Fire Effects in Gulf of Mexico Marshes: Historical Perspectives, Management, and Monitoring of Mottled Ducks and Black and Yellow Rails
Implementing Organization
Mississippi State University
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$3,922,699
Known Leveraged Funding
$0
Funding Organization
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Funding Program
The RESTORE Act Funds Bucket 4: NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program
Details
Project Category
Science
Project Actions
Environmental Research
Targeted Resources
Birds/Bird Habitat
Project Description
Land managers’ decisions about prescribed fire in high marsh systems are complicated by uncertainty around the response of birds to the application of prescribed fire. This project will characterize populations of black rails, yellow rails and mottled ducks and monitor bird response to prescribed fire in 5 Gulf states. The project will accomplish this through the following objectives: (1) mapping high marsh habitat, (2) estimating the relative proportion of resident versus migratory black rails (3) identifying prescribed fire practices that support black and yellow rail and mottled duck populations through an adaptive management process and (4) determining the mechanism of bird response to fire through plants and invertebrates.
Contact
Auriel M.V. Fournier662-325-7404
auriel@illinois.edu
Project Website
None
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