AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Differential Winter Mortality of Bobwhites in Kansas

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1965
Authors:Robel, RJ
Journal:The Journal of Wildlife Management
Volume:29
Issue:2
Date Published:1965
ISBN Number:0022541X
Keywords:Colinus, Colinus virginianus, Coturnix, Coturnix coturnix, Odontophoridae, Phasianidae
Abstract:During a 1961-64 study of bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) in northeastern Kansas, 261 were collected in an effort to obtain information on food habits, incidence of internal parasites, and population dynamics. This paper presents some of the information on population dynamics. The data were stratified into two periods, autumn and winter. The proportion of adults in the population increased as the quail entered the severe winter months. This change in age ratio served as a basis for determining differential mortality between juveniles and adults. Survival rate of juveniles during the September-through-April period was calculated to be 0.271 of the survival rate of adults for the same period. In contrast to most other studies, unbalanced sex ratios favored the females during this study. Females accounted for 53.26 percent of the quail collected, being slightly more numerous in samples during the autumn period. No differential mortality was detected between males and females.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/3798430
Short Title:The Journal of Wildlife Management
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith