Nova J. Silvy

HISTORICAL BIOGEOGRAPHY AND CONTEMPORARY PATTERNS OF MITOCHONDRIAL DNA VARIATION IN WHITE-TAILED DEER FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was used to characterize patterns of geographic variation among white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations in the southeastern United States. Fifteen restriction enzymes were employed to survey and map 99 restriction sites in 142 deer from 18 localities in five southeastern states. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three primary groups of haplotypes: (1) southern Florida and the Florida Keys, (2) the remainder of peninsular Florida northward to South Carolina, and (3) the Florida panhandle westward to Mississippi. Geographical heterogeneity in haplotype frequencies suggests that stochastic lineage sorting or isolation by distance are not important determinates of mtDNA differentiation among deer populations. The pattern of mtDNA variation in white‐tailed deer is concordant spatially with those observed in unrelated taxa suggesting the common influence of historical biogeographic events. The data (1) support previous hypotheses that relate contemporary patterns of intraspecific phylogeography in northern Florida to the physiogeographic history of the region; and (2) suggest that genetic differentiation in southern Florida may be attributable to episodes of Pleistocene dispersal. Despite potentially high vagility and human intervention, ecological and demographic characteristics of deer have effectively preserved the historical pattern of intraspecific mtDNA differentiation.

Ecology of Three Sympatric Felids in a Mixed Evergreen Forest in North-Central Thailand

Abstract We report on the natural history of 3 rare and mostly unstudied felids, the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii), and marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata), in Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. From February 1999 to February 2003, 4 clouded leopards (2 males and 2 females), 2 Asiatic golden cats (1 male and 1 female), and 1 female marbled cat were captured, radiocollared, and tracked for 1–17 months. Clouded leopards exhibited annual ranges (95% minimum convex polygon) of 22.9–45.1 km2, traveled an average of 1,932 m each day, and were active during 58% of diel activity readings. Asiatic golden cats ranged 32.6–47.7 km2, traveled an average of 1,597 m each day, and exhibited an arrhythmic activity pattern of 58% activity. A marbled cat was tracked for 1 month, ranged 5.3 km2, and was primarily nocturnal in its habits. Examination of limited data indicated diverse prey use by clouded leopards. Illegal hunting and collecting of aloewood (Aquilaria crassna) threaten the felid community in Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary.

Greater Prairie Chicken Ranges, Movements, and Habitat Usage in Kansas

Telemetry equipment was used to track 70 (34 males, 31 females, and 5 unsexed) individual greater prairie chickens (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus) in northeastern Kansas. A total of 3,214 locations was recorded and 2,229 successive days of location data were obtained during 1964-1968. These data were used to calculate ranges of individual birds, and the distances between locations of birds on successive days were used to determine movement activity. Between 1966 and 1968, a total of 2,019 locations of 49 of the 70 birds (26 males and 23 females) was analyzed according to habitat usage. Ranges of birds were > 200 acres during the late summer and < 500 acres during fall and spring. Adult cocks exhibited the largest monthly range (1,267 acres) in March and the smallest (79 acres) in August. Ranges of juveniles were similar to those of adult males. Movement data reflected the same trends as did the range data. Occasional inter-booming ground movements were recorded for both males and females. Extensive movements (2.7-6.7 miles) of juveniles during October and November may represent population dispersal and may serve as a population regulatory mechanism. Attempts to correlate vegetation density with seasonal changes in habitat usage were futile. The shallow range site was used more by prairie chickens than were the limestone breaks and claypan vegetation complexes on the study area. Use of booming grounds was greater in spring and use of grain sorghum fields extensive in winter. Intensive use was made of booming ground areas in the morning, limestone breaks range site in midday, and wheat and oats fields in evening. At one time the greater prairie chicken was the leading upland game bird of the grasslands of central North America. Today it provides hunting in only a few areas. Even though this bird provides limited hunting opportunities and its range has been considerably reduced in recent years, the greater prairie chicken has continued to 1 Contribution No. 1056 Division of Biology, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Kansas State University, Manhattan, 66502. 2Present address: Extension Service, Colorado State University, Glenwood Springs, 81601. 3 Present address: 11519 W. 61st Place, Arvada, Colorado 80002. 4Present address: Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, 62901. 5 Present address: Arizona Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Arizona, Tucson, 85721. 6 Present address: Minnesota Department of Conservation, Warroad, 56763. 286 receive the attention of several biologists. The literature contains more reports of studies conducted on remnant rather than large greater prairie chicken populations; Hamerstrom (1939), Schwartz (1945), Hamerstrom and Hamerstrom (1949 and 1955), Hamerstrom et al., (1957), Ammann (1957), Yeatter (1943), and Berger et al. (1963) to mention but a few. To obtain basic data from a large, stable population of greater prairie chickens, an extensive research program was initiated in northeastern Kansas in 1964. The determination of home range sizes and mobility patterns were two primary objectives of the original research. This paper presents data on greater prairie chicken home range and mobility gathered between 1964 and 1968. A habitable range for greater prairie This content downloaded from 157.55.39.92 on Wed, 22 Jun 2016 07:02:07 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms PRAIRIE CHICKEN HABITAT AND MOVEMENTS * Robel et al. 287 chickens is almost invariably defined as an extensive grassland area. Areas of extensive grasslands in the prairie regions of central North America have decreased in recent years and thus, suitable habitat for greater prairie chickens has experienced considerable attrition (Aldrich 1963:537). Much has been written about the reduction of range originally occupied by greater prairie chickens (Bennitt and Nagel 1937: 48, Schwartz 1945:90, Mohler 1952:9, Christisen 1967:182). The reduction of habitat has caused increased interest in habitat studies of greater prairie chickens (Jones 1963). To better understand habitat requirements of greater prairie chickens in a central portion of their range, bird location data from radio-tagged birds in northeastern Kansas were analyzed for habitat usage. The authors are indebted to John and the late Grover Simpson, owners of the property on which this study was conducted, for unlimited cooperation during the course of the study. This study was supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and the Penrose Fund of the American Philosophical Society.

