Wild pigs are known to be an agricultural pest, but few studies have been done to quantify wild pig damage to corn and the landscape characteristics that are conducive to this damage. In the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, only 15 of the 125 sampled corn fields were damaged (12%). Using yield estimates, input costs and hectares of crop lost, this study concluded that wild pigs cause US$1,753 of damage per hectare. The proportion of corn that was planted within selected buffer scales consistently had a negative effect on whether a field would be damaged. The proportion of soybean planted within the buffer, and the proportion of disturbance had negative impacts on whether a field would be damaged. At multiple buffer scales, the proportion of shrub/scrub, adjacent crops and forest had negative effects on the amount of damage seen in a damaged field.

Scaup (Aythya spp.) are suspected of consuming substantial quantities of fish from Arkansas commercial baitfish and sportfish farms. We investigated the foraging ecology and depredation impact of scaup on farms by surveying ponds and collecting scaup during two autumn-winters (2016-2018) in Arkansas. Scaup abundance and fish they consumed were highly variable between winters. More scaup were present and they ate more fish during the second winter (2017-2018) than the previous winter. In the second year, there were an estimated 874,941 scaup use-days and 18% of Lesser Scaup diet was fish. We found that scaup use of ponds was more likely in colder winters and on larger Golden Shiner, Fathead Minnow, and Lepomis spp. ponds stocked at high densities. These results will inform stakeholders on the extent of losses of fish to these birds, and methods to efficiently allocate resources for timely harassment of scaup from fish ponds.

Piscivorous avian species are of particular importance in Mississippi due to their depredation of cultured catfish throughout the states aquaculture industry. The three most common of these species include the double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), great blue heron (Ardea herodias), and great egret (Ardea alba). Information on these species aquaculture use can aid in effective and ethical management while also providing insight into their foraging ecology and habitat use, which is particularly important given these species augment their nutritional requirements using man-made food sources. The objectives of this research were to explore numerous aspects of avian foraging ecology in relation to aquaculture at multiple spatial and temporal scales using historic and contemporary aerial survey data. First, we examined the distribution and abundance of species on aquaculture at both the farm and pond scale. Pond contents and characteristics influenced each species, including culture practices and surroundings. In all cases, the amount of aquaculture was positively related to species abundances. Pond and farm selection relationships were species-specific, illustrating inherent differences in their foraging ecology. Consequently, specific management actions will depend on the targeted species. We also found cormorant densities on aquaculture has not changed in the past 15 years, even though aquaculture has significantly declined. Second, we measured cormorant distribution between aquaculture and natural water bodies. The highest use of aquaculture occurred when producers were not allowed to use lethal control, whereas the lowest use occurred when producers could. This trend highlights the potential influence of mortality risk on cormorants' foraging distribution. Lastly, we examined cormorant dynamics at the regional scale using roosting data. We found the Midwest breeding population of cormorants has been increasing, but the abundance of cormorants wintering in Mississippi has been decreasing, suggesting aquaculture is the primary cause of inhabitation of the state. We also found the phenology of cormorant spring migration is occurring earlier each year. Aquaculture area had a positive influence on cormorant distribution at roosts particularly prior to migration. These findings suggest changes in agriculture, and potentially climate change, can influence phenology, distribution, and abundance of avian species at multiple scales.

The thesis analyses compensations of damages caused by great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) in fish farms in South Bohemian Region pursuant to Act. No 115/2000 Sb. till 2011. In the introductory section is described a development of population of nesting and migrating Great cormorants in Europe, particularly in the Czech Republic from the 80th of last century, and reasons for conflict between this species conservation and fish farming including legal conditions for compensation to pond owners and a development of compensation issues in the Czech Republic. This thesis assesses an overall status of the compensation of damages already paid in South Bohemia, analyses claimants according subject type and compares the amount of compensation of damages in relation to the number and the pond area including the frequency of submitted apllications by different types of claimants and the relationship to individual districts of South Bohemian Region. The survey in five chosen ponds in Třeboňsko region evaluates a current secondary damages caused by Great cormorants in the form of injured fishes obtained during fishing out.

Agricultural producers are invested in managing the impacts of crop damage on their yields and profit. When damage occurs early enough in an agricultural growing season, farmers have the option to replant their corn stand in an effort to recoup some of the lost profits. In this thesis two different types of naturally occurring damage, wildlife depredation and persistent weed or insect patches, were simulated on two representative regions of Mississippi. These data were then used to assess the financial viability of a range of damage mitigation methods, including partial replanting, enrollment into a government conservation buffer, and no action. Replanting was demonstrated to be generally the most economically viable method of management across all simulation scenarios. This analysis showed a lower return on conservation enrollment than expected, indicating that an increase in financial benefits for some conservation programs may be warranted.