Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2022, Environment and Natural Resources

Geospatial techniques can used to extract fine-scale spatial data and examine temporal or spatial patterns to inform wildlife conservation planning and management. The overall goal of this thesis was to apply geospatial data and analyses to investigate two systems: conservation of Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and harvest management of White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Ohio. Conclusions based on these broad-scale spatial analyses can be used by managers to devise plans which will be actionable and effective for achieving regional population goals. Northern bobwhite populations have been declining in Ohio for decades as a result of habitat loss and degradation caused by successional processes and changes in land use. Landscapes with high juxtaposition and interspersion of early successional, agricultural and forested vegetation are important to fulfill bobwhite resource requirements throughout all life stages. I applied land cover composition data to empirically derived distance to cover-type functions with the goal to predict probability of bobwhite occupancy throughout their current range in Ohio. I then compared final model accuracy to a correlational model of naive landscape indices that similarly predicted occupancy from landscape metrics. Eighty five percent of the study area had a probability of occupancy < 0.25 during both breeding and nonbreeding seasons. This is indicative of inadequate habitat at a regional level, which has been suggested as the most appropriate level of management for this species. I assessed predictive accuracy of both models by predicting occupancy at points where Ohio Division of Wildlife (ODW) whistle count surveys were conducted and comparing predictions to presence or absence of bobwhites. Though both models were accurate to the commonly accepted threshold of 0.7, the distance to cover type model had higher area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) and kappa stati (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Robert Gates (Advisor); Stephen Matthews (Committee Member); Jeremy Bruskotter (Committee Member); Gabriel Karns (Committee Member) Subjects: Conservation; Environmental Management; Environmental Science

Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, 2022, Biological Sciences

The prolonged overabundance of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) throughout the deciduous forests of eastern North America has resulted in widespread changes in the understory community. Studies have demonstrated that the exclusion of deer can allow some aspects of the understory to recover, but there are strong time-lags for deer-preferred species. Additionally, these exclosures only test the presence/absence of deer, which is not a feasible management option or desirable as deer are a part of the community. Here I evaluate how large-scale deer density manipulations within the Kinzua Quality Deer Cooperative of Pennsylvania affected understory vegetation communities. Using data from six periodic intensive vegetation surveys I assessed multiple measures of understory response, from both woody and non-woody components of the understory, including potential time-lags in recovery. Most measures I used showed some recovery while deer densities were reduced, and negative responses to increasing deer density. Often recovery responses showed varied degrees of time-lag. Overall, these findings suggest that large-scale manipulations in deer density are a viable management plan to promote community recovery following long-term deer overabundance. However, the recovery process can quickly be reversed if deer density rises, so consistent management policies are required to see long-term change.

Committee: Volker Bahn Ph.D. (Advisor); Yvonne M. Vadeboncoeur Ph.D. (Committee Member); Alejandro Royo Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Biology; Botany; Ecology; Forestry

Master of Science in Botany, Miami University, 2022, Biology

Direct effects of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and the invasive shrub Lonicera maackii on woody vegetation are well documented, but studies exploring their long-term interactive effects are limited. I investigated effects after 11 years of deer exclusion or access and L. maackii removal or presence on woody vegetation responses in the Miami University Natural Areas in Oxford, Ohio. Deer exclusion resulted in greater tree seedling richness, density, and basal area, native and non-native shrub richness, native vine density and basal area, change in understory tree richness since 2015, and cover at 0.3 m above ground. Deer exclusion also resulted in greater basal area growth of L. maackii shrubs. Lonicera maackii, in contrast, had no direct effects. Deer and L. maackii interactions impacted native tree seedling richness and density, and total vine density. All significant interactions revealed synergy between deer exclusion and L. maackii removal, most likely due to deer reducing L. maackii cover (via herbivory) and therefore mitigating its negative competitive effects on seedlings and vines Therefore, in areas with high deer densities and dense L. maackii stands, I recommend a reduction of both stressors to prevent tree regeneration failure.

Committee: David Gorchov (Advisor); Jonathan Bauer (Committee Member); Thomas Crist (Committee Member) Subjects: Biology; Botany; Ecology

Master of Science, Miami University, 2018, Biological Sciences

I measured the relative importance of honeysuckle invasion, forest edge, and surrounding land uses on the population densities of white-tailed deer in southwest Ohio. I tested the following hypotheses: (1) deer populations are facilitated in forests invaded by honeysuckle, (2) forest stands that are surrounded by agriculture support higher deer densities in summer due to the availability of supplemental food outside of forest patches; and (3) forest stands with the greatest amount of edge habitat support higher deer densities due to deer use of both forest and open habitats. Using line transects established in eight early to mid-successional forest stands, I estimated deer population densities in early spring (March - April) and summer (June - July) and compared them to levels of honeysuckle invasion along transects. Distance sampling methods were used to estimate deer densities from pellet counts, and stand-level estimates of deer densities were related to honeysuckle cover along transects, as well as the amounts of forest edge habitat and different land cover types in the landscapes surrounding each forest stand using linear models. I found honeysuckle cover, mixed forest cover, and deciduous forest cover were strong predictor variables of deer densities in Southwest Ohio.

