Natural Resources and Conservation Commons^™

Notes: Range Extension Of The Virginia Opossum (Didelphis Virginiana) In North Dakota, Lisa L. Walsh, Robert Seabloom, Cody W. Thompson

The Prairie Naturalist

The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is broadly distributed across North America from Costa Rica in the south to southern Ontario in the north and from the southern Great Plains in the west to the eastern United States. The Virginia opossum also was introduced multiple times to thePacific Coast beginning in the late 1800s and has established populations in that region. This species is a habitat generalist known to frequent wetland and hardwood habitats but also can be found in grasslands, along forest edges, and in agricultural and suburban settings throughout its range. However, the Virginia opossum is adapted …

The Prairie Naturalist: The Journal Of The Great Plains Natural Science Society

The Prairie Naturalist

TABLE OF CONTENTS

45 EDITOR’S NOTE

RESEARCH ARTICLES

48 Avian Diversity, Abundance, and Nest Success among Managed Prairies and Agricultural Plots in Oklahoma and Texas Phillip J. Leonard, Douglas R. Wood, and Wayne E. Meyer

57 Severe Drought Impacts Female Pheasant Physiology in Southwest Nebraska Jessica A. Laskowski, Gwen C. Bachman, and Joseph J. Fontaine

66 Field Discrimination of Prairie Deer Mice and White-footed Mice using Morphological Characteristics Jacob L. Berl, Kelton M. Verble, Elizabeth A. Flaherty, and Robert K. Swihart

NOTES

72 Range Extension of the Virgina Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) in North Dakota Lisa L. Walsh

76 Prairie Falcon …

Book Reviews: Raptors Of Mexico And Central America. William S. Clark And N. John Schmitt., Jack Jack Eitniear

The Prairie Naturalist

Whether a raptor is cryptically perched in the shadows or is viewed only as a silhouette soaring in the clouds below the glaring midday sun, raptor identification can be challenging. If you are observing raptors in the North Temperate Zone, several guides (e.g., Clark and Wheeler 2001 Dunne et al.2012) will aid you with such identifications, but few resources exist for visitors south of this zone. So, if you are interested in identifying the 69 species of diurnal raptors found in Mexico and Central America, the recently released Raptors of Mexico and Central America by William S. Clark and N. …

The Great Plains Natural Science Society

The Prairie Naturalist

The Great Plains Natural Science Society, formerly the North Dakota Natural Science Society, was founded in 1967 and seeks to promote interest in and understanding of natural history in the Great Plains, to encourage the conservation of natural resources, and to provide communication among individuals, institutions, and organizations of like interests. The GPNSS actively promotes the study of natural history of the Great Plains region, including geology, plants, birds, mammals, fish, insects, and other forms of life. Together with local, state, and national conservation organizations, the GPNSS fosters natural resource conservation and preservation of outstanding natural areas. The GPNSS publishes …

Prairie Falcon Depredation Attempts On A Greater Prairie-Chicken Lek In South-Central Nebraska, Andrew J. Caven, Joshua D. Wiese, William R. Wallauer

The Prairie Naturalist

Little information exists concerning Prairie falcons’ (Falco mexicanus; PRFA) seasonal movements, habitat use, and diet outside of the breeding season; this is especially true in the eastern portion of its wintering and migratory range (Steenhof 1998, Sharpe et al. 2001, Steenhof et al. 2005). Prairie falcons prey on ground squirrels (Spermophilus spp.), prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.), wood rats (Neotoma spp.), and other rodents during the breeding season (Bond 1936, 1942, MacLaren et al. 1988, Steenhof 1998, Steenhof et al. 1999, Johnsgard 2013). They utilize avian prey regionally as well, including western meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta …

How Livestock Production In Eastern Nebraska May Affect Nitrate Concentrations In Platte River, Yuzhe Luo

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The Platte River is one of the largest rivers in Nebraska and serves as a valuable water source to cities along its watershed. Water is essential for both human life and social and economic development. The human body cannot survive without water for more than 3 days, and many industries require water to function. At a regional scale, the total amount of water is relatively constant, which means if some water sources were contaminated there will be less water available to use.

