Progress 05/05/13 to 05/04/18
Outputs
Target Audience:
Nothing Reported
Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Project Director no longer employed at Texas A&M - nothing to report
Publications
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audiences reached during this reporting period included (1) wildlife ecologists, (2) conservation biologists, (3) environmental policy researchers, (4) administrators and biologists working for state, federal, and international natural resource agencies, (5) administrators and employees of local, national, and international conservation NGOs, (5) undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral research associates, and (6) hunters and other publics interested in wildlife conservation. Efforts included publications in refereed outlets, presentations at meetings targeting professionals and various publics meetings, classroom teaching, and training interns, graduate students, and postdoctoral research associates. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? During this segment, 3 Ph.D. students, 2 M.S. student, and 1 Postdoctoral Research Associate (half time) were trained while working on this project. Results, lessons learned, and anecdotes from the project were used in my 2 dedicated graduate courses. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? During this segment, results from the project were published in 3 refereed professional journals: Journal of Biogeography (IF = 4.969), Local Environment (IF = 1.340), and PLoS ONE (IF = 3.534). Publications resulting from the project are under revision in Wildlife Biology and under review in 3 other peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, results were presented at an international professional conference and a regional conference that included researchers, wildlife managers, and the public (abstracts published). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? No changes planned
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. Regarding factors accounting for trends in wildlife abundance, conservation, and management: We examined spatial and temporal patterns of range expansion for white-winged doves (Zenaida asiatica) in the southern half of USA (1979–2007) using occupancy modeling. We found that their range expansion was primarily influenced by distance from the core population center, with additive effects of ecoregion and land cover. Our model was an excellent estimator of dove occurrence prior to rapid range expansion (1991), and still quite useful since then. These data should allow wildlife managers to better predict range expansion of this species. We presented a northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) draft de novo genome assembly with annotation, comparative analyses including genome-wide analyses of divergence with the chicken (Gallus gallus) and zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) genomes, and coalescent modeling to reconstruct the demographic history of the bobwhite for comparison to other birds currently in decline (i.e., scarlet macaw; Ara macao). Coalescent models for reconstructing the demographic history of the bobwhite and the scarlet macaw provided evidence for population bottlenecks which were temporally coincident with human colonization of the New World, the late Pleistocene collapse of the megafauna, and the last glacial maximum. 2. Regarding management strategies that could alter trends in wildlife abundance in directions favored by society: Managing exploited species characterized by declining abundance, such as northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and scaled quail (Callipepla squamata), presents challenges for regulatory agencies and wildlife managers. We formulated competing models accounting for quail harvest using hunter survey and quail abundance data collected by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (1978–2012) and evaluated them using multiple linear regression and model selection (AICc). We found that bobwhite and scaled quail harvest was best predicted by models that included quail abundance, quail hunter-days or total quail hunters, respectively, and the interaction between these biological and hunter variables. Wildlife policy makers and/or land managers should consider restructuring hunting management for species characterized by limited dispersal ability to effectively limit harvest when needed. 3. Regarding environmental policy likely to alter trends in wildlife abundance in directions human society favors: Hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) are highly endangered in the eastern Pacific Ocean, yet their eggs continue to be an important subsistence resource for impoverished coastal residents in El Salvador. We used a naturalistic inquiry approach to collect data and analyse interviews conducted with tortugueros (i.e., local sea turtle egg collectors), to help explain how hawksbills fit into local realities. From the perspective of tortugueros, (1) the primary importance of hawksbills is the economic value attached to egg sales, but there exists a deeper connection to local culture; (2) egg purchase by hatcheries is a socially just conservation strategy that benefits both hawksbill and human wellbeing; and (3) opportunities for local residents to participate in decision-making regarding sea turtle conservation are limited, and should be increased. We conclude that harmonizing international conservation priorities with local community development realities is one path toward simultaneously contributing to long-term sea turtle recovery and human wellbeing in low-income regions. Illegal trade in wild animals for pets is a global conservation and animal-welfare concern, so . We examined the efforts of conservation and animal-welfare non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working to decrease illegal wildlife-pet trade for domestic markets in Peru. We identified 28 NGOs potentially engaged in reducing this illegal trade, and conducted semi-structured interviews with >1 representative from each (n=33). Only 5 NGOs, each with a strong dual-perspective toward wildlife that prioritized both wildlife populations and individual wild animals, demonstrated high effort to decrease the illegal wildlife-pet trade. Factors motivating dual-perspective NGOs to tackle wildlife trade may arise from their moral pluralism. Stakeholders, such as transnational NGOs and governments, should consider NGOs with integrated holistic perspectives toward wildlife when searching for collaborators to help curb illegal wildlife trade. Entwined legal and illegal wild-animal markets complicate trade regulation and generate debate regarding the perceived costs and benefits of wildlife trade, prompting calls from some conservationists for wildlife-trade bans. We examined bird trade in Peru as a case study to explore the relationship between a legal export quota system for the international market, and illegal trade to fill demand for pet birds from domestic consumers. We found that >35,000 birds of 130 native species were recorded for sale; 33% of the species had published export quotas. Parrots were the most abundant individuals in the animal markets and seizures, but typically represented only 10% of annual quotas. Our analyses indicate that illegal domestic trade of native birds is common in Peru and appears to occur regardless of the nation’s export quota system.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Butcher, J. A., B. A. Collier, N. J. Silvy, J. A. Roberson, C. D. Mason, and M. J. Peterson. 2014. Spatial and temporal patterns of range expansion of white-winged doves in the USA from 1979 to 2007. Journal of Biogeography 41(10):19471956.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Halley, Y. A., S. E. Dowd, J. E. Decker, P. M. Seabury, E. Bhattarai, C. D. Johnson, D. Rollins, I. R. Tizard, D. J. Brightsmith, M. J. Peterson, J. F. Taylor, and C. M. Seabury. 2014. A draft de novo genome assembly for the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) reveals evidence for a rapid decline in effective population size beginning in the late Pleistocene. PLoS ONE 9(3): e90240. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090240.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Liles, M. J., M. J. Peterson, Y. S. Lincoln, J. A. Seminoff, A. R. Gaos, and T. R. Peterson. 2014. Connecting international priorities with human wellbeing in low-income regions: Lessons from hawksbill turtle conservation in El Salvador. Local Environment Ahead-of-Print:120. DOI: 10.1080/13549839.2014.905516.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Daut, E. F, D. Brightsmith, P. Mendoza, L. Puhakka, and M. J. Peterson. Legal and illegal trade: The case of export quotas and pet birds in Peru. 15th Ecological Integration Symposium, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA. 2122 March 2014.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Daut, E. F, D. Brightsmith, and M. J. Peterson. Role of non-governmental organizations in combating illegal wildlife-pet trade in Peru. North America Congress for Conservation Biology, Missoula, Montana, USA. 1316 July 2014.
