Tall Timbers Research Station Research Articles

A 10-year Study of Bobwhite Quail Movement Patterns

The movement patterns of 676 bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) on two study areas on Tall Timbers Research Station in northern Florida were studied during a 10-year period. Eighty-six percent of the quail moved no more than 400 m from their first documented location in a one- to five-year period. Ninety-eight percent moved less than 800 m. Movements greater than 1,000 m occurred but were rare. There were no substantial differences in the annual movements of males and females or immatures and adults; however, the few birds which made longer movements ()800 m) tended to be immature males. The average distance an individual quail moved during a two-week shooting period was greater than the distance moved during the preceding two-week trapping period, but the average difference was only 82 m and therefore insignificant from a practical viewpoint. Movements during shooting averaged 150 m and were not extensive enough to force quail off the study area. Egress and ingress were minimal and approximately balanced. The population was much less mobile than bobwhite populations in other portions of the species' range.

Macrohabitat Composition Surrounding Successful and Depredated Northern Bobwhite Nests

Relationships among macrohabitat and depredation of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) nests are poorly understood. Yet, macrohabitat composition may influence the nest predator community and, therefore, the vulnerability of northern bobwhite nests to depredation. We determined if macrohabitat composition surrounding bobwhite nests influenced nest placement, nest success, and which predators were responsible for depredating nests. We characterized macrohabitats at 2 scales, 8 and 16 ha, by surrounding both bobwhite nests, and an equal number of random locations, with a circular buffer. Random points were placed within the area used by bobwhites on our study area. We then determined the acreage of each macrohabitat category within each circular buffer to determine the macrohabitat composition. Macrohabitat categories included hardwood forested drains, upland pine forests burned in March of the same calendar year, upland pine forests burned in March of the previous calendar year, and fields. We documented nest predators using infrared video cameras placed at the nest site. We monitored 104 bobwhite nests on Tall Timbers Research Station (TTRS) during 1999 and 2000. Size of the circular buffer around nests did not qualitatively affect results. Area (ha) of upland pine forests and fields were similar at depredated nests, hatched nests, and random locations. However, there was an average of 81% and 56% more area of hardwood drain in the circular buffers associated with random locations than at successful and depredated nests, respectively. Area of upland pine forests and fields were similar for nests depredated by raccoon (Procyon lotor), armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) and snake (Elaphus spp.). However, there was an average of 6.1 and 3.3 times more area of hardwood drain surrounding nests that were depredated by snakes relative to nests depredated by raccoons and armadillos, respectively. While our sample sizes were low, bobwhites exhibited a tendency to place nests in landscapes with less hardwood drain than were generally available on the study area. Macrohabitat surrounding nests influenced the type of nest predator to depredate nests. To minimize depredation of bobwhite nests by snakes, we suggest nesting cover should be developed away from drain edges.

Hunter-Covey Interactions Using Pointing Bird Dogs

Hunting northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) with pointing dogs is a long-standing tradition in the Southeastern United States. Despite this rich hunting legacy, a paucity of empirical, behavioral information exists on the interaction between bobwhite coveys, pointing dogs and humans. As such, the efficiency of using pointing dogs to locate bobwhite coveys or an individual covey’s behavioral response to hunting is poorly understood. During 2013 – 2015, we conducted hunts (n = 192) by mode of foot on Tall Timbers Research Station (TTRS, ~1,570 ha) in Leon County, Florida and horseback on a private property (2,023 ha) in Georgetown County, South Carolina. We captured bobwhites (n = 741) and fitted them with activity-switch enabled radio-transmitters, and we tracked coveys prior to, during and after hunts. We used 2 types of global positioning system (GPS) units to collect route data from dogs and hunters (via horseback or foot). We recorded encounter information (e.g., behavior, encounter type such as covey point or wild flush) in the field using a pre-configured application on an iPad and linked spatial data using a geographic information system (i.e., ArcGIS). On average, 52% of all radio-tagged coveys were available (within a dog’s scent radius) during a hunt of which 73% were detected by pointing bird dogs. The overall probability of observing a covey on a hunt was 38% suggesting that most coveys within a hunting course go undetected. Vegetation density did not appear to be an impediment to bobwhite mobility or an important factor in detection of coveys by bird dogs. The potential reduction or manipulation of existing habitats may help to constrain where bobwhite coveys can escape to and covertly improve hunting efficiency. Furthermore, our results imply that a relatively high bobwhite density is required for sportsman to frequently encounter bobwhite coveys during a hunt.

