Effectiveness of Surrogators As A Propagation Tool for Northern Bobwhites In South-Central Texas
dc.contributor.advisor | Baccus, John T. | |
dc.contributor.author | Kinsey, John C. | |
dc.contributor.committeeMember | Simpson, Thomas R. | |
dc.contributor.committeeMember | Small, Michael F. | |
dc.contributor.committeeMember | Perez, Robert M. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2011-09-28T10:09:18Z | |
dc.date.available | 2012-02-24T10:09:18Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2011-08 | |
dc.description.abstract | Attempts to restore populations of northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) using game-farm quail have been documented since the early 1900s. Low restoration success rates are likely to the result of low post-release survival rates (8-15 days) and long distance dispersal from release sites averaging 2.33 km. Claims have been made that Surrogators®, a quail propagation tool, has increased success rates in both these areas. Following steps outlined in the Wildlife Management Technologies 2009 Surrogator System Guide, I tested the effectiveness of surrogators on bobwhite survival, dispersal, and habitat selection. I accomplished this by raising 1,000 bobwhites in two surrogators and conducting two trials per year in 2009 and 2010 on a 990-ha ranch in Wilson County, TX. Twenty bobwhites from each surrogator were fitted with transmitters 12 h before release. I attempted to locate each bobwhite daily for 3 weeks, followed by a reduced effort of three times per week until mortality reached 100%. Transmitter attachment techniques used during 2009 failed; thus no data were recorded on mortality and dispersal. Bart and Robson’s Maximum Likelihood Estimators of daily survival rates calculated for bobwhites released from surrogators A and B during the first trial 2010 were low (0.87 and 0.96, respectively). Daily survival rates of bobwhites calculated for surrogators A and B in the second trial of 2010 were also low (0.83 and 0.87, respectively). Mean distances traveled by bobwhites post-release during the first trial of 2010 were 401 m and 1,416 m for surrogators A and B, respectively. Dispersal statistics were not calculated for the second trial of 2010 because of small sample size (n < 2). There was no difference in habitat use. My results do not support the use of surrogators as an effective means of restoring wild populations of northern bobwhites in southern Texas. | |
dc.description.department | Biology | |
dc.format | Text | |
dc.format.extent | 43 pages | |
dc.format.medium | 1 file (.pdf) | |
dc.identifier.citation | Kinsey, J. C. (2011). Effectiveness of surrogators as a propagation tool for Northern Bobwhites In South-Central Texas (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, Texas. | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10877/3142 | |
dc.language.iso | en | |
dc.subject | quail | |
dc.subject | surrogator | |
dc.subject | dispersal | |
dc.subject | survival | |
dc.subject | pen-reared quail | |
dc.subject | propagation | |
dc.subject | habitat | |
dc.subject | Bobwhite | en_US |
dc.title | Effectiveness of Surrogators As A Propagation Tool for Northern Bobwhites In South-Central Texas | |
dc.type | Thesis | |
thesis.degree.department | Biology | |
thesis.degree.discipline | Biology | |
thesis.degree.grantor | Texas State University-San Marcos | |
thesis.degree.level | Masters | |
thesis.degree.name | Master of Science |
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