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Impacts of Invasive Plants on Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) Roosting Habitat

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Andrew C. Kessler ,
James W. Merchant ,
Craig R. Allen  and
Steven D. Shultz
Andrew C. Kessler*
Affiliation:
Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 3310 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, NE 68583
James W. Merchant
Affiliation:
Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 3310 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, NE 68583
Craig R. Allen
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 3310 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, NE 68583
Steven D. Shultz
Affiliation:
College of Business Administration, University of Nebraska–Omaha, Mammel Hall 332Z, 6708 Pine Street, Omaha, NE 68182
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: kessl127@umn.edu
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Abstract

Invasive plants continue to spread in riparian ecosystems, causing both ecological and economic damage. This research investigated the impacts of common reed, purple loosestrife, riparian shrubland, and riparian woodlands on the quality and quantity of sandhill crane roosting habitat in the central Platte River, Nebraska, using a discrete choice model. A more detailed investigation of the impacts of common reed on sandhill crane roosting habitat was performed by forecasting a spread or contraction of this invasive plant. The discrete choice model indicates that riparian woodlands had the largest negative impact on sandhill crane roosting habitat. The forecasting results predict that a contraction of common reed could increase sandhill crane habitat availability by 50%, whereas an expansion could reduce the availability by as much as 250%. This suggests that if the distribution of common reed continues to expand in the central Platte River the availability of sandhill crane roosting habitat would likely be greatly reduced.

Keywords

Common reed, Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria L.Discrete choice modelGIScentral Platte Riverforecast habitat impacts
Type
Research Article
Information
Invasive Plant Science and Management , Volume 4 , Issue 4 , December 2011 , pp. 369 - 377
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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