SOFIA - SFRSF - Landscape Synthesis and Ecological Modeling - The Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow: why does a tiny bird have a large impact?

Last updated:
October 11, 2002

The Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow: why does a tiny bird have a large impact?

Poster presented May 1999, at the South Florida Restoration Science Forum

By: Erik Knight

Part 1: Management Problem: How to avoid the extinction of the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow

The sparrow exists almost exclusively within the boundaries of Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve.		Studies indicate the sparrow will only survive with 3 core populations.

The preferred habitat is marl prairie because of its dryness during the breeding season.		Catastrophic events such as fires, hurricanes, floods or droughts can wipe out an entire core population.

(Click on the maps below for a larger version.)

Sparrow experts predict extinction in a few decades if the current trends continue.

Next: Scientist analyze the problem

U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Coastal Geology
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Last updated: 11 October, 2002 @ 09:42 PM (HSH)