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Progress 05/05/13 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audiences reached during this reporting period included (1) wildlife ecologists, (2) conservation biologists, (3) environmental policy researchers, (4) administrators and biologists working for state, federal, and international natural resource agencies, (5) administrators and employees of local, national, and international conservation NGOs, (5) undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral research associates, and (6) hunters and other publics interested in wildlife conservation. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? During this segment, 3 Ph.D. students, 1 M.S. student, and 1 Postdoctoral Research Associate (half time) were trained while working on this project. Results, lessons learned, and anecdotes from the project were used in my 2 dedicated graduate courses. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? During the segment, results from the project were submitted to 5 refereed professional journals. Three of these manuscripts were published in The Journal of Wildlife Management (IF = 1.640), Journal of Fish and wildlife Management (IF = 0.796), and Pacific Conservation Biology (IF = not available). Another article is in press at Local Environment (IF = 1.025), and a requested second revision was submitted to the Journal of Biogeography (IF = 4.863). Additionally, results were presented at 3 international professional conferences (abstracts published) and 1 regional conference that included researchers, wildlife managers, and the public. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Regarding factors accounting for trends in wildlife abundance, conservation, and management: We examined spatial and temporal patterns of range expansion for white-winged doves (Zenaida asiatica) in the southern half of USA (1979-2007) using occupancy modeling. We found that their range expansion was primarily influenced by distance from the core population center, with additive effects of ecoregion and land cover. Our model was an excellent estimator of dove occurrence prior to rapid range expansion (1991), and still quite useful since then. We monitored 194 Rio Grande wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) nesting attempts between 2005 and 2010 and documented 17 and 32% overall apparent nest success for the Edwards Plateau and Central Rio Grande Plains study regions of Texas, respectively. Hens moved approximately 1.2 km between nesting attempts within a nesting season and approximately 1.4 km between initial nesting attempts among years and selected open areas with moderate woody cover for nesting. Regarding management strategies that could alter trends in wildlife abundance in directions favored by society: White-winged dove population management requires estimates of vital rates for use in mechanistic models used to evaluate and predict population responses to environmental variation and/or alternative harvest scenarios. We used an open-population capture–recapture model to estimate annual immigration and in situ recruitment of white-winged doves breeding in an urban colony during 2009 (5,101 doves) and 2010 (3,106 doves). Immigration of adults into the breeding colony peaked during late April and early May, with in situ recruitment occurring 19 June to 30 July; >90% of all hatch-year individuals had entered the local population by 1 August. Regarding environmental policy likely to alter trends in wildlife abundance in directions human society favors: Hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) are highly endangered in the eastern Pacific Ocean, yet their eggs continue to be an important subsistence resource for impoverished coastal residents in El Salvador. We used a naturalistic inquiry approach to collect data and analyse interviews conducted with tortugueros (i.e., local sea turtle egg collectors), to help explain how hawksbills fit into local realities. From the perspective of tortugueros, (1) the primary importance of hawksbills is the economic value attached to egg sales, but there exists a deeper connection to local culture; (2) egg purchase by hatcheries is a socially just conservation strategy that benefits both hawksbill and human wellbeing; and (3) opportunities for local residents to participate in decision-making regarding sea turtle conservation are limited, and should be increased. We conclude that harmonizing international conservation priorities with local community development realities is one path toward simultaneously contributing to long-term sea turtle recovery and human wellbeing in low-income regions. Conserving biodiversity requires productive management of conflict. This conflict is not human-wildlife conflict, but instead conflict among people about wildlife. Conservationists, who value wildlife, often misleadingly suggest that conservation can sidestep irreducible value differences and political processes that see proponents of different views as antagonists be employing consensus-based processes. Because democracies cannot function without dissent, we suggest that conservation biologists should embrace stakeholder conflicts over wildlife conservation as a way to improve decision making.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Collier, B. A., S. R. Kremer, C. D. Mason, J. Stone, K. W. Calhoun, and M. J. Peterson. 2013. Immigration and recruitment in an urban white-winged dove breeding colony. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 4(1): 33-40.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Locke S. L., J. Hardin, K. Skow, M. J. Peterson, N. J. Silvy, and B. A. Collier. 2013. Nest site fidelity and dispersal of Rio Grande wild turkey hens in Texas. Journal of Wildlife Management 77(1): 207211.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Peterson, M. N., K. Leong, M. J. Peterson, and T. R. Peterson. 2013. Why transforming biodiversity conservation conflict is essential and how to do it. Pacific Conservation Biology 19(2): 94103.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Liles, M. J., M. J. Peterson, Y. S. Lincoln, J. A. Seminoff, A. R. Gaos, and T. R. Peterson. Connecting international priorities with human wellbeing in low-income regions: lessons from hawksbill turtle conservation in El Salvador. Local Environment.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Pierce, B. L., J. M. Tomecek, K. S. Reyna, and M. J. Peterson. 2013. Multiscale analysis of quail relative abundance, climate, and habitat in the Texas Rolling Plains. Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation Conference. Sweetwater, Texas, USA. 1920 March 2013.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Butcher, J. A., B. A. Collier, N. J. Silvy, J. A. Roberson, C. D. Mason, and M. J. Peterson. Spatial and temporal expansion of white-winged doves in North America. Journal of Biogeography.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Liles, M. J., M. J. Peterson, A. R. Gaos, Y. S. Lincoln, A. V. Henriquez, J. A. Seminoff, and T. R. Peterson. Connecting international conservation priorities with human welfare in low-income regions: Hawksbill turtles in El Salvador. 33rd Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. 58 February 2013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Liles, M. J., M. J. Peterson, J. Urteaga, A. R. Gaos, A. V. Henriquez, and T. R. Peterson. Hawksbill Cup: shifting local discourse to save a species in El Salvador and Nicaragua. 12th Biennial Conference on Communication and the Environment. Uppsala, Sweden. 79 June 2013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Peterson, M. J., and M. N. Peterson. Wildlife identity crisis: Public trust versus privatization. 12th Biennial Conference on Communication and the Environment. Uppsala, Sweden. 79 June 2013.
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Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Regarding factors accounting for trends in wildlife abundance, conservation, and management: (1) We banded 60,742 white-winged doves (Zenaida asiatica) and used band recovery and mark-recapture data ( 2007-2010) to investigate variation in survival and harvest across 3 geographic strata. We found evidence of geographic differences in survival rates among strata in both hatch-year and after-hatch year birds. Doves had a low probability of moving among strata or being recaptured across all strata. (2) We reviewed a major work on northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) habitat management and food plants. (3) We published a definitive review of wildlife marking techniques for research. Regarding wildlife disease ecology and management: (1) We collected 235 cloacal swabs from 147 live-captured and 88 hunter-harvested mottled ducks (Anas fulvigula; a non-migratory waterfowl species) during summer (June-August 2007) and winter (November 2007-January 2008), respectively, along the upper Texas coast and screened these samples for avian influenza virus (AIV) by real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) followed by virus isolation on all positive samples. Three samples were positive for AIV by AIV-matrix rRT-PCR; 1 of these samples also was positive for H5 by rRT-PCR, and a low pathogenic H5N2 AIV was isolated. (2) During the 2009-2010 hunting season (September, November-January), 655 cloacal swabs were collected from hunter-harvested waterfowl collected along the Texas Gulf coast and screened for AIV by rRT-PCR followed by virus isolation on all positive samples. Sixty-five (9.5%) of samples were positive for AIV by rRT-PCR and 24 (3.7%) AIVs were isolated; 8 different hemagglutinin (H3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11) and 7 different neuraminidase (N1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 9) subtypes were identified. (3) We published a review of wildlife diseases and their management that targets practicing wildlife biologists. PARTICIPANTS: University faculty members who participated in this project during 2012, but were not listed in the proposal, included Pamela J. Ferro and Sanjay M. Reddy [Texas A&M University (TAMU)]; Bart M. Ballard (TAMU-Kingsville); Michael P. Ward, University of Sydney, Australia; and Damdinjav Batchuluun, State Central Veterinary Laboratory, and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Current and former TAMU graduate students and post-doctoral research associates who worked with me to finalize their research for publication included Kirby W. Calhoun, Pamela J. Ferro, Owais Khan, and Susan N. Rollo. Partner organization biologists working on this project included Shelly R. Kremer, and Corey D. Mason (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department). Training and professional development during this segment was provided for 7 current TAMU graduate students (Kirby W. Calhoun, Mason D. Conley, Elizabeth Daut, Cristi L. C. Horton, Michael J. Liles, Brian L. Pierce, John M. Tomeček) as well 1 TAMU undergraduate technicians (Randall L. Schlaudt). TARGET AUDIENCES: No target audiences not listed in original project PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None
Impacts
Research completed and published during this segment should help environmental managers better implement conservation in Texas, the United States, and the world. Concerning wildlife species, we (1) found that harvest management strategies for white-winged doves (Zenaida asiatica) in Texas and elsewhere should consider differences in population vital rates among geographic strata, (2) determined that Texas Bobwhites: A Guide to Their Foods and Habitat Management should be a useful field guide for wildlife biologists and others interested in northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) and their habitats, and (3) delineated effective and humane methods for marking most terrestrial vertebrate species and marine mammals and birds for research purposes. Concerning wildlife disease ecology and management, we (1) found mottled ducks (Anas fulvigula) have a potential role as a naturally occurring sentinel species for avian influenza virus (AIV) surveillance, (2) found that continued multiyear surveillance of natural reservoirs of AIV, particularly in understudied areas, is needed in order to better understand the ecology of AIVs in nature, and (3) produced a synthesis of wildlife disease ecology and management that should benefit wildlife management professionals both in the classroom and beyond. These contributions should favorably influence conservation in Texas, the United States, and the world.
Publications
- Collier, B. A., S. R. Kremer, C. D. Mason, M. J. Peterson, and K. W. Calhoun. 2012. Survival, fidelity, and recovery rates of white-winged doves in Texas. Journal of Wildlife Management 76(6): 1129-1134.
- Ferro, P. J., O. Khan, M. J. Peterson, D. Batchuluun, S. M. Reddy, and B. Lupiani. 2012. Avian influenza virus surveillance in hunter-harvested waterfowl, Texas Coast, September 2009-January 2010. Avian Diseases 56(4): 1006-1009.
- Peterson, M. J. 2012. Review of Texas Bobwhites: A Guide to Their Foods and Habitat Management. By Jon A. Larson, Timothy E . Fulbright, Leonard A. Brennan, Fidel Hernandez, and Fred C. Bryant. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2010. Great Plains Research 22(1): 92.
- Peterson, M. J., and P. J. Ferro. 2012. Wildlife health and disease: Surveillance, investigation, and management. Pages 181-206 in N. J. Silvy, editor. The wildlife techniques manual: Research. Volume 1, Seventh edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore Maryland, USA (ISBN: 978-1-4214-0159-1).
- Silvy, N. J., R. R. Lopez, and M. J. Peterson. 2012. Techniques for marking wildlife. Pages 230-257 in N. J. Silvy, editor. The wildlife techniques manual: Research. Volume 1, Seventh edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore Maryland, USA (ISBN: 978-1-4214-0159-1).
- Rollo, S. N., P. J. Ferro, M. J. Peterson, M. P. Ward, B. M. Ballard, and B. Lupiani. 2012. Non-migratory mottled ducks (Anas fulvigula) as sentinels for avian influenza surveillance. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 43(1): 168-170.
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Regarding factors accounting for trends in upland gamebird abundance, conservation, and management: (1) We found the monthly probability of butt-end aluminum leg band retention for free-living Rio Grande wild turkeys (RGWT; Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) was 0.990 (0.971 and 0.864 at 3 and 15 mo. post-banding, respectively). (2) Using aerial surveys and multiple-observer roost counts, we found that RGWT detection probabilities varied little between observers, with rates >0.80 and roost-site fidelity 0.84. (3) Using remotely triggered camera to monitor RGWT nest predation on the Edwards Plateau (EP) and South Texas Plains (STP), we found mammalian and avian predators were more frequently observed, respectively, and that cameras did not influence nest success, but human activities did. (4) Using radiotelemetry and GIS in the EP, STP, and Rolling Plains (RP) of Texas, we found the best time to conduct road-based distance sampling for RGWTs was 1 December to 15 March (morning or afternoon); this approach provided generally unbiased results in the RPs and EP. (5) We evaluated the efficacy of micro-GPS transmitters as compared to traditional VHF transmitters for RGWTs; micro-GPS transmitters provided more reliable data on movements and habitat selection at a higher resolution and at less cost than conventional VHF methods. (6) We evaluated productivity metrics of 304 radiotagged RGWT hens over 7 reproductive seasons for areas with histories of stable and declining abundance on the EP; nest survival was not related to declines in turkey abundance, but that declines were likely a function of variation in the percentage of hens nesting, nesting rates, and nesting hen survival. (7) By conducting spatial analyses of aerial photography (1972, 1984, 1995) from the North Prong--Medina River, we found the 500 year flood of 1978 greatly reduced RGWT habitat connectivity along this riparian corridor. (8) Using radiotelemetric and statistical approaches, we found that lesser prairie chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) nest success was lower in the southwestern (38%) as compared to the northeastern (67%) Texas panhandle (P=0.04), with vegetation height and visual obstruction at nests mirroring these differences. Regarding wildlife disease ecology and management: (1) We described a new protozoan species (Eimeria attwateri) associated with clinical coccidiosis from critically endangered Attwater's prairie chickens (T. cupid attwateri). (2) We found similar levels of ingested lead in gizzards from hunter-harvested waterfowl (Mid-Gulf Coast) as found in other studies conducted after lead-shot bans. (3) We evaluated helminths from 184 blue-winged teal (Anas discors) from the eastern and central migratory corridors of the U.S.; communities were similar in species composition, but less similar when parasite abundance was incorporated. Regarding environmental policy formation and implementation, (1) we used a critical perspective to determine that hunting may contribute to linking humans and nature by rendering the materiality of food production explicit, and that hunting culture strengthens the symbolic meaning of food in ways that are rooted in its materiality. PARTICIPANTS: University faculty members who participated in this project during 2011, but were not listed in the proposal, included Thomas M. Craig and Guan Zhu [Texas A&M University (TAMU)]; Alan M. Fedynich, David G. Hewitt, William P. Kuvlesky (TAMU-Kingsville); T. Wayne Schwertner (Tarleton State University); Jason M. Fritzler (Stephen F. Austin State University); Warren B. Ballard, Matthew J. Butler, Danny B. Pence, and Mark C. Wallace (Texas Tech University); Michael J. Chamberlain (Louisiana State University); Jason M. Garvon (Lake Superior State University); Eddie K. Lyons (McNeese State University); Robert A. McCleery (University of Florida); Hans Peter Hansen (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences--Sweden; Humberto L. Perotto-Baldivieso (Cranfield University--U.K.); and Amal K. El-Gayar, Suez Canal University--Egypt. TAMU staff members involved with the project during this segment included Kevin L. Skow and Robert T. Snelgrove (Institute of Renewable Natural Resources). Current and former TAMU graduate students who worked with me to finalize their project research for publication included Robert J. Caveny, Justin Z. Dreibelbis, Pamela J. Ferro, Josiah D. Guthrie, Ryan S. Jones, John P. Leonard, Kyle B. Melton, and Benjamin E. Toole. Other graduate students involved with the project included William T. Brademen (TAMU), Devin R. Erxleben and R. Douglas Holt (Texas Tech University); Michael E. Byrne (Louisiana State University); and Megan K. Dominguez-Brazil (TAMU-Kingsville). Partner organization biologists working on this project included Ray Aguirre, David A. Butler, and Jason B. Hardin (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department); Casey Plummer and R. Steve Wilson (Caldwell Zoo--Tyler, Texas); Steven J. DeMaso (Gulf Coast Joint Venture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service); and Christopher O. Kochanny (Sirtrack Wildlife Tracking Solutions--New Zealand). Training and professional development during this segment was provided for 6 current Texas TAMU graduate students (Kirby Calhoun, Elizabeth Daut, Josiah D. Guthrie, Cristi L. C. Horton, Michael J. Liles, Brooke Heart Wilson) as well a, 2 TAMU and 3 TAMU-K undergraduate technicians (Megan M. Clary and John Stone; and Drew A. Garrison, Autumn J. Smith, and Stephen J. Voelkel, respectively). TARGET AUDIENCES: No target audiences not listed in original project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Research completed and published during this segment should help environmental managers better implement conservation in Texas, the United States, and the world. For upland gamebirds, we found that (1) although butt-end aluminum leg band retention was not 100% for Rio Grande wild turkeys (RGWT), our band retention rates were 3.7-5.7 times greater than described previously, suggesting banding is an excellent approach for individually marking RGWTs, (2) aerial distribution surveys conducted at the physiographic region scale, combined with abundance monitoring using multiple-observer roost counts on a random sample of private lands, should provide a framework for long-term monitoring of RGWTs in Texas and other semiarid regions, (3) the presence of remotely triggered cameras alone did impact turkey nests, but human activities associated with nest surveillance may influence nest failure, (4) road-based distance sampling conducted from 1 December to 15 March (morning/afternoon) yielded generally unbiased estimates of RGWT abundance in the Rolling Plains and Edwards Plateau ecoregions of Texas, (5) micro-GPS transmitters provide more reliable data on RGWT movements and habitat selection at a higher resolution and at less cost than conventional VHF telemetric methods, (6) RGWT management efforts in portions of the Edwards Plateau of Texas characterized by declining turkey abundance should concentrate on increasing the proportion of hens nesting, nesting rates, and survival of nesting hens rather than nesting success alone, (7) one must conduct multiple-scale analysis of river networks when assessing habitat changes and their impact on populations of terrestrial wildlife species dependent on riparian habitats in semi-arid landscapes, and (8) to increase numbers of lesser prairie chickens in Texas, managers should focus on providing vegetation with adequate height and visual structure to support successful nesting. Concerning wildlife disease ecology and management, we found (1) and described a pathogenic species of Eimeria in the critically endangered Attwater's prairie chicken, suggesting that those managing captive breeding programs for this species should implement preventative measures, (2) similar levels of ingested lead in waterfowl collected from the Texas Mid-Gulf Coast as documented in other studies conducted after lead-shot bans, suggesting that current lead levels in this region are not problematic, and (3) that overlapping distributions of phylogenetically related host species that share generalist helminth species across ecologically similar habitats seem to mitigate the isolating mechanisms that are necessary for the distinct co-evolutionary pathways to develop between adjacent corridors. Regarding environmental policy formation and implementation, we found that (1) even though hunting may be anachronistic in modern society, certain dimensions of hunting culture have the potential to enable society to re-collect a sense of human integration with nature, which should greatly benefit environmental public policy. These contributions should favorably influence conservation in Texas, the United States, and the world.
Publications
- Butler, M. J., B. A. Collier, R. D. Holt, W. B. Ballard, M. J. Peterson, N. J. Silvy, and M. C. Wallace. 2011. Retention of butt-end aluminum leg bands by wild turkeys. Journal of Wildlife Management 75:1807-1811.
- Caveny, R. J., S. J. Voelkel, W. T. Brademen, J. B. Hardin, M. J. Peterson, and B. A. Collier. 2011. Distribution, fidelity, and abundance of Rio Grande wild turkey roosts in the Texas Coastal Sand Plains. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 65:45-50.
- Dreibelbis, J. Z., J. D. Guthrie, R. J. Caveny, J. Hardin, N. J. Silvy, M. J. Peterson, and B. A. Collier. 2011. Predator community and researcher-induced impacts on nest success of Rio Grande wild turkeys in Texas. Proceedings of the National Wild Turkey Symposium 10:235-242.
