MOVEMENT, FIDELITY AND DISPERSAL OF RIO GRANDE WILD TURKEYS IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE

Abstract: Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) studies have traditionally focused on factors associated with population change from within the population. Consequently, movement into and out of turkey populations is poorly understood. From 2000–2002, we monitored 554 Rio Grande wild turkeys (M. g. inte...

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Main Authors: Richard S. Phillips, Warren B. Ballard, Mark C. Wallace, Derrick P. Holdstock, Brian L. Spears, Michael S. Miller, John H. Brunjes, Stephen J. DeMaso
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.tb00304.x
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author Richard S. Phillips
Warren B. Ballard
Mark C. Wallace
Derrick P. Holdstock
Brian L. Spears
Michael S. Miller
John H. Brunjes
Stephen J. DeMaso
author_facet Richard S. Phillips
Warren B. Ballard
Mark C. Wallace
Derrick P. Holdstock
Brian L. Spears
Michael S. Miller
John H. Brunjes
Stephen J. DeMaso
author_sort Richard S. Phillips
collection DOAJ
description Abstract: Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) studies have traditionally focused on factors associated with population change from within the population. Consequently, movement into and out of turkey populations is poorly understood. From 2000–2002, we monitored 554 Rio Grande wild turkeys (M. g. intermedia) at 3 sites in the Texas Panhandle to determine the pattern, prevalence, composition and importance of movements among winter roosts. The majority (85.6%) of all monitored birds exhibited winter range fidelity. Differences among age and sex classes existed. Adult females exhibited the highest winter range fidelity (96.7%), while yearling females exhibited the lowest (62.5%). Further, yearling females were responsible for the majority of permanent movements away from winter roosts (dispersal). For both residents and dispersers, winter was the season of least movement, while dispersers exhibited the greatest movement during spring. We found no evidence of decreased survival or productivity between yearling dispersers and yearling residents. Our findings suggest yearling females may play an important role in connecting relatively disjunct winter roost populations.
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spelling doaj-art-c719bc734ecb4f2197dab094daa97b522025-08-20T03:07:34ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402005-01-012005S114915710.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00304.xMOVEMENT, FIDELITY AND DISPERSAL OF RIO GRANDE WILD TURKEYS IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLERichard S. Phillips0Warren B. Ballard1Mark C. Wallace2Derrick P. Holdstock3Brian L. Spears4Michael S. Miller5John H. Brunjes6Stephen J. DeMaso7Department of RangeWildlife and Fisheries Management, Mail Stop 2125Texas Tech UniversityLubbockTX79413USADepartment of RangeWildlife and Fisheries Management, Mail Stop 2125Texas Tech UniversityLubbockTX79413USADepartment of RangeWildlife and Fisheries Management, Mail Stop 2125Texas Tech UniversityLubbockTX79413USATexas Parks and Wildlife DepartmentGene Howe Wildlife Management AreaCanadianTX79014USADepartment of RangeWildlife and Fisheries Management, Mail Stop 2125Texas Tech UniversityLubbockTX79413USATexas Parks and Wildlife DepartmentTarleton State UniversityStephenvilleTX76402USADepartment of RangeWildlife and Fisheries Management, Mail Stop 2125Texas Tech UniversityLubbockTX79413USATexas Parks and Wildlife Department4200 Smith School RoadAustinTX78744USAAbstract: Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) studies have traditionally focused on factors associated with population change from within the population. Consequently, movement into and out of turkey populations is poorly understood. From 2000–2002, we monitored 554 Rio Grande wild turkeys (M. g. intermedia) at 3 sites in the Texas Panhandle to determine the pattern, prevalence, composition and importance of movements among winter roosts. The majority (85.6%) of all monitored birds exhibited winter range fidelity. Differences among age and sex classes existed. Adult females exhibited the highest winter range fidelity (96.7%), while yearling females exhibited the lowest (62.5%). Further, yearling females were responsible for the majority of permanent movements away from winter roosts (dispersal). For both residents and dispersers, winter was the season of least movement, while dispersers exhibited the greatest movement during spring. We found no evidence of decreased survival or productivity between yearling dispersers and yearling residents. Our findings suggest yearling females may play an important role in connecting relatively disjunct winter roost populations.https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00304.xdispersalemigrationMeleagris gallopavo intermediamovementnestingRio Grande wild turkey
spellingShingle Richard S. Phillips
Warren B. Ballard
Mark C. Wallace
Derrick P. Holdstock
Brian L. Spears
Michael S. Miller
John H. Brunjes
Stephen J. DeMaso
MOVEMENT, FIDELITY AND DISPERSAL OF RIO GRANDE WILD TURKEYS IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE
Wildlife Society Bulletin
dispersal
emigration
Meleagris gallopavo intermedia
movement
nesting
Rio Grande wild turkey
title MOVEMENT, FIDELITY AND DISPERSAL OF RIO GRANDE WILD TURKEYS IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE
title_full MOVEMENT, FIDELITY AND DISPERSAL OF RIO GRANDE WILD TURKEYS IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE
title_fullStr MOVEMENT, FIDELITY AND DISPERSAL OF RIO GRANDE WILD TURKEYS IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE
title_full_unstemmed MOVEMENT, FIDELITY AND DISPERSAL OF RIO GRANDE WILD TURKEYS IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE
title_short MOVEMENT, FIDELITY AND DISPERSAL OF RIO GRANDE WILD TURKEYS IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE
title_sort movement fidelity and dispersal of rio grande wild turkeys in the texas panhandle
topic dispersal
emigration
Meleagris gallopavo intermedia
movement
nesting
Rio Grande wild turkey
url https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00304.x
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