ..................................................................................... 25 Literature Cited ..................................................................................................... 27 2 INCORPORATING NOCTURNAL ACTIVITY OF WINTERING ATLANTIC BRANT (Branta bernicla hrota) INTO A 24 HOUR DAILY ENERGY EXPENDITURE MODEL Introduction .......................................................................................................... 45 Study Area ........................................................................................................... 48 Methods ................................................................................................................ 49 Results .................................................................................................................. 54 Discussion ............................................................................................................ 57 Management Implications .................................................................................... 60 Literature Cited .................................................................................................... 61 v Appendix A AKAIKE INFORMATION CRITERION MODELS ANALYZED .................. 71 B TOP AKAIKE INFORMATION CRITERION MODELS ................................ 72 C RECORDED LANDSCAPE DISTURBACES ................................................. 88 vi LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1 Average percentages ( x ± S.E.) of wintering Atlantic brant behavior during four observation periods between October 2009–February 2010 and October 2010−February 2011, New Jersey, USA. Like- letters denote a significant difference (α = 0.05) in the behavior between observation€ periods. ................................................................... 36 Table 1.2 Top AICC models by behavior across the morning crepuscular and diurnal observation periods October–February 2009–2010 and 2010– 2011, New Jersey, USA. Behaviors with more than one model indicate no top model for that behavior and a subsequent model < 2 ΔAICC was considered to contain equally plausible explanatory variable(s). ............ 37 Table 1.3 Top AICC models by behavior across the evening crepuscular and nocturnal observation periods October–February 2009–2010 and 2010–2011, New Jersey, USA. Behaviors with more than one model indicate no top model for that behavior and a subsequent model < 2 ΔAICC was considered to contain equally plausible explanatory variable(s). ............................................................................................... 38 Table 2.1 Average hourly energy expenditure per observation period allocated by behavior for wintering Atlantic brant October–February 2009–2010 and 2010–2011, New Jersey, USA. ...................................... 68 Table 2.2 Average hourly energy expenditure, hours per observation period, energy expenditure per observation period, and total 24 hr energy expenditure by month for wintering Atlantic brant between October 2009–February 2010 and October 2010–February 2011, New Jersey, USA. ......................................................................................................... 69 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1 Map of study area showing properties owned and/or managed by Forsythe NWR (inclusive of impoundments) and the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. .................................................................. 39 Figure 1.2 Beta values ± S.E. of explanatory variables modeled against feeding behavior for wintering Atlantic brant across four observation periods October–February 2009–2010 and 2010–2011, New Jersey, USA. ........ 40 Figure 1.3. Beta values ± S.E. of explanatory variables modeled against resting behavior for wintering Atlantic brant across four observation periods October–February 2009–2010 and 2010–2011, New Jersey, USA. ......... 41 Figure 1.4 Beta values ± S.E. of explanatory variables modeled against swimming behavior for wintering Atlantic brant across four observation periods October–February 2009–2010 and 2010–2011, New Jersey, USA. ........ 42 Figure 1.5 Beta values ± S.E. of explanatory variables modeled against flying behavior for wintering Atlantic brant across four observation periods October–February 2009–2010 and 2010–2011, New Jersey, USA. ........ 43 Figure 1.6 Average percentages ( x ± S.E.) of Atlantic brant behavior between combinations of hunting and non-hunting areas during open and closed Coastal Zone hunting seasons across diurnal and nocturnal observation periods, October 2009–February 2010 and October 2010–February
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