Residential irrigation as a driver of urban biodiversity

Resilience in urban socioecological systems: residential water management as a driver of biodiversity Madhusudan Katti Bradley Schleder Department of Biology California State University, Fresno http://www.fresnobirds.org/

Natural Environment

Natural Environment Individual responses Behavior, Physiology, Life History

Regional/Global Ecosystem Natural Community Environment Population Individual responses Behavior, Physiology, Life History

Regional/Global Ecosystem Natural Community Human Environment Impact Population Individual responses Behavior, Physiology, Life History

A coupled socioecological system (SES) Actions interventions Human System Ecosystem Ecosystem services

Unpacking the black box of “human impact”

Unpacking the black box of “human impact” • Human actions alter the ecosystem (directly and indirectly), e.g. by altering land-use/land-cover (LULC) with diverse effects on other species

Unpacking the black box of “human impact” • Human actions alter the ecosystem (directly and indirectly), e.g. by altering land-use/land-cover (LULC) with diverse effects on other species • Human actions are complex products of interactions among many variables:

Unpacking the black box of “human impact” • Human actions alter the ecosystem (directly and indirectly), e.g. by altering land-use/land-cover (LULC) with diverse effects on other species • Human actions are complex products of interactions among many variables: • economic characteristics

Unpacking the black box of “human impact” • Human actions alter the ecosystem (directly and indirectly), e.g. by altering land-use/land-cover (LULC) with diverse effects on other species • Human actions are complex products of interactions among many variables: • economic characteristics • sociological arrangements

Unpacking the black box of “human impact” • Human actions alter the ecosystem (directly and indirectly), e.g. by altering land-use/land-cover (LULC) with diverse effects on other species • Human actions are complex products of interactions among many variables: • economic characteristics • sociological arrangements • cultural characteristics and background

Unpacking the black box of “human impact” • Human actions alter the ecosystem (directly and indirectly), e.g. by altering land-use/land-cover (LULC) with diverse effects on other species • Human actions are complex products of interactions among many variables: • economic characteristics • sociological arrangements • cultural characteristics and background • institutional arrangements

Unpacking the black box of “human impact” • Human actions alter the ecosystem (directly and indirectly), e.g. by altering land-use/land-cover (LULC) with diverse effects on other species • Human actions are complex products of interactions among many variables: • economic characteristics • sociological arrangements • cultural characteristics and background • institutional arrangements • politics

Residential water use in Fresno

Residential water use in Fresno • Currently, 51% of water is used residentially

Residential water use in Fresno • Currently, 51% of water is used residentially • 70% of residential water used for irrigation

Residential water use in Fresno • Currently, 51% of water is used residentially • 70% of residential water used for irrigation • Starting in 2013, ﬂat rate water will be replaced by metered water

Residential water use in Fresno • Currently, 51% of water is used residentially • 70% of residential water used for irrigation • Starting in 2013, ﬂat rate water will be replaced by metered water • As water becomes more expensive, residents are expected to reduce consumption

Residential water use in Fresno • Currently, 51% of water is used residentially • 70% of residential water used for irrigation • Starting in 2013, ﬂat rate water will be replaced by metered water • As water becomes more expensive, residents are expected to reduce consumption • Residential irrigation is therefore predicted to decrease

Residential water use in Fresno • Currently, 51% of water is used residentially • 70% of residential water used for irrigation • Starting in 2013, ﬂat rate water will be replaced by metered water • As water becomes more expensive, residents are expected to reduce consumption • Residential irrigation is therefore predicted to decrease • Decreased irrigation is in turn predicted to alter bird diversity

Residential water use in Fresno • Currently, 51% of water is used residentially • 70% of residential water used for irrigation • Starting in 2013, ﬂat rate water will be replaced by metered water • As water becomes more expensive, residents are expected to reduce consumption • Residential irrigation is therefore predicted to decrease • Decreased irrigation is in turn predicted to alter bird diversity • The effects may be more extreme in impoverished urban areas

Challenges and Data Needs for Urban Ecology

Challenges and Data Needs for Urban Ecology • Urban habitats are highly variable • many different land uses • rapid changes over short distances • need many sites for data precision

Challenges and Data Needs for Urban Ecology • Urban habitats are highly variable • many different land uses • rapid changes over short distances • need many sites for data precision • Many species of birds • Measurements must be repeatable at same sites over years

Fresno-Clovis Metro Area (FCMA) Fresno Bird Count Study Madera Californi Clovi Fresno Fresno Fresno FBC Censused in Habitat surveyed site 2008 (N=200) (N=38)

Fresno Bird Count - April 15-May 15: Survey Design & Census Methodology

Fresno Bird Count - April 15-May 15: Survey Design & Census Methodology • 460 sites on a 1Km X 1Km grid • each site located randomly within a single grid cell