- Erxleben, D. R., M. J. Butler, W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, M. J. Peterson, N. J. Silvy, W. P. Kuvlesky, D. G. Hewitt, S. J. Demaso, J. B. Hardin, and M. K. Dominguez-Brazil. 2011. Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) association to roads: Implications for distance sampling. European Journal of Wildlife Research 57:57-65.
- Fritzler, J. M., T. M. Craig, A. Elgayar, C. Plummer, R. S. Wilson, M. J. Peterson, and G. Zhu. 2011. A new eimeriid (Apicomplexa) species from endangered Attwater's prairie chickens (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri) in Texas. Journal of Parasitology 97:671-675.
- Garrison, D. A., A. M. Fedynich, A. J. Smith, P. J. Ferro, D. A. Butler, M. J. Peterson, and B. Lupiani. 2011. Ingestion of lead and nontoxic shot by green-winged teal (Anas crecca) and northern shovelers (Anas clypeata) from the mid-Gulf Coast of Texas, USA. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 47:784-786.
- Garvon, J. M., A. M. Fedynich, M. J. Peterson, and D. B. Pence. 2011. Helminth community dynamics in populations of blue-winged teal (Anas discors) using two distinct migratory corridors. Journal of Parasitology Research 2011:Article ID 306257, 306259 pages, doi:306210.301155/302011/306257.
- Guthrie, J. D., M. E. Byrne, J. B. Hardin, C. O. Kochanny, K. L. Skow, R. T. Snelgrove, M. J. Butler, M. J. Peterson, M. J. Chamberlain, and B. A. Collier. 2011. Evaluation of a global positioning system backpack transmitter for wild turkey research. Journal of Wildlife Management 75:539-547.
- Lyons, E. K., R. S. Jones, J. P. Leonard, B. E. Toole, R. A. McCleery, R. R. Lopez, M. J. Peterson, S. J. DeMaso, and N. J. Silvy. 2011. Regional variation in nest success of lesser prairie-chickens in Texas. Studies in Avian Biology 39:223-231.
- Melton, K. B., J. Z. Dreibelbis, R. Aguirre, J. Hardin, N. J. Silvy, M. J. Peterson, and B. A. Collier. 2011. Reproductive parameters of Rio Grande wild turkeys on the Edwards Plateau, Texas. Proceedings of the National Wild Turkey Symposium 10:227-233.
- Perotto-Baldivieso, H. L., X. B. Wu, M. J. Peterson, F. E. Smeins, N. J. Silvy, and T. W. Schwertner. 2011. Flooding-induced landscape changes along dendritic stream networks and implications for wildlife habitat. Landscape and Urban Planning 99:115-122.
- Peterson, M. J. 2011. Review of "Biological and ecological foundations for restoration of the northern bobwhite in Tennessee". Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
- Петерсон, Н., Х. Хансен, М. Петерсон, and Т. Петерсон. 2011. Как охота укрепляет осознание обществом связи человека с природой Охота: Национальн ;ый Охотничий Журнал 43:18-21.
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Regarding factors accounting for trends in wildlife abundance, health, and related management: (1) Using cloacal swabs collected from hunter-harvested waterfowl and other wetland-associated gamebirds during 3 consecutive hunting seasons along the Texas Gulf Coast, we found that avian influenza virus (AIV) prevalence by virus isolation conducted only on real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR)-positive samples resulted in estimates nearly identical in magnitude to those derived from parallel testing (0.5 v. 0.6, 1.3 v. 1.7, and 3.9 v. 4.0% for 2005-06, 2006-07, and 2007-08, respectively). (2) Of 5,363 hunter-harvested migratory and resident waterfowl and wetland-associated gamebirds sampled during 3 consecutive hunting seasons, RRT-PCR detected influenza A matrix sequences in 8.5% of samples, H5 in 0.7%, and H7 in 0.6%. Virus isolation yielded 134 influenza A viruses, including N1-N9, H1-H7, H10, and H11 subtypes. Low-pathogenicity H7 subtype was isolated during Jan, Sep, and Nov 2007 and Jan 2008; low-pathogenicity H5 subtype was isolated during Nov and Dec 2007. Regarding environmental policy formation and implementation: (1) We demonstrated that despite the success of some economic programs designed to protect ecosystem functions, today's marketplace often fails to adequately protect biodiversity. This occurs because reframing ecosystem functions as economic services to humanity does not necessarily address the political problem of commodification. Just as it obscures the labor of human workers, commodification obscures the importance of the biota and related abiotic factors that contribute to ecosystem functions, so this erasure of "work" done by ecosystems impedes public understanding of the importance of biodiversity. (2) We used a critical perspective to analyze how hunting may contribute to linking humans and nature by rendering the materiality of food production explicit, and how hunting culture strengthens the symbolic meaning of food in ways that are rooted in its materiality. We traced this potential through the practices of searching, killing, processing, and consuming food obtained via hunting, and noted how technology, formal and informal social control, and commoditization may constrain hunting's potential to highlight linkages between human and natural systems. (3) Human-wildlife conflict has emerged as the central vocabulary for cases requiring balance between the resource demands of humans and wildlife. We found, using content analysis and statistical modeling, that of the 422 publications and presentations using human-wildlife conflict, only 1 reflected a traditional definition of conflict, >95% referred to reports of animal damage to entities humans care about, and <4% referred to human-human conflict. Usage of the term was related to species type (herbivores with human food, carnivores with human safety, meso-mammals with property), development level (less developed nations with human food, more developed nations with human safety and property damage), and whether the study occurred on private lands or protected areas (protected areas with human-human conflict, other areas with property damage). PARTICIPANTS: University faculty members who participated in this project during 2010, but were not listed in the proposal, include Christine M. Budke (Texas A&M University) and Hans Peter Hansen (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences). Partner organization biologists working on this project included Kirsten Leong (National Park Service), Todd Merendino (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; now Ducks Unlimited), and Matt Nelson (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department). Training and professional development during this segment was provided for 8 current Texas A&M University (TAMU)] graduate students (Kirby Calhoun, Elizabeth Daut, Andrea M. Feldpausch-Parker, Damon M. Hall, Pamela J. Ferro, Josiah D. Guthrie, Emily Roltsch, Eleanor H. Tittle), 1 North Carolina State University Graduate Student (Jessie L. Birckhead), and 2 TAMU undergraduate technicians (Dayna Cox and Chris Paige). TARGET AUDIENCES: No target audiences not listed in original project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Research completed and published during this segment should help environmental managers better implement conservation in Texas, the United States, and the world. For example, we found that (1) screening samples for AIV by RRT-PCR, followed by virus isolation only on RRT-PCR-positive samples (now a common practice), provides a reasonable means to generate prevalence estimates quite similar to the true prevalence as determined by virus isolation, (2) a number of low-pathogenicity H5 and H7 subtypes of AIV occur on waterfowl wintering grounds along the Texas Gulf Coast, but we were unable to isolate high-pathogenicity subtypes, (3) conservations should explicitly present ecosystem services as discreet and incomplete aspects of ecosystem functions in order to allow for potential economic and environmental benefits associated with ecosystem services, but also enable the social and political changes required to ensure valuation of ecosystem functions and related biodiversity in ways beyond their measurement on an economic scale, (4) even though hunting may be anachronistic in modern society, certain dimensions of hunting culture have the potential to enable society to re-collect a sense of human integration with nature, which should greatly benefit environmental public policy, and (5) the phrase, human-wildlife conflict, is detrimental to coexistence between humans and wildlife; thus, comic reframing should facilitate a more productive interpretation of human-wildlife relationships. These contributions should favorably influence conservation in Texas, the United States, and the world.
Publications
- Ferro, P. J., C. M. Budke, M. J. Peterson, D. Cox, E. Roltsch, T. Merendino, and B. Lupiani. 2010. Multiyear surveillance for avian influenza virus in waterfowl from wintering grounds, Texas Coast, USA. Emerging Infectious Diseases 16(8): 1224-1230.
- Ferro, P. J., M. J. Peterson, T. Merendino, M. Nelson, and B. Lupiani. 2010. Comparison of real-time reverse transcription-PCR and virus isolation for estimating prevalence of avian influenza virus in hunter-harvested wild birds at waterfowl wintering grounds along the Texas mid-Gulf Coast (2005-2006 through 2008-2009). Avian Diseases 54(1): 655-659.
- Peterson, M. J., D. M. Hall, A. M. Feldpausch-Parker, and T. R. Peterson. 2010. Obscuring ecological function with application of the ecosystem services concept. Conservation Biology 24(1): 113-119.
- Peterson, M. N., H. P. Hansen, M. J. Peterson, and T. R. Peterson. 2010. How hunting strengthens social awareness of coupled human-natural systems. Wildlife Biology in Practice 6(2): In Press.
- Peterson, M. N., T. R. Peterson, J. Birckhead, K. Leong, and M. J. Peterson. 2010. Rearticulating the myth of human-wildlife conflict. Conservation Letters 3(2): 74-82.
