NRES Calendar

Understanding Ecosystem Dynamics in Gulf Coast High Marsh Systems to Inform Adaptive Management of Eastern Black Rail (Laterallus j. jamaicensis)

Eastern Black Rail is a rare, federally threatened marsh bird. One of the remaining strongholds for the subspecies is the U.S. Gulf of Mexico coast. The Gulf Coast has historically been managed for waterfowl using fire; however, its effects on other marsh obligates are unclear. From 2022–2024, I evaluated the effects of 0, 1–2, and 5+ years-since-burn (YSB) on nest survival, predator occupancy, and macroinvertebrate abundance across Gulf Coast states. Nest survival was highest 1–2 YSB and lowest 5+ YSB. In contrast, habitat structure influenced predator occupancy, with communities favoring open habitats. Macroinvertebrate abundance was influenced by temperature, drought, and habitat structure. Lastly, I assessed spatial patterns of Eastern Black Rail and Yellow Rail along the Gulf Coast. Both rails were concentrated along Texas and Florida coastlines, though Yellow Rail maintained broader spatial continuity in Louisiana. These findings can help guide management of Eastern Black Rail habitat.