MICROHABITAT USE BY MERRIAM'S TURKEY BROODS IN WESTCENTRAL IDAHO

Abstract: We hypothesized that foraging and security requirements narrowly define suitable brood habitat for Merriam's turkey (Meleagris gallopavo merriami). We sampled microhabitat characteristics at 33 Merriam's turkey brood and paired dependent sites in westcentral Idaho during 1992 and...

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Main Authors: Frank B. Edelmann, Kerry P. Reese, Pete Zager
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2000-01-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2000.tb00258.x
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author Frank B. Edelmann
Kerry P. Reese
Pete Zager
author_facet Frank B. Edelmann
Kerry P. Reese
Pete Zager
author_sort Frank B. Edelmann
collection DOAJ
description Abstract: We hypothesized that foraging and security requirements narrowly define suitable brood habitat for Merriam's turkey (Meleagris gallopavo merriami). We sampled microhabitat characteristics at 33 Merriam's turkey brood and paired dependent sites in westcentral Idaho during 1992 and 1993. Broods used microhabitat associated with invertebrate presence (73%), abundant ground cover (x¯ = 92 ± 1.1%, range = 77‐100%) consisting primarily of herbaceous vegetation (x¯ = 54%), and moderate visual obstruction (x¯ = 22 ± 1.8 cm [8.6 ± 0.7 in], range = 7–51 [3–20]). All but 1 brood site contained canopy cover (x¯ = 28 ± 3.2%, range = 0–73) by overstory trees (x¯ = 461 ± 102 trees/ha [187 ± 41 trees/ac], range = 0–2,025 [0‐820]), which we incidentally observed poults using for escape cover. Microhabitats with abundant ground cover by moderately dense herbaceous vegetation and sparse overstory canopy cover apparently provided suitable foraging and security conditions for Merriam's turkey broods.
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spelling doaj-art-e32448806cac41b7a6d3059310e7bce82025-08-20T03:07:23ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402000-01-012000S19310010.1002/j.2328-5540.2000.tb00258.xMICROHABITAT USE BY MERRIAM'S TURKEY BROODS IN WESTCENTRAL IDAHOFrank B. Edelmann0Kerry P. Reese1Pete Zager2Department of Fish and Wildlife ResourcesUniversity of IdahoMoscowID83844USADepartment of Fish and Wildlife ResourcesUniversity of IdahoMoscowID83844USAIdaho Department of Fish and Game1540 Warner Ave.LewistonID83501USAAbstract: We hypothesized that foraging and security requirements narrowly define suitable brood habitat for Merriam's turkey (Meleagris gallopavo merriami). We sampled microhabitat characteristics at 33 Merriam's turkey brood and paired dependent sites in westcentral Idaho during 1992 and 1993. Broods used microhabitat associated with invertebrate presence (73%), abundant ground cover (x¯ = 92 ± 1.1%, range = 77‐100%) consisting primarily of herbaceous vegetation (x¯ = 54%), and moderate visual obstruction (x¯ = 22 ± 1.8 cm [8.6 ± 0.7 in], range = 7–51 [3–20]). All but 1 brood site contained canopy cover (x¯ = 28 ± 3.2%, range = 0–73) by overstory trees (x¯ = 461 ± 102 trees/ha [187 ± 41 trees/ac], range = 0–2,025 [0‐820]), which we incidentally observed poults using for escape cover. Microhabitats with abundant ground cover by moderately dense herbaceous vegetation and sparse overstory canopy cover apparently provided suitable foraging and security conditions for Merriam's turkey broods.https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2000.tb00258.xbrood habitatIdahoMeleagris gallopavo merriamiMerriam's turkeymicrohabitat selection
spellingShingle Frank B. Edelmann
Kerry P. Reese
Pete Zager
MICROHABITAT USE BY MERRIAM'S TURKEY BROODS IN WESTCENTRAL IDAHO
Wildlife Society Bulletin
brood habitat
Idaho
Meleagris gallopavo merriami
Merriam's turkey
microhabitat selection
title MICROHABITAT USE BY MERRIAM'S TURKEY BROODS IN WESTCENTRAL IDAHO
title_full MICROHABITAT USE BY MERRIAM'S TURKEY BROODS IN WESTCENTRAL IDAHO
title_fullStr MICROHABITAT USE BY MERRIAM'S TURKEY BROODS IN WESTCENTRAL IDAHO
title_full_unstemmed MICROHABITAT USE BY MERRIAM'S TURKEY BROODS IN WESTCENTRAL IDAHO
title_short MICROHABITAT USE BY MERRIAM'S TURKEY BROODS IN WESTCENTRAL IDAHO
title_sort microhabitat use by merriam s turkey broods in westcentral idaho
topic brood habitat
Idaho
Meleagris gallopavo merriami
Merriam's turkey
microhabitat selection
url https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2000.tb00258.x
work_keys_str_mv AT frankbedelmann microhabitatusebymerriamsturkeybroodsinwestcentralidaho
AT kerrypreese microhabitatusebymerriamsturkeybroodsinwestcentralidaho
AT petezager microhabitatusebymerriamsturkeybroodsinwestcentralidaho