Population Dynamics Of Ouachita Dusky Salamanders (Desmognathus Brimleyorum) In A Managed Forest Landscape, Kelly Marie Halloran

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With anthropogenic alteration of landscapes increasing world-wide, managed forests are increasingly important as providers of ecosystem services including habitat for numerous wildlife species. It is crucial to maintain a balance between timber production and conservation of biodiversity on managed landscapes. Salamander populations can play key roles in the function and diversity of temperate forest ecosystems. Several studies have reported negative effects of forestry on terrestrial plethodontid salamanders, but less research has focused on stream-dwelling species, evaluated mechanisms driving observed shifts in abundance, or described the dynamics of populations residing in managed forests. Using a Before-After-Control-Impact design, we examined the effects …

Spatially Explicit Model Of Areas Between Suitable Black Bear Habitat In East Texas And Black Bear Populations In Louisiana, Arkansas, And Oklahoma, Caitlin M. Glymph, Christopher Comer, Daniel Scognamillo, Daniel Unger, Yanli Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although black bears (Ursus americanus, Ursus americanus luteolus) were once found throughout the south-central United States, unregulated harvest and habitat loss resulted in severe range retractions and by the beginning of the twentieth century populations in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas were nearing extirpation. In response to these losses, translocation programs were initiated in Arkansas (1958-1968 & 2000-2006) and Louisiana (1964-1967 & 2001-2009). These programs successfully restored bears to portions of Louisiana and Arkansas, and, as populations in Arkansas began dispersing, to Oklahoma. In contrast, east Texas remains unoccupied despite the existence of suitable habitat in the region.

To facilitate …

Applying Topographic Classification, Based On The Hydrological Process, To Design Habitat Linkages For Climate Change, Yongwon Mo, Dong Kun Lee, Keunyea Song, Ho Gul Kim, Soo Jin Park

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

The use of biodiversity surrogates has been discussed in the context of designing habitat linkages to support the migration of species affected by climate change. Topography has been proposed as a useful surrogate in the coarse-filter approach, as the hydrological process caused by topography such as erosion and accumulation is the basis of ecological processes. However, some studies that have designed topographic linkages as habitat linkages, so far have focused much on the shape of the topography (morphometric topographic classification) with little emphasis on the hydrological processes (generic topographic classification) to find such topographic linkages. We aimed to understand whether …

Sampling Effort And Uncertainty In Leaf Litterfall Mass And Nutrient Flux In Northern Hardwood Forests, Yang Yang, Ruth D. Yanai, Craig R. See, Mary A. Arthur

Forestry and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Designs for litterfall sampling can be improved by understanding the sources of uncertainty in litterfall mass and nutrient concentration. We compared the coefficient of variation of leaf litterfall mass and nutrient concentrations (nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and potassium) at different spatial scales and across years for six northern hardwood species from 23 stands in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, USA. Stands with steeper slopes (P = 0.01), higher elevations (P = 0.05), and more westerly aspect (P = 0.002) had higher interannual variation in litter mass, probably due to a litter trap design that allowed litter …

Pope Francis, Laudato Si', And U.S. Environmentalism, Jonathan Z. Cannon, Stephen Cushman

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

No abstract provided.

Changing Tides In Water Management: Policy Options To Encourage Greater Recycling Of Fracking Wastewater, Romany M. Webb

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

The U.S. has recently experienced a domestic energy renaissance, made possible by technological advances, enabling the development of unconventional oil and gas resources. Vital to this development is hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”), whereby fluid is injected underground at high pressure to fracture the rock, thereby enabling the flow of oil and gas. Fracking has recently faced growing opposition with many concerned about its environmental impacts, particularly its potential to adversely affect water resources, because fracking uses vast amounts of fresh water that ends up as contaminated wastewater. Most of this wastewater is disposed of through underground injection, resulting in its permanent …

A Fix For A Thirsty World - Making Direct And Indirect Reuse Legally Possible, Heather Payne

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

Reliably providing safe drinking water to the public is an essential function of state and local governments. Across the United States, government officials and public water system managers are exploring mechanisms for ensuring water security. One method for increasing public drinking water security that has garnered the attention of water officials and the public is returning treated wastewater to the drinking water supply. However, in the absence of federal regulations on water reuse, states need guidance to develop the statutory framework necessary to make potable reuse legal. This Article details the processes of direct and indirect potable reuse and reviews …

Ncer Assistance Agreement Annual Progress Report For Grant #83582401 - Assessment Of Stormwater Harvesting Via Manage Aquifer Recharge (Mar) To Develop New Water Supplies In The Arid West: The Salt Lake Valley Example, Ryan Dupont, Joan E. Mclean, Richard C. Peralta, Sarah E. Null, Douglas B. Jackson-Smith

