DEVELOPMENT OF AN ECOLOGICAL, RISK‐BASED DECISION FRAMEWORK FOR RELEASING AND MANAGING WILD TURKEYS IN ONTARIO

Abstract: Ontario initiated wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) restoration efforts in 1984 and within 20 years had restored or established populations across much of southeastern and southwestern portions of the province. Within these areas, it is believed that expansion of agricultural an...

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Main Authors: Karen Bellamy, J. Bruce Pollard
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.tb00320.x
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author Karen Bellamy
J. Bruce Pollard
author_facet Karen Bellamy
J. Bruce Pollard
author_sort Karen Bellamy
collection DOAJ
description Abstract: Ontario initiated wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) restoration efforts in 1984 and within 20 years had restored or established populations across much of southeastern and southwestern portions of the province. Within these areas, it is believed that expansion of agricultural and changing land use has extended suitable range into landscapes well beyond known historic range. There was interest in establishing wild turkey into other areas; however, expansion of turkey populations was not viewed by all groups as either desirable or appropriate. Through knowledge gained from assessment of habitat suitability, overlaying habitat information on historic distribution, factoring in land‐use change, and by considering prevailing weather patterns, we developed a terrestrial ecozone framework to define the spatial extent for turkey range expansion. At present, we consider the Mixedwood Plain Ecozone to represent a biologically suitable and ecologically appropriate framework for wild turkey expansion in Ontario. Using the Mixedwood Plain Ecozone boundary, a simple risk‐based decision tree was developed to deal with ecological, social, and economic risks of releasing turkeys at new locations in Ontario.
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spelling doaj-art-d247ecb7e30743758cfbeaf909fbd6f62025-08-20T03:07:34ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402005-01-012005S128929410.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00320.xDEVELOPMENT OF AN ECOLOGICAL, RISK‐BASED DECISION FRAMEWORK FOR RELEASING AND MANAGING WILD TURKEYS IN ONTARIOKaren Bellamy0J. Bruce Pollard1Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources300 Water St., P.O. Box 7000PeterboroughONK9J 8M5CanadaOntario Ministry of Natural Resources300 Water St., P.O. Box 7000PeterboroughONK9J 8M5CanadaAbstract: Ontario initiated wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) restoration efforts in 1984 and within 20 years had restored or established populations across much of southeastern and southwestern portions of the province. Within these areas, it is believed that expansion of agricultural and changing land use has extended suitable range into landscapes well beyond known historic range. There was interest in establishing wild turkey into other areas; however, expansion of turkey populations was not viewed by all groups as either desirable or appropriate. Through knowledge gained from assessment of habitat suitability, overlaying habitat information on historic distribution, factoring in land‐use change, and by considering prevailing weather patterns, we developed a terrestrial ecozone framework to define the spatial extent for turkey range expansion. At present, we consider the Mixedwood Plain Ecozone to represent a biologically suitable and ecologically appropriate framework for wild turkey expansion in Ontario. Using the Mixedwood Plain Ecozone boundary, a simple risk‐based decision tree was developed to deal with ecological, social, and economic risks of releasing turkeys at new locations in Ontario.https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00320.xhistoric rangeMixedwood Plain EcozoneOntarioprogram frameworkreleasesrisk‐based decision tree
spellingShingle Karen Bellamy
J. Bruce Pollard
DEVELOPMENT OF AN ECOLOGICAL, RISK‐BASED DECISION FRAMEWORK FOR RELEASING AND MANAGING WILD TURKEYS IN ONTARIO
Wildlife Society Bulletin
historic range
Mixedwood Plain Ecozone
Ontario
program framework
releases
risk‐based decision tree
title DEVELOPMENT OF AN ECOLOGICAL, RISK‐BASED DECISION FRAMEWORK FOR RELEASING AND MANAGING WILD TURKEYS IN ONTARIO
title_full DEVELOPMENT OF AN ECOLOGICAL, RISK‐BASED DECISION FRAMEWORK FOR RELEASING AND MANAGING WILD TURKEYS IN ONTARIO
title_fullStr DEVELOPMENT OF AN ECOLOGICAL, RISK‐BASED DECISION FRAMEWORK FOR RELEASING AND MANAGING WILD TURKEYS IN ONTARIO
title_full_unstemmed DEVELOPMENT OF AN ECOLOGICAL, RISK‐BASED DECISION FRAMEWORK FOR RELEASING AND MANAGING WILD TURKEYS IN ONTARIO
title_short DEVELOPMENT OF AN ECOLOGICAL, RISK‐BASED DECISION FRAMEWORK FOR RELEASING AND MANAGING WILD TURKEYS IN ONTARIO
title_sort development of an ecological risk based decision framework for releasing and managing wild turkeys in ontario
topic historic range
Mixedwood Plain Ecozone
Ontario
program framework
releases
risk‐based decision tree
url https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00320.x
work_keys_str_mv AT karenbellamy developmentofanecologicalriskbaseddecisionframeworkforreleasingandmanagingwildturkeysinontario
AT jbrucepollard developmentofanecologicalriskbaseddecisionframeworkforreleasingandmanagingwildturkeysinontario