South Carolina Project
Spatial Ecology of Brown Pelicans in the South Atlantic Bight
September 2016 - December 2023
Personnel
Participating Agencies
- USGS
As a nearshore marine predator and species of conservation concern, Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus oddicentalis) in the southeastern United States constitute a valuable study population for investigating coastal ecological systems. Despite occupying a highly visible and elevated trophic position in estuarine and oceanic ecosystems, movement parameters describing habitat use patterns, foraging behaviors, and migratory corridors are undeveloped at multiple spatial and temporal scales. This study aims to address these information gaps by outfitting breeding adult pelicans with high-resolution GPS satellite transmitters, which will provide accurate locational data throughout the annual life-history cycle. We will use these data to (1) examine movement and behavior of individual pelicans during the passage of hurricanes, (2) evaluate the risk exposure of pelican colonies to ship-based oil spills within Charleston Harbor, SC, using modeling products developed by NOAA, (3) assess the usage of discarded bycatch from shrimp trawlers by adult pelicans in relation to reproductive output by pairing movement data with diet samples, stable isotope analysis, and chick corticosterone concentrations, and (4) investigate the drivers of partial migration in brown pelicans and subsequently model shifts in both migration probability and non-breeding range of brown pelicans under multiple climate change scenarios.
Research Publications | Publication Date |
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Wilkinson, B.P., and P.G.R. Jodice. Support for the fasting endurance hypothesis of partial migration in Brown Pelicans. 2023. Ecosphere 2023;14:e4365. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4365 | Abstract | Download |
February 2023 |
Wilkinson, B.P., and P.G.R. Jodice. 2022. Interannual colony exchange among breeding Eastern Brown Pelicans. J. Field Ornithology. 93(1) 5. https://doi.org/10.5751/JFO-00074-930105 | Download | April 2022 |
Wilkinson, B.P., Y.G. Satge, J.S. Lamb, P.G.R. Jodice. 2019. Tropical cyclones alter short-term activity patterns of coastal seabird. Movement Ecology 7:30. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-019-0178-0 | Download | November 2019 |
Wilkinson, B.P., A.R. Robuck, R. Lohmannm, H.M., Packard, P.G.R. Jodice. 2022. Urban proximity while breeding is not a predictor of perfluoroalkyl substance contamination in the eggs of brown pelicans. Science of the Total Environment 803 (2022) 150110 | Download | September 2021 |
Theses and Dissertations | Publication Date |
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Wilkinson, B.P. 2021. Ecological outcomes of movement behavior in Brown Pelicans from the South Atlantic Bight. PhD Dissertation, Clemson University | December 2021 |
Type | Citation | Publication Date |
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Data Release | Wilkinson, B.P., and Jodice, P., 2022, Movement Data of Partially Migratory Brown Pelicans from the South Atlantic Bight: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9YH2U8D. | September 2022 |
Data Release | Wilkinson, B.P., Y.G Satgé, J.S. Lamb, and P.G.R. Jodice. 2019. GPS tracking of Brown Pelican in the South Atlantic Bight during cyclonic activity (2017-2018): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9D5IP0G. | September 2019 |
Data Release | Wilkinson, B.P, Jodice, P.G.R., and Robuck, A.R., 2021, Concentrations of Perfluoroalkyl Substances in the Eggs of Brown Pelicans from Charleston, SC (2019): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9SKDFZU | September 2021 |
Data Release | Bradley, P.W., and Jodice, P.G., 2022, Interannual Breeding Movements of Brown Pelicans in the South Atlantic Bight: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9BZ5TL9. | January 2022 |