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Factors Affecting the Distribution and Productivity of the American Dipper (Cinclus Mexicanus) in Western Montana: Does Streamside Development Play a Role?

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Factors Affecting the Distribution and Productivity of the American Dipper (Cinclus Mexicanus) in Western Montana: Does Streamside Development Play a Role? University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1999 Factors affecting the distribution and productivity of the American dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) in western Montana: Does streamside development play a role? Sophie A. Osborn The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Osborn, Sophie A., "Factors affecting the distribution and productivity of the American dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) in western Montana: Does streamside development play a role?" (1999). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 6913. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/6913 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. m Maureen and Mike MANSFIELD LIBRARY Tlie University of IVIONTANA Permission is granted by the author to reproduce this material in its entirety, provided that this material is used for scholarly purposes and is properly cited in published works and reports. * * Please check ”Yes*^ or and provide signature * * Yes, I grant permission No, I do not grant permission Author's Signature^: M Date ________________ Any copying for commercial purposes or financial gain may be undertaken only with the author's explicit consent. FACTORS AFFECTING THE DISTRIBUTION AND PRODUCTIVITY OF THE AMERICAN DIPPER {CINCLUS MEXICANUS) IN WESTERN MONTANA: DOES STREAMSIDE DEVELOPMENT PLAY A ROLE? by Sophie A.H. Osbom B.A., University of Pennsylvania, 1988 Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science The University of Montana 1999 Chairperson erson Dean, Graduate School Date UMI Number: EP37714 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMT OisMrtstion Publishing UMI EP37714 Published by ProQuest LLC (2013). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code P r o Q ^ s f ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Abstract Osbom, S., M. S., Spring 1999 Biological Sciences Factors affecting the distribution and productivity of the American Dipper {Cinclus mexicanus) in western Montana: Does streamside development play a role? Advisors: Richard L. Hutto and Sallie Hejl Human development is playing an increasingly important role in determining the distribution and success of organisms. Habitat specialists, such as the American Dipper {Cinclus mexicanus), are especially likely to be affected by anthropogenic modifications to their habitat. To assess the effects of streamside development on dippers, I examined factors affecting their distribution and productivity in the Bitterroot Valley and Mountains of western Montana during 1996 and 1997. I surveyed 23 creeks, located and monitored 49 nest sites, and conducted extensive habitat analyses of dipper territories and non-use areas. Nest availability appeared to be the most important factor in determining dipper distributions. In general, dipper territories had more available nest substrates, were deeper and wider, had more boulders and white water, and less gravel and silt than did non-use areas. Dipper territories and non-use areas did not differ significantly in their levels of development. Although dipper territories were more likely to occur in less developed portions of the streams, dippers did not appear to avoid developed areas, as long as the development did not affect the integrity of the streams themselves. For example, I found no dippers in stream segments subjected to heavy cattle use. There was no significant difference between the number of young fledged in developed vs. undeveloped territories (P = 0.264). Bridges, which provide nest sites for dippers, have enabled breeding pairs to exploit the productive lower reaches of streams, where natural nest substrates are scarce or absent. However, bridge nests may be more prone to disturbance, flooding, and predation. I therefore examined whether bridges might act as ecological traps for dippers. Although nest success of natural nest sites was slightly higher than that of bridge sites, bridges actually produced slightly more young. The difference, though, was not statistically significant (P = 0.463). Bridges, which invariably occurred at lower elevations, enabled dippers to breed earlier, allowing certain pairs to increase their productivity by double brooding. Overall, streamside development that did not affect stream quality did not appear to be detrimental to dippers, and in some instances, as in the case of bridges, actually may provide some benefits. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I thank my advisors, Dr. Richard Hutto and Dr. Sallie Hejl, who stepped in and took me on unexpectedly near the end of my first year, and were mentors whom I could respect and admire tremendously both as scientists and as people. Had it not been for their support and guidance, and the example they set as conservation- minded scientists, I might have slipped through the cracks and turned my back on science. I feel both lucky and privileged to have had them as advisors. A special thank you to Sallie for giving me the idea of working with American Dippers and helping me find the means to do so. I could not have worked with a more captivating creature. And a special thanks to Dick for giving me the opportunity to share dippers with his “Birdwatch” audience. Thanks also to my other committee members. Dr. Andrew Sheldon and Dr. Scott Mills for their expertise, insight, and support. This project would not have been possible without the generous support of the U. S. Forest Service’s Bitterroot Ecosystem Management Research Project (BEMRP). I am especially grateful to Clint Carlson and Jack Lyon for their enthusiastic endorsement of this project and for including my dipper research in the comprehensive studies BEMRP has been conducting in the Bitterroot. The Rocky Mountain Research Station (and particularly Sallie Hejl), gave extensive logistical support. I also thank the Stevensville Ranger district, in particular Mike Jakober for equipment and information on streams and dipper sightings. Bob Hammer for entertaining and helpful conversations on hydrology. 111 precipitation, and dippers, and Dave Lockman for his friendliness and support and for reporting dipper sightings to me. Numerous people contributed to this project, but none with more enthusiasm and dedication than the Dipper Patrol, my valiant cadre of part-time field assistants and volunteers: Kristin Lucas, Peggy Persico, Kelly Hutton, Dana Whitelaw, Jessica Higgs, Lisa Osbom, Chad Olson, and Leo Rosenthal. They imbued the field work with laughter and good cheer, and shared in innumerable memorable dipper experiences. They dealt cheerfully with raging floodwaters, crawling through hopelessly thick and wet streamside vegetation and clambering over endless downfall while surveying and doing stream measurements. I thank my lab group, Jock Young, Hugh Powell, Amy Cilimburg, and Karen Short, for their helpful advice and for sitting through innumerable presentations. A special thanks to Jock for help with statistics. Finally, I thank Dr. David Capen for introducing me to the world of birds and for the help and guidance he has given my two sisters and me as we moved from various undergraduate degrees in the Humanities into the realm of Biology. I thank Chad Olson for help in the field and for his constant encouragement and support, from the inception of this project to its conclusion. Lastly, I thank my family - Elisabeth, Lisa, and Natasha - for their enthusiastic belief in me and for their unqualified support through all my ups and downs in graduate school. IV “Find a fall, or cascade, or rushing rapid, anywhere upon a clear stream, and there you will surely find its complementary Ouzel, flitting about in the spray, diving in foaming eddies, whirling like a leaf among beaten foam-bells; ever vigorous and enthusiastic, yet self-contained, and neither seeking nor shunning your company,.. He is the mountain stream’s own darling, the hummingbird of blooming waters, loving rocky ripple-slopes and sheets of foam as a bee loves flowers, as a lark loves sunshine and meadows. Among all the mountain birds, none has cheered me so much in my lonely wanderings, —none so unfailingly.” John Muir The Mountains of California, 1894 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ü Acknowledgments iü Table of Contents vi List of Tables ix List of Figures xi INTRODUCTION 1 STUDY AREA 9 METHODS 16 Assessing Dipper Distributions: Surveying Streams and Locating Nests 16 Assessing Dipper Nest Success and Productivity 19 Measuring Habitat Variables 20 Stream Characteristics 20 Determining Level of Development of Dipper Territories and Non-use Areas 30 Assessing Food Availability 33 Conductivity 33 Behavioral Observations 33 Statistical Analysis 34
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