Rebecca B. Smith

Waterbird use of coastal impoundments and management implications in east-central Florida

Monthly surveys were conducted on Kennedy Space Center for one year to determine densities of waterbirds within impounded salt marshes that were predominantly open water with little emergent vegetation. The objective was to assess the importance of these impoundments to waterbirds, particularly wading birds, which are species of special conservation concern. Water-level management for mosquito control and waterfowl provided habitat for an abundance of ducks, shorebirds, coots, and wading birds. Average densities throughout the year for these groups were 5.26, 4.12, 2.80, and 2.20 birds/ha, respectively. The majority of waterfowl were present during the winter. Shorebirds were most common during spring migration. Wading bird densities increased with declining water level. Due to the extensive alteration and development of coastal wetlands in central Florida, properly managed impoundments may provide important feeding areas for maintaining certain waterbird populations.

Swine Flu or 1918 Pandemic? Upper Respiratory Tract Disease and the Sudden Mortality of Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) on a Protected Habitat in Florida

Abstract Although Upper Respiratory Tract Disease (URTD) has been recognized as a potentially serious problem threatening the viability of gopher tortoises, little is known about the impact of this disease on tortoise populations in the wild, and some researchers regard the disease as relatively benign. We monitored the impact of URTD on gopher tortoises at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and found a striking increase in the proportion of tortoises showing signs of URTD between 1995–2000. We also documented a sudden increase in the number of tortoises found dead at the site, starting in 1998 and continuing through 2001. Based on condition and position of dead tortoises, we strongly suspect that URTD was the cause of death. Sex ratios and body sizes of tortoises found dead were not distinguishable from samples of living tortoises, indicating that mortality was not confined to a single gender or age class. Combined with recent reports of large-scale mortality of tortoises from other sites in Florida, we suggest that URTD is not benign but may instead have a substantial impact on tortoise populations. If so, the “protected lands paradigm” that many resource managers rely on to conserve tortoise populations may be violated, suggesting that more active management measures are needed.

Occurrence of Upper Respiratory Tract Disease in Gopher Tortoise Populations in Florida and Mississippi

We studied the occurrence of exposure to Upper Respiratory Tract Disease (URTD) in gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) at protected sites in southern Mississippi (Marion County Wildlife Man- agement Area (MCWMA)) and east-central Florida (Kennedy Space Center (KSC)). Based on antibody as- says, exposure to URTD was very common in both populations, with combined positive and suspect results ranging from 60% (KSC) to 100% (MCWMA). At KSC, males were significantly more likely to show positive or suspect results than were females. Tortoises with active signs of URTD were seen at KSC but not at MCWMA. Our data do not support the hypothesis that exposure to URTD is associated with human dis- turbance or habitat destruction; several sites that had good habitat conditions and little disturbance by humans had high rates of URTD, whereas some sites with high levels of disturbance had low rates of URTD.

Relationships between Fire and Bird Density in Coastal Scrub and Slash Pine Flatwoods in Florida

-Bird densities within coastal scrub and slash pine flatwoods were compared with time since fire, mean shrub height, number of snags and percent burn. Most shrubdwelling birds preferred older stands (>10 yr since last fire) with taller shrubs, or intermediate stands (4 yr since last fire) than recently burned stands (1-2 yr since last fire). Five species were negatively correlated with percent burn in stands burned 1-2 yr previously. The downy woodpecker was most abundant in recently burned areas. Densities of three species of woodpeckers and the northern bobwhite were positively correlated with snag density. The results suggest that extensive burns occurring every 4 yr or less are likely to have a negative influence on shrub-dwelling birds that are a natural component of these coastal communities.

FLORIDA SCRUB-JAY DEMOGRAPHY IN DIFFERENT LANDSCAPES

AISTICT.--Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) demography and cooperative breed- ing were measured from 1988 to 1993 at two sites (HC and T4) on John F. Kennedy Space Center along Floridas Atlantic coast. The results from HC and T4 sites were compared with published results from the Archbold Biological Station in central Florida. The T4 population increased because of reproductive success and immigration, resulting in a nearly equal non- breeder sex ratio. Nearly all young Florida Scrub-Jays delayed breeding for at least two years after hatching at T4, similar to Archbold. The HC population decreased because of poor nesting success, and the nonbreeder sex ratio was biased towards males. During the first nesting season after hatching, nearly one of every five HC females bred. Pairs with non- breeders (potential helpers) usually had greater reproductive success than pairs without nonbreeders at HC and Archbold, but not T4. Pairs with nonbreeders usually had greater survival than pairs without nonbreeders at Archbold, but not at HC or T4. Female breeder mortality was slightly higher than male breeder mortality at T4 and HC, but not at Archbold. Evidence suggested that predation contributed to differences in demographic patterns be- tween study areas. Received 3 fuly 1995, accepted 21 September 1995. MOST STUDIES on the Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphel- ocoma coerulescens) are from oak-dominated scrub at Archbold Biological Station (Archbold), where optimal habitat is excessively drained, contains many open sandy areas, and has few trees (Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick 1984, 1991). One of the largest contiguous populations of the fed- erally threatened Florida Scrub-Jay occurs on John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC; Cox 1987). Most KSC habitat is composed of patches of scrub oaks in a matrix of poorly drained flat- woods vegetation and marshes (Breininger et al. 1991, 1995). Because of alterations of the nat- ural fire regime, most KSC habitat has taller vegetation and fewer openings than optimal Archbold scrub (Breininger 1981; Breininger and Schmalzer 1990; Schmalzer and Hinkle 1992a, b). Florida Scrub-Jays inhabit all-purpose terri- tories defended year-round by a permanently monogamous breeding pair (Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick 1984, Breininger et al. 1995). Except where subject to habitat loss and fragmentation, most Florida Scrub-Jays disperse short distances (one to three territory widths) and occupy a territory for life after becoming breeders. Young Florida Scrub-Jays usually remain as nonbreed- ers (potential helpers) with the breeders for at

Short-term effects of handling and permanently marking gopher tortoises ( Gopherus polyphemus ) on recapture rates and behavior

Limited evidence in the literature suggests that the assumption of equal catchability in mark-recapture studies of turtles may be invalid. These papers suggest that turtles may alter their behavior to avoid recapture following initial handling. If turtles are less likely to be recaptured following initial capture and handling, then population models estimating demographic characteristics and population sizes from mark-recapture data may be invalid (e.g., overestimating population size). Because conservation and management decisions are largely based on population sizes and trends, it is essential to investigate whether marking animals has any effect on behavior. We tested the effects of handling and permanently marking gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida from 20-22 July 2003 to determine if short-term activity and recapture rates were affected. We used two distinct groups of tortoises: one group was handled (captured, measured, marked) and the other was not handled, but was marked with paint from a distance of 2.2 m. Although the behavior of handled and non-handled animals was distinct, we found no differences in recapture rates or time to recapture between the groups. We suggest that handled gopher tortoises are as likely to be recaptured as tortoises that have not been handled, although more subtle or long-term effects cannot be ruled out.