Distance–based Habitat Associations of Northern Bobwhite

in Kansas

Brian E. Flock, Phillip S. Brian E. Flock, Phillip S. Gipson, Gipson, Roger D. ApplegateRoger D. Applegate, ,

Warren B BallardWarren B Ballard

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Decline attributed to Decline attributed to changes in land use.changes in land use.– But these changes have But these changes have

been on landscapesbeen on landscapes

Research/Research/management has management has been often focused on been often focused on the fine scale e.g. field the fine scale e.g. field scalescale

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION Management has Management has

often used the often used the “shotgun approach” “shotgun approach” when conducting when conducting habitat management habitat management for bobwhite.for bobwhite.

Focus on Focus on qualityquality rather than quantity: rather than quantity: usable space.usable space.

OBJECITVESOBJECITVES

Determine the Determine the effects of landscape effects of landscape configuration on configuration on bobwhite habitat bobwhite habitat use.use.

Determine bobwhite Determine bobwhite preference for preference for habitat at landscape habitat at landscape vs. field scales.vs. field scales.

STUDY AREASTUDY AREA 64.75 km64.75 km22 located in located in

Bourbon County in Bourbon County in Southeastern Kansas.Southeastern Kansas.

Part of 4 county Part of 4 county demonstration area for demonstration area for KS Wildlife and Parks KS Wildlife and Parks Quail Initiative.Quail Initiative.

Area dominated by Area dominated by fescue grasslands.fescue grasslands.

Area showed very little Area showed very little change in land cover change in land cover from 2003 to 2005.from 2003 to 2005.

STUDY AREASTUDY AREA Woodland areas Woodland areas

consisted of consisted of fencerows, fencerows, hedgerows, riparian hedgerows, riparian zones, and woodlots.zones, and woodlots.

Conservation Reserve Conservation Reserve Program lands Program lands consisted of big consisted of big bluestem, Indian grass bluestem, Indian grass and switchgrass and switchgrass dominated areas.dominated areas.

Native grasslands Native grasslands were intensively were intensively managed for livestock managed for livestock and hay production.and hay production.

METHODSMETHODSCaptureCapture

Trapping occurredTrapping occurred October-April in October-April in

2003, 2004, and 2003, 2004, and 2005 using baited 2005 using baited funnel traps.funnel traps.

Six random Six random individual with in individual with in each covey were each covey were fitted with <5 g fitted with <5 g necklace style radio necklace style radio transmitters.transmitters.

METHODSMETHODSTelemetryTelemetry

Radio equipped Radio equipped individuals were individuals were monitored monitored >> 3 3 days/week until radio days/week until radio failure, long distance failure, long distance movement, or movement, or mortality. mortality.

A combination of A combination of homing and vehicle homing and vehicle triangulation was triangulation was used.used.

METHODSMETHODSLand Cover MappingLand Cover Mapping

National Agricultural Inventory Program digital National Agricultural Inventory Program digital color aerial photos were used as base maps.color aerial photos were used as base maps.

Land cover on-screen digitized in ArcView 3.3.Land cover on-screen digitized in ArcView 3.3.

Land cover classification consisted of 2 levels.Land cover classification consisted of 2 levels.– Broad scale habitat classification i.e. fescue Broad scale habitat classification i.e. fescue

grassland, Conservation Reserve Program, grassland, Conservation Reserve Program, etc.etc.

– Fine scale habitat classification i.e. fescue Fine scale habitat classification i.e. fescue pasture, new CRP, etc.pasture, new CRP, etc.

METHODSMETHODS

Animal Movement Animal Movement Extension in ArcView used Extension in ArcView used to create 95% Fixed Kernel to create 95% Fixed Kernel home range for covey home range for covey period and reproductive period and reproductive period.period.

30 random points were 30 random points were generated within a 1 km generated within a 1 km buffer of each home range.buffer of each home range.

Nearest Neighbor in ArcGIS Nearest Neighbor in ArcGIS 9.0 used to obtain 9.0 used to obtain distances to each habitat distances to each habitat for random and quail for random and quail locations. locations.

METHODSMETHODSEuclidean DistanceEuclidean Distance

Calculated Calculated uuii /r /rj j = d= djj

Ho: Ho: ddj j = 1= 1

Used MANOVA to test significance of Used MANOVA to test significance of ddj j and if the mean differed from one.and if the mean differed from one.

METHODSMETHODSEuclidean DistanceEuclidean Distance

If observed/random ratio < 1.0If observed/random ratio < 1.0– animal associated more with habitatanimal associated more with habitat

If observed/random ratio >1.0 If observed/random ratio >1.0 – animal is associated less with the animal animal is associated less with the animal

then expected.then expected. A paired t-test was used to A paired t-test was used to

determine if one particular habitat determine if one particular habitat was preferred over another.was preferred over another.

RESULTSRESULTS Euclidean DistanceEuclidean Distance

Total of 41 individuals Total of 41 individuals (17 female and 24 (17 female and 24 males) used during males) used during reproductive season and reproductive season and 35 coveys used during 35 coveys used during covey season.covey season.

