AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Female Turkey Habitat Use in Mississippi River Batture

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1988
Authors:ZWANK, PHILLIPJ, White, Jr., TH, Kimmel, FG
Journal:The Journal of Wildlife Management
Volume:52
Issue:2
Date Published:1988
ISBN Number:0022541X
Keywords:Meleagris, Meleagris gallopavo, Phasianidae
Abstract:We determined habitat use by adult eastern wild turkey females (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) in the Mississippi River batture before and after selective thinning of riverfront hardwoods. Thinning reduced basal area from 20.3 to 13.7 m2/ha and decreased canopy closure from 60 to 49%. Midstory density was reduced from 1,421 to 971 stems/ha. One year after treatment mean understory cover increased from 31 to 57%. No nesting occurred because the study area was flooded both springs. Female turkey habitat use changed after thinning; the thinned area received the highest frequency of increased use. An increase in understory cover and hypothesized increase in productivity, particularly of wild turkey food items, apparently were the major attractions for the thinned area.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/3801230
Short Title:The Journal of Wildlife Management
Taxonomic name: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith