EFFECTS OF HURRICANE HUGO ON THE FRANCIS MARION NATIONAL FOREST WILD TURKEY POPULATION

Abstract: The Francis Marion National Forest (FMNF) is an important area for wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) in South Carolina. On 21 September 1989, Hurricane Hugo, a category IV storm, struck the South Carolina coast, and the strongest winds swept across the FMNF. Over 1 billion boar...

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Main Authors: David P. Baumann Jr., William E. Mahan, Walter E. Rhodes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1995-01-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1995.tb00212.x
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author David P. Baumann Jr.
William E. Mahan
Walter E. Rhodes
author_facet David P. Baumann Jr.
William E. Mahan
Walter E. Rhodes
author_sort David P. Baumann Jr.
collection DOAJ
description Abstract: The Francis Marion National Forest (FMNF) is an important area for wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) in South Carolina. On 21 September 1989, Hurricane Hugo, a category IV storm, struck the South Carolina coast, and the strongest winds swept across the FMNF. Over 1 billion board feet of timber were damaged or destroyed. To determine the effects of Hurricane Hugo on the FMNF wild turkey population, we examined spring turkey harvest and reproduction pre‐ and post‐Hugo. Prior to Hugo, the spring turkey harvest increased at a mean annual rate of 18% on the FMNF and 25% statewide. Following the storm, the harvest declined 22% per year on the FMNF, whereas the statewide spring harvest increased 4% annually. Mean number of hens with poults (P = 0.07), brood size (P = 0.008), gobblers observed (P = 0.018), total turkeys observed (P = 0.011), and recruitment ratio (P = 0.006) have declined since the storm. The negative habitat alterations from Hurricane Hugo that occurred on the FMNF were responsible for the decline in the wild turkey population.
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spelling doaj-art-5bcdb72fa8f542a08cc3c2c762b01d1c2025-08-20T02:05:27ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55401995-01-011995S1556010.1002/j.2328-5540.1995.tb00212.xEFFECTS OF HURRICANE HUGO ON THE FRANCIS MARION NATIONAL FOREST WILD TURKEY POPULATIONDavid P. Baumann Jr.0William E. Mahan1Walter E. Rhodes2South Carolina Department of Natural ResourcesP. O. Drawer 190BonneauSC29431South Carolina Department of Natural ResourcesP. O. Drawer 190BonneauSC29431South Carolina Department of Natural ResourcesP. O. Drawer 190BonneauSC29431Abstract: The Francis Marion National Forest (FMNF) is an important area for wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) in South Carolina. On 21 September 1989, Hurricane Hugo, a category IV storm, struck the South Carolina coast, and the strongest winds swept across the FMNF. Over 1 billion board feet of timber were damaged or destroyed. To determine the effects of Hurricane Hugo on the FMNF wild turkey population, we examined spring turkey harvest and reproduction pre‐ and post‐Hugo. Prior to Hugo, the spring turkey harvest increased at a mean annual rate of 18% on the FMNF and 25% statewide. Following the storm, the harvest declined 22% per year on the FMNF, whereas the statewide spring harvest increased 4% annually. Mean number of hens with poults (P = 0.07), brood size (P = 0.008), gobblers observed (P = 0.018), total turkeys observed (P = 0.011), and recruitment ratio (P = 0.006) have declined since the storm. The negative habitat alterations from Hurricane Hugo that occurred on the FMNF were responsible for the decline in the wild turkey population.https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1995.tb00212.xFrancis Marion National ForestharvesthurricaneHurricane HugoMeleagris gallopavo silvestrisreproduction
spellingShingle David P. Baumann Jr.
William E. Mahan
Walter E. Rhodes
EFFECTS OF HURRICANE HUGO ON THE FRANCIS MARION NATIONAL FOREST WILD TURKEY POPULATION
Wildlife Society Bulletin
Francis Marion National Forest
harvest
hurricane
Hurricane Hugo
Meleagris gallopavo silvestris
reproduction
title EFFECTS OF HURRICANE HUGO ON THE FRANCIS MARION NATIONAL FOREST WILD TURKEY POPULATION
title_full EFFECTS OF HURRICANE HUGO ON THE FRANCIS MARION NATIONAL FOREST WILD TURKEY POPULATION
title_fullStr EFFECTS OF HURRICANE HUGO ON THE FRANCIS MARION NATIONAL FOREST WILD TURKEY POPULATION
title_full_unstemmed EFFECTS OF HURRICANE HUGO ON THE FRANCIS MARION NATIONAL FOREST WILD TURKEY POPULATION
title_short EFFECTS OF HURRICANE HUGO ON THE FRANCIS MARION NATIONAL FOREST WILD TURKEY POPULATION
title_sort effects of hurricane hugo on the francis marion national forest wild turkey population
topic Francis Marion National Forest
harvest
hurricane
Hurricane Hugo
Meleagris gallopavo silvestris
reproduction
url https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1995.tb00212.x
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