Habitat Conservation Planning for the Threatened Florida Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) in Charlotte County, Florida Presented by Dr. Reed Bowman (Archbold Biological Station) Andy Stevens (Charlotte Co) and representatives from Quest Ecology and USFWS, Vero Beach Field Office
Agenda Biology of the Florida scrub jay Distribution of scrub jays in Charlotte County Endangered Species Act Current regulations What is an HCP? Development of an HCP for Charlotte County Methods Costs and benefits
Florida Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma( coerulescens) Florida s s only endemic bird species Cooperative breeder Lives in groups of 2 82 Most helpers are kin Long lived Resident, non migratory Maintains year round, round, all purpose territory Short distance dispersal Males short, females longer Omnivore Arthropods and acorns primary foods Acorns bridge seasonal decline in insects Nestlings fed exclusively arthropods
Florida Scrub Jays are native to xeric oak scrub, Florida s s primordial community, formed by the sea and maintained by fire
Charlotte County Over the millennia, rising and receding seas have exposed and covered much of the Florida Peninsula, depositing deep sands as ridges throughout Florida.
Charlotte County Following glacial stages, polar ice caps caps melted, waters rose, and the series of ridges stood as islands in a vast ocean that covered most of Florida. Isolated from their distant relatives, plants and animals existing on these ridges evolved unique characteristics.
Charlotte County During the last glacial stage 20,000 years ago the peninsula's land mass was nearly doubled. This connected Florida to the American southwest and narrowed the Gulf of Mexico. Conditions throughout Florida were drier, and plants and animals adapted to the arid conditions.
Time, isolation, and harsh conditions resulted in a large number of species endemic to Florida scrub Charlotte County
Xeric oak scrub has a characteristic structure LOW AND OPEN Dominated by oak shrubs less than 2 m tall Few if any trees Bare sandy patches throughout
Lightning ignited ignited fire is the natural process by which scrub is maintained as low and open
Florida is a global hot spot for lightning Oak scrubs probably burned every 12 20 20 years and most plant and animals adapted to that frequency of fire
In the absence of fire, xeric oak scrub succeeds into sand pine forest or xeric oak hammock Structural characteristics change Behavioral adaptations of endemic species become less effective Survival and reproduction decrease Populations begin to decline
Chronological response of FSJ populations to fire 7 Unit 18E, Archbold Biological Station 6 # Scrub-Jay Territories 5 4 3 2 16-17 years 1 0 FIRE FIRE? 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Year
Scrub can be managed through prescribed fire or mechanical means of simulating fire to maintain the structure and composition necessary to maintain viable populations of native species
Another source of habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation is suburban residential development Residential development Native Suburbs Fledglings/Pair 1.8 1.2 Juvenile Survival 0.33 0.24 Yearlings/Pair 0.60 0.29 Adult Survival 0.76 0.72 Rate of Increase 1.25 0.50 Suburban jay populations are not likely to persist
Ecological changes with urbanization? Natural habitat Frequent fire regime Mosaic of natural habitats Suburban habitat Fire interval lengthened Habitat fragmentation and perforation Increased edge with non native native habitats, roads
Ecological changes with urbanization? Terrestrial predators Species richness increases Introduction of novel predators Changes in habitat structure and composition may alter vulnerability to different predators Avian predators/competitors Changes in sympatry Changes in habitat structure and composition may alter niche overlap thereby increasing competition
Ecological changes with urbanization? Terrestrial predators Species richness increases Introduction of novel predators Changes in habitat structure and composition may alter vulnerability to different predators Avian predators/competitors Changes in sympatry Changes in habitat structure and composition may alter niche overlap thereby increasing competition
Ecological changes with urbanization? Anthropogenic food Variety of different sources Unlimited availability Predictable in space and time High quality for adults, but suitable for nestlings? Natural food Less abundant per oak stem Less scrub therefore fewer oak stems Less abundant Lepidopteran larvae and Orthopterans
The Florida Scrub Jay Jay s s Dilemma: the need for conservation Extreme habitat specialist Evergreen oak scrub on xeric soils Patches sharply defined Fire maintained habitat, much is degraded Only fragments remain, small and isolated Suburban populations unstable, declining Local extinctions widespread
Florida Scrub Jays in Charlotte County County retained Center for Avian Conservation in 2001; survey completed December 2002, updated by Miller 2007 and Quest Ecology 2009 Charlotte County is home to 164 Florida Scrub Jay family groups with ~490 individuals. Grouped in four separate areas (Gulf Cove, mid county, Deep Creek/Harbor Heights and east of the Peace River).