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Regarding factors accounting for trends in wildlife abundance and related management: (1) Using yearly weather data for south Texas (1908-1997), we found that mean daily temperature during summer declined between 1.6 and 2.3 degrees C/century, but there were no temporal trends in seasonal precipitation (1908-1997), northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) age ratios during summer (1940-1999), or bobwhite abundance (1977-1998). Neural network models developed independently to predict bobwhite age ratios and abundance from weather data produced predictions consistent with each other; years with high age ratios tended to coincide with or precede years of high abundance. (2) By monitored radio-tagged Rio Grande wild turkey hens (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) on the Edwards Plateau of Texas during 2001-2007, we found that model-averaged estimates of breeding season survival were higher in a region characterized by stable turkey numbers (0.88, 95% CI = 0.78-0.94) than in a region characterized by declining turkey abundance (0.67, 95% CI = 0.55-0.78). Data collected on nests and hens during intensive monitoring (2005-2007) indicated that breeding season survival was negatively influenced by the number of days a hen spent incubating a nest. Regarding environmental policy formation and implementation: (1) We determined via reviewing Secretarial Order 3206--the U.S. policy on American Indian tribal rights, federal-tribal trust responsibilities, and the Endangered Species Act (ESA)--and evaluating how it influences ESA implementation on tribal lands, that improved biodiversity conservation and tribal self-determination requires revising the fiduciary relationship between the federal government and the tribes to establish clear, legal definitions regarding land rights, applicability of environmental laws, and financial responsibilities. Such actions will allow provision of adequate funding and training to tribal leaders, resource managers, government agency personnel responsible for biodiversity conservation and land management, and environmental policy makers, resulting in increased capacity, cooperation, and knowledge transfer among tribes and conservationists that should improve biodiversity conservation and indigenous self-determination. (2) Because those organizing and advocating environmental action often need access to natural scientists' data, and particularly their interpretation of these data, they require open access to key natural scientists. To gain this access, conservationists must negotiate the paradox embodied by environmental scientists: caring passionately about the environment, yet finding it inappropriate to even comment publicly, let alone lead environmental activism. I used the recent Step It Up campaign to illustrate that this can be accomplished by appealing to individual environmental scientists' values and beliefs by taking the time and effort to form personal, multi-way relationships characterized by mutual trust. PARTICIPANTS: University faculty members who participated in this project during 2009, but were not listed in the proposal, include Stephen J. DeMaso (Texas A&M University-Kingsville), Danielle Endres (University of Utah), Fred S. Guthery (Oklahoma State University), and Leah Sprain (Colorado State University). Lourdes Butcher (Business Associate) was employed by the project. Partner organization biologists working on this project included John El-Attrach (Ambion, Inc.), Jason B. Hardin (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department), and Jeffrey J. Lusk (Nebraska Game & Parks Commission). Training and professional development during this segment was provided for 1 post-doctorial research associate [Jerrod A. Butcher, Texas A&M University (TAMU)], 5 current TAMU graduate students (Kirby Calhoun, Robert J. Caveny, Pamela J. Ferro, Josiah D. Guthrie, Paige M. Schmidt), 1 former TAMU graduate student (Kyle B. Melton), 2 TAMU undergraduate technicians (Chris Paige and James Paige) and 1 TAMU-K undergraduate technician (Stephen Voelkel). TARGET AUDIENCES: No target audiences not listed in original project proposal. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Research completed and published during this segment should help environmental managers better implement conservation in Texas, the United States, and the world. For example, we found that (1) climate change (1908-1997; slight cooling) did not adversely affect long-term trends in bobwhite abundance in south Texas, (2) managers should consider strategies to increase breeding season survival of Rio Grande wild turkey hens in that portion of the Edwards Plateau where turkey abundance has declined since the late 1970s, (3) revising the fiduciary relationship between the federal government and the tribes to establish clear, legal definitions regarding land rights, applicability of environmental laws, and financial responsibilities should lead to more effective endangers species management on tribal lands and improved self-determination of indigenous peoples, and (4) that environmental activists and conservation NGO representatives can best access environmental scientists by appealing their values and beliefs through taking the time and effort to form personal, multi-way relationships characterized by mutual trust. These contributions should favorably influence conservation in Texas, the United States, and the world.
Publications
- Lusk, J. J., F. S. Guthery, M. J. Peterson, and S. J. DeMaso. 2009. Long-term climate trends and northern bobwhite populations in south Texas. Proceedings of the National Quail Symposium 6:114-123.
- Peterson, M. J. 2009. An ecologist's response to the SIU campaign: The role of natural scientists in environmental movements. Pages 361-387 in D. Endres, L. Sprain, and T. R. Peterson, editors. Social movement to address climate change: Local steps for global action. Cambria Press, Amherst, New York, USA (ISBN: 978-1-60497-641-0).
- Schmidt, P. M., and M. J. Peterson. 2009. Biodiversity conservation and indigenous land management in the era of self-determination. Conservation Biology 23(6): 1458-1466.
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Regarding factors accounting for trends in wildlife abundance and related management: (1) We found that dickcissels (Spiza americana) on reclaimed surface-mined lands in Texas were more likely to select nest sites farther from riparian areas and closer to brush-encroached areas, while nest parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) was more likely to occur near riparian areas and roads. (2) Using motion-activated digital cameras, we found that nest predation was the primary cause of Rio Grande wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) nest loss at our study sites in the Edwards Plateau of Texas (57 and 65% in 2006 and 2007, respectively); we documented partial-and multiple-predator events that could result in misidentification of nest predators; we also documented a hen producing abnormally small and misshapen ("runt") eggs during 3 nesting attempts over 2 years. (3) We isolated 7 avian influenza viruses (subtypes H1N2, H1N4, H4N6, H6N2, H10N7) from 4 species of ducks (green-winged teal (Anas crecca), blue-winged teal (A. discors), mottled duck (A. fulvigula), northern shoveler (A. clypeata) sampled from the Texas Gulf Coast. (4) Using radiotelemetry, we found that endangered Lower Keys (Florida) marsh rabbits (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri) typically selected daytime forms in patches of saltmarsh or buttonwoods characterized by thick groundcover (>75%) or in freshwater hardwoods characterized by thick groundcover and canopy vegetation embedded in or adjacent to freshwater marshes. (5) We synthesized our experience with the design and implementation of wildlife ecology and management studies in book form and published the results with Springer; it rapidly became the leading text of this type in wildlife science. PARTICIPANTS: University faculty members who participated in this project, but were not included in the proposal, include Xingwang Fang, Robert A. McCleery, and Michael L. Morrison from Texas A&M University. Lourdes Butcher (Business Associate) was employed by the project. Partner organization biologists working on this project included Ray Aguirre, Mike Frisbie, Jason Hardin, Todd Merendino, Robert Perez, Jay Roberson, and T. Wayne Schwertner (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department), William M. Block (U.S. Forest Service), John El-Attrach (Ambion, Inc.), Phillip A. Frank (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), and M. Dale Strickland (Western Ecosystems Technology, Inc.).Training and professional development during this segment was provided for 2 post-doctorial research associates (Bret A. Collier and Jerrod A. Butcher, TAMU), 6 current TAMU graduate students (Robert J. Caveny, Justin Z. Dreibelbis, Pamela J. Ferro, Josiah D. Guthrie, Adam Jester, Susan N. Rollo), 3 former TAMU graduate students (Thomas P. Dixon, Craig A. Faulhaber, Kyle B. Melton), and 2 TAMU undergraduate technicians (John Stone, Kirby Calhoun). TARGET AUDIENCES: No target audiences not listed in original project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Research completed and published during this segment should help environmental managers better implement conservation in Texas, the United States, and the world. For example, we found (1) that providing larger wildlife habitat blocks during surface mine reclamation would provide more field-interior habitat required for dickcissels and similar species, (2) that many prior identifications of predators responsible for destroying nests of ground-nesting birds probably were in error due to the prevalence of multiple predation events, (3) several avian influenza subtypes not previously reported on the Texas Gulf Coast that provide baseline data for multiyear surveillance projects attempting to monitor for highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza that could cause significant mortality in poultry, wildlife, or humans, and (4) that conservation biologists could increase the amount of annual space usable by endangered Lower Keys marsh rabbits in the Florida Keys by providing more saltmarsh habitat interspersed with buttonwoods and enhancing ground cover in existing habitat. Finally, Wildlife Study Design should help update the knowledge of wildlife professionals regarding the philosophy of science, study design, and data analysis as well as help prepare a new generation of wildlife ecologists and managers for critical roles in wildlife conservation. These contributions should favorably influence conservation in Texas, the United States, and the world.
Publications
- Ferro, P. J., J. El-Attrach, X. Fang, S. N. Rollo, A. Jester, T. Merendino, M. J. Peterson, and B. Lupiani. 2008. Avian influenza surveillance in hunter-harvested waterfowl from the Gulf Coast of Texas (November 2005-January 2006). Journal of Wildlife Diseases 44(2): 434-439.