The Effect of Age-At-Release on Survival of Adoptive Parent-Reared Bobwhite Chicks

Translocation of wild northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) to restore local populations is a viable conservation tool under some scenarios; however, the supply of wild bobwhites is limited. Bobwhites can be artificially propagated, as an alternative to translocation, using methods that mimic natural brood-rearing. The parent-rearing adoptive process (PRAP) uses wild-strain bobwhite adults to brood and foster newly hatched wild-strain chicks in outdoor aviaries that emulate a natural environment. Adoptive parent-reared bobwhites have higher survival rates than artificially-reared bobwhites but only a single age-of-release (i.e., 6-weeks) has been tested. We tested the effect of age-at-release (3, 6, and 9-weeks) on adoptive parent-reared chicks released on the same date in Hanna Hammock of Tall Timbers Research Station. All chicks were marked with patagial wing tags and a subset of the group received radio transmitters. The 3-week-olds (n = 25) received suture-style transmitters and 6-week-olds (n = 30) and 9-week-olds (n = 30) received necklace-style transmitters. Our adoptive parent-reared chicks had low survival rates over 3 months post-release, the 9-week age group had the highest overall survival rates which could portend that increased physiological development may aid in increasing the survivability of adoptive parent-reared bobwhites. The low survival rates across all 3 age classes calls into question the efficacy of the PRAP as a bobwhite restoration method. Our results do suggest that additional modifications to release age (> 9-weeks) should be explored along with further modifications to the PRAP. Additional modifications include incorporating predator avoidance training, altering release dates, and changing nutritional regimes. These results should caution the bobwhite community to remain suspect when deriving conclusions about the PRAP until all process modifications have been fully evaluated by scientific research.

Foraging Behavior of Northern Bobwhites in Relation to Resource Availability

Distribution of food resources may influence northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) foraging decisions and demographic rates. We tested whether covey movements were sensitive to food availability by spreading sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) every 15 days at 3 rates; high rate (174 L/ha/yr), low rate (44 L/ha/yr), and no feed on 3 sections (~240 ha each) of Tall Timbers Research Station, 2009–2010. We measured sorghum availability spread along a 17 km feeding trail every 5 days. We determined seasonal (1 Nov - 15 Mar) home ranges of radio-tagged coveys (n = 89) and daily movement rates and home ranges of a subset of coveys located every 30 mins, sunrise to sunset (1 Feb - 15 Mar). Diet was determined from harvested bobwhites. Mean sorghum availability (seeds/0.5m2) on the feed trail declined from 50 seeds at day 1 to 12 seeds at day 15, and 11 seeds at day 1 to 0 seeds at day 10, for high and low rates, respectively. Seasonal home ranges did not differ among treatments; however, daily home ranges were smaller for coveys on the high rate areas, as was dispersion of locations within home ranges. Distances to the feed trail from covey and random locations were similar. There was no difference in distance traveled (25.20 m; SE = 0.65) between consecutive covey locations among treatments. Proportion of sorghum in the diet declined precipitously when <15 seeds/0.5m2. We estimated an empirical giving up density of 10–14 seeds/0.5m2, ~1.6 kcals/0.5m2. Food availability, even at high levels, marginally affected covey space use and movement rates during late winter. Other factors affecting bobwhites, such as predator avoidance, or thermal regulation, may have a more significant effect on bobwhite covey daily movements and space use.

