عنوان

Relationships among wild turkey hens, predators, and environmental conditions on Tallahala Wildlife Management Area, Mississippi

TLpq304509710

انگلیسی

Relationships among wild turkey hens, predators, and environmental conditions on Tallahala Wildlife Management Area, Mississippi

[Thesis]

D. K. Lowrey

G. A. Hurst

Mississippi State University

1999

66-66 p.

M.S.

Mississippi State University

1999

Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) hen nest success, survival, and recess movements (time away from nest) were studied on Tallahala Wildlife Management Area in central Mississippi, 1991-1995. Additionally, microhabitat and weather variables were collected at nest sites and were compared between successful and unsuccessful nests. Nesting rate and nesting success averaged 42% and 19%, respectively. Major cause of nest failure was predation (87%, n = 27). Hen survival rates differed significancy among years (P < 0.05) and averaged 50.5%. Predation was the major cause of hen mortality, accounting for 50% of all known mortalities. Hen recess movements (time away from nest) did not differ in duration or frequency between successful and unsuccessful hens. However, successful hens had more days without any recess movement than unsuccessful hens (P = 0.017). Successful hens had significantly less cumulative rainfall (P = 0.002) and fewer rainfall events (P = 0.002) during incubation. Annual nesting success was significantly correlated (r = 0.90, P = 0.03) with the number of rainfall events from March-June of each year. Known dates of predation of hens (n = 19) had significantly fewer days since rain (P = 0.004) and more rain the day of predation (P = 0.003) than random dates during the same period. It rained on or just prior to the date of predation. Micro-habitat variables for nest sites were similar to what has been reported. Percentage grass at ground level and percentage canopy closure were significantly different between successful and unsuccessful hens. Percentage grass averaged 56.13% for successful and 24.58% for unsuccessful nests (P = 0.003). Canopy closure averaged 62.45% for successful and 73.45% for unsuccessful (P = 0.043). Other variables were similar for both groups. Management implications were also made. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Biological sciences

Ecology

Forestry

MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO

D. K. Lowrey

G. A. Hurst

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y