These data show multilocus genotypes, banding age, and territory for coastal cactus wrens (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) sampled in coastal Southern California between 2009 and 2019.

The Coastal Cactus Wren is a species of high conservation concern in southern California. The goal of this project was to obtain taxonomic resolution of subspecies boundaries between coastal and desert populations of Cactus Wrens. We collected genetic samples from Cactus Wrens at California desert sites and combined this dataset with previously collected samples from coastal populations to resolve the distribution of subspecies and to determine distinct genetic lineages, gene flow, genetic diversity and effective population size of desert populations. Understanding these relationships will assist managers with development and implementation of a conservation and management strategy that could aim to avoid state or federal listing of this declining species.

The Coastal Cactus Wren is a species of high conservation concern in southern California. The goal of this project was to obtain taxonomic resolution of subspecies boundaries between coastal and desert populations of Cactus Wrens. We collected genetic samples from Cactus Wrens at California desert sites and combined this dataset with previously collected samples from coastal populations to resolve the distribution of subspecies and to determine distinct genetic lineages, gene flow, genetic diversity and effective population size of desert populations. Understanding these relationships will assist managers with development and implementation of a conservation and management strategy that could aim to avoid state or federal listing of this declining species.

This habitat model was developed to delineate suitable habitat for coastal cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) in southern California. A primary purpose of the model is to identify potential restoration sites that may not currently support cactus patches required by wrens, but which are otherwise highly suitable. These are areas that could be planted with cactus to increase wren populations, an important management objective for many land managers. We used the Partitioned Mahalanobis D2 modeling technique to construct alternative models with different combinations of environmental variables. Variables were calculated at each point in the center of a 150 m x 150 m cell in a grid of points across the landscape. Variables reflect various aspects of topography, climate, land use (percent vegetation and urbanization at 150 m and 1 km scales), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and modeled habitat suitability for coastal prickly pear cactus (Opuntia littoralis) and California sagebrush (Artemisia californica). From compiled cactus wren observation data, we randomly selected a total of 845 spatially precise and non-redundant wren locations to use as a calibration dataset and retained the remaining 338 records to use in validation. We randomly selected 1,000 pseudo-absence points from the study area grid to use with the presence validation points to evaluate model performance. For every model-partition, we calculated Habitat Similarity Index (HSI) predictions for presence and pseudo absence points ranging from Very High (0.75 - 1.00); High (0.50 – 0.74); Low (0.25 - 0.49); and Very Low (0 - 0.24). Suitable habitat is identified as grid cells with HSI greater than or equal to 0.5. We calculated Area Under the Curve (AUC) values from a Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) to determine how well models distinguish between presence and pseudo-absence points. We constructed 11 alternative models and selected a best performing model and partition based upon median HSI calibration and validation values and AUC results. The top performing model (Run 11, Partition 1) has an AUC of 0.95 and a median calibration and validation HSI of 0.72 and 0.75, respectively. This model includes the following variables: average minimum January and maximum July temperatures, annual precipitation, elevation, northness, eastness, slope, topographic heterogeneity (30 m x 30 m neighborhood), percent of urban, coastal sage scrub and chaparral land cover at 150 m scale, and predicted prickly pear and California sagebrush habitat suitability. We mapped HSI predictions for each cell in the 150 m-scale grid across the study area.

This habitat model was developed to delineate suitable habitat for coastal cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) in southern California. A primary purpose of the model is to identify potential restoration sites that may not currently support cactus patches required by wrens, but which are otherwise highly suitable. These are areas that could be planted with cactus to increase wren populations, an important management objective for many land managers. We used the Partitioned Mahalanobis D2 modeling technique to construct alternative models with different combinations of environmental variables. Variables were calculated at each point in the center of a 150 m x 150 m cell in a grid of points across the landscape. Variables reflect various aspects of topography, climate, land use (percent vegetation and urbanization at 150 m and 1 km scales), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and modeled habitat suitability for coastal prickly pear cactus (Opuntia littoralis) and California sagebrush (Artemisia californica). From compiled cactus wren observation data, we randomly selected a total of 845 spatially precise and non-redundant wren locations to use as a calibration dataset and retained the remaining 338 records to use in validation. We randomly selected 1,000 pseudo-absence points from the study area grid to use with the presence validation points to evaluate model performance. For every model-partition, we calculated Habitat Similarity Index (HSI) predictions for presence and pseudo absence points ranging from Very High (0.75 - 1.00); High (0.50 – 0.74); Low (0.25 - 0.49); and Very Low (0 - 0.24). Suitable habitat is identified as grid cells with HSI greater than or equal to 0.5. We calculated Area Under the Curve (AUC) values from a Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) to determine how well models distinguish between presence and pseudo-absence points. We constructed 11 alternative models and selected a best performing model and partition based upon median HSI calibration and validation values and AUC results. The top performing model (Run 11, Partition 1) has an AUC of 0.95 and a median calibration and validation HSI of 0.72 and 0.75, respectively. This model includes the following variables: average minimum January and maximum July temperatures, annual precipitation, elevation, northness, eastness, slope, topographic heterogeneity (30 m x 30 m neighborhood), percent of urban, coastal sage scrub and chaparral land cover at 150 m scale, and predicted prickly pear and California sagebrush habitat suitability. We mapped HSI predictions for each cell in the 150 m-scale grid across the study area.

