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Vegetation Response and Use of Wooded Edges by Northern Bobwhites After Edge-Feathering Treatment in Southwestern Ohio

Brooks, Coree Adam
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1430916085

Abstract Details

2015, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Environment and Natural Resources.
Clean farming practices and forest succession have contributed to population decline of northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) across northern portions of their range. Intensively farmed landscapes lack early successional vegetation that provides protective cover near food sources. Earlier research indicated that population growth of northern bobwhites in southwestern Ohio is limited by lack of preferred early successional woody cover during the non-breeding season. I studied vegetation response to removal of large trees from wooded edges (here after edge-feathering) on private owned farmlands in Highland County Ohio. Ninety-nine areas ranging in length from 15 m to 91 m were treated during spring in 2012 and 2013. Vegetation structure and composition of feathered edges was measured before treatment and after 2 growing seasons and in late winter during 2012 – 2014. I used repeated measures analysis of variance to test for differences in vegetation structure and composition among study sites, edge aspects, feathered edge size classes, edge types, and basal area reduction. Basal area reduction differed between years, with a light reduction (29%) in 2012 and a heavy reduction (81%) in 2013. Horizontal, vertical, and ground cover differed among sample periods with the second fall having more vertical and horizontal cover than the first fall, and the first fall having more cover than the first winter. Basal area reduction, size, and sample periods were important predictors of cover measurements. Basal area reduction within woodlot edges or along linear features like fencerows was the most important variable that affected vegetation response to edge-feathering. Basal area reductions between 37 – 50% resulted in positive changes in protective cover for bobwhites after 1 growing season. Large edge treatments with heavy reduction in basal area resulted in net gains in protective cover between seasons, and provided the highest overall change in cover. I used radio-telemetry to determine bobwhite use of feathered edges, measured vegetation composition and structure at used points, and estimated home-ranges using the Fixed k LoCoH method. Locations from 24 unique coveys across 4 sites during the 2013 – 14 non-breeding season were used to compare vegetation structure and composition between feathered edges and covey use sites. Seven coveys were used to estimate home-ranges and to analyze use of feathered edges in relation to their placement within study sites. Mean home-range size was 4.6 ha and 5 total feathered edges fell within 95% local convex hull isopleths. Original placements of feathered edges were informed by previous research. Woodlots, mature fencerows, ditches, and other uncultivated areas were considered for treatment if they had previously experienced little to no use by bobwhite coveys. Edge-feathering successfully converted edges that were not previously used by bobwhites, into habitat that was used by radio-marked coveys during the non-breeding season. Future management of woodlots by edge-feathering should be considered by managers, because they produce habitat similar to what bobwhites use. Other cover types such as early successional herbaceous (nesting/brood rearing), and row crop (food) need to be considered and close to feathered edges to maximize use and benefit bobwhites.
Robert Gates, Dr. (Advisor)
Jeremy Bruskotter, Dr. (Committee Member)
Thomas McConnell, Dr. (Committee Member)
125 p.
Animals; Biology; Conservation; Ecology; Environmental Management; Environmental Science; Forestry; Natural Resource Management; Wildlife Conservation; Wildlife Management
Colinus virginianus, Northern Bobwhite, edge-feathering, feathered edge, successional, woodlot, cover, Fixed k LoCoH, home-range, Ohio, southwest, vegetation, non-breeding

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Brooks, C. A. (2015). Vegetation Response and Use of Wooded Edges by Northern Bobwhites After Edge-Feathering Treatment in Southwestern Ohio [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1430916085

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Brooks, Coree. Vegetation Response and Use of Wooded Edges by Northern Bobwhites After Edge-Feathering Treatment in Southwestern Ohio. 2015. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1430916085.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Brooks, Coree. "Vegetation Response and Use of Wooded Edges by Northern Bobwhites After Edge-Feathering Treatment in Southwestern Ohio." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1430916085

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1430916085
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.