Angela Anders - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Angela Anders

Research paper thumbnail of Status of Forest Birds on Tinian Island, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, with an Emphasis on the Tinian Monarch (Monarcha takatsukasae) (Passeriformes; Monarchidae)1

Pacific Science, Sep 22, 2022

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Research paper thumbnail of 2835–2843 doi: 10.1046/j.1365-294X.2003.01931.x

Blackwell Publishing Ltd.Inter-island movements and population differentiation in a pelagic seabird

Research paper thumbnail of A Marine Biogeographic Assessment of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Benthic Communities

Research Research permits are authorized for those activities that enhance the understanding of M... more Research Research permits are authorized for those activities that enhance the understanding of Monument resources and improve resource management decision making. Priority is given to research proposals that help to meet the management needs of the Monument Co-Trustee agencies. Examples of types of activities issued under a research permit include biological inventories, ecosystem-based research, benthic mapping, habitat charac terization, restoration investigations, cultural studies, and terrestrial and marine archaeological research. Conservation and Management Conservation and Management permits are authorized for those activities that are required for general man agement of the Monument. This may include activities associated with resource management, such as field station operations, marine debris removal, development and maintenance of infrastructure, species and habitat restoration, and long-term resource monitoring programs such as monitoring of endangered species, seabird populations, and terrestrial native plant communities. Conservation and Management permits also provide a mechanism enabling rapid response and follow-up to critical events in the Monument that cannot be antici pated, such as vessel groundings, coral bleaching episodes and invasive species detection. Education Education permits are authorized for those activities that further the educational value of the Monument. These activities may enhance the understanding of ecosystems, improve resource management decision making, promote Native Hawaiian knowledge and values, or aid in enforcement and compliance efforts. Priority is given to those activities that have clear educational or public outreach benefits and that promote "bringing the place to the people, rather than the people to the place." Examples of past projects issued under an education permit include teacher-at-sea programs, distance learning projects, and university classes. Native Hawaiian Practices Activities conducted under a Native Hawaiian Practice permit must be noncommercial, deemed appropriate and necessary by traditional standards, benefit the NWHI and Native Hawaiian community, perpetuate tradi tional knowledge and restrict the consumption of harvested resources from the Monument. Examples of activi ties permitted under a Native Hawaiian Practice permit include the entry of vessels for the purpose of applying and transferring knowledge of traditional navigation techniques and conducting ceremonies at historic cultural sites on Nihoa or Mokumanamana. Permit conditions and protocols for Native Hawaiian Practice permits will continue to be developed by the Monument Management Board, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs through consultation with the Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group and the Native Hawaiian community. Recreation Recreation permits are limited to the Midway Atoll Special Management Area in the Monument. Recreational activities may not be associated with any for-hire operation or involve any extractive use. Examples of recre ational activities that may be permitted include snorkeling, SCUBA diving, wildlife viewing and kayaking.

Research paper thumbnail of Inter-island movements and population differentiation in a pelagic seabird

Molecular Ecology, 2003

We used mark-resight data and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers to assess mov... more We used mark-resight data and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers to assess movements and gene flow between Central Pacific breeding colonies of the great frigatebird, Fregata minor. Of 715 adult frigatebirds marked on Tern Island and Johnston Atoll, 21.3% were resighted at other frigatebird colonies at least 582 km away. Mark-resight data indicated regular movement of males and females between Tern Island and Johnston Atoll (873 km apart), and less frequent movements to other islands; no birds marked on Tern or Johnston were seen on Christmas Island, but one was seen in the Philippines, 7627 km from where it was marked. Despite the regular occurrence of interisland movements, Bayesian analyses of AFLP data showed significant genetic differentiation between Tern Island and Johnston Atoll, and more pronounced differentiation between these two islands and the more distant Christmas Island. The AFLP profiles of three birds breeding on Tern Island fell within the profile-cluster typical for Christmas Island birds, both in a nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis and in a population assignment test, suggesting dispersal events from Christmas Island to Tern Island. Several factors could explain the persistence of genetic structure despite frequent movements between colonies: many movements occurred during the nonbreeding season, many breeding-season movements did not involve mate-acquisition behaviours and individuals that do disperse may be selected against, as suggested by morphometric differences between colonies. The persistence of genetic structure among breeding colonies despite significant interisland movements suggests limits to the effectiveness of migration as a homogenizing force in this broadly distributed, extremely mobile species.