These data were collected to determine how genetic variation is arrayed across remaining populations of gnatcatchers, allowing inference about individual movement and gene flow patterns among those populations. The work focused on determining the extent to which gnatcatcher aggregations function as an interconnected metapopulation, with aggregations exchanging migrants across a fragmented landscape and freely capable of re-establishing in patches from which they have been previously extirpated. These data will be used in combination with habitat and corridor indices to determine whether genetic connectivity is facilitated by stepping stone arrays of suitable habitat, or whether birds are unable to move across unsuitable habitat regardless of distance. The genetic data will also provide information on distances that individual birds will disperse for breeding. These data were used to support the following publication:

Data presented are results of surveys and monitoring for San Diego Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) in southern San Diego County. These data were collected to assess Cactus Wren population status following 3 years of drought and determine the relationships between specific elements of habitat quality, food availability, and Cactus Wren productivity and survival. Surveys were conducted periodically at 35 plots that were last surveyed in 2012. A subset of Cactus Wren territories were monitored in the Otay and Sweetwater/San Diego genetic clusters to ascertain Cactus Wren breeding productivity, survival, and associated vegetation composition and structure. Nesting data were compiled to present seasonal productivity for each Cactus Wren pair. All nestlings and adults (when possible) were color banded with unique color combinations to identify individuals on subsequent visits to provide data on survival within and between years. Habitat data were collected at survey plots during the first year of the survey and at monitoring sites during all years.

Data presented are results of surveys and monitoring for San Diego Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) in southern San Diego County. These data were collected to assess Cactus Wren population status following 3 years of drought and determine the relationships between specific elements of habitat quality, food availability, and Cactus Wren productivity and survival. Surveys were conducted periodically at 35 plots that were last surveyed in 2012. A subset of Cactus Wren territories were monitored in the Otay and Sweetwater/San Diego genetic clusters to ascertain Cactus Wren breeding productivity, survival, and associated vegetation composition and structure. Nesting data were compiled to present seasonal productivity for each Cactus Wren pair. All nestlings and adults (when possible) were color banded with unique color combinations to identify individuals on subsequent visits to provide data on survival within and between years. Habitat data were collected at survey plots during the first year of the survey and at monitoring sites during all years.

Data presented are results of surveys and monitoring for San Diego Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) in southern San Diego County. These data were collected to assess Cactus Wren population status following 3 years of drought and determine the relationships between specific elements of habitat quality, food availability, and Cactus Wren productivity and survival. Surveys were conducted periodically at 35 plots that were last surveyed in 2012. A subset of Cactus Wren territories were monitored in the Otay and Sweetwater/San Diego genetic clusters to ascertain Cactus Wren breeding productivity, survival, and associated vegetation composition and structure. Nesting data were compiled to present seasonal productivity for each Cactus Wren pair. All nestlings and adults (when possible) were color banded with unique color combinations to identify individuals on subsequent visits to provide data on survival within and between years. Habitat data were collected at survey plots during the first year of the survey and at monitoring sites during all years.

Data presented are results of surveys in 2021 for San Diego Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) in southern San Diego County. Surveys were conducted at 378 plots. Plots were surveyed twice in 2021 and the number, age (adult or juvenile), banding status (color banded or not), and breeding status (paired, unpaired, or unknown) of all wrens recorded. Habitat covariate data were collected including amount of dead and stressed cactus in the plot, percent cover of bare ground, and the dominant and percent cover of invasive species.