Gulf Coast Riceland Seed Biomass Estimates for Waterfowl Habitat Conservation

Abstract The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a long history of habitat conservation in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of the United States that has focused on migratory birds, particularly waterfowl. The ongoing acquisition program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System has conserved approximately 1.1 million hectares of critical breeding waterfowl habitat. Results of recent predicted future climate scenarios are being used to suggest that waterfowl conservation be shifted away from currently important areas in the western and central portions of the U.S. PPR eastward, to locations where wetland and climate models suggest may become more conducive for providing wetland habitat for breeding ducks in the future. We used 24 years of breeding waterfowl and wetland monitoring data collected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System in the PPR of North and South Dakota and northeast Montana, along with land value and restoration cost data to conduct an economic assessment of the biological risk of refocusing waterfowl conservation efforts eastward due to recent projections of climate change. We considered the immediate risk of the loss of existing wetland and grassland resources in the western portion of the U.S. PPR, their current carrying capacity and production potential, the financial cost of protection vs. restoration relative to current conservation priorities, and the uncertainty of climate change effects on waterfowl habitat distribution. Because unprotected wetland and grassland habitats exist in the western and central portions of the PPR that are important for maintaining current waterfowl carrying capacity and productivity, and climate change effects are highly uncertain, maintaining the current focus of habitat protection appears to be the most cost effective approach for waterfowl habitat conservation efforts. Additionally, continued intensive monitoring activities designed to detect changing waterfowl populations and upland and wetland habitat as they relate to anthropogenic impacts (e.g., pattern tile drainage, grassland conversion) and climatic changes (e.g., wetland hydro-period), should provide more precise results to inform and adapt management and conservation activities accordingly should spatial and temporal changes in wet-dry cycles occur in the future.

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Sources and dynamics of international funding for waterfowl conservation in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr19100 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (4) ◽

pp. 279

Author(s):

B. J. Mattsson ◽

J. H. Devries ◽

J. A. Dubovsky ◽

D. Semmens ◽

W. E. Thogmartin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Prairie Pothole Region ◽

Spatiotemporal Variation ◽

Habitat Conservation ◽

Prairie Pothole ◽

Migratory Species ◽

Funding Sources ◽

Waterfowl Habitat ◽

The Usa ◽

Over Time

Abstract ContextFunding for habitat-management programs to maintain population viability is critical for conservation of migratory species; however, such financial resources are limited and can vary greatly over time. The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North America is an excellent system for examining spatiotemporal patterns of funding for waterfowl conservation, because this transboundary region is crucial for reproduction and migration of many duck species. AimsWe examine large-scale spatiotemporal variation in funding for waterfowl habitat conservation in the PPR during 2007–2016. Specifically, we quantify major sources of funding and how funds were directed towards particular geographies within Canada and the USA. We further examine how sources and magnitude of funding changed over time and in relation to numbers of hunters. MethodsWe assembled data from multiple sources to quantify funding (in US$, 2016 values) from (1) USA states and non-government organisations (NGOs), (2) Canadian government and NGOs, and (3) major USA-based federal funding sources to the Canadian and US portions of the PPR between 2007 and 2016. We fit linear regressions to examine spatiotemporal variation in funding and in numbers of active waterfowl hunters in the USA. Key resultsWhereas annual funding for the Canadian portion was comparatively stable throughout the 10 years (range: US$25–41 million), funding for the US portion was dynamic and increased between the first (range: US$36–48 million) and second (range: US$43–117 million) 5-year intervals, despite concurrent declines in the number of active waterfowl hunters in the USA. ConclusionsWe discovered contrasting trends and dynamics in multiple streams of funding for habitat conservation on each side of the border bisecting the PPR. These findings and approaches warrant closer attention by wildlife professionals. Work is needed to analyse past and future funding for habitat conservation, which can then be used to refine plans for maintaining or recovering populations of migratory species. ImplicationsAlthough funding for waterfowl habitat conservation in the PPR increased over the past decade, trends were inconsistent among subregions and uncertain for some major funding sources. Better understanding of the complexities in funding will help inform more efficient long-term planning efforts for conservation of waterfowl and other migratory species.

