Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Spatial relationships of radio-monitored gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) were examined over a 5-year period. Marginal overlap (<10%) of convex polygon home ranges of same sex adult foxes with adjacent home range boundaries provided evidence for territoriality. Extensive overlap was observed between juveniles and adults of opposite sex. Mean home range overlap of suspected mated pairs was 61% ± 13%, providing evidence of pair bonding between the sexes. Territory size (home range) may provide a useful measure of population density. Assuming 2 adult foxes inhabit the same range, adult gray fox population density in areas of suitable habitat in the lower Gulf Coastal Plain can be expected to range from 1 adult fox per 183-308 ha.

We determined the density and characteristics of natural cavities suitable for wood duck (Aix sponsa) nest sites in an old-growth longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forest in Thomas County, Georgia, in 1991 and 1992. Of 17 suitable cavities found on the 72-ha study area, 6 had been recently occupied by nesting wood ducks. Although this density (0.24 per ha) was low compared to northern hardwood forests, it was similar to the densities reported in Mississippi bottomland hardwoods and greater than the density reported for bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) and tupelo gum (Nyssa aquatica) stands in the southeastern United States. The extensive distribution of this forest type before logging in the early part of this century suggests that longleaf pine forests could have once been an important source of wood duck nest sites.

Recruitment in prairie duck populations is correlated with annual wetland conditions, but a similar relationship has not been demonstrated for wood ducks (Aix sponsa). Therefore, we studied the influence of variable water levels on wood duck recruitment at Sloughs Wildlife Management Area in western Kentucky during 1988 and 1989. In 1989, when water levels were higher (P < 0.0001), nest initiation was earlier, the nesting season lasted approximately 3 weeks longer, and mean brood sizes were greater (P < 0.05). Results suggest high water levels should be maintained during years of drought.

To better understand habitat features on rivers that are important to wood ducks (Aix sponsa), I measured brood density for sections of 12 rivers (329 km) in Tennessee nightlighting during spring 1990 and 1991. Sixteen habitat variables were evaluated for each river and the relationship to brood density was tested. Brood density ranged from 0 to 1.8/km (x = 0.7 on unchannelized rivers). No broods were found on 61 km of channelized rivers. Brood density was positively correlated to aquatic vegetation, mud flats, logs and limbs in the water, large overhanging trees, rapids, and islands and was negatively correlated to exposed mud banks and small trees. River channelization and certain agricultural practices degraded riparian habitat and had a negative effect on brood density. Where habitat for wood duck broods is to be maintained or improved, streams should be protected from channelization and from land management practices which remove tree cover and destabilize riverbanks.

Primary foods of American black ducks (Anas rubripes) and mallards (A. platyrhynchos) wintering at Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge were compared by examining esophageal and proventricular contents of ducks collected during winter, 1990-91 and 1991-92. Seeds of natural plants comprised the primary component of the diet of both species. Nodding smartweed {Polygonum lapathifolium), wild millet (Echinochloa crusgalli), lovegrass (Eragrostis hypnoides), and rice cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides) were the most common seeds consumed by both species. Water smartweed (P. hydropiperoides) also was consumed abundantly by black ducks. Black duck samples contained more (P < 0.021) stem and leaf material than mallard samples during both winters and less (P < 0.002) agricultural grain during 1991-92. No differences were detected in food consumption between females and males of either species.

Food habits of wintering ring-necked ducks (Aythya collaris) were determined by examining gullets from 597 birds collected in 3 regions of Florida. Fifty-five of the gullets contained trace amounts of food and 148 contained >1 ml. Forty-one foods were identified. Animal matter, principally snails, chironomids, and dragonflies, occurred in 43.6% of the samples containing food. Plant foods, principally hydrilla {Hydrilla verticillata), waterlilies (Nuphar advena, Nymphaea odorata, Brasenia scherberi), and sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense), occurred in 89.1 % of the samples containing food. Food habits were significantly different among regions and between the sexes in November and March. The major foods were: waterlily seeds in the north region, waterlily seeds and hydrilla parts in the north-central region, and hydrilla and sawgrass in the south region. Overall, hydrilla and waterlilies were the most important foods.

