Sustainable management of wildlife populations relies on accurate estimates of
population size as harvest recommendations are dependent on estimates of sustainable
surplus. Techniques for surveying wild turkey populations in Texas are constrained
by land access issues, requiring that new methods be developed for population
monitoring. I evaluated a combined approach using patch-occupancy modeling at
broad spatial scales and intensive double observer roost surveys at local scales to
estimate Rio Grande wild turkey (Meleagris gallapavo intermedia) distribution and
abundance.
I flew replicated aerial surveys during 2007 and 2008 to evaluate distribution
of Rio Grande wild turkeys in the south Texas Coastal Sand Plains. I used a double
observer approach to estimate local scale abundance. I used a single observer
approach to estimate temporal variation in roost use. Detection probabilities from
aerial surveys ranged between 0.24 (SE = 0.031) and 0.30 (SE = 0.083). Spatial
parameters that influenced distribution of wild turkeys included size of suitable
roosting habitat patches and distance to the nearest suitable roosting habitat. I conducted 100 inter-patch double observer roost counts, with counts ranging
between 0 to 183 individuals. Average detection probabilities for observers were
~0.90. Roost level occupancy was ~0.84 with detection probabilities between 0.69
(SE = 0.107) and 0.79 (SE = 0.091). Based on my results, aerial surveys combined
with local abundance estimation may be one viable alternative to monitor turkey
populations over large spatial scales, by reducing overall survey effort without loss of
estimated precision.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:tamu.edu/oai:repository.tamu.edu:1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2009-08-858 |
| Date | 2009 August 1900 |
| Creators | Caveny, Robert J. |
| Contributors | Peterson, Markus J., Collier, Bret A. |
| Source Sets | Texas A and M University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Book, Thesis, Electronic Thesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
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