Browsing by Subject "landscape"
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Item Effects of Habitat Characteristics on Occupancy and Productivity of a Forest-Dependent Songbird in an Urban Landscape(2013-04-24) Robinson, Dianne HaliHabitat fragmentation and isolation can result in decreased occupancy and reproductive success within songbirds, particularly for species inhabiting urban environments where suitable habitat may be limited. The golden-cheeked warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia) is a federally endangered songbird that inhabits oak-juniper (Quercus spp.- Juniperus spp.) across central Texas. Past research on this warbler has indicated decreased patch occupancy near urban areas and negative reproductive effects associated with decreased distance to edge and decreased canopy cover. A rural study indicated warblers occupy patches ?3 ha, and warblers in patches ?20 ha are more likely to successfully fledge young. There are no thresholds yet identified for this warbler within urban environments, where effects of habitat fragmentation on reproductive success are more pronounced than within rural environments. I monitored patch occupancy, territory establishment, pairing success, and fledging success of warblers in an urban environment. I determined minimum patch-size thresholds for productivity measurements, and also monitored effects on productivity from canopy cover, woodland composition, distance to and size of the nearest habitat patch, and distance to the nearest habitat patch >100 ha. I compared my results to those from a similar study conducted in a rural system. I compared territory size and territory density between an urban and rural system. Warblers occupied 24% (n = 63) patches surveyed; the smallest patch occupied was 3.5 ha. The smallest patch with an established territory was 10.7 ha, and 10% (n = 63) of habitat patches had at least one established territory. Warblers successfully fledged young in 3 patches, the smallest of which was 26.5 ha. I found patch-size was predictive for territory establishment and pairing success with warblers requiring 13 ha (95% CI: 10.0 ? 16.8 ha) and 19 ha (95% CI: 15.7 ? 22.6 ha) habitat patches, respectively. I found a minimum threshold of approximately 66% canopy cover (95% CI: 65.2 ? 66.4%) required for patch occupancy, and found no warblers established a territory in a habitat patch >25 m from the next nearest patch. I found higher minimum thresholds within an urban system for territory establishment and pairing success than those seen within a rural system. I suggest preserving warbler habitat patches >22 ha that are in close proximity to other habitat patches. This will help to enhance warbler habitat within urban areas and maintain reproductively viable habitat patches, while not halting development completely.Item Landscape Scale Impacts of Sea Level Rise and Elevation Changes Along the Matagorda Fault in Matagorda, Texas(2012-10-19) Cline, MarieMovement of growth faults, a type of normal fault which is formed during sedimentation and is characterized by having greater vertical thickness on the downthrown fault side, on barrier islands contributes to wetland losses. The opening objective of this study was to quantify land cover change within a Matagorda, Texas wetland that results from sea level rise and elevation change over time due to coastal faulting. The closing objective of this study was to simulate land cover conversion as a function of relative sea level rise (RSLR) within the wetland and to compare and contrast the impact of specific rates of both fault-induced elevation change and predicted International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sea level rise projections. To accomplish these objectives a time series of aerial images was classified using automated unsupervised classification and hand digitization. After classification, total wetland losses on both the upthrown and downthrown sides of the fault were evaluated as a function of spatial distance from the fault plane. This classified product was draped over a digital elevation model (DEM) layer to evaluate elevations of land cover classes and model potential future outcomes based on RSLR. Classification results show that while wetland loss occurred on both sides of the fault, losses were far more extensive on the downthrown side. It was concluded that this vertical fault movement impacts wetland losses, especially on the downthrown side. Modeling results show that rapid water level rise can force wetland land cover class conversion regardless of whether this relative rise is caused by vertical fault displacement or eustatic sea level rise, resulting in the destruction of vital wetland areas. Current recorded conditions of sea level rise along the Texas Gulf Coast leave a grim outlook for regions similar to this study area.