We monitored reproductive effort and success of a wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) population on a public wildlife management area in Mississippi for 9 years using telemetry and other indices. Adult hens (N = 143) had a nesting rate of 72.7% (range 54-100) and was greater (P = 0.0001) than the nesting rate (26.7%) of juvenile hens (N = 15). Annual nest success of 104 nests of adult hens averaged 30.8% (range 0-62) and poult survival to >50 days was 22.7% for 27 broods (N = 203 poults). Clutch size averaged 9.1 (SE = 0.54) and 6.7 (SE = 1.1), and hatchability was 93% and 100%, for first and second clutches, respectively. During this period, turkey population estimates and indices (gobbler harvest, hen ancillary observations) declined 250%-350%. Low reproduction was due primarily to high predation of nests and poults and appeared to have caused the population decline.

From 1986 to 1988, we studied the demography and habitat use of an eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) population subjected to humaninduced flooding along the Roanoke River, North Carolina. A six-month flood from 22 December 1986 to 22 June 1987 resulted in significant shifts in habitat use. Female home ranges during flooding were significantly larger than those recorded during non-flood periods. During non-flood periods, females used bottomland hardwoods more than other available habitats. Habitat use during flooding reflected availability instead of overall resource preference with females moving from bottomland hardwood to upland hardwood hillside to alluvial first ridge habitats as availability changed. Flooding inundated 79% of all nesting habitats used in nonflood periods. No reproduction occurred among radio-transmittered hens during 1987. Hen:poult ratios were 0.5, 6.6, and 0.2 in 1986, 1987, and 1988, respectively.

A total of 1,576 wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) droppings (650 male and 926 female) was collected from 1 January-31 December 1989 on Westvaco's Oswald Unit located in Jasper County, South Carolina. This Unit is made up of loblolly pine plantations (77%), natural pine stands (10%), hardwood stands (5%), and open, nonforested areas (8%). Fecal analysis was used to determine food habitats. Forty-six food stuffs were identified, and there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in food items by sex. Panicum sp., Ilex glabra, Myrica cerifera, Paspalum sp., Rubus sp., Vaccinium sp., Cyperus sp., and insects made up the bulk of food items throughout the year. The annual diet consisted of 92% plant matter and 8% animal matter.

Wildlife managers on public hunting areas are accountable for hunter success rates, annual harvest, and wildlife population size. Understanding the effect of changes in numbers of wild turkey gobblers (Meleagris gallopavo) on harvest characteristics is needed. Population size and harvest characteristics were studied for 9 years on a 14,140-ha public hunting area in central Mississippi. Male wild turkey population size averaged 82, hunter effort averaged 455 hunter-days per season, and an average of 35 male turkeys was harvested per season. Hunter success rates averaged 7.7%, 2.1%, and 5.6% for all males, subadults (jakes), and adults (gobblers), respectively. For male turkeys released in the winter capture period (7 Jan-4 Mar) and subsequently harvested that spring (15 Mar-1 May), harvest rates averaged 22.1%, 15.0%, and 35.4% for all males, jakes, and gobblers, respectively, from 1984 to 1992. Hunter effort was not correlated with male harvests (P = 0.198).

Eleven of 66 radio-collared white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in southwest Florida were killed by bobcats (Felis rufus) and 4 by Florida panthers {Felis concolor coryi). Average doe home range size was 194 ha, and 2 bucks ranged from 454-1,560 ha. There were no differences (P = 0.336) in doe survival rates among seasons. The average annual survival rate for does was 0.813 (95% CI- 0.68, 0.94) and 64% of the annual mortality was attributable to predation. Average neonate mortality rate was 37.8% ±16.1 and appeared to increase with surface water levels. Human hunting activities had little impact on the number of radio-collared does, and the population was stable with a net reproductive rate (Ro) of 0.96.

