Browsing by Author "Applegate, Roger D."
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Item A comparison of raptor densities and habitat use in Kansas cropland and rangeland ecosystems(Journal of Raptor Research, 2000-09) Williams, Christopher K.; Applegate, Roger D.; Lutz, R. Scott; Rusch, Donald H.We counted raptors on line transects along roads to assess densities, species diversity, and habitat selection of winter raptors between cropland and rangeland habitats in eastern Kansas. We conducted counts every 2 wk between September-March 1994-98. Species diversity indices did not differ between the two habitats (P -- 0.15). We calculated density estimates and cover type selection for Red- tailed Hawks (Buteojamaicensis), Northern Harriers (Circus cyaneus), and American Kestrels (Falco sparv- erius). Red-tailed Hawks and Northern Harrier densities were higher in cropland, while kestrel densities did not differ between the two habitats. All three species across both habitats had a general preference for idleland habitat. We believe three factors could explain the higher raptor densities in cropland: increased prey abundance, increased visibility of prey associated with harvested agriculture fields, and/ or a higher relative amount of preferred hunting habitat.Item A portable aviary for field observations of behavior(Journal of Field Ornithology, 2002-01-01) Van Why, Kyle R.; Williams, Christopher K.; Applegate, Roger D.; Flock, Brian E.We describe a lightweight, portable, and inexpensive field aviary that was designed for observing Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) vigilance and feeding behavior. The general construction details of this aviary are easily modified to accommodate a variety of bird species and research objectives. SINOPSIS. Aviario portatil para hacer observaciones en el campo sobre la conducta de aves Describimos un aviario porta´til, liviano y de bajo costo disen˜ado para hacer estudios sobre la conducta alimentaria de Colinus virginianus. Los detalles en generales de construccio´n de este aviario se puede modificar fa´cilmente para acomodar una gran variedad de aves y diferentes objetivos de investigacio´n.Item Assuring the future of prairie grouse: dogmas, demagogues, and getting outside the box(Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2004-03) Applegate, Roger D.; Williams, Christopher K.; Manes, Robert R.We discuss the necessity of a paradigm shift among managers toward dealing with the recovery and management of prairie grouse (Tympanuchus spp). To assure the future of these species, we will need to test dogmatic assumptions about grouse and their management and challenge the demagogues who insist on perpetuating untested “principles.” Tolerance for descriptive and qualitative studies is needed. Additionally, managers will need to remove themselves from the box and embrace landowners, theoretical biologists, economists, human-dimensions researchers, marketing and advertising specialists, and many other professionals outside the normal sphere of wildlife management. There is crucial need for a willingness to devise, test, and apply innovative ideas that are not normally considered in the management of grouse species, especially applying management to large areas within ecosystems. A comprehensive plan is needed to guide rangewide prairie grouse management. Planned management systems are needed to provide operational guidance in implementing species plans.Item Do Resident and Non-Resident Northern Bobwhite Hunters Self-Regulate Harvest Based on Population Size?(National Quail Symposium Proceedings, 2012) Williams, Christopher K.; Applegate, Roger D.A variety of factors influence the relative strength of additive and compensatory mortality of harvest on northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) including covey dynamics, habitat fragmentation, and timing of harvest. State wildlife agencies have long believed regulations could be liberal because hunters will self-regulate effort when populations decrease. A confounding observation is that with lower population abundances, hunter skill and harvest rate increases because the more novice hunters do not participate. This raises the question whether non-resident small game hunters could have a larger impact at lower population levels if they have (1) more money to dedicate to out of state licenses and travel/lodging, and (2) time to dedicate to the hunting experience? We examined long-term bobwhite population and harvest data from Kansas (1966–1999) to learn if self-regulation differed between resident and non-resident small game hunters. The number of resident and non-resident small game hunters was related to their respective harvest of northern bobwhites. Decreasing October population index was associated with a decline in the number of resident bobwhite hunter days and harvest. Conversely, increasing numbers of non-resident hunters participated in the hunting season with higher hunter efficiency and a larger harvest at lower October population index levels. Total relative harvest decreased overwinter (Oct–Jan) survival. The Kansas resident bobwhite harvest is probably self-regulatory but non-resident harvest is not. Future harvest regulations should consider the impact of non-resident harvest.Item Health Status of Northern Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus) in Eastern Kansas(Avian Diseases, 2000) Williams, Christopher K.; Davidson, William R.; Lutz, R. Scott; Applegate, Roger D.SUMMARY. The health status of wild northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) from Lyon County, Kansas, was evaluated by conducting comprehensive health assessments on 25 birds. Gross lesions indicative of avian pox, ulcerative enteritis, and quail bronchitis were not present. Serologic tests for antibodies to Salmonella pullorum, Salmonella gallinarum, Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae, and avian adenoviruses were all negative. Intestinal coccidia (Eimeria spp.) were found in 36% of the birds. Only three species of helminth parasites were found: Dispharynx nasuta