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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Survival And Nesting Ecology Of Scaled Quail In The Trans-Pecos, Texas, Carlos E. Gonzalez Gonzalez, Louis A. Harveson, Ryan S. Luna Nov 2017

Survival And Nesting Ecology Of Scaled Quail In The Trans-Pecos, Texas, Carlos E. Gonzalez Gonzalez, Louis A. Harveson, Ryan S. Luna

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) are one of the most ecologically and economically important wildlife species in the Trans-Pecos, because they are the primary upland game bird in the Chihuahuan Desert. Using radiotelemetry, we evaluated survival (Kaplan–Meier) and nesting success of quail on 3 study sites in the Trans-Pecos, Texas: one (Santiago Mountain Ranch, central Brewster Co.) was supplemented with milo (Sorghum bicolor) year-round, the second (Lado Ranch, south Culberson Co.) never used supplements, and the third (Apache Ranch, central Culberson Co.) was supplemented with quail blocks. We trapped and radiocollared 164 female quail collectively across all …


Efficacy Of A Soft Release Strategy For Translocating Scaled Quail In The Rolling Plains Of Texas, Rebekah E. Ruzicka, Kara B. Campbell, Michelle C. Downey, Dale Rollins, Bradley Kubečka, Matthew Poole, Donald C. Ruthven Nov 2017

Efficacy Of A Soft Release Strategy For Translocating Scaled Quail In The Rolling Plains Of Texas, Rebekah E. Ruzicka, Kara B. Campbell, Michelle C. Downey, Dale Rollins, Bradley Kubečka, Matthew Poole, Donald C. Ruthven

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata) populations have become locally extinct and spatially fragmented in the Rolling Plains ecoregion of Texas. Translocating Scaled Quail from core to declining populations could augment populations or re-establishing extinct populations. Although translocations of scaled quail have been attempted in Texas, none have been documented and none have attempted to identify best practices. Release strategy (i.e., hard or soft release) is a factor that can influence the success of a translocation. Our objective was to compare daily apparent survival of scaled quail translocated to the Rolling Plains between 2 release treatment groups: hard- and soft-release. …


Effects Of Source Population And Release Strategy On Survival And Dispersal Of Translocated Scaled Quail In The Rolling Plains Of Texas—A Preliminary Report, Rebekah E. Ruzicka, Dale Rollins Nov 2017

Effects Of Source Population And Release Strategy On Survival And Dispersal Of Translocated Scaled Quail In The Rolling Plains Of Texas—A Preliminary Report, Rebekah E. Ruzicka, Dale Rollins

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) have declined 3.5% annually in Texas from 1966-2013, but declines have not been uniform across the state. The Rolling Plains Ecoregion has experienced a 6.8% decrease during this period, while the western Edwards Plateau has remained stable. Habitat loss that has contributed to scaled quail decline also inhibits recolonization. Translocation has become an increasingly popular tool to reestablish populations for recreational or conservational purposes. Overall success rate of translocations is low and has prompted research into factors that contribute to the establishment of a self-sustaining population. Source population and release strategy are two translocation …


Survival Demographics Of Montezuma Quail In Southeast Arizona, Pedro M. Chavarria, Nova J. Silvy, Roel R. Lopez, Donald S. Davis, Angel Montoya Nov 2017

Survival Demographics Of Montezuma Quail In Southeast Arizona, Pedro M. Chavarria, Nova J. Silvy, Roel R. Lopez, Donald S. Davis, Angel Montoya

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Many facets of Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae mearnsi) population dynamics, such as survival and causes of mortality, are unknown because of limited or lack of mark–recapture studies on wild populations of this species. Much of what is known about this species comes from casual observations in the field or from dog-assisted flush-count surveys. Further insight into rate and causes of mortality for this species is necessary to ensure proper conservation measures. We evaluated survival and causes of mortality of Montezuma quail in southeastern Arizona from winter 2007 to spring 2010. Survival was determined from quail captured, radiotagged, and …


Effect Of Field Trials On Northern Bobwhite Survival And Hunt Quality On Dixie Plantation, D. Clay Sisson, Theron M. Terhune Ii Nov 2017