Supplemental forage plantings for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have been aimed primarily at the winter stress period with little or no consideration to supplementing the summer diet. Consequently, there is little information concerning the efficacy of summer plantings. A total of 14 summer cultivated forages was evaluated using 4 criteria: 1) productivity, 2) availability during stress periods, 3) utilization and acceptance by deer, and 4) nutritional quality. Warm-season forages performing best were alyceclover, iron and clay cowpea, catjang cowpea, American jointvetch, and centennial soybean. Bottomland sites were more productive than upland sites. Combination plantings, particularly comprised of alyceclover and cowpea in the upland and alyceclover, cowpea, and jointvetch in the bottomland, are recommended over single variety plantings.

We collected whole blood and serum samples from 50 harvested (unstressed) and 37 live-caught (handling stress in drop-net) adult white-tailed (Odocoileus virginianus) does to evaluate the influence of capture method on clinical blood parameters commonly used to assess nutritional condition of deer. Our study found mean values for HCT, MCV, WBC, lymphocytes, neutrophils, creatinine, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, globulin, Na, LDH, and GGTP to be significantly higher in live-caught than harvested does. The concentrations of serum inorganic P and K were lower for livecaught than harvested does. Although the majority of clinical blood parameters were influenced by capture method, their patterns of temporal change (seasonal and annual) were not different, thereby indicating that either method would provide similar conclusions regarding changes in nutritional condition over time.

A safe and effective muscle biopsy procedure that can be used to sample genetic variation in live white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is described. The validity of this procedure for estimating genetic variability was confirmed by sampling blood and muscle from 78 road-killed and 57 captured deer at Chickamauga Battlefield National Military Park, Georgia, between June 1991 and June 1992. Six polymorphic loci were detected in muscle tissue and 2 polymorphic loci were found in blood using starch-gel electrophoresis. We compared levels of genetic variation in 3 sampling groups: road-killed deer, "actively" captured deer, and "passively" captured deer. Deer were considered "active" captures if the capture method did not involve baiting at the capture site (i.e., drive-nets, poaching, scientific collections, remote darting).

During the summer and fall of 1991 and 1992, 48 (21 M:27 F) white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns were captured and radiocollared (N = 43) on Remington Farms near Chestertown, Maryland. Survival of radio-collared fawns, from 1 week old until the fall hunting season, was 91%. Collared fawn mortality (N = 9) was due to abandonment, tick infestation, infection, and roadkill. Visual locations (N = 1,229) were collected to determine adult accompaniment rates for radio-collared fawns. The likelihood of a fawn being with or without an adult was independent of sex of the fawn (P > 0.10). Hunting data from 1981-92 indicate that the number of male and female fawns killed (N = 287) was not significantly different overall (P > 0.10). However, buck fawns were more likely than doe fawns to be killed in the first half of the 1-week shotgun season (P < 0.05, N = 265).

Land taken out of cultivation in the Blackland Prairie soils of Alabama and Mississippi frequently reverts to a plant community dominated by Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense), with co-dominants of marsh elder (Iva annua), verbena (Verbena brasiliensis), and Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis). These plant species are of little value as a food source for the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and eliminate many desirable quail food plants. Renovation of a Johnsongrass community was attempted by mowing during the fall and overseeding with hairy vetch (Vicia villosa). Seeds of this species are known to be utilized by quail during both spring and fall months. Data collected from line transects showed a 62% mean coverage of vetch at the end of the first growing season and a 92% mean coverage of vetch after the second growing season, with a corresponding decrease in coverage of Johnsongrass plant community species.

The effect of disking fallowed agricultural fields was studied in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of South Carolina. Six combinations of disking frequency and time-of-year and a control were tested. Although plant communities responded by returning to an earlier serai stage, well-established perennials prevented a complete return to Stage 1 succession. The effect of disking frequency proved more influential than that of time-of-year. Treatments were evaluated for their ability to produce food plants for northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). In the Piedmont, food values were found to have increased 1 year after all treatments, while control plots showed no increase. Annual March treatment extended the increase into the second year. In the Coastal Plain, no significant differences in food values were found between sampling periods regardless of treatment. Vegetation density was controlled by annual disking; density in biennially disked and control plots increased.