Estimating Bobcat Abundance Using Automatically Triggered Cameras

Abstract Ineffective survey methods of carnivores limit the ability of managers and researchers to make sound research conclusions and management recommendations. Because bobcats (Lynx rufus) are individually identifiable due to their unique coat patterns, it may be possible to obtain density estimates using capture–recapture models. We photo-trapped bobcats on the 3,156-ha Welder Wildlife Foundation Refuge in southern Texas from September 2000 through August 2001 to determine whether automatically triggered cameras could produce reliable estimates of bobcat density. Using the Schumacher-Eschmeyer estimator, we obtained an abundance estimate of 15 individuals (95% CI = 13.6–16.7) from 56 bobcat photographs. Our estimate was comparable to bobcat densities previously reported on our study area. This technique has the potential to provide wildlife managers and researchers with reliable data on bobcat abundance not previously available without the expense of physical capture and radiotelemetry. Our relatively high photographic success might be attributable to the dense chaparral-type vegetation and the large network of travel pathways available on our study area. These methods may not be as successful in open areas or where bobcat travel is not predictable. We encourage replication of this technique elsewhere in bobcat range where density, vegetation, and travel pathways differ.

Survival, mortality, and life expectancy of florida key deer

Increases in motor vehicle traffic, habitat loss, and human-deer interactions due to urban development threaten the recovery and management of Florida Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium). To evaluate these threats, we estimated current survival rates and compared them to historic estimates, evaluated the causes of mortality from 1966 to 2000, and determined life expectancy of deer from marked animals. We radiomarked Florida Key deer as part of 2 separate field studies (1968-1972, 1998-2000), in addition to collecting mortality data and survey estimates (1966-2000). We analyzed survival data from 314 (157 male, 157 female) radiomarked deer using a known-fate model framework in program MARK. We considered a suite of a priori models based on the biology and current knowledge of Florida Key deer, and ranked them using Akaikes Information Criterion (

Cultural Conflict and the Endangered Florida Key Deer

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Differential Influence of Weather on Regional Quail Abundance in Texas

) model selection. Important factors explaining deer survival were sex and geographical location. Model-averaged annual male survival (0.412-0.842) was lower than female survival (0.695-0.888). Marked female deer (n = 35) lived an average of 6.5 years (maximum 19 years), while marked male deer (n = 43) lived an average of 2.9 years (maximum 12 years). Deer survival also increased as deer moved away from U.S. Highway 1 (US 1). Deer-motor vehicle collisions accounted for >50% of total deer mortality, half of which occurred on US 1. Annual deer mortality since 1972 has increased and is attributed to an increase in the deer population size (1972-2000, 240%). We recommend finding methods to reduce deer-motor vehicle collisions because of human safety concerns. As efforts to reduce deer-motor vehicle collisions continue, biologists need to address high deer densities in management of this locally abundant but endangered deer population.