Research paper thumbnail of A Marine Biogeographic Assessment of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Benthic Communities

Research Research permits are authorized for those activities that enhance the understanding of M... more Research Research permits are authorized for those activities that enhance the understanding of Monument resources and improve resource management decision making. Priority is given to research proposals that help to meet the management needs of the Monument Co-Trustee agencies. Examples of types of activities issued under a research permit include biological inventories, ecosystem-based research, benthic mapping, habitat charac terization, restoration investigations, cultural studies, and terrestrial and marine archaeological research. Conservation and Management Conservation and Management permits are authorized for those activities that are required for general man agement of the Monument. This may include activities associated with resource management, such as field station operations, marine debris removal, development and maintenance of infrastructure, species and habitat restoration, and long-term resource monitoring programs such as monitoring of endangered species, seabird populations, and terrestrial native plant communities. Conservation and Management permits also provide a mechanism enabling rapid response and follow-up to critical events in the Monument that cannot be antici pated, such as vessel groundings, coral bleaching episodes and invasive species detection. Education Education permits are authorized for those activities that further the educational value of the Monument. These activities may enhance the understanding of ecosystems, improve resource management decision making, promote Native Hawaiian knowledge and values, or aid in enforcement and compliance efforts. Priority is given to those activities that have clear educational or public outreach benefits and that promote "bringing the place to the people, rather than the people to the place." Examples of past projects issued under an education permit include teacher-at-sea programs, distance learning projects, and university classes. Native Hawaiian Practices Activities conducted under a Native Hawaiian Practice permit must be noncommercial, deemed appropriate and necessary by traditional standards, benefit the NWHI and Native Hawaiian community, perpetuate tradi tional knowledge and restrict the consumption of harvested resources from the Monument. Examples of activi ties permitted under a Native Hawaiian Practice permit include the entry of vessels for the purpose of applying and transferring knowledge of traditional navigation techniques and conducting ceremonies at historic cultural sites on Nihoa or Mokumanamana. Permit conditions and protocols for Native Hawaiian Practice permits will continue to be developed by the Monument Management Board, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs through consultation with the Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group and the Native Hawaiian community. Recreation Recreation permits are limited to the Midway Atoll Special Management Area in the Monument. Recreational activities may not be associated with any for-hire operation or involve any extractive use. Examples of recre ational activities that may be permitted include snorkeling, SCUBA diving, wildlife viewing and kayaking.

Research paper thumbnail of Inter-island movements and population differentiation in a pelagic seabird

Molecular Ecology, 2003

We used mark-resight data and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers to assess mov... more We used mark-resight data and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers to assess movements and gene flow between Central Pacific breeding colonies of the great frigatebird, Fregata minor. Of 715 adult frigatebirds marked on Tern Island and Johnston Atoll, 21.3% were resighted at other frigatebird colonies at least 582 km away. Mark-resight data indicated regular movement of males and females between Tern Island and Johnston Atoll (873 km apart), and less frequent movements to other islands; no birds marked on Tern or Johnston were seen on Christmas Island, but one was seen in the Philippines, 7627 km from where it was marked. Despite the regular occurrence of interisland movements, Bayesian analyses of AFLP data showed significant genetic differentiation between Tern Island and Johnston Atoll, and more pronounced differentiation between these two islands and the more distant Christmas Island. The AFLP profiles of three birds breeding on Tern Island fell within the profile-cluster typical for Christmas Island birds, both in a nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis and in a population assignment test, suggesting dispersal events from Christmas Island to Tern Island. Several factors could explain the persistence of genetic structure despite frequent movements between colonies: many movements occurred during the nonbreeding season, many breeding-season movements did not involve mate-acquisition behaviours and individuals that do disperse may be selected against, as suggested by morphometric differences between colonies. The persistence of genetic structure among breeding colonies despite significant interisland movements suggests limits to the effectiveness of migration as a homogenizing force in this broadly distributed, extremely mobile species.

Research paper thumbnail of Sampling design considerations for demographic studies: a case of colonial seabirds

Ecological Applications, 2009

For the purposes of making many informed conservation decisions, the main goal for data collectio... more For the purposes of making many informed conservation decisions, the main goal for data collection is to assess population status and allow prediction of the consequences of candidate management actions. Reducing the bias and variance of estimates of population parameters reduces uncertainty in population status and projections, thereby reducing the overall uncertainty under which a population manager must make a decision. In capturerecapture studies, imperfect detection of individuals, unobservable life-history states, local movement outside study areas, and tag loss can cause bias or precision problems with estimates of population parameters. Furthermore, excessive disturbance to individuals during capture-recapture sampling may be of concern because disturbance may have demographic consequences. We address these problems using as an example a monitoring program for Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) and Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) nesting populations in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. To mitigate these estimation problems, we describe a synergistic combination of sampling design and modeling approaches. Solutions include multiple capture periods per season and multistate, robust design statistical models, dead recoveries and incidental observations, telemetry and data loggers, buffer areas around study plots to neutralize the effect of local movements outside study plots, and double banding and statistical models that account for band loss. We also present a variation on the robust capture-recapture design and a corresponding statistical model that minimizes disturbance to individuals. For the albatross case study, this less invasive robust design was more time efficient and, when used in combination with a traditional robust design, reduced the standard error of detection probability by 14% with only two hours of additional effort in the field. These field techniques and associated modeling approaches are applicable to studies of most taxa being marked and in some cases have individually been applied to studies of birds, fish, herpetofauna, and mammals.