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The aims of the original proposed project remain the same, that is, to test the hypothesis that Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) for stormwater harvesting is a technically feasible, socially and environmentally acceptable, economically viable, and legally feasible option for developing new water supplies for arid Western urban ecosystems experiencing increasing population, and climate change pressures on existing water resources. The project is being carried out via three distinct but integrated components that include: 1) Monitoring of existing distributed MAR harvesting schemes involving a growing number of demonstration Green Infrastructure (GI) test sites; 2) Integrated stormwater/vadose zone/groundwater/ ecosystem services modeling; and …

The Importance Of Regional And Landscape Context And Climate Change To Northern Bobwhite Management, Frank R. Thompson Iii

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Long-term declines in northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) in the United States are presumably due to decades of habitat loss or degradation at a national scale. Food and fiber production characterized by replacement of open woodlands and savannas by dense forest, intensification of agriculture, and conversion of native grasslands to nonnative pastures have degraded habitats for most grassland and early successional birds. Declines in bobwhite and associated species occurred within this context at a scale that has overwhelmed wildlife management efforts. However, with understanding of scale and context, managers could sustain these species in some future landscapes. Increasing urbanization …

Breeding Season Space Use And Habitat Selection Of Adult Female Scaled And Gambel's Quail In West Texas, Richard A. Temple, Louis Harveson, Ryan S. Luna

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

We used radiotelemetry to investigate breeding-season (1 Apr–1 Sep, 2012 and 2013) home ranges and habitat selection of adult female scaled (Callipepla squamata) and Gambel’s quail (C. gambelii) in the eastern Chihuahuan Desert, Texas. Mean breeding-season home range (95% fixed kernel) for scaled quail was 145.02 ± 23.56 ha (range = 22.03–538.24 ha) and 156.32 ± 13.04 ha (range = 66.15– 270.74 ha) for Gambel’s quail. Mean core-use area (50% fixed kernel) for scaled quail was 31.38 ± 4.80 ha (range = 4.03–111.36 ha) and 32.87 ± 2.61 ha (range = 12.19–52.36 ha) for Gambel’s quail. …

The Saga Of The Masked Bobwhite: Lessons Learned And Unlearned, David E. Brown, Kevin B. Clark

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

No bird has generated so much interest and controversy as has the masked bobwhite (Colinus virginianus ridgwayi). From its discovery in 1884 to the present, this gallinaceous game bird has captured the attention of hunter-naturalists, ornithologists, collectors, game breeders, conservationists and bureaucrats. Believed threatened with extinction throughout its 130 year history, the masked bobwhite prompted several collecting expeditions, a survey technique study, a plethora of propagation attempts, and the purchase of an 117,464 acre refuge by the federal government, and expenditures totaling millions of dollars. Yet, despite propagated stock existing in a captive facility on Buenos Aires National …

Conservation Status Of The Masked Bobwhite In Sonora, Mexico, David García-Solórzano, Edgardo López-González, Carlos González-Rebeles Islas

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

The historical distribution of the endangered masked bobwhite (Colinus virginianus ridgwayi) ranged from southern Arizona, United States, to Central Sonora, Mexico. Research in Sonora the past 30 years focused on the largest known populations, near the town of Benjamin Hill on the El Carrizo ranch. Research and perceptions by local residents pointed to a decline in masked bobwhite over the past decade. We evaluated existence of the subspecies during 2013-15 by searching transects and interviewing local residents. Our evaluation yielded no validated observations of masked bobwhite, and subsequently we call for further coordinated population monitoring and the development …

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

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

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 …

Changes In Habitat Use Of Montezuma Quail In Response To Tree Canopy Reduction In The Capitan Mountains Of New Mexico, Ryan S. Luna, Elizabeth A. Oaster, Karlee D. Cork, Ryan O'Shaughnessy

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) are unique among quail with respect to clutch size, diet, covey dynamics, and habitat use. With the exception of a few notable early studies, there is relatively little information on the ecology of Montezuma quail. Pervious research has indicated that one of the primary habitats utilized by Montezuma quail is pinyon–juniper (Pinus spp.–Juniperus spp.) woodlands. Throughout many areas of the southwestern United States, pinyon–juniper woodlands are often targeted for thinning projects. Many studies have been conducted on the amount of canopy cover needed by other quail species. However, data on characteristics of …

A Presence-Absence Survey To Monitor Montezuma Quail In Western Texas, Cristela Gonzalez Sanders, Fidel Hernández, Leonard A. Brennan, Andrew N. Tri, Robert Perez

