POPULATION SIZE AND SURVIVAL RATES OF WILD TURKEY GOBBLERS IN CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI
Abstract: Knowledge of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) population size and survival rates is needed to monitor trends and to evaluate management progress. To accomplish this, long‐term data sets are essential. We studied a population of wild turkeys using capture‐recapture methods from 1983 to 199...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
1995-01-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1995.tb00209.x |
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| Summary: | Abstract: Knowledge of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) population size and survival rates is needed to monitor trends and to evaluate management progress. To accomplish this, long‐term data sets are essential. We studied a population of wild turkeys using capture‐recapture methods from 1983 to 1992. There were 105 recaptures of 271 individual gobblers. Estimates of gobbler population size and survival rates were derived using the Buckland open capture‐recapture model. Buckland increased sample sizes and used important biological information needed to model our gobbler population by recording deaths of turkeys, known from harvest and telemetry, as recaptures. Gobbler population size estimates ranged from 49 to 123 (SE range 11‐63) and averaged 81 gobblers. Estimates of gobbler survival rate ranged from 0.3 to 1.0 and averaged 0.7 (SE range 0.03‐0.14) among capture periods. Gobbler density varied from 0.3 to 0.7 gobblers/km2. |
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| ISSN: | 2328-5540 |