Research paper thumbnail of Sampling design considerations for demographic studies: a case of colonial seabirds

Ecological Applications, 2009

For the purposes of making many informed conservation decisions, the main goal for data collectio... more For the purposes of making many informed conservation decisions, the main goal for data collection is to assess population status and allow prediction of the consequences of candidate management actions. Reducing the bias and variance of estimates of population parameters reduces uncertainty in population status and projections, thereby reducing the overall uncertainty under which a population manager must make a decision. In capturerecapture studies, imperfect detection of individuals, unobservable life-history states, local movement outside study areas, and tag loss can cause bias or precision problems with estimates of population parameters. Furthermore, excessive disturbance to individuals during capture-recapture sampling may be of concern because disturbance may have demographic consequences. We address these problems using as an example a monitoring program for Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) and Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) nesting populations in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. To mitigate these estimation problems, we describe a synergistic combination of sampling design and modeling approaches. Solutions include multiple capture periods per season and multistate, robust design statistical models, dead recoveries and incidental observations, telemetry and data loggers, buffer areas around study plots to neutralize the effect of local movements outside study plots, and double banding and statistical models that account for band loss. We also present a variation on the robust capture-recapture design and a corresponding statistical model that minimizes disturbance to individuals. For the albatross case study, this less invasive robust design was more time efficient and, when used in combination with a traditional robust design, reduced the standard error of detection probability by 14% with only two hours of additional effort in the field. These field techniques and associated modeling approaches are applicable to studies of most taxa being marked and in some cases have individually been applied to studies of birds, fish, herpetofauna, and mammals.

Research paper thumbnail of Global Population Dynamics and Hot Spots of Response to Climate Change

BioScience, 2009

Understanding how biotic and abiotic factors influence the abundance and distribution of organism... more Understanding how biotic and abiotic factors influence the abundance and distribution of organisms has become more important with the growing awareness of the ecological consequences of climate change. In this article, we outline an approach that complements bioclimatic envelope modeling in quantifying the effects of climate change at the species level. The global population dynamics approach, which relies on distribution-wide, datadriven analyses of dynamics, goes beyond quantifying biotic interactions in population dynamics to identify hot spots of response to climate change. Such hot spots highlight populations or locations within species' distributions that are particularly sensitive to climate change, and identification of them should focus conservation and management efforts. An important result of the analyses highlighted here is pronounced variation at the species level in the strength and direction of population responses to warming. Although this variation complicates species-level predictions of responses to climate change, the global population dynamics approach may improve our understanding of the complex implications of climate change for species persistence or extinction.

Research paper thumbnail of Trends in reproductive success of Hawaiian seabirds: is guild membership a good criterion for choosing indicator species?

Biological Conservation, 2001

Because it is rarely possible to monitor all species that occur in sensitive or threatened ecosys... more Because it is rarely possible to monitor all species that occur in sensitive or threatened ecosystems, much theoretical consideration has been given to the process of choosing indicator species. We evaluated whether foraging guild classi®cation or nest site might be an adequate means to select indicator species for monitoring the reproductive success of a suite of Hawaiian seabird species. We examined the reproductive success of six species representing three foraging guilds and two types of nest sites over an 18-year period. For two of the three foraging guilds, there was a strong correlation between the reproductive success of birds from the same guild, and there was a weaker correlation for the third guild. In contrast, there were no signi®cant reproductive success correlations for pairs of species from dierent foraging guilds but with the same nest sites. Thus, the within-guild correlations are likely to be driven by guild-speci®c food availability rather than by similarity in nest site. Because of the weak nature of one of the within-guild correlations, and because there is little detailed information on the causes of nest failure in this system, we recommend continuing to monitor multiple indicator species per foraging guild.

Research paper thumbnail of Courtship display by great frigatebirds, Fregata minor: an energetically costly handicap signal?

