CONSERVATION ECOLOGY OF TIDAL MARSH SPARROWS IN NEW JERSEY by Rebecca A. Kern A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the University of Delaware in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Entomology and Wildlife Ecology Spring 2015 © 2015 Rebecca Kern All Rights Reserved CONSERVATION ECOLOGY OF TIDAL MARSH SPARROWS IN NEW JERSEY by Rebecca A. Kern Approved: __________________________________________________________ Jacob L. Bowman, Ph.D. Chair of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology Approved: __________________________________________________________ Mark W. Rieger, Ph.D. Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Approved: __________________________________________________________ James G. Richards, Ph.D. Vice Provost for Graduate and Professional Education I certify that I have read this dissertation and that in my opinion it meets the academic and professional standard required by the University as a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Signed: __________________________________________________________ W. Gregory Shriver, Ph.D. Professor in charge of dissertation I certify that I have read this dissertation and that in my opinion it meets the academic and professional standard required by the University as a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Signed: __________________________________________________________ Jacob L. Bowman, Ph.D. Member of dissertation committee I certify that I have read this dissertation and that in my opinion it meets the academic and professional standard required by the University as a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Signed: __________________________________________________________ Kyle P. McCarthy, Ph.D. Member of dissertation committee I certify that I have read this dissertation and that in my opinion it meets the academic and professional standard required by the University as a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Signed: __________________________________________________________ Brian J. Olsen, Ph.D. Member of dissertation committee ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Throughout the past four and a half years, this work has been influenced, directed, and occasionally wrestled from stagnation by numerous individuals; although space prevents me from fully acknowledging and appreciating your crucial roles, please know this process truly would not have been possible without you! First and foremost, my deepest thanks to my advisor, Greg Shriver. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to join SHARP (Saltmarsh Habitat and Avian Research Program) and for your excellent mentorship throughout two advanced degrees. Thank you for challenging me to think critically and creatively, to present clearly and confidently, and to passionately pursue conservation. I also thank my dissertation committee, Dr. Jake Bowman, Dr. Kyle McCarthy, and Dr. Brian Olsen, for their input and guidance. My excellent field technicians deserve special acknowledgement for their diligence and great senses of humor throughout long and hot summers: A. Anholt, N. Banet, D. Faith, M. Grasso, A. Mankofsky, T. Pitcher, M. Rhode, and J. Warner. The staff at Edwin B. Forsythe NWR provided invaluable support for field work with trucks, boats, and housing. Forsythe NWR staff P. Castelli, B. Crouch, V. Turner, J. Heise, and M. Schvetz were especially key to the success of this project. I thank the graduate students, past and present, in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology for their support and for providing a great community in which to spend these past seven years. Many thanks also goes to the members of SHARP, whose cooperative collaboration has made this process more fulfilling, enriching, and exciting than I ever expected. Being a part of this “extended lab group” has truly been a highlight of my iv graduate career! Finally, a very special thanks to Whitney Wiest, fellow Shriver- labmate, co-instructor, and saltmarsh enthusiast since 2008. This experience has been infinitely more constructive, educational, humorous, and memorable because you’ve been a part of it. There’s no one else I would rather have shared this wild ride with! This work would not have been completed without the support and love of my family and friends. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for always encouraging me, checking in about “the paper,” and helping me to stay grounded through it all. I’m grateful for the wonderful community at Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Newark, which has been like a second family to me. Thank you, Jon, Meghan, and Olivia for your support and for helping me take time to relax. And special thanks to Anne for your steadfast friendship and comradery. This dissertation is dedicated in memorium to Dr. Russell Greenberg and Dr. William Glanz, who made invaluable contributions as early committee members. Their passion and ideas provided the foundation for my thinking in many of the following chapters, and they will be deeply missed in the conservation community. Funding for the research was provided by a Competitive State Wildlife Grant (US-5-R-1) via Federal Aid in Sportfish and Wildlife Restoration to the states of Delaware, Maryland, Connecticut, and Maine. v TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................ x ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................. xii Chapter 1 AVIAN ADAPTATION TO TIDAL MARSHES: NICHE DIMENSIONS AND TRADEOFFS ............................................................................................ 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 Methods .............................................................................................................. 5 Study Area .................................................................................................... 5 Field Methodology ....................................................................................... 6 Data Analysis ................................................................................................ 8 Results .............................................................................................................. 13 Discussion ......................................................................................................... 16 TABLES ........................................................................................................... 21 FIGURES ......................................................................................................... 26 REFERENCES ................................................................................................. 32 2 SHORT-TERM RESILIENCE OF NEW JERSEY TIDAL MARSHES TO HURRICANE SANDY .................................................................................... 38 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 38 Methods ............................................................................................................ 40 Study Area .................................................................................................. 40 Field Data Collection .................................................................................. 41 Statistical Analyses ..................................................................................... 45 Results .............................................................................................................. 48 Vegetation ................................................................................................... 48 Small Mammal Abundance ........................................................................ 48 Sparrow Abundance ................................................................................... 49 vi Sparrow Nest Survival ................................................................................ 49 Discussion ......................................................................................................... 51 TABLES ........................................................................................................... 55 FIGURES ......................................................................................................... 60 REFERENCES ................................................................................................. 63 3 IMPROVING SEASIDE SPARROW POPULATION VIABILITY IN THE MIDST OF SEA-LEVEL RISE ....................................................................... 69 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 69 Methods ............................................................................................................ 71 Study Site and Scenarios ............................................................................ 71 Field Data Collection .................................................................................. 73 Stages, Survival, and Recruitment .............................................................. 74 Initial Abundance, Carrying Capacity, and Dispersal ................................ 76 Density-Dependence, Quasi-Extinction, and Stochasticity .......................