Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

The ecology and distribution of banana waterlily (Nymphaea mexicana) and its utilization by canvasback ducks (Aythya valisineria) was studied in South Carolina and the southeast during 1971-78. A high preference by canvasbacks for banana waterlily was found based on field research and questionnaires sent to land managers. Results of water chemistry and soil analyses showed that banana waterlily preferred alkaline or slightly brackish impoundments, especially near coastal waters. Land managers should be encouraged to identify suitable banana waterlily habitat and propagate this high quality canvasback food.

Significal1t (P<0.05) correlation coefficients were obtained by relating various forest characteristics to amounts of selected (succulent, new-growth) forage from plants utilized by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus I'ir!{inianus) in mixed pine-hardwood forests. Forage from forbs and grasses was inversely related to most characteristics pertaining to basal area, age, dbh, height, and number of layers. Forage from vines was not significantly correlated with any forest characteristic. Forage from woody plants was directly related to hardwood density, age, dbh, and basal area. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed and only the forage from forbs was significantly correlated (r'=0.586) with a single forest characteristic. Four additional characteristics raised the R' to 0.716. Correlations for grass, vine, woody and total deer forage were too low to provide any confidence that deer forage could be predicted on the basis of forest measurements.

The Water Bank Program in the southeastern United States has been limited to Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas. A review of the program in Mississippi suggests that a southern Water Bank Program can be consistent with national Water Bank Program objectives through the preservation of production habitat for the wood duck (A ix sponsa). Mississippi has 90 Water Bank Program agreements. which include 3,403 ha of wetland habitat and 4,585 ha of adjacent land habitat. Agreement areas range in size from 5 ha to 470 ha and average 89 ha. Annual payments to landowners are computed at a rate of $12.35 per ha per year and amount of $98.642. In 1977. the cost for technical services from the Soil Conservation Service was $1.95 per ha.

Seasonal food habits and diet overlap between white-tailed deer (Odvcvileus virginianus) and cattle are being studied on grazed and ungrazed, forested and clearcut loblolly-shortleaf pine (Pinus taeda-P. echinata)-hardwood sites in Louisiana. Preliminary data from direct observation of cattle and captive deer suggest that little diet overlap is likely if cattle stocking is based primarily on grass supplies. Greatest overlap occurred during winter on forested sites and during summer on clearcuts. However, few plant species shared by deer and cattle contributed more than 1% of either animal's diet during any season. Summer and fall overlap mainly involved grasses. Winter and spring overlap centered on grasses and woody plants in clearcut areas, and on woody plants in forested sites. Diets on clearcuts appear to represent complementary use by deer and cattle of an abundant resource rather than direct competition.

Winter populations of American woodcock ( Philohela minor) in coastal South Carolina were concentrated in cypress-gum (Taxodium-Nyssa) swamps and flood plains and along the margins of ponds in pine (Pinus) stands and clearcuts. Flushing rates varied from 0 to 6 flushes per man-hour in the field based on 303.4 man-hours of hunting. The winter population began to increase in mid-December, was highest in mid-January, and was low by late-February. Age and sex ratios were largely skewed towards the immature female segment of the population. Earthworms made up 64% of the aggreate volume of 122 proventriculi. DOE, Mirex, and PCB's were the main pollutant residues found in the abdominal fat of 41 birds although these were at lower levels than previously reported.

Forty artificial nesting cavities were placed in 5 wetland areas containing no natural tree cavities suitable as nest sites for wood ducks (Aix sponsa) or hooded mergansers (Mergus cucullatus). These wetlands were surrounded by agricultural fields; wetland sizes were between 0.4 ha and 10.6 ha. In 1976,5 successful wood duck nests were observed. In 1977, II successful wood duck nests and 4 successful hooded merganser nests were observed. Visual searches failed to discern the presence of broods or their hens after the days on which the broods exited their nest boxes. Two wood duck hens followed by radio tracking led their broods away from the broods' natal agricultural wetlands to larger, more isolated wetlands that contained more aquatic vegetation. Several comparisons were made between the largest agricultural wetland (which produced 16 duck broods) and a nearby wetland of similar morphology but surrounded by a bottomland hardwood forest.

