Common use of Habitat Types Clause in Contracts

Habitat Types. Nene are reported to utilize a variety of habitats from sea level to 8,000 feet above mean sea level including coastal dunes and non-native grasslands (such as golf courses, pastures and rural areas), sparsely vegetated low and high elevation lava flows, cinder deserts, native alpine grasslands and shrublands, open native and non-native alpine shrubland-woodland, as well as mid-elevation native and non-native shrublands and early successional cinderfall (USFWS 1999). However, their present distribution was highly influenced by the location of release sites for captive-bred nene and nesting generally occurs in areas associated with release sites (▇▇▇▇▇ 1988, ▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 1999, USFWS 1999). It is unlikely that nene used native grasslands, grassy shrublands and dryland forest prehistorically (▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 1999). Little is known about the vegetation structure, dynamics, and composition of Hawaiian habitats, especially in the lowlands, prior to human contact. However, more recent archaeological work is improving our understanding of the environmental history of Hawaii, including species composition and this is likely to aid in habitat restoration efforts for all native species, including nene (▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 1999, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 2001, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ 1990). Nene have shown flexibility in the utilization of alien plants and readily forage on introduced grasses and other plant species, however, low productivity is believed a problem in nene populations due to insufficient protein intake in their diet and there are also concerns about whether adequate nutrition is available for goslings (▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ 1995, ▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 1999, Black et al. 1994). Recent studies of habitat use and on the nutritional value of various food items eaten by nene, including native and non-native plants, will aid in determining methods for converting predominantly non-native plant communities into habitats dominated by native plants that are capable of sustaining nene populations in appropriate areas agreed on by nene managers and stakeholders (▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 1999, Black et al. 1994, Hu 2000, USFWS 1999, Woog 2000).

Habitat Types. Nene are reported to utilize a variety of habitats from sea level to 8,000 feet above mean sea level including coastal dunes and non-native grasslands (such as golf courses, pastures and rural areas), sparsely vegetated low and high elevation lava flows, cinder deserts, native alpine grasslands and shrublands, open native and non-native alpine shrubland-woodland, as well as mid-elevation native and non-native shrublands and early successional cinderfall (USFWS 1999). However, their present distribution was highly influenced by the location of release sites for captive-bred nene and nesting generally occurs in areas associated with release sites (▇▇▇▇▇ 1988, ▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 1999, USFWS 1999). It is unlikely that nene used native grasslands, grassy shrublands and dryland forest prehistorically (▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 1999). Little is known about the vegetation structure, dynamics, and composition of Hawaiian habitats, especially in the lowlands, prior to human contact. However, more recent archaeological work is improving our understanding of the environmental history of Hawaii, including species composition and this is likely to aid in habitat restoration efforts for all native species, including nene (▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 1999, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 2001, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ 1990). Nene have shown flexibility in the utilization of alien plants and readily forage on introduced grasses and other plant species, however, low productivity is believed a problem in nene populations due to insufficient protein intake in their diet and there are also concerns about whether adequate nutrition is available for goslings (▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ 1995, ▇▇▇▇▇ et al. al 1999, Black et al. al 1994). Recent studies of habitat use and on the nutritional value of various food items eaten by nene, including native and non-native plants, will aid in determining methods for converting predominantly non-native plant communities into habitats dominated by native plants that are capable of sustaining nene populations in appropriate areas agreed on by nene managers and stakeholders (▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 1999, Black et al. al 1994, Hu 2000, USFWS 1999, Woog 2000).