Priorities for Future Research

Many aspects of Roseate Spoonbill biology have not been investigated.

(1) Except for in Texas and Florida Bay, little is known about the nesting ecology of this species. Louisiana has become increasingly important for breeding, yet the population there remains the poorest known in the United States. The best-studied population is in Florida Bay, but the bay and adjacent Everglades make up a complex, unique ecosystem that has its own set of human-induced problems. The links among food availability, hydrology, estuarine productivity, and reproductive success are crucial here, since this population is probably the most vulnerable one in the United States.

(2) Nothing is known about demographic parameters and important sources of mortality outside of reproductive success in any population—for example, annual survival after fledging, philopatry (immigration and emigration). These data are necessary for modeling population growth, assessing vulnerability, and sorting the contribution of local production of nestlings from outside sources to recruitment of breeding adults.

(3) No population genetics information is currently available; studies should focus on the amount of gene flow between eastern (Florida) and western (Texas, Louisiana) populations.

(4) The current status of the Roseate Spoonbill outside of the U.S. is poorly known. These populations were once important in the reestablishment of spoon-bills in Texas at least, so they are important reservoirs.

(5) Very little is known about foraging ecology and its constraints on nesting ecology. Diet also needs to be systematically quantified for conservation and restoration purposes.

(6) An in-depth study of how appearance changes with age, including extent and timing of molt and a study of geographic variation in timing of molt as related to different breeding schedules, is needed.

(7) A full description of the behavioral repertoire of the species is also needed. Its breeding behavior is generally similar to that of other spoonbills that have been studied, but comparisons are tentative. An in-depth study of behavior would also help elucidate the taxonomic relationship of the Roseate to other spoonbills and complement work already completed on a relatively poorly studied group of birds.