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2005

We used detailed time-budget observations, mark-resight data, and doubly labeled water estimates ... more We used detailed time-budget observations, mark-resight data, and doubly labeled water estimates of energy expenditure to test whether energy spent on courtship display by male frigatebirds functions as a sexually selected handicap signal. During a 2-day period of time budget observations, males displayed on average 29.5% of the time (range 0-100% for 15 different males), and this value was correlated with an index of season-long display effort. Season-long display effort was strongly predictive of pairing success. Average field metabolic rate (FMR) during the 2-day time budget period was 676.5 kJ/day (range 464.8-1035.0), substantially lower than the mass-specific FMR predicted from studies of other seabirds during incubation or chick-rearing. Despite a low overall FMR, display effort could function as an energetic handicap, either if FMR correlates positively with the amount of courtship performed or if high-quality males display at a high rate because they pay a lower energy cost per unit of display than do low-quality males. We found no relationship between FMR and display rate, despite good power for doing so. We also did not find a significant difference in energy spent divided by courtship time for males that were or were not chosen by females (inferred to be high-and low-quality males, respectively), though the medians differed in the Communicated by M. Leonard

Research paper thumbnail of Distribution-wide effects of climate on population densities of a declining migratory landbird

Journal of Animal Ecology, 2006

1. Increases in global temperatures have created concern about effects of climatic variability on... more 1. Increases in global temperatures have created concern about effects of climatic variability on populations, and climate has been shown to affect population dynamics in an increasing number of species. Testing for effects of climate on population densities across a species' distribution allows for elucidation of effects of climate that would not be apparent at smaller spatial scales. 2. Using autoregressive population models, we tested for effects of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on annual population densities of a North American migratory landbird, the yellow-billed cuckoo Coccyzus americanus , across the species' breeding distribution over a 37-year period (1966-2002). 3. Our results indicate that both the NAO and ENSO have affected population densities of C. americanus across much of the species' breeding range, with the strongest effects of climate in regions in which these climate systems have the strongest effects on local temperatures. Analyses also indicate that the strength of the effect of local temperatures on C. americanus populations was predictive of long-term population decline, with populations that were more negatively affected by warm temperatures experiencing steeper declines. 4. Results of this study highlight the importance of distribution-wide analyses of climatic effects and demonstrate that increases in global temperatures have the potential to lead to additional population declines.

Research paper thumbnail of Demography and reproductive ecology of great frigatebirds

Atoll research bulletin, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of large-scale climate on avian population dynamics across species' North American breeding distributions

Global temperature increases of 0.6 C over the past century and predicted increases of 2 to 6 C o... more Global temperature increases of 0.6 C over the past century and predicted increases of 2 to 6 C over the next century have prompted many studies on effects of global warming on the population dynamics of plants and animals. Studies of landbirds in Europe and North America have shown effects of climatic variation on productivity and survival. However, such effects have been seen to translate to changes in population densities in only a few studies of European landbirds. Thus, the extent to which global warming has the potential to cause population declines in North American landbirds has remained unclear. In the research presented here, I model 39 years of climatic data, including indices of the North Atlantic Oscillation and El Niño Southern Oscillation, and distribution-wide Breeding Bird Survey data on 21 North American landbird species, to examine potential relationships between large-scale climate change and changes in avian population densities. Results of these analyses indica...

Research paper thumbnail of Population Trends of the Endangered Golden-Cheeked Warbler at Fort Hood, Texas, from 1992�2001

The Southwestern Naturalist, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Articles Occurrence and Breeding Behavior of Lesser Frigatebirds (Fregata-L) on Tern Islam), Nor- Haw= Islands

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Large-scale Climate on Avian Population Dynamics Across Species' North American Breeding Distributions

Research paper thumbnail of Demography andreproductive ecology of great frigatebirds

Increasing taxonomic resolution in dietary analysis of the Hawaiian monk seal. Ken Longenecker, R... more Increasing taxonomic resolution in dietary analysis of the Hawaiian monk seal. Ken Longenecker, Robert A. Dollar, and Maire K. Cahoon Movements of monk seals relative to ecological depth zones in the lower Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Frank A. Parrish and Kyler Abernathy Foraging biogeography of Hawaiian monk seals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Research paper thumbnail of Population Trends of the Endangered Golden-Cheeked Warbler at Fort Hood, Texas, from 1992–2001

The Southwestern Naturalist, 2004

... CrossRef, CSA. Stephenson, TR, MR Vaughan, and DE Andersen. ... Bret A. Collier a, , Michael ... more ... CrossRef, CSA. Stephenson, TR, MR Vaughan, and DE Andersen. ... Bret A. Collier a, , Michael L. Morrison b , Shannon L. Farrell c , Andrew J. Campomizzi d , Jerrod A. Butcher e , K. Brian Hays f , Darryl I. Mackenzie g , and R. Neal Wilkins h . (2010) Monitoring Golden-Cheeked ...