A split-plot design was used to determine the effects of controlled burning at various seasons on vegetative communities in old fields on the Laurel Hill Wildlife Management Area. Analysis of variance indicated no differences in the frequencies of grasses, legumes, and forbes resulting from September, December, March and May burns. Split-plot analysis of variance of frequencies of legumes, grasses, and forbes and frequency differences between burned and control plots indicated that benefits to bobwhite quail (colinus virginianas) (decreases in grasses and increases in legumes and forbes) can only be achieved through annual burnings, and periodic burnings may be detrimental to bobwhite quail. It was recommended that if benefits to bobwhite quail are expected, controlled burns should be conducted annually.

Peak numbers of wood ducks (Aix spo/1sa) occurred in the piedmont region of South Carolina in mid-November. During this period of time, 85% of the birds entered a beaver pond roost as flocks (2 or more birds). Significant correlations between numbers of birds observed at equivalent light intensities were used to indicate primary diel habitats for the local wood duck population. A trend in increased flight activity at lower light intensities (foot candles) was observed from September through November. Eight-seven percent of the wood ducks departed from the roost site before official sunrise. Similarly, peak numbers of ducks arrived at the roost site after official sunset. This flight behavior made wood ducks susceptible to being shot after legal hunting hours, which, due to darkness, resulted in increased crippling and a reduced retrieval rate for downed birds.

The Southeastern Section of the Wildlife Society was chartered in 1948 at the second annual meeting of the Southeastern Association of Game and Fish Commissioners at Lexington. Ky. Highlights of the Section activities for the first 20 years were given by Kennamer (1970). This paper is an attempt to up-date the history for the decade of years 1969 through 1978. Newsletters, Proceedings of Annual Conferences, records of executive board meetings and correspondence files provided the basis for this report. The assistance from the past presidents of the Section in preparing portions of this paper was also most helpful.

White-crowned pigeon (Columba leucocephala) populations have undergone a widespread decline as a result of habitat destruction and poor (or no) management. The Dominican Republic once had large populations of this pigeon, but our investigations between 1976 and 1978 showed their numbers are now drastically reduced. The pigeons are migratory, using lowland areas for nesting (March through October), and following available food sources through a wide range of habitats during the non-breeding season. Areas of 4 nesting colonies ranged from 16.0 to 40.9 ha and were formed of a dense core with dispersed or solitary nesting birds around the periphery. Numbers of adults in the colonies ranl?ed from 8,000 to 16,800, and .nest densities .observed were fron: 0.8 to 3.3 nests / 100 m'. Human harassment of colomally nesting pigeons was responsible for the failure of most breeding colonies we inspected.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department conducted 2 harvest surveys by mail during 1976, I sampled currently licensed hunters and the other sampled hunters that were licensed I year previously. Both surveys requested information concerning hunting activity during the current season. A portion of the currently licensed hunters who did not return questionnaires were contacted by telephone to adjust for non-response bias. The survey sampling out-of-date hunters was not adjusted for non-res pone bias. The harvest and related hunting statistics estimated from regression models developed from the result of these 2 surveys are comparable to statistics estimated by sampling currently licensed hunters. This technique also provides for the early availability of harvest statistics (6 weeks after the last day of the season) and reduces the expense ofconducting the survey by eliminating the telephoning requirement to adjust for non-response.

Seasonal usage by bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) of plant foods affected by prescribed fire management was investigated in southwestern Georgia and northern Florida. The early spring diet changed quickly from greenery to grass seeds (particularly Panicum spp.), while fruits from woody plants predominated in summer. The fall-winter diet was dependent on rainfall during flowering and fruiting periods of forbs and on periodic hard mast crops. An inverse relationship existed (P<0.05, r = -0.54) between consumption of legumes (Fabaceae) and oak mast (Quercus spp.); acorns apparently were preferred when both were available. Habitats comprised of (I) annually-burned grass-forb areas for seed production, (2) infrequently-burned rough for fruit supplies, nesting and escape cover, and (3) hardwood coverts for mast production provide for seasonal requirements and help buffer the effects of drought on food supplies.