- Melton, K. B., J. Z. Dreibelbis, R. Aguirre, B. A. Collier, T. W. Schwertner, M. J. Peterson, and N. J. Silvy. 2008. Abnormal eggs of Rio Grande wild turkeys on Edwards Plateau, Texas. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 120(1): 226-228.
- Morrison, M. L., W. M. Block, M. D. Strickland, B. A. Collier, and M. J. Peterson. 2008. Wildlife study design. Second edition. Springer, New York, New York, USA.
- Dixon, T. P., R. R. Lopez, M. J. Peterson, R. A. McCleery, and N. J. Silvy. 2008. Field-level spatial factors, associated edges, and dickcissel nesting ecology on reclaimed lands in Texas. Landscape and Urban Planning 86(1): 60-65.
- Dreibelbis, J. Z., K. B. Melton, R. Aguirre, B. A. Collier, J. Hardin, N. J. Silvy, and M. J. Peterson. 2008. Predation of Rio Grande wild turkey nests on the Edwards Plateau, Texas. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 120(4): 906-910.
- Faulhaber, C. A., N. J. Silvy, R. R. Lopez, P. A. Frank, and M. J. Peterson. 2008. Diurnal habitat use by Lower Keys marsh rabbits. Journal of Wildlife Management 72(5): 1161-1167.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Regarding environmental policy (1) we found that worldwide household density could account for species endangerment as well as human population density--the dominant perspective in conservation biology. Household density also is now growing more rapidly than human numbers. Further, a household perspective toward biodiversity conservation is a much more pragmatic than the human population perspective and could facilitate movement from a human versus nature ethic to a humans situated within nature ethic. (2) We also argued that environmental communication, as a crisis discipline similar to conservation biology, must move beyond the magical notion of scientific objectivity and advocate a nondualistic perspective toward the relationship between humans and nature, thus expanding environmental communication's vision of political and ethical engagement. Research addressing upland gamebird ecology and management in Texas included (1) a comparison of invertebrate abundance (key food
source for poults) at Rio Grande wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) brood locations between regions of stable and declining turkey abundance, (2) a comparison of adult and juvenile Rio Grande wild turkey survival during breeding and nonbreeding seasons between regions of stable and declining turkey abundance, (3) an evaluation of how variation in Rio Grande wild turkey brood sex ratios (obtained using DNA extracted from poult tissues, unhatched eggs, and eggshells of hatched or depredated eggs) could influence wild turkey population dynamics, (4) documentation of regionally synchronized cycles in northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) abundance across most of Texas, (5) a review of northern bobwhite ecology and life history relevant to Texas ecosystems, (6) a review and history of northern bobwhite ecology, life history, and management in the Blackland Prairies of Texas, and (7) a review of research addressing parasites and infectious
diseases of northern bobwhites and Gambel's (Callipepla gambelii), Montezuma (Callipepla gambelii), and scaled quail relevant to Texas populations. Research addressing upland mammal ecology and management included (1) an updated rangewide description of where the endangered Lower Keys marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri) occurs.
PARTICIPANTS: Individual university faculty members who participated in this project, but were not included in the proposal, include Fidel Hernandez, William P. Kuvlesky, and David G. Hewett from Texas A&M University (TAMU)-Kingsville, Jianguo Liu from Michigan State University, and Glenn A. Proudfoot from Vassar College. Lourdes Butcher (Business Associate) was employed by the project. Partner organization biologists working on this project included Ray Aguirre, Stephen J. DeMaso, Mike Frisbie, Todd Merendino, Robert Perez, Jay Roberson, and T. Wayne Schwertner from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Phillip A. Frank and Phillip T. Hughes from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Florida). Training and professional development during this segment was provided for 2 post-doctorial research associates (Bret A. Collier, TAMU; Jeffery J. Lusk, Purdue University), 4 current TAMU graduate students (Robert J. Caveny, Justin Z. Dreibelbis, Pamela J. Ferro, Kyle B. Melton), 1
Michigan State University graduate student (M. Nils Peterson), 6 former TAMU graduate students (Craig A. Faulhaber, Dustin A. Jones, Neal D. Perry, C. J. Randel, Jody N. Schaap, Beau J. Willsey), 2 undergraduate technicians from TAMU (John Stone, Kirby Calhoun), and undergraduate technician from TAMU-K (Drew Smith).
Impacts
Research completed and published during this segment should help environmental managers better implement conservation in Texas, the United States, and the world. Research on environmental policy should allow conservation biologists and environmental policy makers (1) to capitalize on a household perspective toward biodiversity conservation rather than on the much more divisive human population perspective now typically used, and (2) to utilize a nondualistic perspective toward the relationship between humans and nature so that humans, including ecologists, are part rather than apart from nature. The upland gamebird ecology and management publications should help land owners, land managers, and wildlife managers in Texas and elsewhere better manage Rio Grande wild turkey, northern bobwhite, and Gambel's, Montezuma, and scaled quail populations. It also will benefit birdwatchers, hunters, and other wildlife/outdoor enthusiasts. Similarly, the publication updating the
distribution of the Lower Keys marsh rabbit in the Florida Keys should help guide management actions designed to benefit this critically endangered species. All of these contributions should favorably influence conservation in Texas, the United States, and the world.
Publications
- Collier, B. A., D. A. Jones, J. N. Schaap, C. J. Randel, III, B. J. Willsey, R. Aguirre, T. W. Schwertner, N. J. Silvy, and M. J. Peterson. 2007. Survival of Rio Grande wild turkeys on the Edwards Plateau of Texas. Journal of Wildlife Management 71(1): 82-86.
- Collier, B. A., K. B. Melton, J. Z. Dreibelbis, W. P. Kuvlesky, G. A. Proudfoot, R. Aguirre, D. Hewitt, T. W. Schwertner, S. J. DeMaso, N. J. Silvy, and M. J. Peterson. 2007. Variation in brood sex ratios of Texas Rio Grande wild turkeys. Journal of Wildlife Management 71(6): 1793-1799.
- Faulhaber, C. A., N. D. Perry, N. J. Silvy, R. R. Lopez, P. A. Frank, P. T. Hughes, and M. J. Peterson. 2007. Updated distribution of the Lower Keys marsh rabbit. Journal of Wildlife Management 71(1): 208-212.
- Hernandez, F., and M. J. Peterson. 2007. Northern bobwhite ecology and life history. Pages 40-64 in L. A. Brennan, editor. Texas quails: Ecology and management. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas, USA.
- Lusk, J. J., F. S. Guthery, M. J. Peterson, and S. J. DeMaso. 2007. Evidence of regionally synchronized cycles in Texas quail population dynamics. Journal of Wildlife Management 71(3): 837-843.
- Peterson, M. J. 2007. Bobwhites on the Blackland Prairies. Pages 184-201 in L. A. Brennan, editor. Texas quails: Ecology and management. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas, USA.
- Peterson, M. J. 2007. Diseases and parasites of Texas quails. Pages 89-114 in L. A. Brennan, editor. Texas quails: Ecology and management. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas, USA.
- Peterson, M. N., M. J. Peterson, and T. R. Peterson. 2007. Environmental communication: Why this crisis discipline should facilitate environmental democracy. Environmental Communication: A Journal of Nature and Culture 1(1): 74-86.
- Peterson, M. N., M. J. Peterson, T. R. Peterson, and J. Lui. 2007. A household perspective for biodiversity conservation. Journal of Wildlife Management 71(4): 1243-1248.
- Randel, C. J., R. Aguirre, M. J. Peterson, and N. J. Silvy. 2007. Invertebrate abundance at Rio Grande wild turkey brood locations. Journal of Wildlife Management 71(7): 2417-2420.
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Regarding environmental policy, we found that (1) given the increasingly interconnected, and diverse social world we inhabit, environmental managers in nominally democratic nations would do well to focus more energy on capitalizing the potential of democratic dissent rather than concentrating on consensus-based processes, and (2) presented 2 case studies describing how social capital dampened democratic practice in one case, while invigorating it in the other. Research addressing upland gamebird ecology and management in Texas included (1) an evaluation of portable infrared cameras for detecting Rio Grande wild turkeys, (2) a description of nest abandonment and simultaneous poult adoption for a female Rio Grande wild turkey, (3) a comparison of 2 techniques for assessing invertebrate availability for wild turkey poults, and (4) an evaluation of long-term trends in weather and northern bobwhite populations. Research addressing upland mammal ecology and management in
Texas included (1) a technique for estimating bobcat density using automatically-triggered cameras, and (2) determination that multi-scale asynchrony and spatial structuring occur in mid-sized mammalian predators in the central portion of the state.
Impacts
Research completed and published during this segment should help environmental managers better implement conservation in Texas and elsewhere. Research on environmental policy should help managers better (1) capitalize on democratic dissent as opposed to concentrating on consensus-based processes and (2) understand the value and limitations of social capital. Upland gamebird ecology management publications should help wildlife managers better manage Rio Grande wild turkey and northern bobwhite populations. Similarly, the upland mammal ecology and management publications should benefit those managing bobcat and other meso-predator populations in Texas and elsewhere. All of these contributions should favorably influence conservation in Texas and the United States.