Research paper thumbnail of Parent age differentially influences offspring size over the course of development in Laysan albatross

Journal of Zoology, 2008

... Growth and survival of offspring are influenced by genetic and environmental factors, includi... more ... Growth and survival of offspring are influenced by genetic and environmental factors, including the quality of parental care (Clutton-Brock, 1991). ... We thank Beth Flint and the US Fish and Wildlife Service for support and access to Tern Island. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Status of Forest Birds on Tinian Island, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, with an Emphasis on the Tinian Monarch (Monarcha takatsukasae) (Passeriformes; Monarchidae)1

Pacific Science, Sep 22, 2022

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Research paper thumbnail of 2835–2843 doi: 10.1046/j.1365-294X.2003.01931.x

Blackwell Publishing Ltd.Inter-island movements and population differentiation in a pelagic seabird

Research paper thumbnail of A Marine Biogeographic Assessment of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Benthic Communities

Research Research permits are authorized for those activities that enhance the understanding of M... more Research Research permits are authorized for those activities that enhance the understanding of Monument resources and improve resource management decision making. Priority is given to research proposals that help to meet the management needs of the Monument Co-Trustee agencies. Examples of types of activities issued under a research permit include biological inventories, ecosystem-based research, benthic mapping, habitat charac terization, restoration investigations, cultural studies, and terrestrial and marine archaeological research. Conservation and Management Conservation and Management permits are authorized for those activities that are required for general man agement of the Monument. This may include activities associated with resource management, such as field station operations, marine debris removal, development and maintenance of infrastructure, species and habitat restoration, and long-term resource monitoring programs such as monitoring of endangered species, seabird populations, and terrestrial native plant communities. Conservation and Management permits also provide a mechanism enabling rapid response and follow-up to critical events in the Monument that cannot be antici pated, such as vessel groundings, coral bleaching episodes and invasive species detection. Education Education permits are authorized for those activities that further the educational value of the Monument. These activities may enhance the understanding of ecosystems, improve resource management decision making, promote Native Hawaiian knowledge and values, or aid in enforcement and compliance efforts. Priority is given to those activities that have clear educational or public outreach benefits and that promote "bringing the place to the people, rather than the people to the place." Examples of past projects issued under an education permit include teacher-at-sea programs, distance learning projects, and university classes. Native Hawaiian Practices Activities conducted under a Native Hawaiian Practice permit must be noncommercial, deemed appropriate and necessary by traditional standards, benefit the NWHI and Native Hawaiian community, perpetuate tradi tional knowledge and restrict the consumption of harvested resources from the Monument. Examples of activi ties permitted under a Native Hawaiian Practice permit include the entry of vessels for the purpose of applying and transferring knowledge of traditional navigation techniques and conducting ceremonies at historic cultural sites on Nihoa or Mokumanamana. Permit conditions and protocols for Native Hawaiian Practice permits will continue to be developed by the Monument Management Board, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs through consultation with the Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group and the Native Hawaiian community. Recreation Recreation permits are limited to the Midway Atoll Special Management Area in the Monument. Recreational activities may not be associated with any for-hire operation or involve any extractive use. Examples of recre ational activities that may be permitted include snorkeling, SCUBA diving, wildlife viewing and kayaking.

Research paper thumbnail of Inter-island movements and population differentiation in a pelagic seabird

Molecular Ecology, 2003

We used mark-resight data and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers to assess mov... more We used mark-resight data and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers to assess movements and gene flow between Central Pacific breeding colonies of the great frigatebird, Fregata minor. Of 715 adult frigatebirds marked on Tern Island and Johnston Atoll, 21.3% were resighted at other frigatebird colonies at least 582 km away. Mark-resight data indicated regular movement of males and females between Tern Island and Johnston Atoll (873 km apart), and less frequent movements to other islands; no birds marked on Tern or Johnston were seen on Christmas Island, but one was seen in the Philippines, 7627 km from where it was marked. Despite the regular occurrence of interisland movements, Bayesian analyses of AFLP data showed significant genetic differentiation between Tern Island and Johnston Atoll, and more pronounced differentiation between these two islands and the more distant Christmas Island. The AFLP profiles of three birds breeding on Tern Island fell within the profile-cluster typical for Christmas Island birds, both in a nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis and in a population assignment test, suggesting dispersal events from Christmas Island to Tern Island. Several factors could explain the persistence of genetic structure despite frequent movements between colonies: many movements occurred during the nonbreeding season, many breeding-season movements did not involve mate-acquisition behaviours and individuals that do disperse may be selected against, as suggested by morphometric differences between colonies. The persistence of genetic structure among breeding colonies despite significant interisland movements suggests limits to the effectiveness of migration as a homogenizing force in this broadly distributed, extremely mobile species.