We determined the distribution of swamp rabbits (Sylvilagus aquaticus) and bottomland hardwood forests, potential swamp rabbit habitat, in Missouri during the 1991-92 winter. Presence of swamp rabbits was determined from information gathered from resource managers and by searching habitat for fecal pellets. Most potential swamp rabbit habitat in Missouri is located in the southeast, and we documented 45,218 ha of bottomland hardwood forest there by measuring tracts identified on aerial photos. The forest was highly fragmented in southeastern Missouri, especially on private land where 75% (N = 3,228) of the identified tracts contained <5 ha. We surveyed 274 tracts of potential habitat in southeastern Missouri and found 114 with a combined area of 23,529 ha that contained evidence of swamp rabbits.

We monitored radio-tagged northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) from January through July of 1990 and 1991 to determine if preferential habitat use occurred within the covey home range. We generated estimates of percent bare ground, average height of herbaceous vegetation, percent canopy cover of herbaceous vegetation and honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.), proportion of the herbaceous canopy represented by grasses, herbaceous quail foods, and woody vegetation <2 m tall at used and unused sites within 12 covey home ranges. We pooled the data within each home range and used 2 approaches to evaluate the extent to which these 7 variables influenced habitat use. First, we compared means from used and unused sites for each of the 7 parameters with a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Additionally, we regressed means from used sites on estimates from unused sites. The 2 approaches used to evaluate habitat selection yielded different results.

We studied changes in ground-level vegetation (shrubs, herbs, vines, trees) in a deciduous forest before (1984) and after (1987) the initial stages of a gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) invasion. Seventeen of 18 plant species known to be important wildlife food plants increased in percent cover from 1984 to 1987. Total percent ground cover and plant species richness also increased. At the same time, the number of snags and snag basal area increased but not significantly, implying that the gypsy moth can be used as a management tool to enhance understory vegetation without harvesting trees. By 1988, however, tree mortality had significantly increased. A variety of options, therefore, exists for wildlife managers faced with a gypsy moth invasion, including no action, halting the outbreak with pesticides, or silvicultural treatment prior to invasion. Advantages and disadvantages of each depend on management objectives and budgetary and environmental constraints.

Black bear (Ursus americanus) mortality data were collected in eastern North Carolina from 1976 to 1992. These data included registered harvest totals from mandatory hunter-harvest records, field reports, and tooth samples from bears dying of all causes (N = 1,107 for harvest; N = 350 for vehicle-kill). Increasing trends in harvest corresponded to establishment of seasons in 11 counties beginning in 1986. Vehicle-kills increased until 1990 but declined during 1991-92. Combined age structures did not differ significantly from the 1976-1985 period (before new seasons established) to the 1986-91 period (after new seasons established). Harvest age structures differed significantly from age structures of vehicle-kill. Bears <4 years old composed 56.2% of the harvest and 70.0% of vehicle-kills during the entire study period. Subadult males (1- and 2-year old classes) composed the largest portion of both harvest (28.8%) and vehicle-kill (32.3%).

Tail meat samples from 22 American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) collected from 10 collection areas in Georgia during 1990 were analyzed for mercury (Hg) concentrations (wet weight basis). Mercury was detected in all samples and ranged from 0.1 ppm to 1.4 ppm (x = 0.48 ppm). No differences in mercury concentration were found between sexes (P = 0.638) or among all collection areas (P = 0.178). Pooled samples from collection sites on the headwaters of the Suwannee River system had higher mercury concentrations (P < 0.005) than those from all other collection sites combined. There was no correlation (P > 0.20) between alligator total length and mercury concentration in the meat samples. Because the mean mercury concentration in alligator meat in this study was below the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) "action level" for fish flesh and because alligator meat is consumed infrequently, no public health problem was indicated.

We analyzed blood lead concentrations and prevalences of ingested lead and steel shot in 93 ring-necked ducks (Aythya collaris) at Catahoula Lake, Louisiana. Blood lead concentrations were higher for immatures than for adults, but did not differ between sexes or between randomly collected and hunter-shot birds. Blood lead concentrations were elevated (≥ 0.20 ppm) in 18 of 31 immatures (58%) and 13 of 61 adults (21%), and were toxic (≥ 0.50 ppm) in 11 immatures (35%) and 5 adults (8%). Prevalences of ingested lead shot were higher for immatures (7 of 32 birds, 22%) than for adults (3 of 61 birds, 5%), but did not differ between sexes or collection methods. Prevalences of ingested steel shot did not differ between sexes, but were higher for hunter shot (10 of 39 birds, 26%) than for randomly collected birds (2 of 54 birds, 4%), and tended to be higher for immatures (8 of 32 birds, 25%) than for adults (4 of 61 birds, 7%).

