Abstract
Reproductive success is a critical factor affecting avian demographics and can be influenced by many factors including nesting chronology, predation risk, and fine-scale nest site selection. We modeled the relative influences of habitat-related covariates at six spatial scales (nest site: 15-, 40-, 80-, 120-, 160-, and 200-m radii) on Eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) nest site selection in two pine savannas managed by frequent prescribed fire (≤3 years) in southwestern Georgia during 2011–2013. Nest site (15-m scale) habitat metrics (mean visual obstruction [cm] and canopy closure [%]) had the greatest influence on nest site selection relative to covariates measured at larger spatial scales. Scaled odds ratios suggested that nests were 26.8 % more likely to occur for every 10 cm increase in mean vegetation height with a range of 7.5 to 150.0 cm and 18.5 % less likely to occur for every 10 % increase in canopy closure with a range from 0.0 to 97.8 %. Total ground cover, canopy closure, edge density, and percent land cover type (e.g., mature pine, mixed pine/hardwood, shrub/scrub) had minimal influence on nest site selection. Management of pine savannas for turkey nest sites should focus on creating early-successional vegetation to conceal nests from potential predators. Additionally, we suggest that future studies consider evaluating the influence of spatial scale on turkey nest site selection.
Highlights
Reproductive success is a critical factor affecting avian demographics and can be influenced by many factors including nesting chronology, predation risk, and fine-scale nest site selection
We found that visual obstruction and canopy closure strongly influenced nest site selection, which is consistent with findings of Streich et al (2015)
Our research indicates that turkey nest site selection is primarily influenced by vegetative structure immediately surrounding the nest site
Summary
Reproductive success is a critical factor affecting avian demographics and can be influenced by many factors including nesting chronology, predation risk, and fine-scale nest site selection. Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) savannas are considered one of the most biologically diverse systems in North America and support hundreds of species of flora and fauna (Alavalapati et al 2002). This ecosystem historically occupied over 30 million ha in the southeastern USA (Brockway et al 2005, Van Lear et al 2005), but today, approximately 1.2 million ha of longleaf pine savannas remain in isolated patches (Van Lear et al 2005). Information is needed to fill this knowledge gap in our understanding of wild turkey nest site selection in longleaf pine savannas to direct our future management decisions
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