Research paper thumbnail of A Marine Biogeographic Assessment of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Benthic Communities

Research Research permits are authorized for those activities that enhance the understanding of M... more Research Research permits are authorized for those activities that enhance the understanding of Monument resources and improve resource management decision making. Priority is given to research proposals that help to meet the management needs of the Monument Co-Trustee agencies. Examples of types of activities issued under a research permit include biological inventories, ecosystem-based research, benthic mapping, habitat charac terization, restoration investigations, cultural studies, and terrestrial and marine archaeological research. Conservation and Management Conservation and Management permits are authorized for those activities that are required for general man agement of the Monument. This may include activities associated with resource management, such as field station operations, marine debris removal, development and maintenance of infrastructure, species and habitat restoration, and long-term resource monitoring programs such as monitoring of endangered species, seabird populations, and terrestrial native plant communities. Conservation and Management permits also provide a mechanism enabling rapid response and follow-up to critical events in the Monument that cannot be antici pated, such as vessel groundings, coral bleaching episodes and invasive species detection. Education Education permits are authorized for those activities that further the educational value of the Monument. These activities may enhance the understanding of ecosystems, improve resource management decision making, promote Native Hawaiian knowledge and values, or aid in enforcement and compliance efforts. Priority is given to those activities that have clear educational or public outreach benefits and that promote "bringing the place to the people, rather than the people to the place." Examples of past projects issued under an education permit include teacher-at-sea programs, distance learning projects, and university classes. Native Hawaiian Practices Activities conducted under a Native Hawaiian Practice permit must be noncommercial, deemed appropriate and necessary by traditional standards, benefit the NWHI and Native Hawaiian community, perpetuate tradi tional knowledge and restrict the consumption of harvested resources from the Monument. Examples of activi ties permitted under a Native Hawaiian Practice permit include the entry of vessels for the purpose of applying and transferring knowledge of traditional navigation techniques and conducting ceremonies at historic cultural sites on Nihoa or Mokumanamana. Permit conditions and protocols for Native Hawaiian Practice permits will continue to be developed by the Monument Management Board, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs through consultation with the Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group and the Native Hawaiian community. Recreation Recreation permits are limited to the Midway Atoll Special Management Area in the Monument. Recreational activities may not be associated with any for-hire operation or involve any extractive use. Examples of recre ational activities that may be permitted include snorkeling, SCUBA diving, wildlife viewing and kayaking.

Research paper thumbnail of Inter-island movements and population differentiation in a pelagic seabird

Molecular Ecology, 2003

We used mark-resight data and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers to assess mov... more We used mark-resight data and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers to assess movements and gene flow between Central Pacific breeding colonies of the great frigatebird, Fregata minor. Of 715 adult frigatebirds marked on Tern Island and Johnston Atoll, 21.3% were resighted at other frigatebird colonies at least 582 km away. Mark-resight data indicated regular movement of males and females between Tern Island and Johnston Atoll (873 km apart), and less frequent movements to other islands; no birds marked on Tern or Johnston were seen on Christmas Island, but one was seen in the Philippines, 7627 km from where it was marked. Despite the regular occurrence of interisland movements, Bayesian analyses of AFLP data showed significant genetic differentiation between Tern Island and Johnston Atoll, and more pronounced differentiation between these two islands and the more distant Christmas Island. The AFLP profiles of three birds breeding on Tern Island fell within the profile-cluster typical for Christmas Island birds, both in a nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis and in a population assignment test, suggesting dispersal events from Christmas Island to Tern Island. Several factors could explain the persistence of genetic structure despite frequent movements between colonies: many movements occurred during the nonbreeding season, many breeding-season movements did not involve mate-acquisition behaviours and individuals that do disperse may be selected against, as suggested by morphometric differences between colonies. The persistence of genetic structure among breeding colonies despite significant interisland movements suggests limits to the effectiveness of migration as a homogenizing force in this broadly distributed, extremely mobile species.

Research paper thumbnail of Sampling design considerations for demographic studies: a case of colonial seabirds

Ecological Applications, 2009

For the purposes of making many informed conservation decisions, the main goal for data collectio... more For the purposes of making many informed conservation decisions, the main goal for data collection is to assess population status and allow prediction of the consequences of candidate management actions. Reducing the bias and variance of estimates of population parameters reduces uncertainty in population status and projections, thereby reducing the overall uncertainty under which a population manager must make a decision. In capturerecapture studies, imperfect detection of individuals, unobservable life-history states, local movement outside study areas, and tag loss can cause bias or precision problems with estimates of population parameters. Furthermore, excessive disturbance to individuals during capture-recapture sampling may be of concern because disturbance may have demographic consequences. We address these problems using as an example a monitoring program for Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) and Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) nesting populations in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. To mitigate these estimation problems, we describe a synergistic combination of sampling design and modeling approaches. Solutions include multiple capture periods per season and multistate, robust design statistical models, dead recoveries and incidental observations, telemetry and data loggers, buffer areas around study plots to neutralize the effect of local movements outside study plots, and double banding and statistical models that account for band loss. We also present a variation on the robust capture-recapture design and a corresponding statistical model that minimizes disturbance to individuals. For the albatross case study, this less invasive robust design was more time efficient and, when used in combination with a traditional robust design, reduced the standard error of detection probability by 14% with only two hours of additional effort in the field. These field techniques and associated modeling approaches are applicable to studies of most taxa being marked and in some cases have individually been applied to studies of birds, fish, herpetofauna, and mammals.

