Date of Award
Fall 12-1-2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife Science
Department
Biological Sciences
College
College of Natural & Health Sciences
Committee Chair
Dr. Thomas Nupp
Second Committee Member
Dr. John Jackson
Third Committee Member
Dr. Chris Kellner
Dean of Graduate College
Dr. Mary B. Gunter
Abstract
The interior least tern (Sternula antillarum athalassos) is an endangered shorebird that nests on sandbars in river systems throughout the central United States, and which has lost habitat due to damming and channelization of these rivers. My study sought to quantify the status and trends of the population nesting in the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) within Arkansas, and to establish best practices for nesting habitat management. The local population of terns remained steady between 2010 and 2014, with approximately 450 adults breeding in this section of MKARNS. Regression tree analysis and principal component analysis showed that colonies on unconnected islands at wide spots in the river away from dike fields and the downstream side of dams had the highest yearly measures of productivity. I make recommendations for dredge spoil deposition in locations matching these characteristics in order for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to meet its legal requirement to manage least tern habitat within MKARNS.
Recommended Citation
Ross, John Gordon T., "Developing Best Management Practices for Interior Least Tern Habitat Restoration on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System" (2016). Theses and Dissertations from 2016. 6.
https://orc.library.atu.edu/etds_2016/6