By ERIC FREEDMAN
Capital News Service
Capital News Service
LANSING — The once-abundant black tern is far less abundant in
Great Lakes wetlands, a victim of habitat loss and invasive plant species. And
there’s a high risk that more colonies will be abandoned, according to a new
study.
Since 1991, the number of active black tern colonies has
plummeted nearly 90 percent, the study found. Major factors included changes in
vegetation from invasive plants at breeding sites and land development near
colonies.
“Decline of black terns in the Great Lakes region has been
severe, and preventing abandonment of remaining colonies is an important
stop-gap measure for maintaining the bird’s presence until the causes of its
decline are better understood,” study authors Katherine Wyman and Francesca
Cuthbert of the University of Minnesota wrote.
“Many scientists view continuing wetland habitat loss and
degradation as a major barrier to black tern conservation in North America,”
they said in a new article published in the journal Wetlands Ecology and
Management. And fewer breeding sites increases the birds’ vulnerability to
natural disasters.
Terns aren’t the only beneficiaries of coastal wetlands
preservation and restoration.
Cuthbert said fish nurseries benefit, as do other birds such
as the least bittern — a threatened species in Michigan — Virginia rail,
pied-billed grebe and marsh wren. All those species need water they can walk,
swim or forage in.
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