Northern Bobwhite (Colinus Virginianus) Population Ecology on Reclaimed Mined Lands
Northern Bobwhite (Colinus Virginianus) Population Ecology on Reclaimed Mined Lands

Author: Evan Philip Tanner

Publisher:

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 113

ISBN-13:

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The northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) has experienced range-wide population declines for the past half century. The primary cause has been large-scale habitat loss and fragmentation. Through auspices of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), large tracts of early successional vegetation have been created throughout much of the bobwhite's range that may be managed to increase usable space. Peabody WMA is a reclaimed coal mine in Western Kentucky where bobwhite have been present in the past. To better understand the dynamics of this population and how habitat on Peabody WMA influences these dynamics, my two objectives were to (1) document survival, cause-specific mortality, and assess multi-scale habitat effects on survival of bobwhite, and (2) estimate nest survival, reproductive efforts, and gauge the effects of habitat composition on these parameters across multiple scales. In relation to bobwhite survival, there was not evidence of multi-scale habitat influence (Part II). Survival increased as the amount of forest vegetation increased within a home range. This was likely related to the availability of woody escape cover associated with forest vegetation on our study site. Pooled seasonal survival rates differed between Ken (S = 0.316, SE = 0.027) and Sinclair (S = 0.141, SE = 0.022) sites. This may have been attributed to differences in habitat suitability or predator abundance. Nest survival rate was low relative to other research (S = 0.317, SE = 0.081; Part III). Nest age was the most influential factor relative to nest survival on our study site and had a positive relationship. Evidence of micro-habitat effects on nest survival existed, though these effects were minimal. Nest survival increased as distance to bare ground increased. This is likely related to the importance of nest concealment on our study site. Our results show that reclaimed mined lands can provide usable space to support bobwhite populations. Management efforts should focus on increasing woody cover within reclaimed vegetation blocks to increase bobwhite survival while increasing the amount of native warm season grasses for nesting vegetation and litter cover to support reproductive efforts.

Northern Bobwhite (Colinus Virginianus) Habitat Selection on a Reclaimed Surface Mine in Western Kentucky
Northern Bobwhite (Colinus Virginianus) Habitat Selection on a Reclaimed Surface Mine in Western Kentucky

Author: Ashley Marie Unger

Publisher:

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 107

ISBN-13:

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Reclaimed mines present an opportunity to provide large tracts of habitat for northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). Reclaimed mine sites are commonly planted to non–native species, including sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) and tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix), which can inhibit growth of more desirable plant species and limit favorable structure for bobwhite. Although bobwhite are found on reclaimed mine sites, there have been no studies documenting how bobwhites use various vegetation types common to reclaimed mine land. Habitat use studies can provide information on how bobwhite select vegetation types on these landscapes and help direct future management decisions. We trapped and radio–marked 841 bobwhite, October 2009 to September 2011, on Peabody Wildlife Management Area, a 3,330 ha reclaimed mine in Kentucky, USA, to investigate how bobwhite used vegetation types and responded to habitat management practices. We used 104 individuals to describe habitat use during the breeding season (1 April–30 September). We found 57 nests and analyzed the movements of 23 brooding adults. We used 51 coveys to describe habitat use during the non–breeding season (1 October–31 March). During the non–breeding season, woody edge was used more than would be expected at random (parameter estimates ≤0.017). During the breeding season, nonbreeding bobwhite used firebreaks dominated by winter wheat and shrub vegetation more than any other vegetation types, and used dense, planted native warm–season grasses (NWSG) and WMA roads least (P

Effects of Agricultural Conservation Practices on Fish and Wildlife
Effects of Agricultural Conservation Practices on Fish and Wildlife

Author: National Agricultural Library (U.S.)

Publisher:

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 404

ISBN-13:

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"The bibliography is a guide to recent scientific literature covering effects of agricultural conservation practices on fish and wildlife. The citations listed here provide information on how conservation programs and practices designed to improve fish and wildlife habitat, as well as those intended for other purposes (e.g., water quality improvement), affect various aquatic and terrestrial fauna"--Abstract.

