Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Gawlik, Dale E.

Abstract

Avian reproductive success varies depending on environmental conditions, degree of predation, location, and food availability. I examined food availability and nesting habitat of wading birds in South Florida. Evaluating prey availability and prey used by two small heron species demonstrated the ability for small herons to maintain consistent diets through fluctuating environmental conditions, within and across different wetland types. Small herons may be able to cope with environmental changes by altering foraging locations and strategies. Regarding nesting habitat, man-made sites may provide habitat comparable to natural sites, at least in the short-term. The nest’s position can influence its susceptibility to increased temperatures and predators, particularly for. Climatic conditions such as rainfall can also impact nesting success by altering foraging conditions and fish behavior. Understanding the effects of hydrologic regimes on biota can have practical applications since ecosystems around the world share similar problems with competing demands for resources, and there is a concern for how use can affect the quality of the resource.

Extent

94 p.

Comments

Includes bibliography.|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.

Identifier

FA00013087

Format

pdf

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