Research paper thumbnail of Sampling design considerations for demographic studies: a case of colonial seabirds

Ecological Applications, 2009

For the purposes of making many informed conservation decisions, the main goal for data collectio... more For the purposes of making many informed conservation decisions, the main goal for data collection is to assess population status and allow prediction of the consequences of candidate management actions. Reducing the bias and variance of estimates of population parameters reduces uncertainty in population status and projections, thereby reducing the overall uncertainty under which a population manager must make a decision. In capturerecapture studies, imperfect detection of individuals, unobservable life-history states, local movement outside study areas, and tag loss can cause bias or precision problems with estimates of population parameters. Furthermore, excessive disturbance to individuals during capture-recapture sampling may be of concern because disturbance may have demographic consequences. We address these problems using as an example a monitoring program for Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) and Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) nesting populations in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. To mitigate these estimation problems, we describe a synergistic combination of sampling design and modeling approaches. Solutions include multiple capture periods per season and multistate, robust design statistical models, dead recoveries and incidental observations, telemetry and data loggers, buffer areas around study plots to neutralize the effect of local movements outside study plots, and double banding and statistical models that account for band loss. We also present a variation on the robust capture-recapture design and a corresponding statistical model that minimizes disturbance to individuals. For the albatross case study, this less invasive robust design was more time efficient and, when used in combination with a traditional robust design, reduced the standard error of detection probability by 14% with only two hours of additional effort in the field. These field techniques and associated modeling approaches are applicable to studies of most taxa being marked and in some cases have individually been applied to studies of birds, fish, herpetofauna, and mammals.

Research paper thumbnail of Global Population Dynamics and Hot Spots of Response to Climate Change

BioScience, 2009

Understanding how biotic and abiotic factors influence the abundance and distribution of organism... more Understanding how biotic and abiotic factors influence the abundance and distribution of organisms has become more important with the growing awareness of the ecological consequences of climate change. In this article, we outline an approach that complements bioclimatic envelope modeling in quantifying the effects of climate change at the species level. The global population dynamics approach, which relies on distribution-wide, datadriven analyses of dynamics, goes beyond quantifying biotic interactions in population dynamics to identify hot spots of response to climate change. Such hot spots highlight populations or locations within species' distributions that are particularly sensitive to climate change, and identification of them should focus conservation and management efforts. An important result of the analyses highlighted here is pronounced variation at the species level in the strength and direction of population responses to warming. Although this variation complicates species-level predictions of responses to climate change, the global population dynamics approach may improve our understanding of the complex implications of climate change for species persistence or extinction.

Research paper thumbnail of Trends in reproductive success of Hawaiian seabirds: is guild membership a good criterion for choosing indicator species?

Biological Conservation, 2001

Because it is rarely possible to monitor all species that occur in sensitive or threatened ecosys... more Because it is rarely possible to monitor all species that occur in sensitive or threatened ecosystems, much theoretical consideration has been given to the process of choosing indicator species. We evaluated whether foraging guild classi®cation or nest site might be an adequate means to select indicator species for monitoring the reproductive success of a suite of Hawaiian seabird species. We examined the reproductive success of six species representing three foraging guilds and two types of nest sites over an 18-year period. For two of the three foraging guilds, there was a strong correlation between the reproductive success of birds from the same guild, and there was a weaker correlation for the third guild. In contrast, there were no signi®cant reproductive success correlations for pairs of species from dierent foraging guilds but with the same nest sites. Thus, the within-guild correlations are likely to be driven by guild-speci®c food availability rather than by similarity in nest site. Because of the weak nature of one of the within-guild correlations, and because there is little detailed information on the causes of nest failure in this system, we recommend continuing to monitor multiple indicator species per foraging guild.

Research paper thumbnail of Courtship display by great frigatebirds, Fregata minor: an energetically costly handicap signal?