Effect Of Field Trials On Northern Bobwhite Survival And Hunt Quality On Dixie Plantation, D. Clay Sisson, Theron M. Terhune Ii

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

The potential negative effects of horseback field trials on survival and post trial hunting quality of northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) have long been debated. Recent acquisition of Dixie Plantation (3,650 ha) by Tall Timbers Research Station provided a unique opportunity to evaluate this interaction as Dixie has been home to the Continental Field Trial since 1937. We monitored radio-tagged bobwhites annually (n = 183; ~20 coveys during fall/winter) on a core study area (640 ha) upon which a portion of the field trial was conducted during January 2015 & 2016. We estimated Kaplan-Meier survival of radio-tagged bobwhites …


Estimates Of Northern Bobwhite Neonate Survival, Theron M. Terhune Ii, Richard B. Chandler, James A. Martin Nov 2017

Estimates Of Northern Bobwhite Neonate Survival, Theron M. Terhune Ii, Richard B. Chandler, James A. Martin

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Neonate survival is an important but poorly understood component of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) population dynamics. We used a combination of thermal imagery (forward-looking infrared [FLIR]) and radio-telemetry to estimate survival from time of hatch to fall recruitment. During 2013 – 2015, we tracked bobwhites and captured broods at ~11 days of age using the corral technique. In addition to patagial tagging each neonate captured, we sutured radio-tags (0.76 g) on a subset of neonates (n = 56), and located them 3-4 times daily using radio-telemetry to determine fate and cause of mortality. We modified the Dail-Madsen …


Breeding Season Survival And Nesting Of Northern Bobwhite On Native Prairie Versus Traditionally Managed Conservation Areas In Southwestern Missouri, Thomas R. Thompson, Frank L. Loncarich, R. Kyle Hedges Nov 2017

Breeding Season Survival And Nesting Of Northern Bobwhite On Native Prairie Versus Traditionally Managed Conservation Areas In Southwestern Missouri, Thomas R. Thompson, Frank L. Loncarich, R. Kyle Hedges

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) management on Missouri Conservation Area lands has traditionally focused on providing an interspersion of grass, crop, old field and woody cover to enhance edge habitat often juxtaposed with disked idle areas and food plots. This traditional approach, or the Intensive Management Model (IMM), is often implemented with the goal of providing all essential habitat components within a 40-acre area. While this model can produce useable quail habitat in agriculture-dominated landscapes it may not be the most effective or efficient approach to producing quail in grassland-dominated landscapes found in southwest Missouri. Conservation area mangers for …


Winter Survival And Habitat Selection By Translocated Northern Bobwhite In The New Jersey Pine Barrens: Preliminary Results, Kaili R. Stevens, Philip M. Coppola, Christopher K. Williams, Theron M. Terhune Ii, John P. Parke, John Cecil Nov 2017

Winter Survival And Habitat Selection By Translocated Northern Bobwhite In The New Jersey Pine Barrens: Preliminary Results, Kaili R. Stevens, Philip M. Coppola, Christopher K. Williams, Theron M. Terhune Ii, John P. Parke, John Cecil

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations have been experiencing precipitous range-wide declines for more than 50 years; some of the steepest declines occurring in the Mid-Atlantic states. These declines are largely attributed to habitat deterioration from urban sprawl, change in forest management, and intensive farming. This ongoing study aims to evaluate the efficacy of translocating wild bobwhites into the New Jersey Pine Barrens as a means to restore their historic populations. Translocation has proven relatively successful in augmenting bobwhite populations in other regions as well as restoring populations of gallinaceous species. This portion of the study aims to investigate …


Summer Survival Of Translocated Northern Bobwhite In The New Jersey Pine Barrens: Preliminary Results, Philip M. Coppola, Kaili R. Stevens, Christopher K. Williams, Theron M. Terhune Ii, John P. Parke, John Cecil Nov 2017

Summer Survival Of Translocated Northern Bobwhite In The New Jersey Pine Barrens: Preliminary Results, Philip M. Coppola, Kaili R. Stevens, Christopher K. Williams, Theron M. Terhune Ii, John P. Parke, John Cecil