Publications
- Locke, S. L., R. R. Lopez, M. J. Peterson, N. J. Silvy, and T. W. Schwertner. 2006. Evaluation of portable infrared cameras for detecting Rio Grande wild turkeys. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34: 839 844.
- Lusk, J. J., F. S. Guthery, and M. J. Peterson. 2006. Long term trends in weather and northern bobwhite populations in south Texas. Proceedings of the National Quail Symposium 6: In Press.
- Peterson, T. R., M. N. Peterson, M. J. Peterson, S. A. Allison, and D. Gore. 2006. To play the fool: Can environmental conservation and democracy survive social capital Communication and Critical Cultural Studies 3: 116 140.
- Randel, C. J., III, R. B. Aguirre, M. J. Peterson, and N. J. Silvy. 2006. From the Field: Comparison of two techniques for assessing invertebrate availability for wild turkeys in Texas. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34: 853 855.
- Schwertner, T. W., M. J. Peterson, and N. J. Silvy. 2006. Multi scale asynchrony and spatial structuring of mesopredator abundance trends in central Texas. Texas Journal of Science 58: 155 168.
- Metz, S. T., K. B. Melton, R. Aguirre, B. A. Collier, T. W. Schwertner, M. J. Peterson, and N. J. Silvy. 2006. Poult adoption and nest abandonment by a female Rio Grande wild turkey in Texas. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 118: 259 261.
- Peterson, M. N., M. J. Peterson, and T. R. Peterson. 2006. Why conservation needs dissent. Conservation Biology 20: 576 578.
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Our evaluation of model selection based on information theory and using the Akaikes Information Criterion (AIC) demonstrated that while this technique can be usefully employed, it does not necessarily avoid long-standing problems in wildlife science. We also found that overuse of consensus-based approaches to environmental decision making has potentially dangerous implications for conservation within many democratic societies, and that an argumentative model rooted in ecology should facilitate progressive environmental policy formation. Research addressing upland gamebird ecology and management included (1) a computer-based simulation of annual productivity and long-term population trends of white-winged doves in the Tamaulipan Biotic Province, (2) a study addressing the effect of precipitation on Rio Grande wild turkey (RGWT) production in Texas, and (3) nest-site characteristics and spatial-scale distribution RGWT hens in the Edwards Plateau of Texas. We were able
to simulate white winged dove population dynamics, found that precipitation could account for differences in RGWT productivity in most physiographic regions of Texas among years, and described nest-site characteristics and the distribution of RGWT hens in the Edwards Plateau of Texas. We also determined that raccoons in the Florida Keys were unlikely to transmit the highly pathogenic Balisascaris procyonis to the endangered Key Largo woodrat. Finally, we developed techniques for capturing Lower Keys marsh rabbits and estimating bobcat abundance.
Impacts
We develop and test techniques that allow us to resarch individually the natural markings using cameras.
Publications
- Faulhaber, C., N. Silvy, B. Porter, R. Lopez, P. Frank, and M.Peterson. 2005. Use of drift fences to capture Lower Keys marsh rabbits.Wildlife Society Bulletin 33(3): In Press.
- Guthery, F. S., L. A. Brennan, M. J. Peterson, and J. J. Lusk. 2005. Information theory in wildlife science: Critique and viewpoint. Journal of Wildlife Management 69: 457 465.
- Heilbrun, R. D., N. J. Silvy, M. J. Peterson, and M. E. Tewes. 2005. Estimating bobcat abundance using automatically triggered cameras. Wildlife Society Bulletin 33(3): In Press.
- Martinez, C., W. E. Grant, S. J. Hejl, M. J. Peterson, A. Martinez, and G. L. Waggerman. 2005. Simulation of annual productivity and long term population trends of white-winged doves in the Tamaulipan Biotic Province. Ecological Modelling 181: 149 159.
- McCleery, R. A., G. W. Foster, R. R. Lopez, M. J. Peterson, D. J. Forrester, and N. J. Silvy. 2005. Survey of raccoons on Key Largo, Florida, USA, for Balisascaris procyonis. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 41: 250 252.
- Peterson, M. N., M. J. Peterson, and T. R. Peterson. 2005. Conservation and the myth of consensus. Conservation Biology 19: 762 767.
- Randel, C. J., III, D. A. Jones, J. N. Schaap, B. J. Willsey, M. J. Peterson, and N. J. Silvy. 2005. Nest site characteristics of Rio Grande wild turkeys on the Edwards Plateau of Texas. Proceedings of the National Wild Turkey Symposium 9: In Press.
- Schaap, J. N., N. J. Silvy, and M. J. Peterson, R. Aguirre, and H. L. Perotto Baldivieso. 2005. Spatial scale distribution of Rio Grande wild turkey females during the reproductive season. Proceedings of the National Wild Turkey Symposium 9: In Press.
- Schwertner, T. W., M. J. Peterson, and N. J. Silvy. 2005. Effect of precipitation on Rio Grande wild turkey production in Texas. Proceedings of the National Wild Turkey Symposium 9: In Press.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
Hypotheses are core elements of science, but have multiple meanings ranging from any speculative thought, to imaginary entities that explain phenomena, to concrete, specific conjectures on processes that lead to an outcome. Although we advocate use of research hypotheses, we maintain that studies of management treatment effects & simple descriptive studies still have a place in wildlife science. We found that under the fixed, liberal quail hunting regulations in KS, MO, OK, TX, & AZ, variations in northern bobwhite, Gambels, & scaled quail abundance governed harvest rates at the state & regional level, while hunting regulations probably were biologically inconsequential. Halting or reversing the near rangewide decline in bobwhite abundance will entail moving from historical fine scale habitat management to regional management of usable space, and narrowing the scale of harvest management from statewide to regional levels. Prairie grouse (PG) are host to a wide array
of micro- & macroparasites; certain of these agents could limit or extirpate PG populations. Insufficient usable space is responsible for long-term declines of PG in TX & North America, so increasing usable space through time is required to save PG from extinction in TX. Although raccoons destroy numerous Rio Grande wild turkey nests in central TX, we found no evidence they regulated turkey production in a density-dependent manner. We found Florida Key deer preferred upland vegetation types on Big Pine & No Name Keys, and avoided lower-elevation areas. Historical development impacted near-shore habitats, while recent trends pose a greater risk to upland areas; thus conservation measures including land acquisition & protection of upland areas may be needed. Research addressing natural resource management policy included (1) a computer-based simulation model of socio-cultural impacts of nature tourism in rural TX, (2) an essay demonstrating that when scientists, politicians, or others
attempt to address concerns that society has labeled "environmental," they become simultaneously enmeshed in societal & ecological issues & processes--we suggest a model that integrate biophysical processes & social practices, and (3) an ethnographically-based critical analysis of the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) processes used in attempts to develop regional HCPs to benefit Houston toad & Florida Key deer. In both cases process was framed as a search for optimum solutions through collaboration & consensus-building, in neither case was the solution achieved because the paradoxical nature of liberal democracy precluded the possibility of a single, ideal solution, thus leading to disillusionment & pessimism among participants, and within democratic political contexts, approaches to conservation planning centered around bounded conflict, which is rooted in acknowledgment of the paradox inherent to the ideals of liberty & equality, are more likely to produce satisfactory results than
consensus-based approaches.
Impacts
Research completed and published during this segment should help wildlife scientists better contextualize and implement hypotheses in their work. The upland gamebird publications will help wildlife managers better manage quail harvest, Rio Grande wild turkey populations, declining quail and prairie grouse numbers, and the endangered Florida Key deer. Research addressing the formation and implantation of natural resource management policy will assist natural resource policy makers and managers to better understand why conflicts occur and how to constructively address or even prevent such conflicts. The case study exploring the regional Habitat Conservation Plan process for the Houston toad and Florida Key deer should be particularly useful in this regard. It demonstrated the limitations of collaborative approaches, pointed out the challenge posed by the paradoxical nature of liberal democracy, and that bounded conflict should be expected to produce more satisfactory
results than consensus-based approaches.
Publications
- Guthery, F.S., J.J. Lusk, and M. J. Peterson. 2004. Hypotheses in wildlife science. Wildlife Society Bulletin 32(4): In press.
- Guthery, F. S., M.J. Peterson, J. J. Lusk, J. J. Rabe, S.J. DeMaso, M. Sams, R.D. Applegate, and T.V. Dailey. 2004. Multi-state analysis of fixed, liberal regulations in quail harvest management. Journal of Wildlife Management 68:1104-1113.
- Jamal, T.M. Borges, M. Peterson, and R. Santana. 2004. A systems tool for sustainability-based planning: Modeling socio-cultural impacts in rural Texas. Journal of Tourism Studies 15(1): In press.
