Population Ecology of Red Knots (C. c. roselaari) in the Pacific-Americas Flyway
The Red Knot (Calidris canutus roselaari) is long-distance migrant in the Pacific-Americas Flyway. The subspecies relies on a small number of stopover sites between Mexico and Alaska during migration. Extreme site fidelity and small population size make it vulnerable to environmental impacts and the effects of climate change.
The Challenge: Recent analyses indicate that what was once recognized as a single population of C. c. roselaari consists of two genetically distinct populations, one breeding in Western Alaska and the other at Wrangel Island, Russia. There is no information about how these recently identified breeding populations may differ in total population size, migration strategy, non-breeding range, and general ecology. Total population size is a conservation concern, given that C. c. roselaari is already recognized as a small and vulnerable population; the relative size of the two populations in the Pacific-Americas Flyway may substantially alter the range-wide threat assessment. Consequently, future conservation and management actions will require a greater understanding of the size of each population, how the two populations are distributed, and how they use habitats in the non-breeding period.
The Science: Previous work documented the importance of Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay in Washington as a spring stopover. The population has declined in recent decades (possibly in response to invasive cordgrass at Willapa Bay), and its extreme site fidelity and small population size make it vulnerable to environmental impacts and the effects of climate change. The overall goal of this project is to provide the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and conservation partners in the region and across the Pacific-Americas Flyway with a better understanding of population size, genetic structure, and status of the two populations of C. c. roselaari.
Products resulting from the proposed project will include: 1) a set of robust estimates of each population at Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay, Washington, 2) comparison of new estimates to those generated from the study area in 2009-2010 to assess overall flyway population change, and 3) estimates of survival for both populations. This project will create a better understanding of genetic population structure, migration strategies, and stopover population size to facilitate effective conservation planning in the region and across the Pacific Flyway.
The Future: Our project will provide minimum population estimates for Red Knots in the Pacific-Americas Flyway, vital information for conservation decision making in the region. Furthermore, our assessment of different breeding groups has the potential to radically alter the conservation status of C. c. roselaari given that this subspecies consists of two distinct populations. Finally, we will provide estimates of annual survival for the subspecies and a better understanding of the migration strategies (i.e., migration phenology and stopover duration) of the two breeding groups, about which there is currently no information at all.
The Red Knot (Calidris canutus roselaari) is long-distance migrant in the Pacific-Americas Flyway. The subspecies relies on a small number of stopover sites between Mexico and Alaska during migration. Extreme site fidelity and small population size make it vulnerable to environmental impacts and the effects of climate change.
The Challenge: Recent analyses indicate that what was once recognized as a single population of C. c. roselaari consists of two genetically distinct populations, one breeding in Western Alaska and the other at Wrangel Island, Russia. There is no information about how these recently identified breeding populations may differ in total population size, migration strategy, non-breeding range, and general ecology. Total population size is a conservation concern, given that C. c. roselaari is already recognized as a small and vulnerable population; the relative size of the two populations in the Pacific-Americas Flyway may substantially alter the range-wide threat assessment. Consequently, future conservation and management actions will require a greater understanding of the size of each population, how the two populations are distributed, and how they use habitats in the non-breeding period.
The Science: Previous work documented the importance of Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay in Washington as a spring stopover. The population has declined in recent decades (possibly in response to invasive cordgrass at Willapa Bay), and its extreme site fidelity and small population size make it vulnerable to environmental impacts and the effects of climate change. The overall goal of this project is to provide the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and conservation partners in the region and across the Pacific-Americas Flyway with a better understanding of population size, genetic structure, and status of the two populations of C. c. roselaari.
Products resulting from the proposed project will include: 1) a set of robust estimates of each population at Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay, Washington, 2) comparison of new estimates to those generated from the study area in 2009-2010 to assess overall flyway population change, and 3) estimates of survival for both populations. This project will create a better understanding of genetic population structure, migration strategies, and stopover population size to facilitate effective conservation planning in the region and across the Pacific Flyway.
The Future: Our project will provide minimum population estimates for Red Knots in the Pacific-Americas Flyway, vital information for conservation decision making in the region. Furthermore, our assessment of different breeding groups has the potential to radically alter the conservation status of C. c. roselaari given that this subspecies consists of two distinct populations. Finally, we will provide estimates of annual survival for the subspecies and a better understanding of the migration strategies (i.e., migration phenology and stopover duration) of the two breeding groups, about which there is currently no information at all.