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) have declined precipitously since the 1960s, largely due to habitat deterioration and changes in land use; some of the highest declines have been observed in the Mid-Atlantic States. In other regions, attempts to augment bobwhite populations have been relatively successful using translocation. As part of a long-term restocking program, focal areas for translocation in the mid-Atlantic region were identified by biologists at a National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative (NBCI) workshop. The objective of this project is to evaluate translocation to restore bobwhite populations in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, a focal area designated with a …


Testing Northern Bobwhite Reintroduction Techniques In The Northern Edge Of Their Range, William Macaluso, Christopher K. Williams, Theron M. Terhune Ii Nov 2017

Testing Northern Bobwhite Reintroduction Techniques In The Northern Edge Of Their Range, William Macaluso, Christopher K. Williams, Theron M. Terhune Ii

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Pen-rearing young frequently fails as a reintroduction technique in game birds because of low postrelease survival rates in the wild. This may be caused by a combination of poor genetics from domestication, unhealthy birds, birds that do not exhibit wild behavior, or birds that are unfamiliar with their surroundings after hard releases. Recent research suggests that parent-rearing, involving pre- and posthatch imprinting of wild-strain northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) chicks by adults, may be a viable option for restoring populations. Imprinting potentially causes reintroduced birds to exhibit more natural behavior. We tested this method against a slightly modified traditional …


Nest Site Selection And Nest Survival Of Eastern Wild Turkeys In A Pyric Landscape, Nathan A. Yeldell, Bradley S. Cohen, Andrew R. Little, Bret A. Collier, Michael J. Chamberlain Apr 2017

Nest Site Selection And Nest Survival Of Eastern Wild Turkeys In A Pyric Landscape, Nathan A. Yeldell, Bradley S. Cohen, Andrew R. Little, Bret A. Collier, Michael J. Chamberlain

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Pine (Pinus spp.)-dominated forests are commonly managed with prescribed fire in the southeastern United States to reduce fuel loads, maintain diverse plant communities, and increase habitat quality for wildlife. Prescribed fire alters understory vegetation, which is a key component of nesting habitat for ground-nesting birds. We assessed the influences of vegetation, prescribed fire, and landscape features (e.g., roads, edge) on nest site selection and nest survival of eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) in a pine-dominated ecosystem in west-central Louisiana. We radio-marked 55 female wild turkeys and evaluated vegetation and landscape characteristics associated with 69 nests during the …


The Influence Of Canopy Cover And Climate On Early Life-Stage Vital Rates For Northern Red-Legged Frogs (Rana Aurora), And The Implications For Population Growth Rates, Kecly Mcharry Jan 2017

The Influence Of Canopy Cover And Climate On Early Life-Stage Vital Rates For Northern Red-Legged Frogs (Rana Aurora), And The Implications For Population Growth Rates, Kecly Mcharry

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Many amphibian species are in decline due to habitat loss and changing climates. Understanding how habitat characteristics and climate influence vital rates, and if they act in concert or in opposition can inform management decisions. This study investigated the potential interaction of canopy cover and climate on early stage vital rates of northern red-legged frogs. Demographic data were collected from sample populations in experimental canopy cover treatments across a latitudinal distribution. Rearing cages were used to estimate hatch success, and mark-recapture surveys to estimate tadpole survival. Ambient air temperature was used as an index of climate because it is easily …


Assessment Of A Channel Catfish Population In A Large Open River System, A. J. Blank, M. J. Hamel, Jonathan J. Spurgeon, Mark A. Pegg Jan 2017

Assessment Of A Channel Catfish Population In A Large Open River System, A. J. Blank, M. J. Hamel, Jonathan J. Spurgeon, Mark A. Pegg

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Estimates of dynamic rate functions for riverine channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), populations are limited. The open nature and inherent difficulty in sampling riverine environments and the propensity for dispersal of channel catfish impede estimation of population variables. However, contemporary population models (i.e. robust design models) can incorporate the open nature of these systems. The purpose of this study was to determine channel catfish population abundance, survival and size structure and to characterize growth in the lower Platte River, Nebraska, USA. Annual survival estimates of adult channel catfish were 13%–49%, and channel catfish abundance estimates ranged from 8,281 to 24,261 …