Piping Plover - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

5-YEAR REVIEW
Species reviewed: Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION ………………………………………… 1
1.1 Reviewers ……………………………………………………………... 1
1.2 Methodology Used to Complete the Review …………………………. 1
1.3 Background ……………………………………………………………. 1
2.0 REVIEW ANALYSIS ………………………………………………… 5
2.1 Taxonomic Classification and Application of the 1996
Distinct Population Segment (DPS) policy ……………………………. 6
2.1.1 Background and history of taxonomic and DPS
treatment under the ESA ………………………………………. 6
2.1.2 Taxonomic classification or changes in nomenclature ………... 7
2.1.3 Application of the 1996 DPS policy …………………………... 9
2.1.4 Conclusions regarding taxonomic classification and
DPS analysis …………………………………………………… 16
2.1.5 Section references ……………………………………………… 18
WM 2.2
Updated Information and Current Species Status for the
Wintering and Migration Range ……………………………….…..…… 23
WM 2.2.1 Biology and habitat ………………………………………. 23
WM 2.2.2 Five-factor analysis ………………………………………. 30
WM 2.2.3 Synthesis …………………………………………………. 54
WM 2.3.4 Section references ………………………………………… 55
GL 2.3 Updated Information and Current Species Status for the
Great Lakes Breeding Population ……...……………..………………… 68
GL 2.3.1 Recovery criteria ………………………………………….. 68
GL 2.3.2 Biology and habitat ………………………………………. 72
GL 2.3.3 Five-factor analysis ………………………………………. 80
GL 2.3.4 Synthesis ………………………………………………….. 87
GL 2.3.5 Section references ………………………………………… 89
NGP 2.4
Updated Information and Current Species Status for the
Northern Great Plains Breeding Population ………………...………….. 91
NGP 2.4.1 Recovery criteria …………………………………………. 91
NGP 2.4.2 Biology and habitat ………………………………………. 100
NGP 2.4.3 Five-factor analysis ………………………………………. 115
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