Science Articles

Wildlife Response to Restoration on the Sacramento River.

San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science
2008
Golet G.H., T. Gardali, C. Howell, J. Hunt, R. Luster, B. Rainey, M. Roberts, H. Swagerty, N. Williams.
Publisher N/A
SourceGregory H Golet
Volume / Issue6 (2)
Pages26-Jan
Total Pages N/A
Article Linkhttp://escholarship.org/uc/item/4z17h9qm
PDF Linkhttp://escholarship.org/uc/item/4z17h9qm.pdf
ISBN N/A
DOI N/A
Editor(s) N/A
Conference / Book Title N/A
Flag N/A
Tagswildlife, Sacramento river
Other N/A
Conference Title N/A
Conference Date N/A
Publication Date N/A
Article Date N/A
GS Citation46
AbstractStudies that assess the success of riparian restoration projects seldom focus on wildlife. More generally, vegetation characteristics are studied, with the assumption that animal populations will recover once adequate habitats are established. On the Sacramento River, millions of dollars have been spent on habitat restoration, yet few studies of wildlife response have been published. Here we present the major findings of a suite of studies that assessed responses of four taxonomic groups (insects, birds, bats, and rodents). Study designs fell primarily into two broad categories: comparisons of restoration sites of different ages, and comparisons of restoration sites with agricultural and remnant riparian sites. Older restoration sites showed increased abundances of many species of landbirds and bats relative to younger sites, and the same trend was observed for the Valley elderberry longhorn beetle (Desmocerus californicus dimorphus), a federally threatened species. Species richness of landbirds and grounddwelling beetles appeared to increase as restoration sites matured. Young restoration sites provided benefits to species that utilize early successional riparian habitats, and after about 10 years, the sites appeared to provide many of the complex structural habitat elements that are characteristic of remnant forest patches. Eleven-year old sites were occupied by both cavity-nesting birds and special-status crevice-roosting bats. Restored sites also supported a wide diversity of bee species, and had richness similar to remnant sites. Remnant sites had species compositions of beetles and rodents more similar to older sites than to younger sites.
Created: 12/14/2017 10:31 AM (ET)
Modified: 12/14/2017 10:31 AM (ET)
“” “”