EFFECT OF PRECIPITATION ON RIO GRANDE WILD TURKEY POULT PRODUCTION IN TEXAS

Abstract: Precipitation can strongly influence the population dynamics of gallinaceous birds in semiarid regions. Little is known, however, about the interaction of precipitation and Rio Grande wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia; RGWT) production in Texas, particularly across broad spatial...

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Main Authors: T. Wayne Schwertner, Markus J. Peterson, Nova J. Silvy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2005-01-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00301.x
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author T. Wayne Schwertner
Markus J. Peterson
Nova J. Silvy
author_facet T. Wayne Schwertner
Markus J. Peterson
Nova J. Silvy
author_sort T. Wayne Schwertner
collection DOAJ
description Abstract: Precipitation can strongly influence the population dynamics of gallinaceous birds in semiarid regions. Little is known, however, about the interaction of precipitation and Rio Grande wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia; RGWT) production in Texas, particularly across broad spatial and temporal scales. We compared RGWT production data with precipitation and drought data across 5 ecological regions of Texas for 1976–2000. Poult production was positively correlated with both the June Modified Palmer Drought Severity Index (PMDI) and September–June raw precipitation in all ecological regions. We found weaker correlations with June raw precipitation in all ecological regions except the Post Oak Savannah, and with cumulative September–June PMDI in the Edwards Plateau, Cross Timbers and Prairies, and South Texas Plains. Our results indicate that poult production is more influenced by cumulative weather effects over several months than by individual rainfall events, suggesting that direct precipitation‐induced mortality does not substantially affect RGWT production in Texas. Further, precipitation data provides managers with an inexpensive, effective indicator of RGWT production in Texas.
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spelling doaj-art-25a6069c57e840dbbb9502bc09e9868f2025-08-20T02:05:24ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402005-01-012005S112713210.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00301.xEFFECT OF PRECIPITATION ON RIO GRANDE WILD TURKEY POULT PRODUCTION IN TEXAST. Wayne Schwertner0Markus J. Peterson1Nova J. Silvy2Texas Parks and Wildlife DepartmentP.O. Box 1583MasonTX76856USADepartment of Wildlife and Fisheries SciencesTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTX78743USADepartment of Wildlife and Fisheries SciencesTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTX78743USAAbstract: Precipitation can strongly influence the population dynamics of gallinaceous birds in semiarid regions. Little is known, however, about the interaction of precipitation and Rio Grande wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia; RGWT) production in Texas, particularly across broad spatial and temporal scales. We compared RGWT production data with precipitation and drought data across 5 ecological regions of Texas for 1976–2000. Poult production was positively correlated with both the June Modified Palmer Drought Severity Index (PMDI) and September–June raw precipitation in all ecological regions. We found weaker correlations with June raw precipitation in all ecological regions except the Post Oak Savannah, and with cumulative September–June PMDI in the Edwards Plateau, Cross Timbers and Prairies, and South Texas Plains. Our results indicate that poult production is more influenced by cumulative weather effects over several months than by individual rainfall events, suggesting that direct precipitation‐induced mortality does not substantially affect RGWT production in Texas. Further, precipitation data provides managers with an inexpensive, effective indicator of RGWT production in Texas.https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00301.xMeleagris gallopavo intermediapoult productionprecipitationRio Grande wild turkeyTexas
spellingShingle T. Wayne Schwertner
Markus J. Peterson
Nova J. Silvy
EFFECT OF PRECIPITATION ON RIO GRANDE WILD TURKEY POULT PRODUCTION IN TEXAS
Wildlife Society Bulletin
Meleagris gallopavo intermedia
poult production
precipitation
Rio Grande wild turkey
Texas
title EFFECT OF PRECIPITATION ON RIO GRANDE WILD TURKEY POULT PRODUCTION IN TEXAS
title_full EFFECT OF PRECIPITATION ON RIO GRANDE WILD TURKEY POULT PRODUCTION IN TEXAS
title_fullStr EFFECT OF PRECIPITATION ON RIO GRANDE WILD TURKEY POULT PRODUCTION IN TEXAS
title_full_unstemmed EFFECT OF PRECIPITATION ON RIO GRANDE WILD TURKEY POULT PRODUCTION IN TEXAS
title_short EFFECT OF PRECIPITATION ON RIO GRANDE WILD TURKEY POULT PRODUCTION IN TEXAS
title_sort effect of precipitation on rio grande wild turkey poult production in texas
topic Meleagris gallopavo intermedia
poult production
precipitation
Rio Grande wild turkey
Texas
url https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00301.x
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