Sea-level rise, habitat loss, and potential extirpation of a salt marsh specialist bird in urbanized landscapes.

ABSTRACT: Sea-level rise (SLR) impacts on intertidal habitat depend on coastal topology, accretion, and constraints from surrounding development. Such habitat changes might affect species like Belding's savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis beldingi; BSSP), which live in high-elevation salt marsh in the Southern California Bight. To predict how BSSP habitat might change under various SLR scenarios, we first constructed a suitability model by matching bird observations with elevation. We then mapped current BSSP breeding and foraging habitat at six estuarine sites by applying the elevation-suitability model to digital elevation models. To estimate changes in digital elevation models under different SLR scenarios, we used a site-specific, one-dimensional elevation model (wetland accretio

SUBMITTER: Rosencranz JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6144993 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature