The northern bobwhite decline: scaling our management for the twenty-first century

Williams, Christopher K.; Guthery, Fred S.; Applegate, Roger D.; Peterson, Markus J.

doi:10.2193/0091-7648(2004)032<0861:tnbdso>2.0.co;2

Cited by 83 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…For Texas quails, a number of solutions may be eff ective to prevent localized overharvest, including spatially explicit hunting regulations already employed for similar galliform species characterized by declining abundance and range extent (Williams et al 2004, California Dept of Fish and Wildlife 2013, South Dakota Dept of Game Fish and Parks 2014. Th ese solutions could include marked reductions in statewide season lengths and bag limits (Peterson 2001), replacing daily bag limits with annual quotas (Andersen et al 2014), regulating season lengths and bag limits at the ecoregion or fi ner scale (Williams et al 2004), or even closing the quail hunting season statewide, except on individual properties (including cooperatives) that maintain habitat demonstrated to be suitable to support hunted subpopulations (Guthery et al 2000), thereby eff ectively managing harvest at the pasture scale.…”

Section: Ecological Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Th ese solutions could include marked reductions in statewide season lengths and bag limits (Peterson 2001), replacing daily bag limits with annual quotas (Andersen et al 2014), regulating season lengths and bag limits at the ecoregion or fi ner scale (Williams et al 2004), or even closing the quail hunting season statewide, except on individual properties (including cooperatives) that maintain habitat demonstrated to be suitable to support hunted subpopulations (Guthery et al 2000), thereby eff ectively managing harvest at the pasture scale. Although regulation at ecoregion or county scales may be viable alternatives, under any regulatory option, aside from closing the season or issuing individual property hunting permits, localized overharvest can still occur on individual properties.…”

Section: Ecological Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evidence for Regionally Synchronized Cycles in Texas Quail Population Dynamics

2007

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: Knowledge of the possible role of cyclic behavior in wildlife dynamics assists in understanding and managing populations. Using spectrum, we analyzed time series (1978‐2002) on the abundance of northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) and scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) in several ecological regions in Texas, USA, to test for the presence of cycles; we also tested whether drought severity (Modified Palmer Drought Severity Index) exhibited cyclic dynamics and whether quail and drought cycles were synchronized among regions. We found evidence of population cyclicity in all ecoregions we tested (5 for bobwhites, 4 for scaled quail) based on both Texas Parks and Wildlife and North American Breeding Bird Survey count data. Periods of the observed cycles generally were 5‐6 years (bobwhites) or 2‐3 years (scaled quail), depending on ecoregion and data source. Cyclicity was most pronounced for bobwhites in the Rolling Plains (north TX) and the South Texas Plains. The Palmer Index exhibited a roughly 5‐year cycle in 5 of 6 regions we tested. A 5‐year bobwhite and Palmer Index cycle were synchronous in 3 contiguous ecoregions totaling 27,200,000 ha. Wet‐dry cycles seemed to synchronize bobwhite cycles in Texas. Our results suggest that habitat manipulations aimed at improving habitat conditions during dry periods, such as reducing livestock stocking rates, could provide ground cover similar to that available in wet periods.

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Section: Ecological Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Ecological Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence for Regionally Synchronized Cycles in Texas Quail Population Dynamics

2007

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“…Population declines of the northern bobwhite have been widely documented throughout the southeastern USA (Brennan 1991;Brennan and Kuvlesky 2005;Sauer et al 2004;Williams et al 2004). These declines have occurred despite the economic importance of the northern bobwhite as a game species and extensive efforts to maintain and improve its population welfare.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns of space and habitat use by northern bobwhites in South Florida, USA