Movements, primary use areas, activity periods, and habitat use were evaluated for beaver (Castor canadensis) from 2 adjacent colonies, a stream colony, and a lake colony in the Piedmont of South Carolina. Beaver were monitored from February 1983 through March 1984. Minimum total distance moved by individual beaver ranged from 0.26 to 6.83 km. Distance between extreme locations ranged from 0.08 to 1.86 km. Lake colony beaver movements exceeded those of stream colony beaver. Beaver were more active during fall and winter months. Areas frequented by beaver ranged from 10.95 ha to 14.67 ha. For each colony habitat, types were not used in proportion to availability and habitat use varied between colonies.

In Florida, virtually every wetland and upland habitat type is threatened by the effects of development. Large-scale developments which fall under the Developments of Regional Impact Program are reviewed by multiple agencies, including the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. To provide review personnel with accurate life history information and biologically sound habitat protection recommendations, the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission began publishing habitat protection guidelines for those listed species which had frequently been an issue during large-scale development reviews. Recommendations in the publications reflect development-related actions considered necessary to perpetuate these species outside existing protected lands. Synopses from two of the publications are provided.

The Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission's Nongame Wildlife Program developed a ranking system to identify and prioritize those taxa within the state most in need of research and conservation efforts in order to focus limited staff and financial resources where they are most needed and can be most effective. Wading birds were identified as a priority group of taxa in need of conservation attention. An innovative plan was developed for addressing the conservation needs of that group. Components of the plan include a statewide nesting colonial wading bird survey, colony selection for inclusion in the project, colony site surveys, prioritization of selected colonies, development of site-specific conservation plans, development of general protection and management guidelines, establishment of a volunteer network to conduct management and monitoring activities, and evaluation.

North Carolina's colony-nesting waterbirds probably existed for thousands of years along nearly 500 km of coastal estuaries and barrier islands. Suffering from the effects of over-harvest by plume hunters and extensive loss of habitat due to coastal development, these birds began to receive notice during the 1970s. Studies of coastal community succession began in 1970 and quickly determined that dredged material islands provide essential habitat for colony-nesting waterbirds. In 1976, coastwide censuses were initiated to survey the 20-22 species suspected to nest in the state. Surveys in 1976, 1977, and 1983 brought to light a need for cooperative management for these species. In 1988, a Cooperative Agreement to conserve these species and their habitats was adopted by 11 state, federal, and private agencies. For the past 4 years, the cooperating agencies have successfully continued this coastwide conservation effort.

Aerial overflights were used to assess impacts of the application of habitat management guidelines to 24 experimental and 38 control bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nesting territories. No significant differences in productivity were found between nests where management guidelines had been applied and control nests where no development had occurred. No changes in the minimums called for in the guidelines or their application are indicated at this time.

In 1988 the Georgia Department of Natural Resources contracted the Survey Research Center of the University of Georgia to conduct a telephone survey of public attitudes toward nongame wildlife. Phone numbers of potential respondents were selected using random digit dialing, a method that allowed all telephone households (97% of all Georgia households) an equal chance of being selected. Respondents were asked a series of 17 questions of which 12 pertained to interest in and support of nongame wildlife and 5 related to demographics. A total of 541 individuals were surveyed. Over 81% of the respondents expressed at least some interest in nongame wildlife. These and other data were used to assist administrators charting the direction of Georgia's nongame wildlife conservation efforts.

North Carolina's State Endangered Species Act for Animals was established in 1987. Since that time, approximately 200 species have been listed as endangered, threatened, or species of special concern. The act, however, provides few ways to prevent take of these species or to conserve the listed species' habitats. Therefore, state regulatory agencies have been establishing procedures for conserving wetland and aquatic endangered and threatened species. Approximately half of the listed species are aquatic; therefore, significant aquatic habitat conservation is expected during the next decade.