in two birds, Cyrnea colini in one bird, and larval Physaloptera sp. in four birds. Arthropod parasites (ticks, lice, mites, and/ or chiggers) were present on 96% of the birds examined. Compared with wild bobwhite populations in the southeastern United States, the diversity, prevalence, and intensities of microbial and parasitic agents were low. RESUMEN. Nota de Investigacion-Estado de salud de la codorniz blanca del Norte en el oriente de Kansas. Se realiz6 un estudio detallado del estado de salud de la codorniz silvestre blanca del norte (Colinus virginianus) en el condado de Lyon, Kansas en 25 aves. Las lesiones a la necropsia indicaron que la viruela aviar, la enteritis ulcerativa y la bronquitis de la codorniz no estaban presentes. Las pruebas serologicas para anticuerpos contra Salmonella pullorum, Salmonella gallinarum, Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae y adenovirus aviares fueron negativas. Se observ6 coccidia intestinal (Eimeria spp.) en 36% de las aves. Se encontraron tres especies de helmintos uinicamente, Dispharynx nasuta en dos aves, Cyrnea colini en un ave y un estado larvario de Physaloptera sp. en cuatro aves. Los parasitos artropodos (garrapatas, piojos, acaros y niguas) estuvieron presentes en el 96% de las aves examinadas. La diversidad, la prevalencia y la intensidad de agentes parasiticos y microbianos fue baja, comparada con las poblaciones silvestres de codornices blancas en el sureste de los Estados Unidos.Item Population dynamics across geographical ranges: time-series analysis of three small game species(Ecology, 2003-10-01) Williams, Christopher K.; Ives, Anthony R.; Applegate, Roger D.Little is known about how density-independent and density-dependent processes affecting population dynamics vary geographically across species' ranges. To address this problem for three vertebrate species (Northern Bobwhite [Colinus virginianus], Ring-necked Pheasants [Phasianus colchicus], and eastern cottontails [Sylvilagus floridanus]), we examined spatially subdivided, long-term (1966–2001), seasonal (January, April, July, and October), time-series data from the Kansas Rural Mail Carrier Survey, USA. All three species have range boundaries in Kansas, with population abundances declining toward the periphery of their ranges. We quantified the strengths of density-dependent and density-independent processes affecting the dynamics of 10 populations of each species ranging from low (peripheral) to high (central) mean abundance using first-order autoregressive models that incorporate measurement error. For all three species, peripheral populations with lower mean abundance tended to have greater population variability. This pattern could potentially be explained by peripheral regions experiencing either weaker density dependence or greater environmentally driven density-independent fluctuations in per capita population growth rates. In general, density dependence did not vary among geographic regions, although there was a trend for smaller, peripheral populations to exhibit stronger density dependence. Density-independent variability in per capita population growth rates was higher in peripheral populations. Furthermore, density-independent fluctuations in per capita population growth rates were weakly correlated with temperature and precipitation and were highest for the period October through January, identifying fall as the period of greatest environmentally driven variability in population dynamics. Per capita population growth rates fluctuated in moderate synchrony among regions, especially for more abundant, nonperipheral populations in close geographical proximity. The strong density-dependent and stronger density-independent processes in smaller, peripheral populations suggest that the greater variability in peripheral populations' densities is caused by greater population sensitivity to environmental fluctuations. This may make peripheral populations more likely to go extinct and leads to the prediction that, if these species decline to the point of becoming endangered, this decline will be accompanied by a contraction in their geographical ranges.Item The effect of flooding on northern bobwhite(Western North American Naturalist, 2002-04) Applegate, Roger D.; Williams, Christopher K.; Lutz, R. ScottEffects of flooding on mammals (Yeager and Anderson 1944) and reptiles (Stickel 1948) have been documented, and Northern Bob- whites ( Colinus virginianus) have been known to drown (Schorger 1946, Mullan and Apple- gate 1969). However, on landscape and population scales, the implications of mortality from extensive flooding are undocumented for birds. We document mortality of bob whites, possibly by drowning, because of flooding in east central Kansas.Item The northern bobwhite decline: scaling our management for the twenty-first century(Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2004-09) Williams, Christopher K.; Guthery, Fred S.; Applegate, Roger D.; Peterson, Markus J.Northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) are one of the most broadly researched and intensively managed species in North America. However, we argue that a disadvantage of this status is that traditional management principles currently are incompatible with the spatial scale necessary to address the nationwide decline in bobwhite abundance. We maintain that halting or reversing this decline will entail 2 principal changes in the scale of management. Primarily we suggest that habitat oversight must switch from historical fine-scale management (promotion of edge habitat, weedy fencelines, disked strips, living hedges, and food plots) to regional management of usable space. Secondly, within these regional management areas, we should apply harvest management that employs risk-sensitive strategies that conservatively avoid undermining the primary goal. This entails narrowing the scale of harvest management from statewide to regional levels. If these ideological changes cannot be made and historical policies remain in force, we risk failing to stabilize, let alone increase, bobwhite populations.