Reproductive ecology of Gould's Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo mexicana) in Arizona
| Autor: | Brittany Oleson, Alex Smallwood, Bret A. Collier, James R. Heffelfinger, Michael J. Chamberlain, Nathan Fyffe, Nicholas W. Bakner |
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| Rok vydání: | 2019 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
Avian clutch size education.field_of_study Ecology Reproductive success Range (biology) Population Zoology Biology Subspecies 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences 010605 ornithology Nest Habitat Animal Science and Zoology Wild turkey education Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics |
| Zdroj: | The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 131:667 |
| ISSN: | 1559-4491 |
| Popis: | Gould's Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo mexicana) are the least-studied subspecies of Wild Turkey. Restoration efforts to establish sustainable populations of the subspecies continue throughout portions of the historical range in New Mexico and Arizona. Wild Turkey population viability is driven by reproductive success, yet information on aspects of the reproductive ecology of Gould's Wild Turkey is either scant or nonexistent. We used GPS telemetry to detail reproductive ecology of 23 females during 2017 in southeastern Arizona. We observed a nest initiation rate of 65% and nest success of 58%. Average estimated date for the onset of laying for initial nests was 17 May, which was later than for other subspecies of Wild Turkey. Estimated clutch size (x = 5.6 eggs) across 14 nests and vegetative characteristics at nests were comparable to nest sites selected by Eastern and Rio Grande subspecies, but did not appear to influence nest fate. Mean size of incubation recess ranges was 21 ha (SD = 99), but was highly variable across individual females and we found no evidence of habitat sampling by female Gould's Wild Turkeys before initiating laying of eggs. Females used open/herbaceous habitats and pine-oak woodlands throughout the reproductive period but type of conditions used varied between the laying, incubation, and brooding period. While based on 1 year of field data, our work represents the only assessment of the reproductive ecology of the Gould's Wild Turkey in the United States and should prompt further investigations into the biology of this iconic southwestern species. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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