et al. 2010

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The manner by which animals use space and select resources can have important management consequences. We studied patterns of habitat selection by northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) on Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area, Charlotte County, Florida and evaluated factors influencing the sizes of their home ranges. A total of 1,245 radio-tagged bobwhites were monitored for 19,467 radio days during 2002-2007. The mean (±1 SE) annual home range size, estimated using the Kernel density method, was 88.43 (±6.16) ha and did not differ between genders. Winter home ranges of bobwhites (69.27±4.92 ha) were generally larger than summer home ranges (53.90±4.93 ha). Annual and winter home ranges were smaller for bobwhites whose ranges contained food plots compared to those that did not; however, the presence of food plots did not influence summer home ranges. We used distance-based methods to investigate habitat selection by bobwhites at two scales: selection of home ranges within the study site (second-order selection) and selection of habitats within home ranges (third-order selection). Across both scales, bobwhites generally preferred food plots and dry prairie habitat and avoided wet prairies and roads. This pattern was generally consistent between genders and across years. Our data indicate that management practices aimed at increasing and maintaining a matrix of food plots and dry prairie habitat would provide the most favorable environment for bobwhites.

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“…35 Rotational grazing is more likely to help managers achieve wildlife habitat objectives than continuous grazing because, through grazing treatments, key wildlife habitat components can be assured on the landscape from year to year. That is, rotational grazing systems may be more useful than continuous systems for providing necessary habitat elements (food and cover) in specifi c locations at specifi c times.…”

Section: Analysis and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Livestock Grazing, Wildlife Habitat, and Rangeland Values

Krausman¹,

Naugle²,

Frisina³

2009

Rangelands

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livestock and wildlife values should be placed within this broader context. Ranchers and conservationists in the West realize that debates over grazing systems and stocking rates are of little consequence if rangelands continue to be lost or fragmented due to subdivision, farming, weed invasion, catastrophic wildfi re, and energy development. However, impacts of domestic grazing that diminish land value via reduced range productivity and wildlife habitat quality can also lead to alternative land uses and habitat conversion. Maintaining the multiple values of western rangelands will require a shift from local to landscape conservation to match the scale of land use change that threatens grazing, rural ways of life, and wildlife habitat.The future of western rangelands is in developing partnerships that help keep sustainable grazing the prevailing land use. Indeed, as rangelands are lost to other land uses, overlapping interests will make conservation partners out of otherwise odd associates-ranchers need open space for grazing and wildlife biologists, managers, and other conservationists want to maintain or enhance the wildlife values on working ranches.In this paper, we review a representative sampling of scientifi c literature to document grazing impacts on wildlife and its habitat to better understand the roles of grazing strategies in wildlife habitat conservation. Further, we explore commonalities between grazing and conservation interests and provide a vision for advancing wildlife and habitat management and conservation. Synthesis of Grazing ImpactsGrazing by domestic livestock can impact wildlife habitat in numerous ways. Composition and structure of a plant community are directly linked to qualities of wildlife habitat. As much as livestock grazing can affect vegetation characteristics, it will affect wildlife habitat structure and productivity. We consider these impacts at annual or short-term and long-term time scales.Herbaceous vegetation provides hiding cover for a variety of grassland birds, amphibians, reptiles, small and large L ivestock managers make and implement grazing management decisions to achieve a variety of objectives including livestock production, sustainable grazing, and wildlife habitat enhancement. Assessed values of grazing lands and ranches are often based on aesthetics and wildlife habitat or recreational values, which can exceed agricultural values, thus providing additional economic bases for effective grazing management. Perhaps more basic is the intention of many producers and managers to pass on the land in as good or better condition than when it was fi rst acquired.Grazing management plays a large role in the quality and extent of wildlife habitat. Livestock grazing is the most widespread land management practice in the world, affecting 70% of the land surface in the western United States.1 Chronic overgrazing is detrimental because it reduces primary productivity, impedes plant growth and survival, and alters species composition of the grasses, shrubs, and forbs that prov...

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The northern bobwhite decline: scaling our management for the twenty-first century

Cited by 83 publications

References 24 publications

Evidence for Regionally Synchronized Cycles in Texas Quail Population Dynamics

Evidence for Regionally Synchronized Cycles in Texas Quail Population Dynamics

Patterns of space and habitat use by northern bobwhites in South Florida, USA

Livestock Grazing, Wildlife Habitat, and Rangeland Values

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