Committee: Thomas Crist Dr. (Advisor) Subjects: Biology; Ecology

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2015, Environment and Natural Resources

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and coyotes (Canis latrans) are challenging wildlife species to manage in urban areas. Deer often reach densities which exceed cultural and ecological carrying capacities. Varied public opinions of both species present additional challenges. Cleveland Metroparks implements a population model to guide management efforts to reduce deer densities. However, two elements of the model lacking reliable estimates are fawn survival and migration across park boundaries. Also, the influence of coyotes on deer dynamics is unknown for urban systems. To develop better estimates of survival and habitat use and to understand the coyote-deer relationship, we conducted a multi-year study to quantify coyote and doe movement and fawn survival. Six coyotes were collared with GPS transmitters. Twenty-nine adult deer were captured; seven pregnant does received a radio collar and vaginal implant transmitter. Fifty-seven neonatal fawns were captured and fitted with expandable radio collars. We recorded 22 fawn mortalities. Vehicle strikes and culling were the most common causes of mortality. Average six month survival was 78%. Factors with the potential to influence fawn survival were modeled using known-fate models in Program Mark in a two-step process, first incorporating intrinsic covariates and then adding spatial and habitat covariates to the best-supported model from the first step. The best supported models varied with the time period of the analysis, but all included age class. Additional covariates included in one or more top models included habitat composition, home range size, and road density. Habitat use and selection were examined on a seasonal basis. For does, location data was divided into pre-parturition and post-parturition. Fawn locations were examined at three age classes: birth to two weeks, two to eight weeks, and older than eight weeks. Coyote locations were classified into three periods of differing levels (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Stanley Gehrt (Advisor); Jeremy Bruskotter (Committee Member); Stephen Matthews (Committee Member); Terry Robison (Committee Member) Subjects: Animals; Biology; Ecology; Natural Resource Management; Wildlife Conservation; Wildlife Management

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2014, Environmental Sciences

Wildlife habitat in southwest Ohio has been significant altered by agricultural and suburban development. A reduction or loss of natural predators and habitat changes has led to greater abundance of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) , which can pose major environmental impacts and human-wildlife conflicts. In order to manage a deer population to an acceptable carrying capacity, it is important to have accurate measurements of deer density. This study used pellet-group distance sampling using transects (varying in length from 500 to 800 meters) at five different sites in order to estimate the deer density in the Miami University Natural Areas. Data were collected during two different seasons which resulted in estimated white-tailed deer population densities of 11.2 deer km^(-2) in summer and 18.1 deer km^(-2) in winter. Previous studies have shown that population sizes usually decreases during the winter due to increased mortality from weather, food related, and human related causes. One explanation for the increased population density in this study is the migration into the forests of the Natural Areas from surrounding agricultural or suburban. Both estimates were higher than the recommended carrying capacities for other areas of the eastern deciduous forest, which are 5.8-7.7 deer per km^(-2). Further monitoring of deer population size in the Natural Areas continued will enable the establishment of a baseline densities that can be used to compare the effectiveness of a deer management plan should one be established in the future.

Committee: Thomas Crist PhD (Advisor); Melany Fisk PhD (Committee Member); John Maingi PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Ecology; Environmental Science

Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, 2009, Biological Sciences

High densities of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have been implicated in changing forest community structure and composition. Top predators, including gray wolf (Canis lupus), were extirpated from much of their range by the mid 1900s, but have since returned to Northern Wisconsin. To determine whether the re-colonization of wolves could initiate a trophic cascade resulting in the recovery of understory plants from deer browsing, I surveyed four herbaceous species in areas without wolves and areas with 4-6 year old wolf packs and 12-13 year old wolf packs. Plant size and reproduction were greater in areas where wolves had been for 12-13 years compared to areas where wolves were absent. Plant size structure shifted toward larger plants in response to wolves. Lack of a significant response in the 4-6 year vegetation indicates a lag time in the trophic cascade.

Committee: Thomas Rooney PhD (Advisor); James Runkle PhD (Committee Member); Yvonne Vadeboncoeur PhD (Committee Member); David Goldstein PhD (Other); Joseph F. Thomas, Jr. PhD (Other) Subjects: Biology; Ecology