The results of biological inventories and information about land uses in a North Carolina subbasin are linked to conservation directives. The product identifies the biological and ecological importance of a region which may be severely impacted by human developments if measures are not undertaken to conserve the rich fauna of the region.

A molluscan survey of the Swift Creek basin in North Carolina was conducted during the summer of 1992. One hundred eighteen stations on Swift Creek and its tributaries were intensively explored for molluscan species. Thirty-six molluscan species, including 15 gastropods and 21 bivalve species, were collected.

Survival and longevity were estimated for the endangered Florida grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum floridanus) from resightings of 48 colorbanded adult males during 1989-1992. Annual survival rate was 0.598 and mean life expectancy was 2.95 years (1.95 years for sparrows >1 year old). The high survival rate and longevity of the subspecies may facilitate the recovery of populations remaining in good breeding habitat. Annual recruitment of 5.4 young per pair is needed to maintain a stable population of grasshopper sparrows on the study area. Information on population dynamics may help evaluate recovery efforts. Additional information is needed on the fecundity of the Florida subspecies.

In October 1989, researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station (WES) initiated a project to investigate the historical loss of critical whooping crane (Grus americana) habitat on the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Vegetation on the area was categorized into 11 habitat types and manually delineated on aerial photos of the area from 1930, 1957, 1986, and 1988. Habitat type maps for each year were digitized into a Geographic Information System (GIS) database that included soils, topography, and National Wetland Inventory data. Preliminary GIS analysis of habitat type data indicated a progressive loss of 2 habitat types, tidal flats and tidal ponds, and a gradual increase in the marsh vegetation type. In 1930 and 1957, tidal flats comprised approximately 7% (454 ha) and 8% (500 ha) of the study area, respectively, but that number decreased to approximately 2% (134 ha) of the area in 1988.

The Santa Rosa beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus leucocephalus) occurs on a single barrier island in northwest Florida, but its distribution on the island is poorly known. In 1991-92 we searched for mouse tracks at 1-km intervals along the 78-ktn island and set traps at 23 locations. Beach mice occurred in beach and interior dune habitats across most (96%) of the undeveloped stretches (57 km) of the island. Beach mice were significantly less common in areas developed for residential or commercial use and tracks were found along just 7 of 21 km of developed land. We captured only 3 house mice (Mus musculus), all near buildings. Tracks of house cats (Felis catus) were significantly more common in developed areas. Predation by cats has likely reduced or eliminated beach mouse populations along developed beaches and at the undeveloped east end of the island. Habitat loss and house cats in 3 developed areas have apparently separated the beach mouse population into 4 isolated units.

Observers monitored a reintroduced peregrine falcon population in western North Carolina from 1987 to 1992. Five of 9 occupied territories produced 19 fledgling peregrines during the study. Productivity for the period was 0.59 young fledged per territory-holding pair per year when using the full data set and 0.79 young fledged per territory-holding pair per year when we dropped marginal territories and 1 adult-subadult pair from the data set. Both estimates of productivity were below that thought necessary for a self-sustaining population. Biologists should improve their monitoring of the region's peregrine falcon population to gain age-specific natality and mortality data.

Surveys covering over 1,161,140 ha in Arkansas from 1988-1991 revealed abundant sign of several native and domesticated mammal species, but none from the mountain lion (Felis concolor). Because of our intensive methodology and the equivocal nature of previous documentation, we suggest there are no wild, reproducing populations of mountain lions in Arkansas. Extensive forests in the state, however, may provide suitable habitat for mountain lion reintroduction experiments.

A program was implemented by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (Commission) to collect information on the scope and magnitude of the commercial trade in native species of amphibians and reptiles to improve management of this wildlife resource. During the first 2 years of the reporting program (1 Jul 1990-30 Jun 1992), 1,050 salamanders (12 species), 41,493 anurans (18 species), 8,669 turtles (13 species), 19,346 lizards (13 species), and 49,240 snakes (35 species) were reported collected from the wild and sold in the pet trade. Most of the salamanders (85%), 42% of the anurans, 34% of the turtles, and 13% of the snakes came from the Panhandle. Most of the lizards (80%) and snakes (76%), 50% of the turtles, and 27% of the anurans came from Lake Okeechobee south. The seasonality of harvest of anurans, turtles, lizards, and snakes by the major collectors varied between northern and southern Florida.