New insights from an attempt to reintroduce Red-cockaded Woodpeckers in northern Florida

Red-cockaded Woodpeckers (Leuconotopicus borealis) were extirpated from Tall Timbers Research Station in the early 1980s. To help meet conservation goals established for this imperiled species in north Florida, we attempted to reintroduce the woodpecker to the research station by constructing artificial cavities and translocating 27 subadult woodpeckers from 2006 to 2010. Successful nesting occurred during the breeding season following the initial translocation of four male–female pairs. Translocations were suspended in 2011 when breeding groups occupied 6 of 12 available clusters of cavity trees. The population increased steadily after 2011 and, in 2015, totaled 28 adults distributed among nine breeding groups plus a single territorial male. The 2015 population included 22 individuals produced at Tall Timbers, an immigrant female, and five birds originally translocated as subadults. Seven breeding groups in 2015 also had non-breeding helpers. New milestones documented during this reintroduction attempt included recruitment of locally produced birds into the breeding population, excavation of natural cavities, two immigration events, and natural expansion into an unoccupied area. We also documented the threat that heavy rains may pose to small populations. Expenses totaled $211,000 during the first 5 yr when translocations and cavity construction were the primary activities. After translocations were suspended, recurring management expenses were ~ $6500 annually. Because our founding population was small (N = 12), intermittent translocations will likely be needed in the future to offset the deleterious effects of inbreeding.

Structural diversity indices based on airborne LiDAR as ecological indicators for managing highly dynamic landscapes

An objective, quantifiable index of structural biodiversity that could be rapidly obtained with reduced or no field effort is essential for the use of structure as universal ecological indicator for ecosystem management. Active remote sensing provides a rapid assessment tool to potentially guide land managers in highly dynamic and spatially complex landscapes. These landscapes are often dependent on frequent disturbance regimes and characterized by high endemism.We propose a modified Shannon–Wiener Index and modified Evenness Index as stand structural complexity indices for surrogates of ecosystem health. These structural indices are validated at Tall Timbers Research Station the site of one of the longest running fire ecology studies in southeastern U.S. This site is dominated by highly dynamic pine-grassland woodlands maintained with frequent fire. Once the dominant ecosystem in the Southeast, this woodland complex has been cleared for agriculture or converted to other cover types, and depends on a frequent (1- to 3-year fire return interval) low- to moderate-intensity fire regime to prevent succession to mixed hardwood forests and maintain understory species diversity. Structural evaluation of the impact of multiple disturbance regimes included height profiles and derived metrics for five different fire interval treatments; 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, mixed fire frequency (a combination of 2- and 4-year fire returns), and fire exclusion. The 3-dimensional spatial arrangement of structural elements was used to assess hardwood encroachment and changes in structural complexity. In agreement with other research, 3-year fire return interval was considered to be the best fire interval treatment for maintaining the pine-grassland woodlands, because canopy cover and vertical diversity indices were shown to be statistically higher in fire excluded and less frequently burned plots than in 1- and 2-year fire interval treatments. We developed a LiDAR-derived structural diversity index, LHDI, and propose that an ecosystem-specific threshold target for management intervention can be developed, based on significant shifts in structure and composition using this new index.Structural diversity indices can be valuable surrogates of ecosystem biodiversity, and ecosystem-specific target values can be developed as objective quantifiable goals for conservation and ecosystem integrity, particularly in remote areas.

Introduction to Fire Ecology of the Northeast: Restoring Native and Cultural Ecosystems

This special issue is composed of papers presented at a conference hosted jointly by the Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies (New Haven, Connecticut) and Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy (Tallahassee, Florida) to address the history, ecology, and current need for prescribed fire in native and cultural ecosystems in the Northeast region of the United States and eastern Canada. The conference was held at the Yale University campus on February 20–22, 2014 and involved participants from universities, government agencies, nongovernment organizations, and private business. This special issue presents evidence that the fire history and ecology of the Northeast are strongly context-dependent and result from complex interactions of climate, human land use, and physiography, that certain species within the region are truly fire-adapted, and that synergies between fire management for ecological restoration and public welfare can and should be pursued on the modern landscape. A summary of all conference presentations and syntheses of panel discussions has been published as a Yale Forest Forum Review.