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2005

We used detailed time-budget observations, mark-resight data, and doubly labeled water estimates ... more We used detailed time-budget observations, mark-resight data, and doubly labeled water estimates of energy expenditure to test whether energy spent on courtship display by male frigatebirds functions as a sexually selected handicap signal. During a 2-day period of time budget observations, males displayed on average 29.5% of the time (range 0-100% for 15 different males), and this value was correlated with an index of season-long display effort. Season-long display effort was strongly predictive of pairing success. Average field metabolic rate (FMR) during the 2-day time budget period was 676.5 kJ/day (range 464.8-1035.0), substantially lower than the mass-specific FMR predicted from studies of other seabirds during incubation or chick-rearing. Despite a low overall FMR, display effort could function as an energetic handicap, either if FMR correlates positively with the amount of courtship performed or if high-quality males display at a high rate because they pay a lower energy cost per unit of display than do low-quality males. We found no relationship between FMR and display rate, despite good power for doing so. We also did not find a significant difference in energy spent divided by courtship time for males that were or were not chosen by females (inferred to be high-and low-quality males, respectively), though the medians differed in the Communicated by M. Leonard

Research paper thumbnail of Distribution-wide effects of climate on population densities of a declining migratory landbird

Journal of Animal Ecology, 2006

1. Increases in global temperatures have created concern about effects of climatic variability on... more 1. Increases in global temperatures have created concern about effects of climatic variability on populations, and climate has been shown to affect population dynamics in an increasing number of species. Testing for effects of climate on population densities across a species' distribution allows for elucidation of effects of climate that would not be apparent at smaller spatial scales. 2. Using autoregressive population models, we tested for effects of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on annual population densities of a North American migratory landbird, the yellow-billed cuckoo Coccyzus americanus , across the species' breeding distribution over a 37-year period (1966-2002). 3. Our results indicate that both the NAO and ENSO have affected population densities of C. americanus across much of the species' breeding range, with the strongest effects of climate in regions in which these climate systems have the strongest effects on local temperatures. Analyses also indicate that the strength of the effect of local temperatures on C. americanus populations was predictive of long-term population decline, with populations that were more negatively affected by warm temperatures experiencing steeper declines. 4. Results of this study highlight the importance of distribution-wide analyses of climatic effects and demonstrate that increases in global temperatures have the potential to lead to additional population declines.

Research paper thumbnail of Demography and reproductive ecology of great frigatebirds

Atoll research bulletin, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of large-scale climate on avian population dynamics across species' North American breeding distributions

Global temperature increases of 0.6 C over the past century and predicted increases of 2 to 6 C o... more Global temperature increases of 0.6 C over the past century and predicted increases of 2 to 6 C over the next century have prompted many studies on effects of global warming on the population dynamics of plants and animals. Studies of landbirds in Europe and North America have shown effects of climatic variation on productivity and survival. However, such effects have been seen to translate to changes in population densities in only a few studies of European landbirds. Thus, the extent to which global warming has the potential to cause population declines in North American landbirds has remained unclear. In the research presented here, I model 39 years of climatic data, including indices of the North Atlantic Oscillation and El Niño Southern Oscillation, and distribution-wide Breeding Bird Survey data on 21 North American landbird species, to examine potential relationships between large-scale climate change and changes in avian population densities. Results of these analyses indica...

Research paper thumbnail of Population Trends of the Endangered Golden-Cheeked Warbler at Fort Hood, Texas, from 1992�2001

The Southwestern Naturalist, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Articles Occurrence and Breeding Behavior of Lesser Frigatebirds (Fregata-L) on Tern Islam), Nor- Haw= Islands

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Large-scale Climate on Avian Population Dynamics Across Species' North American Breeding Distributions

Research paper thumbnail of Demography andreproductive ecology of great frigatebirds

Increasing taxonomic resolution in dietary analysis of the Hawaiian monk seal. Ken Longenecker, R... more Increasing taxonomic resolution in dietary analysis of the Hawaiian monk seal. Ken Longenecker, Robert A. Dollar, and Maire K. Cahoon Movements of monk seals relative to ecological depth zones in the lower Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Frank A. Parrish and Kyler Abernathy Foraging biogeography of Hawaiian monk seals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Research paper thumbnail of Population Trends of the Endangered Golden-Cheeked Warbler at Fort Hood, Texas, from 1992–2001

The Southwestern Naturalist, 2004

... CrossRef, CSA. Stephenson, TR, MR Vaughan, and DE Andersen. ... Bret A. Collier a, , Michael ... more ... CrossRef, CSA. Stephenson, TR, MR Vaughan, and DE Andersen. ... Bret A. Collier a, , Michael L. Morrison b , Shannon L. Farrell c , Andrew J. Campomizzi d , Jerrod A. Butcher e , K. Brian Hays f , Darryl I. Mackenzie g , and R. Neal Wilkins h . (2010) Monitoring Golden-Cheeked ...

Research paper thumbnail of Parent age differentially influences offspring size over the course of development in Laysan albatross

Journal of Zoology, 2008

... Growth and survival of offspring are influenced by genetic and environmental factors, includi... more ... Growth and survival of offspring are influenced by genetic and environmental factors, including the quality of parental care (Clutton-Brock, 1991). ... We thank Beth Flint and the US Fish and Wildlife Service for support and access to Tern Island. ...