VEGETATION CHARACTERISTICS OF WILD TURKEY ROOST SITES DURING SUMMER IN SOUTH‐CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA
Abstract: We studied summer roosting sites of Merriam's turkey (Meleagris gallopavo merriami) in south‐central South Dakota to provide information on the habitat needs of this population. Vegetation characteristics were sampled at 31 wild turkey roost sites in south‐central South Dakota for a p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
1995-01-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1995.tb00226.x |
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| author | Lester D. Flake Randall A. Craft W. Lee Tucker |
| author_facet | Lester D. Flake Randall A. Craft W. Lee Tucker |
| author_sort | Lester D. Flake |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract: We studied summer roosting sites of Merriam's turkey (Meleagris gallopavo merriami) in south‐central South Dakota to provide information on the habitat needs of this population. Vegetation characteristics were sampled at 31 wild turkey roost sites in south‐central South Dakota for a population resulting primarily from the release of Merriam's turkeys in the 1950s and early 1960s. Roost site locations were obtained from 51 wild turkeys with radio transmitters and from direct observation from mid‐May to mid‐September 1984; nesting and brooding hens were excluded. The study area featured bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) woodlands and moist deciduous draws intermixed with mixed‐grass prairie. Vegetation characteristics at roost sites were compared with those at woodland reference sites. Diameter at breast height, height of tallest tree, and height of lowest limb >5 cm diameter were all greater (P <0.05) at roost sites than at reference sites. Visual obstruction readings from 1 to 2 m were higher (P <0.01) at reference sites than at roosts, whereas there was no significant difference in visual obstruction from 0 to 1 m or in density of trees. Basal area averaged 27.2 m2/ha in roost sites and 14.6 m2/ha in reference sites. Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and American basswood (Tilia americana) were especially important as roosting trees. Bur oaks, the most common tree species, were not important as summer roosting sites. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-411375a577e9476e8f0c1abcf3c5e0b2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2328-5540 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 1995-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-411375a577e9476e8f0c1abcf3c5e0b22025-08-20T03:07:23ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55401995-01-011995S115916410.1002/j.2328-5540.1995.tb00226.xVEGETATION CHARACTERISTICS OF WILD TURKEY ROOST SITES DURING SUMMER IN SOUTH‐CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTALester D. Flake0Randall A. Craft1W. Lee Tucker2Department of Wildlife and Fisheries SciencesSouth Dakota State UniversityBrookingsSD57007Department of Wildlife and Fisheries SciencesSouth Dakota State UniversityBrookingsSD57007Agricultural Experiment StationSouth Dakota State UniversityBrookingsSD57007Abstract: We studied summer roosting sites of Merriam's turkey (Meleagris gallopavo merriami) in south‐central South Dakota to provide information on the habitat needs of this population. Vegetation characteristics were sampled at 31 wild turkey roost sites in south‐central South Dakota for a population resulting primarily from the release of Merriam's turkeys in the 1950s and early 1960s. Roost site locations were obtained from 51 wild turkeys with radio transmitters and from direct observation from mid‐May to mid‐September 1984; nesting and brooding hens were excluded. The study area featured bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) woodlands and moist deciduous draws intermixed with mixed‐grass prairie. Vegetation characteristics at roost sites were compared with those at woodland reference sites. Diameter at breast height, height of tallest tree, and height of lowest limb >5 cm diameter were all greater (P <0.05) at roost sites than at reference sites. Visual obstruction readings from 1 to 2 m were higher (P <0.01) at reference sites than at roosts, whereas there was no significant difference in visual obstruction from 0 to 1 m or in density of trees. Basal area averaged 27.2 m2/ha in roost sites and 14.6 m2/ha in reference sites. Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and American basswood (Tilia americana) were especially important as roosting trees. Bur oaks, the most common tree species, were not important as summer roosting sites.https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1995.tb00226.xbasswoodcottonwoodhabitatMerriam'sriver breaksroosting |
| spellingShingle | Lester D. Flake Randall A. Craft W. Lee Tucker VEGETATION CHARACTERISTICS OF WILD TURKEY ROOST SITES DURING SUMMER IN SOUTH‐CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA Wildlife Society Bulletin basswood cottonwood habitat Merriam's river breaks roosting |
| title | VEGETATION CHARACTERISTICS OF WILD TURKEY ROOST SITES DURING SUMMER IN SOUTH‐CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA |
| title_full | VEGETATION CHARACTERISTICS OF WILD TURKEY ROOST SITES DURING SUMMER IN SOUTH‐CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA |
| title_fullStr | VEGETATION CHARACTERISTICS OF WILD TURKEY ROOST SITES DURING SUMMER IN SOUTH‐CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA |
| title_full_unstemmed | VEGETATION CHARACTERISTICS OF WILD TURKEY ROOST SITES DURING SUMMER IN SOUTH‐CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA |
| title_short | VEGETATION CHARACTERISTICS OF WILD TURKEY ROOST SITES DURING SUMMER IN SOUTH‐CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA |
| title_sort | vegetation characteristics of wild turkey roost sites during summer in south central south dakota |
| topic | basswood cottonwood habitat Merriam's river breaks roosting |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1995.tb00226.x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lesterdflake vegetationcharacteristicsofwildturkeyroostsitesduringsummerinsouthcentralsouthdakota AT randallacraft vegetationcharacteristicsofwildturkeyroostsitesduringsummerinsouthcentralsouthdakota AT wleetucker vegetationcharacteristicsofwildturkeyroostsitesduringsummerinsouthcentralsouthdakota |