- Lopez, R.R., N.J. Silvy, R.N. Wilkins, P.A. Frank, M.J. Peterson, and M.N. Peterson, 2004. Habitat-use patterns of Florida Key deer: Implications of urban development. Journal of Wildlife Management 68:900-908.
- Peterson, M.J. 2004. Parasites and infectious diseases of prairie grouse: Should managers be concerned? Wildlife Society Bulletin 32:35-55.
- Peterson, M.N., S.A. Allison, M.J. Peterson, T.R. Peterson, and R.R. Lopez. 2004. A tale of two species: Habitat conservation plans as bounded conflict. Journal of Wildlife Management 68:743-761.
- Peterson, T.R., M.J. Peterson, and W.E. Grant. 2004. Social practice and biophysical process. Environmental Communication Yearbook 1:15-32.
- Schwertner, T.W., M.J. Peterson, and N.J. Silvy. 2004. Raccoon abundance and Rio Grande wild turkey production in central Texas. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 58: In Press.
- Silvy, N.J., M.J. Peterson, and R.R. Lopez. 2004. The cause of the decline of pinnated grouse: The Texas example. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 32:16-21.
- William, C.K., F.S. Guthery, R.D. Applegate, and M.J. Peterson. 2004. The northern bobwhite decline: Scaling our management for the twenty-first century. Wildlife Society Bulletin 32:861-869.
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
By evaluating published reports of capture methods used for urban whitetailed deer, as well as evaluating our own field data, we found that while many historical studies that used drugs to immobilize, tranquilize, or sedate deer after physical capture with other techniques were characterized by high (>5%) mortality, modified drop and drive nets were appropriate methods for urban deer capture because they were passive, silent, fast, not associated by the public with weapons, and yielded low mortality and injury rates. Urban wildlife capture techniques with these attributes demonstrates respect for the publics individualistic view of wildlife and can be combined with education to generate support for research and management in urban areas. We found that despite increased awareness of the direct link between human society and nature, environmental policy-makers appear curiously unaware of the uneasy political paradox within which their decisions are accepted or rejected,
implemented or ignored. This process if typified by attempts to enhance public participation in environmental decision-making through an emphasis on common ground. We suggest that an explicitly rhetoricized concept of conservation grounded in argument is more productive than consensus-based approaches, particularly to the degree it can be used to improve the abilities of natural resource managers to negotiate political paradox. Research addressing ecological issues surrounding Rio Grande wild turkey ecology provided (a) an animal welfare based modification of the wild turkey funnel trap, (b) demonstrated that the poult production surveys conducted over the last 25 years had sufficient statistical power to detect long term changes of 0.200 in poult proportions in 5 physiographic regions of Texas, thus providing an effective means for estimating poult production in areas where turkey density was sufficient to provide adequate sample sizes, and (c) found that poult production had
declined in only the Cross Timbers and Prairies physiographic region.
Impacts
We developed and tested a technique that allowed researchers to individually identify bobcats by their natural markings using automatically-triggered cameras.
Publications
- Schwertner, T. W., W. E. Grant, M. J. Peterson, N. J. Silvy, and F. E. Smeins. 2003. Brood-survey power and estimates of Rio Grande turkey production in Texas. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 57: In Press.
- Heilbrun, R. D., N. J. Silvy, M. E. Tewes, and M. J. Peterson. 2003. Using automatically-triggered cameras to individually identify bobcats. Wildlife Society Bulletin 31:748-755
- Peterson, M. J., M. N. Peterson, and T. R. Peterson. 2003. Embracing the paradoxical in environmental decision-making. Proceedings of the Seventh Biennial Conference on Communication and Environment. Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA. In Press.
- Peterson, M. N., R. Aguirre, T. A. Lawyer, D. A. Jones, J. N. Schaap, M. J. Peterson, and N. J. Silvy. 2003. Animal welfare-based modification of the Rio Grande wild turkey funnel trap. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. In Press.
- Peterson, M. N., R. R. Lopez, P. A. Frank, M. J. Peterson, and N. J. Silvy. 2003. Evaluating capture methods for urban white-tailed deer. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 31(4) In Press.
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
(1) Surveys for microparasites of Rio Grande turkeys in the Edwards Plateau and lesser prairie chickens in the Rolling Plains of Texas demonstrated the reticuloendotheliosis virus and evidence of exposure to the infectious bronchitis virus, respectively, for the first time in these hosts. (2) Our ethnographic analysis of the controversy surrounding management of the endangered Florida Key deer demonstrated that culturally based conflict inhibits consensus building and must be addressed if policy makers hope to move beyond the current management impasse. (3) Our computerized simulation on Niklas Luhmann's perception of human society integrated with an ecological model demonstrates that such integrations are useful for exploring communication practices critical to environmental decision making. Research addressing ecological issues surround northern bobwhites and scaled quail (a) clarified the relationships among precipitation, temperature, and cattle grazing as they
influence northern bobwhite production and abundance in Texas, (b) delineated differences between northern bobwhite and scaled quail habitat use, (c) delineated similarities and differences between Texas Parks and Wildlife surveys of quail abundance and North American Breeding Bird Survey data for these same areas, and (d) provided a spatially explicate explanation for trends in nationwide bobwhite abundance since the 1960s.
Impacts
Research to examine why wildlife are becoming rare and to formulate natural resource policies.
Publications
- Bridges, A.S., M.J. Peterson, N.J. Silvy, F.E. Smeins, and X.B. Wu. 2002. Landscape-scale land-cover change and long-term abundance of scaled quail and northern bobwhite in Texas. National Quail Symposium Proceedings 5:161-167.
- DeMaso, S.J., M.J. Peterson, J.R. Purvis, N.J. Silvy, and J.L. Cooke. 2002. A comparison of 2 quail abundance indices in Texas. National Quail Symposium Proceedings 5:206-212.
- Guthery, F.S., J.J. Lusk, D.R. Synatzske, J. Gallagher, S.J. DeMaso, R.R. George, and M.J. Peterson. 2002. Weather and age ratios of northern bobwhites in south Texas. National Quail Symposium Proceedings 5:99-105.
- Grant, W.E., T.R. Peterson, & M.J. Peterson. 2002. Quantitative modeling of coupled natural/human systems. Ecological Modeling 158:143-165.
- Lusk, J.J., F.S. Guthery, R.R. George, M.J. Peterson & S.J. DeMaso. 2002. Relative abundance of bobwhites in relation to weather and land use. Journal of Wildlife Management. 66:1040-1051.
- Peterson, M.J., R. Aguirre, P.J. Ferro, D.A. Jones, T.A. Laywer, M.N. Peterson & N. J. Silvy. 2002. Infectious disease survey of Rio Grande wild turkeys. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 38:826-833.
- Peterson, M.J., P.J. Ferro, M.N. Peterson, R. Sullivan, B.E. Toole & N.J. Silvy. 2002. Infectious disease survey of lesser prairie chickens. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 38:834-839.
- Peterson, M.J. X.B. Wu, P. Rho. 2002. Rangewide trends in land use and northern bobwhite abundance. National Quail Symposium Proceedings. 5:35-44.
- Peterson, M.J., T.R. Peterson, R.R. Lopez, & N.J. Silvy. 2002. Cultural conflict and the endangered Florida Key deer. Journal of Wildlife Management. 66:947-968.
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
(1) We found that the Palmer Modified Drought Index could account for a large proportion of the variability in northern bobwhite and scaled quail numbers among years in five Texas physiographic regions. It was a better indicator of quail production than raw precipitation alone. Quail production was more highly correlated with this drought index in more arid regions. (2) Evidence was presented suggesting that wildlife science should encourage a more heterodox array of research methodologies for wildlife ecology and management. (3) Evaluation of northern bobwhite and scaled quail production and harvest data collected over multiple decades in Texas demonstrated that if daily bag limits and/or season lengths were decreased in order to increase statewide quail abundance, that these decreases would have to be rather draconian. Conversely, eliminating hunting during late season, such as February, in areas where substantial harvest occurs during this period, would be expected
to increase the number of quail available to breed-hence quail abundance-over the long term. (4) Lastly, we constructed a computerized simulation on Niklas Luhmann's perception of human society integrated with an ecological model in order to explore communication practices in environmental decision making. Preliminary results suggest this explicit integration can successfully simulate relationships among biophysical processes and human society.
Impacts
Research to examine why wildlife are becoming rare or abundant and to formulate and implement natural resource policies.
Publications
- Bridges, A.S., M.J. Peterson, N.J. Silvy, F.E. Smeins, and X. Ben Wu. 2001. Differential influence of weather on regional quail abundance in Texas. Journal of Wildlife Management 65: 10-18.
- Guthery, F.S., J.J. Lusk, and M.J. Peterson. 2001. The fall of the null hypothesis: Liabilities and opportunities. Journal of Wildlife Management 65: 379-384.
- Peterson, M.J. 2001. Northern bobwhite and scaled quail abundance and hunting regulation: A Texas example. Journal of Wildlife Management 65: 828-837.
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