In 1989 and 1990 a green salamander (Aneides aeneus) habitat study was conducted in the mountains of Oconee, Pickens, and Greenville counties, South Carolina. Based upon the topographic characteristics of 14 known green salamander sites in South Carolina, a list of criteria was developed to identify areas of potential habitat in the state. Twenty-four 7.5' topographic maps containing areas with possible habitat were subdivided into 0.16-km2 sections and evaluated to determine the number of potential green salamander habitat areas. Of 15,789 sections in the study area, 670 grids (107.20 km2) had a high probability of potential green salamander habitat. Another 33% of the moderate probability sites contained potential habitat, totalling 2,631 grids (420.96 km2) of green salamander habitat in South Carolina.

A previously studied (1981-1987) gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) population in northern Florida was surveyed during May-June 1992 to determine tortoise response to large-scale timber removal (1988). Two of 3 burrow concentrations were in or near ecotones between the clearcut and older pine stands. Eighteen of 23 (78%) recaptured tortoises were found in the same general location after clearcutting as before. One female had moved 1.3 km from her previous capture location. Only 13% of all previously-marked tortoises were recaptured in 1992. Size and sex class distributions were not different before and after clearcutting. Mean clutch size of gopher tortoises following clearcutting was larger, growth rate (carapace length) was faster, and size-related gain in mass was greater than for tortoises prior to clearcutting.

Widespread concern for neotropical migratory birds should be tempered with a review of the status of all landbirds, regardless of migratory status. A relationship exists between the proportion of declining neotropical migrants and temperate migrants, but not residents, among Southeastern physiographic areas. However, within physiographic areas where proportions of declining neotropical migrants are high, proportions of declining temperate migrants and residents are not as high. Nevertheless, concern for temperate migrant and resident species in some physiographic areas is justified in addition to concern for neotropical migrants. Rather than debating about which species are declining, we should identify habitats (with associated species assemblages) in need of conservation. In the Southeast, high priority habitats for avian conservation are likely to be determined principally by neotropical migrants with some temperate migrant and resident species of high concern.

Birds were censused annually from 4 250- x 80-m transects in a young pine plantation from age 2 to 17 to assess changes in the bird community. Bird abundance was low and the bird community was the least diverse when the pine plantation was sparsely vegetated at age 2. As the plantation developed rapidly into the shrub stage, the bird community became more abundant and diverse. Bird abundance increased consistently until plantation age 6, but then declined as the pine canopy closed and shaded out lower deciduous vegetation. Bird species diversity increased gradually during the early years, was highest at plantation age 10 and 11, then decreased. In the latter stages (age 12-17) early successional avian species were virtually gone, a few shrub-associated species persisted, and some species associated with older stands had invaded the plantation.

Conservation of neotropical landbird migrants will be compromised if attention is not focused on habitat requirements during migration. Habitat use during migration has profound consequences for a bird's (1) ability to satisfy energetic requirements, (2) vulnerability to predators, and (3) exposure to environmental stress. Largely correlative evidence indicates that landbird migrants select among available habitats on the basis of factors intrinsic to the habitat, such as food availability, habitat structure, and cover in relation to predation risk. Management decisions would be simplified if species could be grouped for the purpose of assessing en route habitat requirements, but our study of habitat use among neotropical landbird migrants along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico points to species-specific patterns of habitat use.

Because bottomland forests of the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) are valuable as breeding, wintering, and en-route habitat during migration, we investigated the impact of changing land uses in the MAV on avian abundance and diversity at the local and continental scales. Checklist inventories from 5 studies conducted in the MAV during 1985-1992 confirmed that bird species that occur in the MAV represent a substantial proportion of the entire avifauna of eastern North America (ENA). Of 236 landbird species reported for ENA, 200 (85%) occur in the MAV; we recorded 149 landbird species (63%). The frequency distribution of population trends as determined from Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS) varied significantly among species according to migratory status, geographic area, and habitat. Neotropical migrant landbird (NTMB) and temperate species were much more likely to show population declines than increases in the MAV.

