Ernie P. Wiggers

Aquatic Invertebrate Biomass in Coastal South Carolina Impoundments Managed for Waterfowl

SEAFWA Journal Volume 10, March 2023

Production of submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) is promoted for waterfowl forage through hydrological management in brackish tidal impoundments along the south Atlantic coast, USA. This management also promotes production of aquatic invertebrates as food resources for many bird species. We conducted a field experiment to compare effects of traditional complete drawdown to fissure substrates versus a novel partial drawdown (i.e., mudflat to 10 cm depth) on aquatic invertebrate biomass in impounded and non-impounded tidal wetlands in the Ashepoo, Combahee, and Ed- isto Rivers (ACE) Basin,...

Box-nesting Wood Ducks and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks in Coastal South Carolina

SEAFWA Journal Volume 9, March 2022

Installation and maintenance of artificial nesting structures are established practices for increasing production of secondary cavity nesting waterfowl, especially wood ducks (Aix sponsa). In South Carolina, tens of thousands of nest boxes have been erected on public and private lands. Ad- ditionally, since the early 2000s, black-bellied whistling ducks (Dendrocygna autumnalis) have expanded their range into South Carolina and now are nesting sympatric with wood ducks in boxes. We conducted a survey of 364 and 354 nest boxes in 2016 and 2017,...

Time-activity Budgets of Yellowlegs in Managed Tidal Impoundments and Adjacent Tidal Marshes

SEAFWA Journal Volume 3, March 2016

Managed tidal impoundments are man-made wetlands constructed from natural tidal marshes and swamps with embankments and water control structures that manage water levels using tidal cycles. In South Carolina, 28,000 ha of managed tidal impoundments potentially provide important habitat for migrating and resident wildlife. The importance of traditionally-managed tidal impoundments relative to natural tidal marsh to migratory birds is poorly understood. Examining how birds allocate their time on managed tidal impoundments and natural tidal marshes can provide insight into whether birds are...

Annual Habitat Selection by Mottled Ducks in Coastal South Carolina

SEAFWA Journal Volume 2, March 2015

Mottled ducks (Anas fulvigula) are endemic to Gulf Coastal United States, Florida, and Mexico. Birds from Florida, Louisiana, and Texas were released in coastal South Carolina from 1975 - 1983, and subsequent banding data suggest a dispersing and increasing population in the state. Because autecology of mottled ducks is little known in South Carolina, we radio-marked 116 females in August 2010 - 2011 in the Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto Rivers Basin to assess habitat use throughout the annual cycle. We monitored habitat use by aircraft during fall-winter and via ground reconnaissance...

The Nemours Wildlife Foundation: A New Partner in Wildlife Conservation

Future successes in wildlife conservation will hinge on our ability to forge partnerships, and the best opportunities for new partnerships will come from private, nonprofit foundations. The number of new foundations is growing at a remarkable rate, and the funding they provide to projects dealing with the environment and wildlife exceeds $1.7 billon annually. Additionally, these foundations are rich in scientific and educational expertise, land for study areas, laboratories, and other resources essential for scientific investigations and educational programs. Private foundations have...

Comparison of the HSI and WHAG Habitat Evaluation Procedures for Tree Squirrels

HSI and WHAG habitat evaluation procedures were used to determine habitat suitability indices for gray (Sciurus carolinensis) and fox (S. niger) squirrels on 6 areas in central Missouri. Results from both evaluation procedures indicated similar habitat conditions on all areas. However, Lincoln-Petersen mark-recapture estimates indicated densities of both species varied across areas. No correlations were found between suitability indices and squirrel densities for either procedure or species. WHAG indices were greater than HSI indices for the same areas with the exception of one area which...

Old Home Sites; Important Sources Of Winter Forage For Deer

During the summer of 1976 and winter of 1976-77, understory production was measured in 3 old home sites and in 12 other timber strata in the Upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina. These strata differed in stand composition, condition and age. Summer production in old home sites ranged from 496-922 kg per ha,. and winter production from 128-433 kg per ha. Relatively open canopies probably contributed to high yields. Winter yields from known deer food species were substantially greater in old home sites, range 40.1-303.4 kg per ha (X=207). Japanese honeysuckle (Lonceriajaponica) was abundant...

Predlcabillty Of Deer Forages Using Overstory Measurements

Seasonal prediction models for understory production from simple overstory measurements were developed using regression analysis. During the summer of 1976 and winter of 1976-1977, production of understory vegetation was recorded by species or species groups in timber stands on the Savannah River Plant using a 100% clip method. Overstory density and basal area were also recorded. Sampled timber stands ranged from pine regeneration sites with measurable overstory (stems > 3 cm dbh) to immature sawtimber of pine and upland hardwoods. Quadratic equations using basal area of all stems...