Range overlap between mid‐continent and Eastern sandhill cranes revealed by GPS‐tracking

ABSTRACT Sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) are long‐lived birds with relatively low recruitment rates, making accurate knowledge of abundance and distribution critical for well‐informed harvest management. Minnesota, USA, is one of few states containing portions of 2 distinct breeding population...

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Main Authors: David Wolfson, John Fieberg, Jeffrey S. Lawrence, Thomas R. Cooper, David E. Andersen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-09-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.799
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author David Wolfson
John Fieberg
Jeffrey S. Lawrence
Thomas R. Cooper
David E. Andersen
author_facet David Wolfson
John Fieberg
Jeffrey S. Lawrence
Thomas R. Cooper
David E. Andersen
author_sort David Wolfson
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) are long‐lived birds with relatively low recruitment rates, making accurate knowledge of abundance and distribution critical for well‐informed harvest management. Minnesota, USA, is one of few states containing portions of 2 distinct breeding populations of greater sandhill cranes (A. c. tabida)—the Mid‐continent Population (MCP) and Eastern Population (EP). Historically, the breeding range of MCP cranes in Minnesota was restricted to the extreme northwestern portion of the state, whereas the breeding range of EP cranes was limited to the east–central part of the state with a large area of separation between the 2 populations. Whereas MCP cranes have exhibited stable population estimates over time, EP cranes are currently experiencing a significant increase in population size and a concurrent expansion of breeding range. Our objectives were to evaluate the current range boundaries of the 2 populations in Minnesota and determine whether the populations overlap on their breeding areas and autumn staging grounds. We captured and attached Global Positioning System–Global System for Mobile Communications transmitters to 50 cranes in the zone between the historical breeding‐range boundaries of the 2 populations. Movements of cranes revealed that EP cranes have greatly expanded their breeding range in Minnesota while MCP cranes have experienced more moderate range expansion in the state. Results of this study provide the first documentation of overlap between the breeding ranges of EP and MCP sandhill cranes. Our results also suggest that staging areas in northwestern Minnesota, where recreational harvest targeted at MCP cranes was allowed beginning in 2010, are being used by both populations and there is overlap in migration corridors, as evidenced by 4 cranes that used both the Mississippi and Central Flyways. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
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spelling doaj-art-eed103672c254447b7fd9d7d3863ee102024-12-16T12:55:35ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402017-09-0141348949810.1002/wsb.799Range overlap between mid‐continent and Eastern sandhill cranes revealed by GPS‐trackingDavid Wolfson0John Fieberg1Jeffrey S. Lawrence2Thomas R. Cooper3David E. Andersen4Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyUniversity of Minnesota135 Skok Hall, 2003 Upper Buford CircleSt. PaulMN55108USADepartment of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyUniversity of Minnesota135 Skok Hall, 2003 Upper Buford CircleSt. PaulMN55108USAMinnesota Department of Natural ResourcesWetland Wildlife Populations and Research Group102 23rd StreetBemidjiMN56601USAU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Management5600 American Boulevard West, Suite 960BloomingtonMN55437USAU.S. Geological Survey, Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit200 Hodson Hall, 1980 Folwell AvenueSt. PaulMN55108USAABSTRACT Sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) are long‐lived birds with relatively low recruitment rates, making accurate knowledge of abundance and distribution critical for well‐informed harvest management. Minnesota, USA, is one of few states containing portions of 2 distinct breeding populations of greater sandhill cranes (A. c. tabida)—the Mid‐continent Population (MCP) and Eastern Population (EP). Historically, the breeding range of MCP cranes in Minnesota was restricted to the extreme northwestern portion of the state, whereas the breeding range of EP cranes was limited to the east–central part of the state with a large area of separation between the 2 populations. Whereas MCP cranes have exhibited stable population estimates over time, EP cranes are currently experiencing a significant increase in population size and a concurrent expansion of breeding range. Our objectives were to evaluate the current range boundaries of the 2 populations in Minnesota and determine whether the populations overlap on their breeding areas and autumn staging grounds. We captured and attached Global Positioning System–Global System for Mobile Communications transmitters to 50 cranes in the zone between the historical breeding‐range boundaries of the 2 populations. Movements of cranes revealed that EP cranes have greatly expanded their breeding range in Minnesota while MCP cranes have experienced more moderate range expansion in the state. Results of this study provide the first documentation of overlap between the breeding ranges of EP and MCP sandhill cranes. Our results also suggest that staging areas in northwestern Minnesota, where recreational harvest targeted at MCP cranes was allowed beginning in 2010, are being used by both populations and there is overlap in migration corridors, as evidenced by 4 cranes that used both the Mississippi and Central Flyways. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.799Antigone canadensisMinnesotarange overlapsandhill cranesatellite telemetry
spellingShingle David Wolfson
John Fieberg
Jeffrey S. Lawrence
Thomas R. Cooper
David E. Andersen
Range overlap between mid‐continent and Eastern sandhill cranes revealed by GPS‐tracking
Wildlife Society Bulletin
Antigone canadensis
Minnesota
range overlap
sandhill crane
satellite telemetry
title Range overlap between mid‐continent and Eastern sandhill cranes revealed by GPS‐tracking
title_full Range overlap between mid‐continent and Eastern sandhill cranes revealed by GPS‐tracking
title_fullStr Range overlap between mid‐continent and Eastern sandhill cranes revealed by GPS‐tracking
title_full_unstemmed Range overlap between mid‐continent and Eastern sandhill cranes revealed by GPS‐tracking
title_short Range overlap between mid‐continent and Eastern sandhill cranes revealed by GPS‐tracking
title_sort range overlap between mid continent and eastern sandhill cranes revealed by gps tracking
topic Antigone canadensis
Minnesota
range overlap
sandhill crane
satellite telemetry
url https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.799
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AT johnfieberg rangeoverlapbetweenmidcontinentandeasternsandhillcranesrevealedbygpstracking
AT jeffreyslawrence rangeoverlapbetweenmidcontinentandeasternsandhillcranesrevealedbygpstracking
AT thomasrcooper rangeoverlapbetweenmidcontinentandeasternsandhillcranesrevealedbygpstracking
AT davideandersen rangeoverlapbetweenmidcontinentandeasternsandhillcranesrevealedbygpstracking