Current Distribution of oak scrub habitat potentially capable of supporting Florida Scrub-Jays in Charlotte County
West County Scrub Jays 5 sub populations totaling 50 family groups 4 of the family groups are on conservation land. The remaining 46 family groups are on lands with no permanent conservation protection.
Englewood Gulf Cove North Current Distribution of oak scrub and scrub-jays in the West County region Gulf Cove South
Mid County Scrub Jays 3 sub populations totaling 16 family groups 4 of the family groups are on existing or proposed conservation land. The remaining 12 family groups are on lands with no permanent conservation protection..
Eleanor Avenue Tippecanoe Current Distribution of oak scrub and scrub-jays in the mid-county region
Deep Creek/Harbour Heights Scrub Jays 2 sub populations totaling 60 family groups None of these family groups are on conservation land. The remaining 60 family groups occur on lands with no permanent conservation protection.
Deep Creek Current Distribution of oak scrub and scrub- jays in the Deep Creek region
Peace River and Punta Gorda Scrub Jays 7 sub populations totaling 35 family groups 10 of the family groups are on conservation land. The remaining 25 family groups are on lands with no permanent conservation protection.
Peace River Shores Prairie Creek Preserve Prairie-Shell Creek SWFWMD Washington Loop Shell Creek Preserve Prairie Creek Estates Current Distribution of oak scrub and scrub-jays in the Prairie Creek region Charlotte Ranchettes Jones Loop
The ESA Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act prohibits the take of fish or wildlife listed under the ESA as Threatened or Endangered Section 10 allows for the incidental take of listed species provided the applicant submit a conservation plan (HCPs)) that specifies the measures to be taken to minimize and mitigate impacts Destruction of habitat constitutes take The USFWS encourages regional HCPs because they offer many benefits to both landowners and listed species
The status quo for FSJs in Charlotte County under the ESA Current permitting regulations (USFWS)
What is an HCP? At a regional scale, it is a reserve design that protects, restores, and manages enough habitat to ensure the long term persistence of jays in Charlotte County. Biological criteria by which the plan is evaluated The plan, to the maximum extent practicable, minimizes and mitigates the impacts.. The taking will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery of the species in the wild i.e. the plan should not reduce the reproduction, numbers, or distribution of that species
To develop a viable HCP that will meet USFWS criteria for acceptance Complete surveys of habitat and jays Apply spatially explicit demographic models to estimate population goals and trajectories Run alternative reserve designs through models Identify key land parcels for protection and restoration Develop Key Elements of HCP Definitions and biological goals and objectives On the the ground strategies Implementation and follow through
Key Elements of the HCP Definitions and biological objectives Biological objective: Return to and maintain population levels from 2002, i.e. ~ 135 groups of FSJs Biological goal: 95 99% 99% likelihood of long term persistence of FSJs in Charlotte County, with viable populations in each of the four regions
Key Elements of the HCP On the the ground strategies Restore and manage all existing protected habitat Ensure FSJ populations at carrying capacity through effective management Acquire key parcels to augment existing preserves Protect and restore movement corridors to ensure maximum extent of dispersal
Key Elements of the HCP Implementation and follow through Develop management plans and population goals for all protected sites Monitor restoration and jay reproduction and numbers Adapt management as needed Develop scrub mitigation fund to ensure all mitigation proceeds applied within County Develop cooperative agreements with Sarasota and Manatee counties for managing jays at the metapopulation level
Benefits of a county wide HCP Maximize flexibility and available options in developing mitigation Reduce the regulatory burden for individual landowners Reduce economic burden by ensuring that all mitigation funds remain in Charlotte County Reduce uncoordinated decision making, resulting in increased impacts and further mitigation while also negatively affecting listed species Bring a broad range of activities under the permit s s legal protection Provides the permittee long term planning assurances Provides best possible outcome for listed species
Questions?