Stork

Abstract: Introduction. The Need for Integrated Environmental Systems Management. Managing Environmental Risks: Ethical Plumb Lines. The Systems Approach to Environmental Assessment. Decision Analysis as a Tool in Integrated Environmental Management. Applied Ecology, Its Practice and Philosophy. Clean-Up of Contaminated Lands: How Clean is Clean Enough? The Savannah River Site as a National Environmental Research Park. A Strategy for the Long-Term Management of the Savannah River Site Lands. The Role of the Endangered Species Act in the Conservation of Biological Diversity: An Assessment. Endangered Species Protection - The Wood Stork Example. The Savannah River - Past, Present and Future. Impacts of Management Decisions on Environmental Issues of the Savannah River. The Savannah River System as a Microcosm of World Problems: Instructions to Conference Participants. Management of the Savannah River. Endangered Species Protection - The Wood Stork. Long-Term Management of the Savannah River Site Lands. Future Needs. Summary of Perspectives on Integrated Environmental Management. Appendix I. Appendix II.

Abstract: In the mid 1970s, the breeding populations of the migrant White Stork Ciconia ciconia were close to extinction in the northeastern region of France (Alsace). A re-introduction project was implemented, resulting in the year-round settlement of some individuals in the region, which rely on additional food supplied by humans during the winter. Today, both resident and migrant birds breed in the same areas and take food from rubbish dumps and humans (farmers). The effects of these anthropogenic influences, altering Stork behaviour, on Stork reproductive success are not known. The aim of this study was to test the influence of bird status (resident vs. migrant) and food availability (control nests vs. nests that benefit from high food supply) on reproductive success. In control nests, the mean laying date was earlier in resident than in migrant White Storks. There was also a clear seasonal decline in clutch size. For all nests, the numbers of eggs and hatchlings were higher in resident birds than in migrants, which can be attributed to the earlier breeding of resident Storks. The large broods of resident birds showed a high mortality rate, leading to the same fledgling success (fledglings/hatchlings) and number of fledglings as in migrants. Fledgling success and the number of fledglings were higher for nests close to a reliable food supply. In summary, although resident birds can breed earlier and produce more eggs than migrants, we found no advantage in terms of number of fledglings. The higher mortality rate of chicks found in pairs with a large brood could be caused by the deterioration of their habitat. Thus, the year-round settlement of Storks may not present a biological advantage if the quality of their habitat is not guaranteed by the conservation of their grasslands.