Fresno Bird Count - April 15-May 15: Survey Design & Census Methodology • 460 sites on a 1Km X 1Km grid • each site located randomly within a single grid cell • Grouped into 58 clusters (routes) of 7-8 sites each • possible to cover all sites in a single morning

Fresno Bird Count - April 15-May 15: Survey Design & Census Methodology • 460 sites on a 1Km X 1Km grid • each site located randomly within a single grid cell • Grouped into 58 clusters (routes) of 7-8 sites each • possible to cover all sites in a single morning • Counts conducted within 4 hours after sunrise

Fresno Bird Count - April 15-May 15: Survey Design & Census Methodology • 460 sites on a 1Km X 1Km grid • each site located randomly within a single grid cell • Grouped into 58 clusters (routes) of 7-8 sites each • possible to cover all sites in a single morning • Counts conducted within 4 hours after sunrise • Point Count • 5-minute duration • count all birds seen & heard • within a 40m-radius circle

Fresno Bird Count - April 15-May 15: Survey Design & Census Methodology • 460 sites on a 1Km X 1Km grid • each site located randomly within a single grid cell • Grouped into 58 clusters (routes) of 7-8 sites each • possible to cover all sites in a single morning • Counts conducted within 4 hours after sunrise • Point Count • 5-minute duration • count all birds seen & heard • within a 40m-radius circle • ~200 points surveyed during 2008 and 2009 each

Fresno Bird Count - April 15-May 15: Habitat and Socioeconomic Assessment

Fresno Bird Count - April 15-May 15: Habitat and Socioeconomic Assessment • A subset of 38 points, located in residential areas only

Fresno Bird Count - April 15-May 15: Habitat and Socioeconomic Assessment • A subset of 38 points, located in residential areas only • Rapid survey of habitat variables at 20m-radius plots • % Canopy Cover • Ground cover: % grass, impervious, dirt/mulch, buildings, gravel • Number of Trees • Average Tree Height • Number of Shrubs • Average Shrub Height • Grass Height • Irrigation intensity score (4 point scale: 0-3) for each residence overlapping plot; Mode of score is used in analyses presented here • % population in surrounding census block group living below poverty level (<$18,310/yr for a family of three)* *US Census, Department of Health and Human Services 2008 - 2009

Examples of Irrigation Regimes 0 2 3

Distribution of Bird Species Richness in the FCMA In 2008 • 186 points surveyed by 35 volunteers • 86 bird species recorded • 3263 total birds seen • Average species richness per site: 5.13 ± 0.16 SE 1-3 spp 3-6 spp 6-9 spp 9-12 spp

Irrigation is correlated with... Poverty Bird Species Richness 1.00 10 9 0.75 8 3 Mode Irrigation # Bird Species 7 0.50 6 5 4 0.25 2 3 2 0.00 1 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 2 3 % Poverty Mode Irrigation R2(U) =0.10, Χ2 p =0.01, F2,35=3.18, p =0.05, R2=0.15 N=38

Bird Species Richness is also correlated with... % Building Open Canopy 10 10 9 9 8 8 # Bird Species # Bird Species 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 % Building % Open Canopy R2 =0.12, p =0.04, N=38 R2 =0.11, p =0.04, N=38

Multivariate Drivers of Bird Diversity in the FCMA • Stepwise regression: 9 variables, 8 interaction terms, mixed procedure • Best ﬁt model as shown in table below • Whole model R2=0.64 (adj. R2=0.53), F(8,24)=5.43, P=0.0006 Source +/- F-ratio Prob >F Mean Grass Height * Mode Irrigation Score + 10.71 0.003* % Building - 7.93 0.0096* Mean Grass Height (cm) - 4.81 0.038* % Poverty * Mode Irrigation Score + 4.33 0.048* % Poverty * % Building + 2.55 0.12 Mean Shrub Height (m) - 2.16 0.16 Mode Irrigation Score + 0.86 0.36 % Poverty - 0.048 0.83 • Model comparison based inference supported the above results; the lowest AICc = 119.665 for comparison of 56 8-paramater models

Conclusions from the FCMA

Conclusions from the FCMA • Urban bird diversity increased signiﬁcantly with residential irrigation intensity.

Conclusions from the FCMA • Urban bird diversity increased signiﬁcantly with residential irrigation intensity. • Residential irrigation intensity decreased signiﬁcantly with increasing poverty levels.

Conclusions from the FCMA • Urban bird diversity increased signiﬁcantly with residential irrigation intensity. • Residential irrigation intensity decreased signiﬁcantly with increasing poverty levels. • Neighborhood poverty level (i.e., economic status) has strong effects on irrigation intensity even without water metering.