Appalachia's Coal-Mined Landscapes
Appalachia's Coal-Mined Landscapes

Author: Carl E. Zipper

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2020-11-25

Total Pages: 358

ISBN-13: 3030577805

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This book collects and summarizes current scientific knowledge concerning coal-mined landscapes of the Appalachian region in eastern United States. Containing contributions from authors across disciplines, the book addresses topics relevant to the region’s coal-mining history and its future; its human communities; and the soils, waters, plants, wildlife, and human-use potentials of Appalachia’s coal-mined landscapes. The book provides a comprehensive overview of coal mining’s legacy in Appalachia, USA. It book describes the resources of the Appalachian coalfield, its lands and waters, and its human communities – as they have been left in the aftermath of intensive mining, drawing upon peer-reviewed science and other regional data to provide clear and objective descriptions. By understanding the Appalachian experience, officials and planners in other resource extraction- affected world regions can gain knowledge and perspectives that will aid their own efforts to plan and manage for environmental quality and for human welfare. Appalachia's Coal-Mined Landscapes: Resources and Communities in a New Energy Era will be of use to natural resource managers and scientists within Appalachia and in other world regions experiencing widespread mining, researchers with interest in the region’s disturbance legacy, and economic and community planners concerned with Appalachia’s future.

Influence of Habitat Manipulations on Northern Bobwhite Resource Selection on a Reclaimed Surface Mine
Influence of Habitat Manipulations on Northern Bobwhite Resource Selection on a Reclaimed Surface Mine

Author: Jarred Milford Brooke

Publisher:

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 85

ISBN-13:

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Northern bobwhite populations have declined range-wide over the past 40 years. The intensification of agriculture, conversion of pastures to nonnative cool-season grasses, advanced succession, and urbanization have resulted in the deterioration and elimination of bobwhite habitat. Recent conservation efforts have called for a landscape-level approach to the conservation of northern bobwhite populations. However, identifying large areas to manage bobwhite populations is problematic. Reclaimed mine lands offer an opportunity to manage large contiguous tracts of early successional vegetation to conserve northern bobwhite populations. We studied northern bobwhite resource selection throughout the year from August 2009 to March 2014. We investigated the influence of disking, prescribed fire, and herbicide application on bobwhite resource selection. Our study was conducted on Peabody Wildlife Management Area (PWMA), which is a 3,300 ha reclaimed surface mine in Western Kentucky. We used the discrete-choice analysis to compare resource selection on unmanaged and managed units of PWMA. We used locations from 283 bobwhite during the breeding season (1 April -- 30 September) and 136 coveys during the non-breeding season (1 October -- 31 March). Resource selection on PWMA was influenced most by availability of shrub cover, regardless of season. Bobwhite were found closer to shrub cover than would be expected and selected areas with greater amounts of shrub-open edge density. Similarly, bobwhite selected areas with vegetation characteristics consistent with shrub cover on PWMA, including increased visual obstruction >1 m aboveground and an increased density of woody stems. Management aimed at reducing the density of sericea lespedeza and increasing the openness at ground level positively influenced resource selection. Bobwhite were found closer to disked areas than would be expected and selected areas treated with herbicide to control sericea lespedeza. Bobwhite avoided burned areas during the breeding season but selected burned areas during the non-breeding season. Our results suggest management should focus on increasing the interspersion of shrub cover on reclaimed mine lands. Also, management focused on enhancing the composition and structure of the vegetation (disking and herbicide) should continue. Reclaimed mine land can provide habitat for northern bobwhite, and our results suggest habitat management can improve habitat quality for bobwhite on these lands.

Effects of Agricultural Conservation Practices on Fish and Wildlife
Effects of Agricultural Conservation Practices on Fish and Wildlife

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 380

ISBN-13:

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"The bibliography is a guide to recent scientific literature covering effects of agricultural conservation practices on fish and wildlife. The citations listed here provide information on how conservation programs and practices designed to improve fish and wildlife habitat, as well as those intended for other purposes (e.g., water quality improvement), affect various aquatic and terrestrial fauna"--Abstract.