Population ecology of the nine-banded armadillo in Florida

We used 15 years (1992–2006) of capture-mark-recapture (CMR) data obtained from a population of nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) located at the Tall Timbers Research Station near Tallahassee, Florida and multistate CMR models to estimate and model capture probabilities, annual apparent survival, and transition probabilities between reproductive and nonreproductive states (for adult females only). Using an information theoretic approach, we then examined various influences on these parameters. Across all years, capture probability, p, was higher for adults than for yearlings, and higher for males than for females. There was also substantial yearly variation. Conditional on survival, the annual transition probability, ψ, for reproductive adult females to remain reproductive was 0.853 ± 0.044; the estimate for nonreproductive adult females to become reproductive was 0.388 ± 0.060. Annual apparent survival, S, was lowest for juveniles (S = 0.541 ± 0.118) and highest for reproductive adult females (S = 0.753 ± 0.034). Contrary to expectation, these data provided no evidence for a cost of reproduction among adult females. Finally, annual apparent survival was lower for all animals during an extensive hardwood removal that occurred from 1998 to 2000 than in either preceding or subsequent years.

The Legacy of a Red Hills Hunting Plantation: Tall Timbers Research Station &amp; Land Conservancy by Robert L. Crawford and William R. Brueckheimer

Journal of Field OrnithologyVolume 84, Issue 1 p. 116-117 RECENT LITERATURE BOOK REVIEWS The Legacy of a Red Hills Hunting Plantation: Tall Timbers Research Station & Land Conservancy by Robert L. Crawford and William R. Brueckheimer Philip C Stouffer, Philip C StoufferSearch for more papers by this author Philip C Stouffer, Philip C StoufferSearch for more papers by this author First published: 21 February 2013 https://doi.org/10.1111/jofo.12010_3 pstouffer@lsu.edu Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Volume84, Issue1March 2013Pages 116-117 RelatedInformation

Fire-frequency effects on vegetation in north Florida pinelands: Another look at the long-term Stoddard Fire Research Plots at Tall Timbers Research Station

The Stoddard Fire Plot study at Tall Timbers Research Station near Tallahassee, FL, ongoing since 1960, is one of several long-term studies of fire frequency in the southeast Coastal Plain, USA. Previous data and publications from the Stoddard Fire Plots supported a saturation model of fire frequency effects. According to this model, vascular plant species richness increases along with fire frequency but only up to a threshold determined by woody overstory competition. Beyond the threshold, further increases in fire frequency have little additional impact on species richness or understory vegetation composition. Prior analyses suggested this threshold to occur at ∼6–7 year burn intervals. In this paper we present more recent data from this same long term study that are not consistent with the “Saturation Hypothesis” as originally formulated. These results indicate (1) “saturation” of canopy (>2.0 m) cover at 3 year burn intervals rather than the predicted 6–7 years, (2) small-scale (⩽1.0 m) species richness positively associated with fire frequency across a gradient of short-interval fires from 3- to 1-year, (3) statistically significant species composition (cover and abundance) shifts across this same short-interval fire frequency gradient, with greatest herbaceous dominance associated with 1- and 2-year burn treatments. Prescribed burners influenced by the earlier results might wish to consider reducing the interval between fires.

Population Dynamics of Nine-Banded Armadillos: Insights from a Removal Experiment

From 1992 to 2003, we captured and permanently marked 829 Dasypus novemcinctus (nine-banded armadillo) at the Tall Timbers Research Station in north- ern Florida. From 2004 to 2006, an attempt was made to eliminate all armadillos from Tall Timbers as part of an experiment to remove nest predators of Colinus virginianus (Northern Bobwhite). Data from armadillos killed at Tall Timbers during this period showed a rapid decline in previously marked individuals, with only 4 collected in 2006. Even though the resident population thus seemed to have been exterminated quickly, total numbers of armadillos collected remained stable over all 3 years. This did not appear to be due to an increase in reproductive success such that more juveniles were produced to replace the animals being lost. Rather, the data were more consistent with the hypothesis of immigration by adults into the population to colonize areas vacated by culled animals. This scenario supports previous reports of large numbers of transient armadillos that move extensively, and may provide insight into how armadillos have successfully invaded most of the southern United States in just the last 200 years. Finally, these findings also suggest that, at least in this area, culling animals is not likely to be an effective means of eliminating armadillo predation on quail eggs.

Effect of Radiotransmitters on Northern Bobwhite Annual Survival

Abstract: Radiotelemetry has been widely used in northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) research to estimate survival rates and other demographic parameters. Biologists have used this knowledge to study bobwhite ecology, develop management theory, and base management actions. We tested the assumption that radiotransmitters do not bias survival rates of bobwhites by comparing survival rates of banded bobwhites with and without radiotransmitters on Tall Timbers Research Station (TTRS) from 1999 to 2004. We used Burnham's model in Program MARK and model‐selection procedures to determine relative importance of year, gender, and radiotagged status on annual survival rates and recovery processes. Three plausible models (relative quasi‐likelihood Akaike's Information Criterion [ΔQAICc] &lt; 3) included year dependence in survival and an additive effect of gender but no radiotransmitter effect. Models including a radiotransmitter effect in survival were &gt;8 ΔQAICc from the top models, had low Akaike model weights (wi &lt; 0.007), and low importance weight (S̀wi(radio) = 0.01). We also compared band—recapture survival estimates from the QAICc minimizing model to staggered entry Kaplan—Meier (KM) survival estimates from 2000 to 2003. Annual KM survival estimates of male and female bobwhites were within the 95% confidence interval of band—recapture estimates in 7 of 8 comparisons. We conclude that radiotelemetry is a reliable technique for determining bobwhite survival. Managers should view information from properly conducted telemetry research as reliable and useful for management.

Impacts of land management practices on a population of nine-banded armadillos in northern Florida

Over a 12-year period (1992–2003), we examined the impact of prescribed burning and hardwood removal on a population of nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) located at Tall Timbers Research Station just north of Tallahassee, Florida. Although these armadillos are often found in close proximity to humans, there currently are no data on how they are affected by human impacts on the environment. Responses to annual burns between 1992–1997 indicated that in some years armadillos, particularly adults, avoided areas that had been burned, but effects were inconsistent and relatively weak. In contrast, hardwood removal during 1998–2000 coincided with a significant decline in population numbers that continued through 2003. However, interpretation of hardwood removal effects was complicated by the occurrence of a severe drought during the same time period. Comparisons between animals in logged and unlogged parts of the study area during the period of hardwood removal revealed few differences, suggesting drought was an important influence. However, because our population continued to decline after the drought ended, it seems likely that hardwood removal generated more persistent effects that were temporarily masked by the drought. We observed armadillos frequently in logged areas, probably because few other habitat choices were available. Armadillos weighed less during and after hardwood removal than prior to it. Although adult reproductive behavior appeared largely unaffected by logging, numbers of juveniles captured and recruited declined significantly with the onset of hardwood removal. There was no evidence that the disturbance from logging caused increases in distances moved by animals that remained in the study area. Our results may have broader implications for predicting how armadillo populations in Latin America will be affected by similar land management practices.

Response of understory vegetation important to the northern bobwhite following imazapyr and mechanical treatments

In southern pine (Pinus spp.) stands, managers have used a variety of treatments to control hardwood encroachment and improve habitat conditions for northern bob-whites (Colinus virginianus). We compared use of the herbicide Arsenal® (BASF Corporation, Research Triangle Park, N.C.) (imazapyr) and traditional mechanical treatments, with and without fire, to control hardwood encroachment on study sites on Tall Timbers Research Station in the Red Hills Region near Tallahassee, Florida. Hardwood stem density decreased on herbicide and herbicide+burn plots but increased on all mechanically treated plots at 1 year after treatment. Herbicide and herbicide+burn treatments resulted in a >3-fold increase in forb coverage 1 year after treatment, whereas forb coverage did not increase in mechanically treated plots. A single application of imazapyr, with or without prescribed fire, can control hardwood encroachment and stimulate herbaceous species growth. Following treatment, vegetative communities likely can be maintained for prolonged periods by using traditional methods such as prescribed fire.

Northern bobwhite and lead shot deposition in an upland habitat.

We estimated total lead shotshell pellets expended, resultant pellet availability near soil surface, and the frequency of pellet ingestion by northern bobwhites ( Colinus virginianus) attributable to nearly a quarter century of bobwhite hunting on a 202-ha upland habitat at Tall Timbers Research Station, Leon County, Florida. A total of 7776 shots were fired, resulting in the expenditure of approximately 4.5 million pellets (approximately 22519/ha). Sixteen of 235 (6.8%) soil samples collected in 1989 and 1992 contained one or two pellets. Soil samples indicated that approximately 7800 pellets/ha (about 35% of the projected 24-year deposition) were within 2.54 cm of the soil surface. Pellet ingestion by bobwhites was evaluated by examining 241 gizzards collected from 1989-92. Three bobwhites (1.3%) had ingested pellets ( x = 1.3 pellets). No instances of suspected lead poisoning were noted in bobwhites over the 24-year period. Sport hunting of wild bobwhite populations on upland habitats appears to produce a low potential for lead poisoning compared to lead deposition in association with waterfowl and dove hunting.

Species Richness of the Campopleginae and Ichneumoninae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) Along a Latitudinal Gradient in Eastern North American Old-Growth Forests

We ran 10 Malaise traps along a latitudinal gradient in five old-growth forests: San Felasco Hammock, FL (30° N, 82° W); Tall Timbers Research Station, FL (31° N, 84° W); Hitchiti Experimental Forest, GA (33° N, 84° W); Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, MD (39° N, 77° W), and Shaw Woods, Ontario (46° N, 77° W). Of 18,791 ichneumonid wasps collected, 1,487 campoplegines and 4,494 ichneumonines were sorted to 241 species (95 species of Campopleginae and 146 of Ichneumoninae). Campoplegine species richness was highest at the Georgia site: San Felasco (20 species), Tall Timbers (32), Hitchiti (49), Patuxent (35), and Shaw Woods (12). Ichneumonine species richness was highest at the Maryland site: San Felasco (47), Tall Timbers (30), Hitchiti (44), Patuxent (68), and Shaw Woods (37). The results confirm reported trends that peak North American ichneumonid species richness lies at midlatitudes. However, they document greater biodiversity in the southern states and a broader peak than previously reported.

ECOLOGY OF HELMINTH PARASITISM IN BOBWHITES FROM NORTHERN FLORIDA

Examination of 700 northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus), 50 each February from 1971 through 1984, from Tall Timbers Research Station, Leon County, Florida, disclosed 15 species of helminth parasites. Nine species (Raillietina cesticillus, R. colinia, Aproctella stoddardi, Cheilospirura spinosa, Cyrnea colini, Dispharynx nasuta, Heterakis isolonche, Tetrameres pattersoni, and Trichostrongylus tenuis) generally were found on an annual basis and were considered characteristic components of the helminth fauna. Infrequently found species were Brachylecithum nanum, Rhabdometra odiosa, Capillaria sp., Gongylonema ingluvicola, H. gallinarum, and Oxyspirura matogrosensis. Intensities of C. colini and H. isolonche differed among host sex and age classes, and prevalences and/or intensities of A. stoddardi, C. spinosa, T. pattersoni, and T. tenuis differed between host age classes. Prevalences and/or abundances of seven species (R. cesticillus, R. colinia, C. spinosa, C. colini, H. isolonche, T. pattersoni, and T. tenuis) varied with bobwhite density, apparently because bobwhites were either the primary or only definitive host on the area. Two species (A. stoddardi and D. nasuta) did not vary with bobwhite density, apparently due to the buffering effect of a broad range of definitive hosts on the area. Prevalences and/or intensities of R. colinia, C. spinosa, and T. tenuis differed with agricultural fields status (cultivated versus fallow) suggesting that land use and its attendant habitat changes influenced transmission of these species. The occurrence of C. spinosa and T. pattersoni in individual bobwhites was not independent and was attributed to utilization of the same species of grasshoppers as intermediate hosts. Localized tissue damage and inflammation were associated with A. stoddardi, D. nasuta, C. spinosa, C. colini and T. pattersoni. Decreases in body weight in juvenile bobwhites were associated with increasing intensities of H. isolonche and T. tenuis. The observed relationships to bobwhite density and other variables are discussed with regard to known aspects of life histories of the nine most common species.

