Population status

Piping Plover melodus subspecies
(Charadrius melodus melodus)

Dedicated surveys of the eastern melodus subspecies have occurred regularly since 1991 and provide the best estimates of population trend for the subspecies. Analyses of the number of C. m. melodus recorded during annual surveys of the Atlantic coast of Canada between 1991 and 2013 indicate a 13% (P = 0.15) decrease and a significant short-term (2003–2013) decrease of 23.3% (P = 0.014; COSEWIC 2013c).  Further, monitoring information prior to 1991 is scarce and less reliable. Still, based on existing data it is reasonable to assume the population of C. m. melodus in Atlantic Canada has shown a slightly negative trend but overall little change relative to about 1970. However, given the lack of information prior to 1991 and the wide variation in results, this assessment is considered to be of only medium reliability.

 

International Piping Plover Census

Additional information on: International Piping Plover Census

Table 1: Population trends by geographic area
Geographic areaTime PeriodTrend Table 1 - footnote 1 Limits
LowerUpper
Eastern Canada Select to view graph of the geographic area: Eastern Canada 1991-2013; International Piping Plover Census1991-2013   
 

References