Analysis of wild turkey brood habitat within the southern Appalachians

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" Analysis of wild turkey brood habitat within the southern Appalachians "
C. A. Harper D. C. Guynn, Jr.

Document Type	:	Latin Dissertation
Language of Document	:	English
Record Number	:	1104020
Doc. No	:	TLpq304430228
Main Entry	:	C. A. Harper
	:	D. C. Guynn, Jr.
Title & Author	:	Analysis of wild turkey brood habitat within the southern Appalachians\ C. A. HarperD. C. Guynn, Jr.
College	:	Clemson University
Date	:	1998
student score	:	1998
Degree	:	Ph.D.
Page No	:	166-166 p.
Abstract	:	The impact of timber harvest on wild turkey brood habitat within the southern Appalachians is poorly understood. Habitats normally associated with wild turkey brood range (e.g., pastures, old fields) are scarce within forested areas owned by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Information concerning which forest conditions provide adequate resources for wild turkey broods in the southern Appalachians is limited. This study examined the vegetation structure and invertebrate populations within different forest types of various ages in western North Carolina. In addition, wild turkey hens were monitored by radio telemetry to determine habitat use patterns and parameters associated with nesting sites. Timber harvest drastically altered vegetation structure. Mature mesic forest types offered brooding and nesting hens concealment via herbaceous and woody groundcover and improved visibility above 30 cm. Aspect governed the amount of herbaceous and woody groundcover present, as northern and eastern exposures had more herbaceous cover. Terrestrial vacuum samples showed forested areas contained over twice the number of invertebrates as wildlife food plots and logging roads (non-forested areas), regardless of forest type or stand age. Timber harvest did not affect overall invertebrate density or biomass. Density and biomass of invertebrate classes and orders varied among forest types, forest age classes, and non-forested areas. The wild turkey population density on the study area was estimated to be relatively low (8-13 birds per square kilometer) and could have been a result of low nest success and high brood mortality. Nest success over 3 years equaled 47% while brood survival past 2 weeks was only 29%. The average home range for brooding hens surviving until August was 258 ha while spring/summer non-brooding hen home ranges averaged 410 ha. The average home range size for all hens over fall/winter averaged 406 ha. Small sample sizes precluded testing habitat preferences for brooding hens, however, virtually all brooding hen locations were within mature mesic forests. Non-brooding hens preferred non-forested areas (which comprised <1% of the study area) and mature mesic oak and northern hardwood stands during spring/summer over mature xeric mixed pine-hardwood and mixed mesophytic stands and all younger stands. Habitat management recommendations are discussed.
Subject	:	Biological sciences
	:	Ecology
	:	Forestry
	:	mesic forest
	:	North Carolina
	:	Zoology