Habitat selection was Habitat selection was found for the found for the reproductive and covey reproductive and covey seasons both land cover seasons both land cover classification levels (P < classification levels (P < 0.0001).0.0001).

RESULTSRESULTS Broad Scale Land Cover PreferencesBroad Scale Land Cover Preferences

During During Reproductive PeriodReproductive Period– Fescue> Woodland Fescue> Woodland

>CRP > Native Prairie >CRP > Native Prairie >Cropland>Cropland

– Showed preference for Showed preference for locations in close locations in close proximity to fescue proximity to fescue over all other habitats. over all other habitats.

RESULTSRESULTS Broad Scale Land Cover PreferencesBroad Scale Land Cover Preferences

During Covey During Covey PeriodPeriod– Woodland> CRP> Woodland> CRP>

Cropland> Native Cropland> Native Prairie> FescuePrairie> Fescue

– Preference for Preference for locations in close locations in close proximity to woody proximity to woody cover (P> 0.0001). cover (P> 0.0001).

RESULTSRESULTS Fine Scale Land Cover PreferencesFine Scale Land Cover Preferences

During Reproductive PeriodDuring Reproductive Period– Fescue pasture & Road > burned CRP > Fescue pasture & Road > burned CRP >

fencerows> woodlot > CRP > New CRP> fencerows> woodlot > CRP > New CRP> Fescue Waterway > Native Prairie Hayland > Fescue Waterway > Native Prairie Hayland > Native Prairie Waterway > Native Prairie Native Prairie Waterway > Native Prairie Pasture > Fescue Hayland > idlelandPasture > Fescue Hayland > idleland

– Highest preference for locations in close Highest preference for locations in close proximity to fescue pastures and roads proximity to fescue pastures and roads (P>0.001). (P>0.001).

RESULTSRESULTS Fine Scale Land Cover PreferencesFine Scale Land Cover Preferences

During Covey PeriodDuring Covey Period

– Road > CRP > Woodlot > Cropland > Idleland > Road > CRP > Woodlot > Cropland > Idleland > Fencerow > New CRP > Burned CRP > Native Fencerow > New CRP > Burned CRP > Native Prairie Pastureland > Native Prairie Waterway > Prairie Pastureland > Native Prairie Waterway > Fescue Waterway > Native Prairie Hayland > Fescue Waterway > Native Prairie Hayland > Fescue Hayland > Fescue PastureFescue Hayland > Fescue Pasture

– Showed avoidance of fescue pasture.Showed avoidance of fescue pasture.

– Preferred location in close proximity to CRP and Preferred location in close proximity to CRP and roads (P>0.001).roads (P>0.001).

DISCUSSIONDISCUSSION Woody cover was important primarily during Woody cover was important primarily during

covey period, but also played a role during the covey period, but also played a role during the reproductive period.reproductive period.

Woody cover has been found to act as escape Woody cover has been found to act as escape cover, feeding area, and roosting cover.cover, feeding area, and roosting cover.

DISCUSSIONDISCUSSION Seasonal shift from Seasonal shift from

avoidance of fescue avoidance of fescue during covey period to during covey period to use of it during use of it during reproductive.reproductive.

There was a shift in There was a shift in preference from large preference from large blocks of woody cover blocks of woody cover during covey to more during covey to more linear areas during linear areas during reproductive period.reproductive period.

DISCUSSIONDISCUSSION

Showed a higher Showed a higher preference for CRP preference for CRP edge in the covey edge in the covey period than during period than during reproductive reproductive period.period.

Road edges were Road edges were preferred during preferred during both periods.both periods.

MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONSIMPLICATIONS

[Sorry Fred][Sorry Fred]Really Just Expanded DiscussionReally Just Expanded Discussion Fescue was dominant and provided some Fescue was dominant and provided some

structural “cue” which attracted bobwhites. structural “cue” which attracted bobwhites. This does not mean it was good habitat.This does not mean it was good habitat.

CRP in this context was tall, dense, and CRP in this context was tall, dense, and composed only of grass so provided no composed only of grass so provided no “cue.” It was not usable by bobwhites.“cue.” It was not usable by bobwhites.

Woody cover was scarce and more closely Woody cover was scarce and more closely related to “edges” especially roadsides. related to “edges” especially roadsides. Need it everywhere and not just along roads.Need it everywhere and not just along roads.

MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONSIMPLICATIONS

Species such as Species such as bobwhite need to be bobwhite need to be managed on managed on landscapes as landscapes as opposed to the current opposed to the current method of method of management at farm management at farm scale.scale.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSACKNOWLEDGMENTS Dr. Shawn HutchinsonDr. Shawn Hutchinson Dr. Samantha WiselyDr. Samantha Wisely Dr. Brett SandercockDr. Brett Sandercock Research AssistantsResearch Assistants

FundingFunding– Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration GrantFederal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Grant– Kansas Department of Wildlife and ParksKansas Department of Wildlife and Parks– Division of Biology, Kansas State UniversityDivision of Biology, Kansas State University– US Geological SurveyUS Geological Survey– Wildlife Management InstituteWildlife Management Institute