Conclusions from the FCMA • Urban bird diversity increased signiﬁcantly with residential irrigation intensity. • Residential irrigation intensity decreased signiﬁcantly with increasing poverty levels. • Neighborhood poverty level (i.e., economic status) has strong effects on irrigation intensity even without water metering. • Poverty also has strong indirect effects on bird diversity through intermediate variables including irrigation intensity, grass height, % building cover, and shrub height.

Conclusions from the FCMA

Conclusions from the FCMA • Socioeconomic status and related irrigation / landscape management practices by residents appear to be strong drivers of habitat structure for birds, and overall bird diversity in the FCMA.

Conclusions from the FCMA • Socioeconomic status and related irrigation / landscape management practices by residents appear to be strong drivers of habitat structure for birds, and overall bird diversity in the FCMA. • In an arid region like the San Joaquin Valley irrigation dramatically alters the landscape and may provide resources (food and cover) otherwise unavailable to bird species.

Differences in landscape structure Phoenix: Stream channels larger, more perennial More irrigation, pseudo-riparian vegetation, golf courses mesic yards Tucson: Mostly seasonal washes xeric yards Indian Bend Wash, Scottsdale Rillito Wash, Tucson

Abert’s Towhee Endemic to lower Sonoran desert Prefers riparian habitat, especially Pipilo aberti for breeding

Abert’s Towhee in two cities Phoenix Tucson 2.0 2.0 Ln (Towhee Abundance) SPRING Ln (Towhee Abundance) SPRING Spearman’s ρ = -0.336 Spearman’s ρ = -0.183 P = 0.016 P < 0.0001 1.5 Autumn 1.5 Winter Spring 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0 3000 6000 9000 12000 15000 0 3000 6000 9000 12000 15000 Distance to Nearest River (m) Distance to Nearest Major Wash (m) M. Katti, W. Turner, E. Shochat (2001)

Ongoing and proposed research in the FCMA

Ongoing and proposed research in the FCMA • Results provide baseline (Before) data as part of a Before-After-Control-Impact experiment (a “found” experiment)

Ongoing and proposed research in the FCMA • Results provide baseline (Before) data as part of a Before-After-Control-Impact experiment (a “found” experiment) • Mapping of tree cover and species diversity

Ongoing and proposed research in the FCMA • Results provide baseline (Before) data as part of a Before-After-Control-Impact experiment (a “found” experiment) • Mapping of tree cover and species diversity • Detailed socioeconomic and cultural surveys of individual homeowners (to begin in 2010)

Ongoing and proposed research in the FCMA • Results provide baseline (Before) data as part of a Before-After-Control-Impact experiment (a “found” experiment) • Mapping of tree cover and species diversity • Detailed socioeconomic and cultural surveys of individual homeowners (to begin in 2010) • Survey of institutional agents

Ongoing and proposed research in the FCMA • Results provide baseline (Before) data as part of a Before-After-Control-Impact experiment (a “found” experiment) • Mapping of tree cover and species diversity • Detailed socioeconomic and cultural surveys of individual homeowners (to begin in 2010) • Survey of institutional agents • Analysis of water policies

Ongoing and proposed research in the FCMA • Results provide baseline (Before) data as part of a Before-After-Control-Impact experiment (a “found” experiment) • Mapping of tree cover and species diversity • Detailed socioeconomic and cultural surveys of individual homeowners (to begin in 2010) • Survey of institutional agents • Analysis of water policies • Detailed Land-Use/Land-Cover (LULC) modeling

Ongoing and proposed research in the FCMA • Results provide baseline (Before) data as part of a Before-After-Control-Impact experiment (a “found” experiment) • Mapping of tree cover and species diversity • Detailed socioeconomic and cultural surveys of individual homeowners (to begin in 2010) • Survey of institutional agents • Analysis of water policies • Detailed Land-Use/Land-Cover (LULC) modeling • Develop and test a more comprehensive model of the urban socioecological system (SES)

A conceptual model of an urban SES focusing on water

Thanks are due to: • Inspiration: • Will Turner - Tucson Bird Count; CAP-LTER, BES • Mary Cadenasso, Derya Ozgoc- Caglar, Andrew Jones, Lara Triona, Henry Delcore, John Bushoven, Sarah Wallace • Perspiration: • All the volunteers of the FBC! • Web Database (work in progress): • NiJeL.org (Lela Prashad, Nancy Jones, JD Godchaux) • Funding: • Provost, CSU-Fresno • College of Science & Mathematics, CSU-Fresno

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Residential irrigation as a driver of urban biodiversity

by Madhusudan Katti on Jan 07, 2010

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