HABITAT PREFERENCES OF EASTERN WILD TURKEYS ON AN AREA INTENSIVELY MANAGED FOR PINE IN ALABAMA
Abstract Habitat preferences of the eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) were studied from 1973 through 1976 on a 4,900‐ha area managed intensively for pine timber. The study area, located in Choctaw and Sumter counties, Alabama, was composed of 57% pine plantations, 22% natural pine...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
1980-01-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1980.tb00137.x |
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| _version_ | 1850156703606112256 |
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| author | James Earl Kennamer John R. Gwaltney Kenneth R. Sims |
| author_facet | James Earl Kennamer John R. Gwaltney Kenneth R. Sims |
| author_sort | James Earl Kennamer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Habitat preferences of the eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) were studied from 1973 through 1976 on a 4,900‐ha area managed intensively for pine timber. The study area, located in Choctaw and Sumter counties, Alabama, was composed of 57% pine plantations, 22% natural pine, 7% natural hardwood, 9% natural pine‐hardwood and 4% natural hardwood‐pine vegetation types. Pine plantations ranged from 1/2 to 12 years old. Data from 32 radio‐instrumented wild turkeys indicated a preference for natural timber stands in the greater than 21 year age classes. Thirty‐five percent of the observations in the spring months occurred in pine plantations. Pine plantations were used least during the winter period. Observations in the natural pine stands ranged from 34% to 56% for all seasons. Observations in the natural pine‐hardwood stands varied from 17% to 37%. The hardwood stands were used most in the winter period (28%) and least during the summer (4%). The 565 sight observations of wild turkeys recorded on the 26 km of roads on the study area (52 km of habitat frontage) showed 27% were associated with the pine plantation × pine plantation type, 21.2% in natural pine‐hardwood × natural pine‐hardwood, and 14.3% in the pine plantation × natural pine. During the study period, wild turkeys preferred natural habitat types 21 years and older. Pine plantations were used but not in proportion to the available habitat. The habitat composition necessary to maintain a population of eastern wild turkeys under the conditions of this study remains to be determined. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eb12bfba708c4d9bb512316bce26559f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2328-5540 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 1980-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-eb12bfba708c4d9bb512316bce26559f2025-08-20T02:24:25ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55401980-01-011980S124024510.1002/j.2328-5540.1980.tb00137.xHABITAT PREFERENCES OF EASTERN WILD TURKEYS ON AN AREA INTENSIVELY MANAGED FOR PINE IN ALABAMAJames Earl Kennamer0John R. Gwaltney1Kenneth R. Sims2Department of Zoology‐EntomologyAuburn UniversityAuburnAlabama36830Department of Zoology‐EntomologyAuburn UniversityAuburnAlabama36830Department of Zoology‐EntomologyAuburn UniversityAuburnAlabama36830Abstract Habitat preferences of the eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) were studied from 1973 through 1976 on a 4,900‐ha area managed intensively for pine timber. The study area, located in Choctaw and Sumter counties, Alabama, was composed of 57% pine plantations, 22% natural pine, 7% natural hardwood, 9% natural pine‐hardwood and 4% natural hardwood‐pine vegetation types. Pine plantations ranged from 1/2 to 12 years old. Data from 32 radio‐instrumented wild turkeys indicated a preference for natural timber stands in the greater than 21 year age classes. Thirty‐five percent of the observations in the spring months occurred in pine plantations. Pine plantations were used least during the winter period. Observations in the natural pine stands ranged from 34% to 56% for all seasons. Observations in the natural pine‐hardwood stands varied from 17% to 37%. The hardwood stands were used most in the winter period (28%) and least during the summer (4%). The 565 sight observations of wild turkeys recorded on the 26 km of roads on the study area (52 km of habitat frontage) showed 27% were associated with the pine plantation × pine plantation type, 21.2% in natural pine‐hardwood × natural pine‐hardwood, and 14.3% in the pine plantation × natural pine. During the study period, wild turkeys preferred natural habitat types 21 years and older. Pine plantations were used but not in proportion to the available habitat. The habitat composition necessary to maintain a population of eastern wild turkeys under the conditions of this study remains to be determined.https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1980.tb00137.x |
| spellingShingle | James Earl Kennamer John R. Gwaltney Kenneth R. Sims HABITAT PREFERENCES OF EASTERN WILD TURKEYS ON AN AREA INTENSIVELY MANAGED FOR PINE IN ALABAMA Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| title | HABITAT PREFERENCES OF EASTERN WILD TURKEYS ON AN AREA INTENSIVELY MANAGED FOR PINE IN ALABAMA |
| title_full | HABITAT PREFERENCES OF EASTERN WILD TURKEYS ON AN AREA INTENSIVELY MANAGED FOR PINE IN ALABAMA |
| title_fullStr | HABITAT PREFERENCES OF EASTERN WILD TURKEYS ON AN AREA INTENSIVELY MANAGED FOR PINE IN ALABAMA |
| title_full_unstemmed | HABITAT PREFERENCES OF EASTERN WILD TURKEYS ON AN AREA INTENSIVELY MANAGED FOR PINE IN ALABAMA |
| title_short | HABITAT PREFERENCES OF EASTERN WILD TURKEYS ON AN AREA INTENSIVELY MANAGED FOR PINE IN ALABAMA |
| title_sort | habitat preferences of eastern wild turkeys on an area intensively managed for pine in alabama |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1980.tb00137.x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jamesearlkennamer habitatpreferencesofeasternwildturkeysonanareaintensivelymanagedforpineinalabama AT johnrgwaltney habitatpreferencesofeasternwildturkeysonanareaintensivelymanagedforpineinalabama AT kennethrsims habitatpreferencesofeasternwildturkeysonanareaintensivelymanagedforpineinalabama |