FACTORS SUPPRESSING A WILD TURKEY POPULATION IN SOUTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
Abstract: Eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) population indices in a portion of south‐central Pennsylvania (PA) indicated a decreasing population trend since the late 1980s. In 1995, the fall turkey‐hunting season was reduced from 2 weeks to 1 week to attempt to reduce hunting mort...
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Wiley
2005-01-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00299.x |
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| author | Mary Jo Casalena Mark A. Lowles Duane R. Diefenbach |
| author_facet | Mary Jo Casalena Mark A. Lowles Duane R. Diefenbach |
| author_sort | Mary Jo Casalena |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract: Eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) population indices in a portion of south‐central Pennsylvania (PA) indicated a decreasing population trend since the late 1980s. In 1995, the fall turkey‐hunting season was reduced from 2 weeks to 1 week to attempt to reduce hunting mortality and increase population size. Although the population has not exhibited a further decline, it has remained low. To investigate factors responsible for continued population suppression, we conducted a 2.5‐year study (1999–2001) monitoring cause‐specific mortality, reproductive rates, and population demographics of 163 radiotagged hens. We used these data in a stochastic population model to investigate factors having the greatest influence on population dynamics. Annual survival of subadult hens (13.3% in 2000, 27.7% in 2001) was less than similar studies (39–57%). Adult hen annual survival (47.8% in 2000, 64.4% in 2001) was lower than similar studies (57–75%) during year 1, but similar to these studies during year 2. Predation rates were normal (48.1%). However, average fall hen harvest mortality (12.3%, range = 6.2–28.6%) was greater than the harvest rate (10% for both males and females) at which population declines are generally expected. Additionally, 5.1% of marked hens died from legal use of rodenticides in fruit orchards. Relative to other studies, nest incubation rates were low (69%) during 2000 but nest success was average (72%), and in 2001 nest incubation rates were similar to other studies (88%), but nest success was below average (42%). Poult survival in both years (11.8% and 23.3%, respectively) was less than other studies (24–60%). Sensitivity analyses of the stochastic model indicated that subadult and poult mortality rates had the greatest influence on the population decline. Consequently, to attempt to reduce subadult mortality, fall turkey hunting in this area was closed indefinitely beginning in 2003. Also, a cooperative project was started with local orchard owners to reduce accidental rodenticide poisoning. In an attempt to improve poult survival, herbaceous openings of 0.2–1.0 ha are being maintained and rehabilitated throughout the study area in an accompanying study to determine the importance of these openings to poult survival. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eef5848cd7c248e5b76be58e4872734b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2328-5540 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2005-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-eef5848cd7c248e5b76be58e4872734b2025-08-20T03:07:34ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402005-01-012005S110711610.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00299.xFACTORS SUPPRESSING A WILD TURKEY POPULATION IN SOUTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIAMary Jo Casalena0Mark A. Lowles1Duane R. Diefenbach2Pennsylvania Game Commission2001 Elmerton AvenueHarrisburgPA17110‐9797USAPennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research UnitPennsylvania State University419 Forest Resources BuildingUniversity ParkPA16802USAU.S. Geological SurveyPennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research UnitPennsylvania State University419 Forest Resources BuildingUniversity ParkPA16802USAAbstract: Eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) population indices in a portion of south‐central Pennsylvania (PA) indicated a decreasing population trend since the late 1980s. In 1995, the fall turkey‐hunting season was reduced from 2 weeks to 1 week to attempt to reduce hunting mortality and increase population size. Although the population has not exhibited a further decline, it has remained low. To investigate factors responsible for continued population suppression, we conducted a 2.5‐year study (1999–2001) monitoring cause‐specific mortality, reproductive rates, and population demographics of 163 radiotagged hens. We used these data in a stochastic population model to investigate factors having the greatest influence on population dynamics. Annual survival of subadult hens (13.3% in 2000, 27.7% in 2001) was less than similar studies (39–57%). Adult hen annual survival (47.8% in 2000, 64.4% in 2001) was lower than similar studies (57–75%) during year 1, but similar to these studies during year 2. Predation rates were normal (48.1%). However, average fall hen harvest mortality (12.3%, range = 6.2–28.6%) was greater than the harvest rate (10% for both males and females) at which population declines are generally expected. Additionally, 5.1% of marked hens died from legal use of rodenticides in fruit orchards. Relative to other studies, nest incubation rates were low (69%) during 2000 but nest success was average (72%), and in 2001 nest incubation rates were similar to other studies (88%), but nest success was below average (42%). Poult survival in both years (11.8% and 23.3%, respectively) was less than other studies (24–60%). Sensitivity analyses of the stochastic model indicated that subadult and poult mortality rates had the greatest influence on the population decline. Consequently, to attempt to reduce subadult mortality, fall turkey hunting in this area was closed indefinitely beginning in 2003. Also, a cooperative project was started with local orchard owners to reduce accidental rodenticide poisoning. In an attempt to improve poult survival, herbaceous openings of 0.2–1.0 ha are being maintained and rehabilitated throughout the study area in an accompanying study to determine the importance of these openings to poult survival.https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00299.xharvestMeleagris gallopavo silvestrismortalityPennsylvaniapopulation dynamicspopulation model |
| spellingShingle | Mary Jo Casalena Mark A. Lowles Duane R. Diefenbach FACTORS SUPPRESSING A WILD TURKEY POPULATION IN SOUTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA Wildlife Society Bulletin harvest Meleagris gallopavo silvestris mortality Pennsylvania population dynamics population model |
| title | FACTORS SUPPRESSING A WILD TURKEY POPULATION IN SOUTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA |
| title_full | FACTORS SUPPRESSING A WILD TURKEY POPULATION IN SOUTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA |
| title_fullStr | FACTORS SUPPRESSING A WILD TURKEY POPULATION IN SOUTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA |
| title_full_unstemmed | FACTORS SUPPRESSING A WILD TURKEY POPULATION IN SOUTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA |
| title_short | FACTORS SUPPRESSING A WILD TURKEY POPULATION IN SOUTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA |
| title_sort | factors suppressing a wild turkey population in southcentral pennsylvania |
| topic | harvest Meleagris gallopavo silvestris mortality Pennsylvania population dynamics population model |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00299.x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT maryjocasalena factorssuppressingawildturkeypopulationinsouthcentralpennsylvania AT markalowles factorssuppressingawildturkeypopulationinsouthcentralpennsylvania AT duanerdiefenbach factorssuppressingawildturkeypopulationinsouthcentralpennsylvania |