Catchability of American shad (Alosa sapidissima) from the Altamaha River, Georgia, was compared with population size of female adult spawners to determine if density-dependent fishing mortality was occurring in that fishery. Mark-recapture techniques and effort and harvest data were utilized to examine this relationship. An inverse power function described the relationship between fishing mortality per unit effort and female population size from 1982 to 1991. The relationship became slightly stronger by holding the flow variable constant. Therefore, shad populations in the Altamaha River are most vulnerable when weak spawning runs are subjected to commercial fishing pressure, and to a lesser extent, when low flows occur.

Cultured shortnose sturgeon juveniles, age 11-330 days, were exposed to different salinity (0-35 ppt) and dissolved oxygen concentrations (2.0-5.0 mg/liter) in a series of experiments designed to examine tolerance levels. Tolerance to increased salinity improved with age. Fish 76 days old experienced 100% mortality in a 96-hour test when exposed to salinities ≥15 ppt while 330-day-old fish tolerated salinities as high as 20 ppt for a duration of 18 hours but exhibited 100% mortality at 30 ppt. Younger fish were also more susceptible to low oxygen concentrations than older fish. In a 6-hour test, fish 64 days old exhibited 86% mortality when exposed to DO concentrations of 2.5 mg/liter. However, sturgeon >100 days old were able to tolerate concentrations of 2.5 mg/liter with <20% mortality.

During 1984-1992, 626 adult shortnose sturgeon (3.5 male:l female) were captured in the Savannah River. Significantly more fish were captured in the lower (rkm 42-75) than the upper (rkm 160-299) river. Radio telemetry data indicated that spawning appeared to occur upriver, between rkm 179 and rkm 278, and that the specific location and time of spawning varied annually. Some individuals spawned in consecutive years, but others apparently did not. Nonspawning fish appeared to remain in the vicinity of the fresh/brackish water interface (ca. rkm 30-40) throughout the spawning season. Most shortnose sturgeon left the freshwater reaches of the river in Spring soon after the spawning season (January-April) and probably did not return until late Autumn/early Winter, just prior to the spawning season.

A total of 4,920 striped bass (Morone saxatilis) were collected from Roanoke River near Weldon, North Carolina, by electrofishing during the spring of 1991 and 1992. Study objectives were to determine sex ratio and age composition of the Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River striped bass spawning stock. Differences in catch per unit effort (CPUE) between years, among year classes, and between sexes were analyzed. Male striped bass represented 83% and 87% of the sample over the 2 years. Nearly all male (99%) and female (91%) striped bass captured were Ages 2 through 4. Ninety-six percent of the fish in 1991 and 89% in 1992 were from the 1988 and 1989 year classes. A greater proportion of striped bass, both male and female, migrated to the spawning grounds at Age 3 than at Age 2 and females did not migrate in equal proportions as males until at least Age 4.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has conducted long term monitoring for shrimp since the mid 1960's. For the purpose of monitoring shrimp populations, the State was divided into 7 Coastal Study Areas. Each of these Areas represented a distinct hydrological basin within the coastal zone. Data collected from sampling locations within each of these Study Areas was used to set shrimp seasons on a statewide basis. Data collected during the early years of the monitoring program indicated that the State's shrimp resources could be divided into 3 distinct management zones. In 1975, the Department instituted the zone concept of shrimp management and began opening shrimp seasons at different times along the coast. This program is the basis on which shrimp are managed in Louisiana.

A total winterkill of threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) in B. Everett Jordan Lake, North Carolina, facilitated assessment of their role in the growth and condition of black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus). Reductions in size at age and Wr were observed in Age 3 and older crappie in the year of the winterkill. Reestablishment of threadfin shad in the following year led to improvements in crappie population parameters, and within 2 years of the shad winterkill, crappie growth and condition had returned to pre-kill levels. The presence of a strong gizzard shad (D. cepedianum) year class during the season in which crappie conditions otherwise declined established the superiority of threadfin shad as forage for crappie.