HABITAT‐USE PATTERNS OF FLORIDA KEY DEER: IMPLICATIONS OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Conflict regarding the conservation and preservation of natural resources is among the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Given that management of natural resources increasingly depends on securing cooperation of culturally diverse groups of people, it is important to understand how to secure that cooperation. Endangered species management on private lands both typifies and magnifies the environmental conflicts encountered by natural resource policy makers and managers. Using an ethnographic approach, we analyzed the conflict surrounding management of the endangered Florida Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium) to explore how conflict and moral culture apply to natural resource policy formation and implementation. We found disputants on Big Pine Key divided into 2 moral cultures-1 grounded in stewardship and the other in private property rights. These moral cultures augmented the conflict by perpetuating divergent ethical perspectives and aspirations. The conflict then escalated through de-individualization, dehumanization, and demonization of those informed by the opposing moral culture. Finally, as typically occurs with serious conflicts, incompatible frames of reference created by the cultural divide not only prevented rapid de-escalation but promoted conflict-reinforcing mechanisms such as selective perception and judgment, moral exclusion, and rationalization, which led to communication breakdown and autistic hostility. Temporary solutions to superficial problems that were maladapted to conflicts involving moral culture did not ameliorate conditions and often exacerbated them. In emotionally charged decision-making venues, wildlife managers should take a proactive approach designed to encourage collaborative development of common ground among disputants. When conflicts reach a highly escalated state, as many inevitably will, their resolution will require meeting appropriate pre-negotiation conditions, then applying strategies that respond to both the level of escalation and the moral cultures involved in the particular conflict.

Spatial organization and diet of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) in north-central Thailand

Although weather variables are known to influence quail abundance in some habitats, most studies have addressed only limited geographic areas and indices to weather conditions. The few replicated studies addressed relatively similar climate zones. We used 21 years (1978-98) of quail abundance data collected by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologists to address the relationship between both simple precipitation and Palmer drought indices and Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and Scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) abundance in 6 ecological regions of Texas. Three 12-month Palmer indices were more highly correlated with changes in Northern Bobwhite abundance in the South Texas Plains ecological region than was raw precipitation alone. The 12-month Modified Palmer Drought Severity Index (PMDI) was correlated (r s ≥ 0.78, P ≤ 0.001) with the mean number of Northern Bobwhites visually observed per survey route in the Rolling and South Texas Plains ecological regions, while a 12-month, raw precipitation index was correlated (r s = 0.64, P = 0.002) with Northern Bobwhite abundance in only the South Texas Plains. The PMDI and raw precipitation were correlated (r s ≥ 0.67, P ≥ 0.001 and r s ≤ 0.57, P ≤ 0.007, respectively) with the mean number Scaled Quail observed per survey route in the Edwards Plateau, South Texas Plains, and Trans-Pecos Mountains and Basins ecological regions. There was no relationship (P ≥ 0.437) between changes in quail abundance and the PMDI or raw precipitation in the Gulf Prairies and Marshes physiographic region, where precipitation was relatively high. The monthly PMDI was a better indicator of changes in both northern bobwhite and Scaled Quail abundance among years than was monthly precipitation alone. Both monthly and 12-month precipitation-based weather indices were more correlated with changes in Northern Bobwhite and scaled quail abundance among years in relatively dry as opposed to wet ecological regions. Our approach should help wildlife biologists and managers better account for annual variability in quail productivity in semi-arid environments so that long-term populations trends can be better elucidated.

Ranging, habitat use and activity patterns of binturong Arctictis binturong and yellow-throated marten Martes flavigula in north- central Thailand

Abstract Urban development in the Florida Keys, USA, mandates an understanding of how habitat requirements for Florida Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium) interact with vegetation changes caused by development. Our study objectives were to (1) determine Key deer habitat use at different spatial scales, (2) evaluate vegetation changes and identify vegetation types most threatened by development, and (3) provide guidelines to direct land acquisition programs in the future. We identified 6 vegetation types: pineland, hammock, developed, freshwater marsh, buttonwood, and mangrove. Key deer (n = 180; 84 F, 96 M) preferred upland vegetation types (>1 m above mean sea level; pineland, hammock, developed) and avoided tidal or lower-elevation areas (<1 m above mean sea level; freshwater marsh, buttonwood, mangrove). Analyses of Geographic Information System (GIS) coverages suggested that historical development impacted near-shore habitats while recent trends pose a greater risk to upland areas (pineland, hammock). Because uplands are preferred by Key deer, conservation measures that include land acquisition and habitat protection of these areas may be needed.