Survival Rates of Bobwhite Quail Based on Band Recovery Analyses

We present the results of a long-term (1970-85) band recovery study of northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) at Tall Timbers Research Station, Leon County, Florida. The mean annual survival rate of male quail (18.7 ? 1.2 [SE] %) was significantly (P = 0.01) greater than that of females (14.3 ? 1.2%). The difference between survival of young (6-9 months old) and adults (>1 yr old) was 3 ? 2.2% and not significant. Survival rates varied significantly among years. The mean harvest was 23.3 ? 0.53%/year. Young male quail were harvested at a significantly higher rate than adult males (2% difference). There was no significant difference between harvest rates of young and adult females. Juvenile male and female harvest rates were not significantly different. However, adult females were harvested at a significantly higher rate than adult males (5% difference). Harvest varied among years. The mean annual kill (harvest rate + crippling loss) was approximately 30% for both sexes. Male and female natural mortality were approximately 52 and 56%, respectively. There was evidence of additivity of hunting and natural mortality for this population harvested in late winter. Our long-term study provides information on the survival processes for northern bobwhite quail that can be used to enhance management of the species. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 53(1):1-6 Although research on northern bobwhite quail began in the 1920's (Stoddard 1931, Errington 1933), studies of quail survival have been limited. Sound management requires good estimates of mortality rates. Mortality for hunted species can be estimated from band recovery data using models prepared by Brownie et al. (1985). These models also provide band recovery rate estimates. Harvest rate is easily obtained if the reporting rate of bands is known. Total kill estimates follow from harvest estimates if an estimate of crippling loss is available. With these data managers can partition hunting and natural (nonhunting) mortality. A recent series of papers questions whether hunting and natural mortality are additive (Anderson and Burnham 1976, Anderson et al. 1982, Nichols and Hines 1983, Burnham and Anderson 1984, Burnham et al. 1984, Nichols et al. 1984). Most of this work applies to waterfowl, particularly mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), for which the most band recovery data are available. We report the results of a long-term bandrecovery study of bobwhite quail at Tall Timbers Research Station, Leon County, Florida. We obtained survival estimates and test the additive and compensatory mortality hypotheses (Anderson et al. 1982). W. L. Cornelius assisted with computing and J. D. Nichols reviewed an earlier draft of the manuscript. We thank present and past coworkers and many biologists and volunteers, especially wildlife technician students at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, for their help. This study was supported in part by Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, Florida and by an appropriation from the Congress of the United States. Funds were administered and research coordinated under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act and through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Laboratory Studies on Mansonella marmosetae in the Squirrel Monkey, Saimiri sciureus

gether, and it is more probable that they are exposed equally to parasite propagules. Given the mixed-age, mixed-sex groups in which bobwhites live during the winter, differences in parasite burdens may be rare. We are grateful for the assistance of personnel of the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, The University of Georgia, which was provided under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (50 Stat. 917) and through contract Nos. 14-16-0009-82-500, 14-16-0004-83004, and 14-16-0004-84-005, Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. We appreciate the field assistance of J. Atkinson and B. Mueller (Tall Timbers Research Station) and the technical assistance of S. Forster and J. Liberatos (Florida State University). Dr. R. Short (FSU) provided laboratory space and Colorado State University provided computer time. This study was funded by NSF BSR-8210218 to J. Moore, D. Simberloff, and R. Short and NSF BSR-8452076 to J. Moore.