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Spatial integration of biological and social objectives to identify priority landscapes for waterfowl habitat conservation

Open-File Report ◽

10.3133/ofr20191029 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Anastasia Krainyk ◽

James E. Lyons ◽

Michael G. Brasher ◽

Dale D. Humburg ◽

Greg J. Souilliere ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Habitat Conservation ◽

Spatial Integration ◽

Waterfowl Habitat

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Agricultural Land-Use Change in Prairie Canada: Implications for Wetland and Waterfowl Habitat Conservation

Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d agroeconomie ◽

10.1111/j.1744-7976.2010.01212.x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 59 (2) ◽

pp. 185-205 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Benjamin S. Rashford ◽

Christopher T. Bastian ◽

Jeffrey G. Cole

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Land Use Change ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Habitat Conservation ◽

Agricultural Land Use ◽

Waterfowl Habitat

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Multi-scale waterfowl habitat conservation planning in Wisconsin, USA

Landscape Ecology ◽

10.1007/s10980-021-01279-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Matthew D. Palumbo ◽

Jacob N. Straub ◽

Mohammed A. Al-Saffar ◽

Gregory J. Soulliere ◽

Jason L. Fleener ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Support ◽

Conservation Planning ◽

Joint Venture ◽

Conservation Strategy ◽

Habitat Conservation ◽

Weighted Sums ◽

Watershed Scale ◽

Landscape Characteristics ◽

Waterfowl Habitat ◽

State And Local

Abstract Context The North American Waterfowl Management Plan and the Upper Mississippi River/Great Lakes Joint Venture waterfowl habitat conservation strategy provide continental and regional guidance, respectively, for waterfowl habitat conservation planning. They were not designed to guide watershed- scale waterfowl habitat delivery. Objective Our goal was to develop a waterfowl habitat decision support framework for the state of Wisconsin using biological and social criteria to guide state and local-scale practitioners with an explicit link to larger scale objectives. Methods We engaged a core group of wetland and waterfowl experts to decide upon decision support layers relevant to biological and social objectives, evaluate variables, establish weights, and review model outputs for reasonableness and accuracy. We used spatial analyst tools, kernel density estimators, and weighted sums to create spatially explicit models to identify landscapes and watersheds important for waterfowl. We identified habitat resources that exist currently (Conservation Capital) and considered potential resources (Conservation Opportunities) which could enhance wetland restoration efforts. Results We developed a transparent framework to identify and prioritize landscapes for conserving waterfowl habitat at the Hydrologic Unit Code 12 watershed scale in Wisconsin, by maintaining continental and regional priorities, and including local landscape characteristics, biological criteria, and researcher, manager, and biologist expertise. Conclusions Local detail is critical for implementing waterfowl habitat delivery and making efficient use of limited funds for conservation but can be more abstract in larger regional or continental conservation planning. Our models are science-based, transparent, defensible, and can be modified as social, political, biological, and environmental forces change.

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Teletinnitus Program at the VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System

Perspectives on Telepractice ◽

10.1044/teles4.1.23 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 23-29

Author(s):

Constance Hilory Tomberlin

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Patient Satisfaction ◽

Patient Care ◽

Health Care System ◽

Gulf Coast ◽

New Technology ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Veterans Health ◽

Potential Benefits ◽

Care System

There are a multitude of reasons that a teletinnitus program can be beneficial, not only to the patients, but also within the hospital and audiology department. The ability to use technology for the purpose of tinnitus management allows for improved appointment access for all patients, especially those who live at a distance, has been shown to be more cost effective when the patients travel is otherwise monetarily compensated, and allows for multiple patient's to be seen in the same time slots, allowing for greater access to the clinic for the patients wishing to be seen in-house. There is also the patient's excitement in being part of a new technology-based program. The Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System (GCVHCS) saw the potential benefits of incorporating a teletinnitus program and began implementation in 2013. There were a few hurdles to work through during the beginning organizational process and the initial execution of the program. Since the establishment of the Teletinnitus program, the GCVHCS has seen an enhancement in patient care, reduction in travel compensation, improvement in clinic utilization, clinic availability, the genuine excitement of the use of a new healthcare media amongst staff and patients, and overall patient satisfaction.

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