Effects of short duration grazing on wild turkey home ranges
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Authors: P. A. Schulz, and F. S. Guthery
Date: 1987
Journal: Wildlife Society Bulletin
Volume: 15
Number: 2
Pages: 239-241
Summary of Methods: Schulz and Guthery looked at the differences between short duration and continuous cattle grazing on the home range of wild turkeys in southern Texas. Fifteen birds (9 in the SDG and 6 in the CG) were radio collared and monitored three times a week for a year. Although use by turkeys seemed to be much heavier on recently grazed paddocks, radio locations among paddocks were quite similar. Authors state that 80% of the time, turkeys would move out of paddock within 1-2 days of cattle entry, but would be back in that same paddock within four days. Due to the fact that this area receives 60 cm of precipitation and its growing season exceeds 300 days, turkeys home range was not affected by the intense short duration grazing. The authors urged others to duplicate studies in other precipitation and vegetation types to assess the impact of short duration grazing in other environments.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Peer Reviewed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: grazing regime, habitat, meleagris gallopavo intermedia, movement
Annotation: Short duration paddocks were grazed at 8.5 AUM/ha in 1983, but were reduced to 4.5 AUM/ha in 1984 because of drought. The continuous grazing pasture was stocked at 7.3 AUM/ha throughout the study.
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