Meeting Abstract

55.2  Tuesday, Jan. 6  Do energy and nutritional value of food influence Hawaiian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis) abundance? DESROCHERS, D.W.*; MCWILLIAMS, S.R.; SILBERNAGLE, M.D.; REED, J.M.; Tufts University; Univ. of Rhode Island, Coastal Institute in Kingston; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Tufts University DavidW.DesRochers@gmail.com

Traditional species-habitat use models typically are based on relationships between species abundance and specific habitat or landscape-level features. Modeling abundance as related to other biotic or abiotic phenomena such as competition or energy has been done to a lesser extent in birds, and typically focuses on wintering migrants with a very narrow diet. Here we report on an investigation of the relationship between abundance of the endangered Hawaiian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis) and gross energy and nutritional content of the food that moorhen most commonly consume. Specifically, I investigate how moorhen abundance relates to kcal/ha, and percents fat, protein, carbohydrate, and fiber concentrations of food plants for 30 sites on Oahu. This information provides a potentially important way to investigate the patterns of a species’ distribution. Additionally, this study provides important information for waterbird managers in Hawaii for whom habitat improvement is a major goal for delisting Hawaiian Moorhen from the U.S. Endangered Species list.