The Effects of Climate Change on Waterfowl Migration Flyway Habitat in

North America

By Jason Preuett

Southern UniversityUrban Forestry

IntroductionBehavior and MigrationHabitat and BehaviorWaterfowl and Ecosystem relationshipMigration RoutesRegionsSolutionsConclusion

Topics

IntroductionWetland habitat loss and warmer temperatures affect waterfowl nesting timing, habitat, and available food source during migration routes

According to the Wildlife Society, the ranges of habitats and wildlife are predicted to move northward as temperatures increase limited by migratory pathways, pollinator availability, and concurrent movement of forage and prey

Waterfowl habitat is affected by urban growth, wetland loss, and agricultural use

The effects of global warming on waterfowl populations and range

distributions can be negative or positive Source of Picture: Ducks Unlimited. Picture of Trumpeter Swan

Behavior and Migration Factors

Disruption of ecological processes, displacement, or disruption of coastal wetlands and alpine ecosystemsMigration timing and distance is affected by global warming Warmer temperatures would limit the need for waterfowl to fly far south to find suitable habitat for shelter and food Nesting and reproductive behavior can be altered with changes in weather

Habitat and BehaviorForests, lakes, prairie, rivers, and wetlands directly affected. The temperature increase can potentially result in precipitation patterns changes and extreme weather of more frequent droughts and floodingTiming of migration for waterfowl is associated with seasonal and annual periods of precipitation and flooding and food availability affecting habitats Nesting behavior can be indirectly affected by climate conditionsMigratory waterfowl population is greatly affected year to year by breeding success The loss of habitat in available adequate wetlands and grassland habitats plays a greater role

Picture Source: Ducks Unlimited – Northern Pintail

Waterfowl and Ecosystem Relationship

• Waterfowl disburse seed and contribute nutrients

• Depend on insects, grasses, and seeds in migration and raising young

• Plays an important role as indicators of overall health of natural systems due to sensitivity to changes (National Wildlife Federation 2005)

North America Flyways

Picture Source: Ducks Unlimited

Picture Source: Birdnature.org

Migration Routes

• Migration routes are also called flyways consisting of Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific flyways

• Follow a north or south direction following coasts, mountain ranges, rivers, and other water bodies

• Timing and range of travel is affected by climate and timing of food supply

Picture Source: Birdnature.org

Atlantic Flyway

• The prairie regions along this route cover part of Pothole Region containing shallow wetlands

• The coastal routes for migratory waterfowl of canvasbacks, redheads, and lesser scanups are used for travel to winter habitat in the water and marshes south of Delaware bay

Picture Source: Birdnature.org

Central Flyway

• Called the flyway of the Great Plains because it includes the regions between the Mississippi river valley and the Rocky Mountains

• Flyway merges east toward the Mississippi flyway due the direction of the Missouri river

• Western boundary serves an important function as breeding areas

• Majority of the Travel fly north to south toward wintering grounds

Picture Source: Birdnature.org

Mississippi Flyway

• Longest migration route in the Western Hemisphere merging in parts of the Central flyway

Areas along the Mississippi river provide cover and habitat for large numbers of ducks, geese, shorebirds, and songbirds

Pacific Flyway

• Includes vast regions important for breeding grounds in Alaska and Canada

• The migrating birds use wintering grounds in California in the United States that do not travel to Mexico or other flyways

Regions Along Flyways

Picture Source: Hunting Society.org – Wood Ducks

Regions

• Prairie Pothole Region

• Boreal Forests, Tundra, and other Arctic Habitat

• Gulf Coast

• Atlantic Coast

• Pacific Coast

• Inland Regions: River Basins and Freshwater Lakes

Made up of shallow wetlands located in the north-central United States and south-central Canada known as the continent’s duck factory

Makes up only ten percent of the North American breeding habitat, but produces 50 to 80 percent of the total duck population

Climate change would affect the breeding success through drought by causing reduced clutch sizes, shorter nesting seasons, lower nesting success, and lower brood survival

Changes in climate reduce wetland pocketsPicture Source: tabletpcbuzz.com

Prairie Pothole Region

Boreal Forests, Tundra, and other Arctic Habitat

Exist in Alaska and northern CanadaIn Alaska 20 percent of North America waterfowl breeding habitat

The region is warming up the fastest with unknown affects on waterfowl nesting and breeding

Scanup and scoter duck species have been declining

Gulf CoastProvides winter habitat with the wetlands located in the southern part of the Mississippi flyway Problems are the rising sea level and the loss of wetlands affects species like lesser scanup and northern pintail If losses are severe, the migrating waterfowl would redistribute inland affecting wintering waterfowl in cold years Species at the greatest risks include redheads, lesser scanup, and canvasbacks Shallow agricultural lands may service as alternative food source for most dabbling ducks like mallards,

northern pintails, northern shovelers, and mottled ducks

Atlantic CoastIncludes Florida, Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay and part of the

Atlantic flyway

Affects the stream flows by altering local salinity and nutrients loading degrading water quality and aquatic plants

Chesapeake Bay used by nearly 1 million waterfowl (ducks, geese, and swans) during winter

Waterfowl population that uses the area during winter has dropped significantly

In Florida, wetland habitat loss from urban development has lead to saltwater intrusion and loss of winter habitat

Picture Source: Ducks Unlimited - Canvasbacks

Includes San Francisco Bay, San Diego Bay, Puget Sound, and the Fraiser river delta in Canada Covers the Pacific flyway providing critical habitat for resident and migrating waterfowl

Rise in sea levels, inland precipitation pattern changes, and decline in snow pack mountains could affect the region’s coastal marshes and estuaries

Changes could alter key food sources and distribution affecting the diving ducks canvasbacks and ruddy ducks Picture Source: Ducks Unlimited Ruddy Duck

Pacific Coast

Inland Regions: River Basins and Freshwater Lakes

• Areas are valuable for stopovers provide shelter areas and food source

• Changes in precipitation patterns may alter the amount of seasonal water flow and volume

• Great Lake areas where the possible combined changes in breeding and migration habitats could lower populations from 19 to 39 percent in these regions by 2030

• Great lake region supports diving and sea ducks and projected to have increased evaporation with higher temperatures causing the lake levels to drop reducing submerged vegetation food source

Solutions

1.) Enhance current waterfowl and habitat conservation efforts

2.) Incorporate global warming and associated climate change into long-term resource management and planning

3.)Reduce the amount of carbon released in the air

Source: Waterfowler’s Guide to Global Warming

Conclusions

• Climate change can potentially alter waterfowl habitats and behavior

• Behavior changes act as a survival tool • Potential migrations routes could travel shorter distances

south for winter habitats and more northern migration for breeding grounds

• Changes in habitat flyways affect the survival and resources that migratory waterfowl use.

• Habitat loss of wetlands can have major effects on the behavior by changing seasonal precipitation and food availability along migrating waterfowl.

• Management decisions of natural habitats and waterfowl populations will be important in the future.

Any Questions