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Developing an effective monitoring program for Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) is challenging because the technique must be practical for surveying vast, remote landscapes while accounting for the species’ low detectability. We used call-back surveys within a presence–absence framework to estimate occupancy and detection probability of Montezuma quail and used this information in conjunction with habitat data to develop an estimated probability of occurrence map for the species. We established survey points at 4 sites in western Texas (n = 20–30 points/site) and conducted 5 repeat surveys/season during June–August 2007 and 2008. We documented abiotic conditions (temperature, time …

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 …

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

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Historical assumptions about Montezuma quail movements and home ranges at the population level are limited due to the lack of markrecapture studies on this species from which solid conclusions can be derived. Such information is crucial for estimating population sizes, densities, and rate of emigration and immigration throughout the landscape. Our study examined home range size of 29 Montezuma quail and movements of 65 quail in southeast Arizona from 2008–2010. We used radio telemetry to follow radio-tagged birds in 3 study sites that varied in vegetation composition and topography. Mean home range size (MCP) was about was similar (51 ha) …

Population Trends And A Revised Management Plan For Quail In California, Katherine S. Miller, Matt G. Meshriy, Scott S. Gardner

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

California supports a diversity of habitats suitable for mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus), California quail (Callipepla californica), and Gambel’s quail (Callipepla gambelii). These three species require different habitats for foraging, nesting and brood-rearing, and overwinter survival, yet most published information focuses on California quail. Currently the state-wide surveys for quail are limited to the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. We used BBS data (1970–2013) to create abundance maps for quail throughout California. We developed 5-year averages to account for boom-and-bust cycles, and then established 100 random points for …

Evaluation Of Population Indices And Estimators For Scaled Quail In The Rolling Plains Of Texas, Bradley Kubečka, John T. Edwards, Fidel Hernández, Dale Rollins

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Accurate and precise population indices and estimators are important to gain reliable knowledge and make appropriate management decisions. Indices and estimators for scaled quail (Callipepla squamata), however, have not been evaluated thoroughly. Our objectives are to compare relationships among 8 years of roadside counts, spring call counts, and mark-recapture data obtained from the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch in Fisher County, TX, USA. Furthermore, we assess the efficacy of distance-based helicopter surveys as a method for scaled quail density estimates as compared to mark-recapture estimates for 2016–2017.

Effect Of Meso-Mammal Nest Predator Activity On Northern Bobwhite Nest Success, Alexander L. Jackson, William E. Palmer, D. Clay Sisson, Theron M. Terhune Ii, James A. Martin

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Perceived changes in predator-prey dynamics along with documented declines of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) have created a renewed interest from biologists and managers about the role meso-mammals play in shaping bobwhite population trajectories. As part of a larger effort to understand this predator-prey relationship, we evaluated meso-mammal activity on sites where bobwhite demographic data was simultaneously being collected via radio- telemetry. During 1999–2006 we conducted 66 meso-mammal activity surveys using scent stations on 16 sites in 3 southeastern states (Florida, Georgia, and Alabama). We calculated an index of meso-mammal activity (PI), for each site, as the average number …

Habitat, Climate, And Raptors As Factors In The Northern Bobwhite Decline: A Multi-Scale Analysis, John T. Edwards, Fidel Hernández, David B. Wester, Leonard A. Brennan, Chad Parent, Robert Perez

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Landscape-level processes such as habitat loss and fragmentation are primarily responsible for the declines in northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). These landscape processes generally occur at a scale beyond that of traditional quail studies and may involve not only habitat loss and fragmentation but also broad-scale changes in climate trends and predation risk. However, reductions in usable space and changes in habitat configuration at smaller scales may also reduce population viability. It is therefore imperative to study relationships to bobwhite populations at multiple scales. The objective of our research is to quantify to what extent habitat loss and fragmentation, …

Landscape Features Affecting Northern Bobwhite Predator-Specific Nest Failures In Southeastern Usa, Susan N. Ellis-Felege, Shannon E. Albeke, Nathan P. Nibbelink, Michael J. Conroy, D. Clay Sisson, William E. Palmer, John P. Carroll

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Nest predation is a critical component in avian productivity and typically is the leading cause of nest failure for most birds. Several landscape features are thought to drive the behavioral interaction between northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; e.g., nest placement) and their predators (e.g., search methods for food acquisition). In order to understand habitat characteristics influencing predation, we studied bobwhite nests using 24-hour near-infrared video cameras. We monitored 675 bobwhite nests with cameras on 3 properties in northern Florida and southern Georgia, USA, during 2000–2006. To test the association between nest failures and specific failure causes with landscape structure, …