Lesser prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) have declined throughout
their range because of overgrazing and loss or fragmentation of habitat from conversion
of native prairie to agricultural cropland. Lesser prairie-chickens were radio-marked (n
= 225) as part of 2 separate field studies in the Texas Panhandle (2001–2003, 2003–
2007). These data were used to evaluate whether differences in demographic parameters
existed between populations occurring in 2 areas dominated by different vegetation types
(sand sagebrush [Artemisia filifolia] versus shinnery oak [Quercus havardii]) in the
Texas Panhandle from 2001–2007. A model-selection approach was used to test
hypotheses explaining differences in survival and reproductive success of lesser prairiechickens.
Additionally, a population viability analysis was constructed using the above
demographic parameters to evaluate effects of harvest and no harvest scenarios on
viability and population persistence of lesser prairie-chickens in Texas. Overall,
survival, reproduction, and population viability were lower in the shinnery oak compared to the sand sagebrush vegetation type. Lesser prairie-chicken survival differed between
breeding and non-breeding periods. I estimated annual survival of lesser prairiechickens
at 31% in the shinnery oak and 52% in the sand sagebrush vegetation type.
Nest success was (41%, 95% CI = 25–56%) in the shinnery oak population compared to
the sand sagebrush population (75%, 95% CI = 54–94%). Population viability analysis
predicted continued declines in lesser prairie-chicken populations in Texas. Estimates of
local occupancy indicated lesser prairie-chicken populations would go extinct in the
southwestern shinnery oak vegetation type more quickly compared to the northeastern
sand sagebrush vegetation type (approximately 10 years compared to 30 years,
respectively) without changes in population vital rates. Harvest at all levels increased
risk of extinction. Results suggest that differences in survival and reproduction of lesser
prairie-chickens within sand sagebrush and shinnery oak vegetation types throughout the
Texas Panhandle should be evaluated, especially during the breeding season.
Improvements to vegetation conducive for successful nesting are important to the
viability of lesser prairie-chickens. Conservation and recovery strategies for lesser
prairie-chicken populations should address variables that increase survival and nest
success and consideration of no harvest.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:tamu.edu/oai:repository.tamu.edu:1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2847 |
| Date | 15 May 2009 |
| Creators | Lyons, Eddie Keith |
| Contributors | Lopez, Roel R., Silvy, Nova J. |
| Source Sets | Texas A and M University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Book, Thesis, Electronic Dissertation, text |
| Format | electronic, application/pdf, born digital |
Page generated in 0.0014 seconds