SPECIES ASSESSMENT FOR MOUNTAIN PLOVER (CHARADRIUS MONTANUS ) IN WYOMING prepared by 1 2 HAMILTON SMITH AND DOUGLAS A. KEINATH 1 Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, Dept. 3381, Laramie, Wyoming 82071; 307-766-3023 2 Zoology Program Manager, Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, Dept. 3381, Laramie, Wyoming 82071; 307-766-3013; [email protected] drawing by Summers Scholl prepared for United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office Cheyenne, Wyoming November 2004 Smith and Keinath – Charadrius montanus November 2004 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 3 NATURAL HISTORY ........................................................................................................................... 4 Morphological Description ...................................................................................................... 4 Taxonomy and Distribution ..................................................................................................... 5 Habitat Requirements............................................................................................................. 6 General ............................................................................................................................................6 Breeding ..........................................................................................................................................7 Breeding in Wyoming...............................................................................................................8 Winter..............................................................................................................................................9 Area Requirements........................................................................................................................10 Home Range ...........................................................................................................................10 Density Estimates ...................................................................................................................10 Landscape Pattern .........................................................................................................................11 Movement and Activity Patterns ............................................................................................12 Daily Activity................................................................................................................................12 Broad-scale movement patterns ....................................................................................................12 Reproduction and Survivorship..............................................................................................14 Breeding Behavior.........................................................................................................................14 Breeding Phenology ......................................................................................................................15 Courtship ................................................................................................................................15 Pair Formation ........................................................................................................................15 Nest-building ..........................................................................................................................16 Fecundity and Survivorship ..........................................................................................................16 Population Demographics......................................................................................................17 Wyoming Population.....................................................................................................................17 Metapopulation Dynamics ............................................................................................................17 Genetic Concerns ..........................................................................................................................18 Food Habits...........................................................................................................................18 Food items.....................................................................................................................................18 Foraging Strategy..........................................................................................................................19 Community Ecology...............................................................................................................19 Predators and Competitors ............................................................................................................19 Competition ............................................................................................................................20 Parasites and Disease ....................................................................................................................20 Symbiotic and Mutualistic Interactions.........................................................................................20 CONSERVATION .............................................................................................................................. 21 Conservation Status ..............................................................................................................21 Federal Endangered Species Act...................................................................................................21 Bureau of Land Management........................................................................................................21 Forest Service................................................................................................................................22 State Wildlife Agencies.................................................................................................................23 Heritage Ranks ..............................................................................................................................23 Biological Conservation Issues..............................................................................................24 Abundance.....................................................................................................................................24 Abundance, Habitat and Distribution Trends................................................................................25 Range Context...............................................................................................................................26 Page 1 of 53 Smith and Keinath – Charadrius montanus November 2004 Extrinsic Threats and Reasons for Decline ...................................................................................27 Anthropogenic Impacts...........................................................................................................27 Invasive Species......................................................................................................................27 Stochastic and Environmental Factors (e.g., weather events) ................................................28 Natural Predation....................................................................................................................28 Intrinsic Vulnerability ...................................................................................................................29 Habitat Specificity and Fidelity..............................................................................................29 Dispersal Capability................................................................................................................30 Reproductive Capacity............................................................................................................30 Sensitivity to Disturbance.......................................................................................................31 Formal Population Viability Analyses (PVAs).............................................................................32 CONSERVATION ACTION ................................................................................................................ 32 Existing or Future Conservation Plans...................................................................................32 Existing Regulatory Mechanisms..................................................................................................32 Existing Management Plans..........................................................................................................33 Existing Conservation Strategies...................................................................................................33 Wyoming Partners In Flight; Wyoming Bird Conservation Plan...........................................33 Conservation Elements..........................................................................................................36 Key Elements ................................................................................................................................36 Inventory and Monitoring .............................................................................................................37