Heavy metal (lead, cadmium. and zinc) concentrations were found in increase with traffic volume in soil, vegetation. earthworms. and small mammals recovered from roadside areas. Concentrations of all elements generally declined in soil, vegetation. and earthworms as distance from the highway increased. Shrews had higher levels of heavy metals than plant consuming rodents (Micro/us and Peromyscus). Problems of interpreting data on road side contamination and of the ecological significance of such contamination are discussed.

Between 20 May and 10 June 1976, habitat surveys and bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and scaled quail (Cal/ipep/a squamata) whistle counts were conducted along 133 24-km randomly established transects in Texas. In 3 of 4 ecological areas of Texas where both species occurred, each species selected different habitats during the breeding season. Scaled quail selected the more dense, shorter shrub habitat, whereas bobwhites were located in the more open, taller vegetation types. In the fourth area, the High Plains, habitat use overlapped. The positive correlation of whistle counts of the 2 species, and a lack of adequate cover suggested there was direct competition for habitat during the breeding season.

A total of 1,648 mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) was trapped on the gravel-topped roofs of buildings on the Texas A&M University campus during the period from February 1978 through January 1979. An average of 84.5 new doves and 52.8 recaptures per month were trapped in a maximum of 13 modified funnel traps baited with a combination of grain sorghum and cracked corn. The new captures were 74.3% adults of which 59.7% were males. Roof-top trapping minimizes human disturbance and travel while maximizing time available for trapping.

The breeding chronology of the mottled duck (Anasfulvi[(ula maculosa) was investigated during a 2-year study in southwest Louisiana. Gonadal measurements were recorded from 37 hunter-killed and 158 collected mottled ducks. A correlation analysis revealed that the ratios of combined testis length to body weight and oviduct width to body weight most accurately revealed reproductive status for males and females, respectively. A quadratic model produced the most significant regression of reproductive status on time for both sexes in 1978 and 1979. Mottled ducks remained sexually quiescent until early January when gonadal recrudescence began. Peak breeding condition for females occurred during mid to late April. about 2 weeks after the peak condition of males.

Bone and liver lead concentrations (J..lg! gm, d.w.) were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry for 412 hunter-killed mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) collected from 6 Atlantic flyway game management areas located in Maryland. Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, 1977 and 1978 seasons. Juvenile bone lead concentrations ranged from 1.25-763.65 J..lg! gm while adults showed levels from 1.02-322.81 J..lg! gm. Significant effects in location of collection (P<0.005) and age (P<0.005) were determined, where adults had higher bone lead concentrations than juveniles. Some juvenile birds had extremely high bone lead concentrations not found in adults. Adult liver lead concentrations ranged from 0.00-74.61 J..lg! gm and from 0.0076.45 J..lg! gm in juveniles. In the 1978 season, liver concentrations were significantly (P<0.025) higher in the early dove season, perhaps from increased lead shot exposure.

Excessive hunting pressure on Florida Wildlife Management Areas during the early part of hunting season necessitated a system of control on number of hunters. Systems were developed to issue a limited number of permits to applicants on a firstcome, first-served basis. FORTRAN and COM PASS computer programs were used to enter data and issue permits in I system while manual sorting and mechanical'imprinting were used to issue permits in another system. A review of all 50 states revealed a variety of methods of application acceptance, processing and permitting. Planning and methodology including steps, time frame, and costs to implement a controlled hunt system are discussed. Recommendations based on collected data and past experience are presented.

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 in each old home site and was the dominant understory species in the 2 sites with highest production. Potential yields of deer forages, particularly honeysuckle, were diminished by species competition from woody vines, trees, and honeysuckle growing beyond the feeding height of deer.

A total of 286 western Tennessee raccoons (Procyon lotor) were ear-tagged and released in portions of Blount and Loudon Counties, eastern Tennessee, over a 3-year period. Twenty-nine (10.1%) were recovered. Illegal kills comprised 41.4% of all tag recoveries. Seven of I I recovered females had produced offspring. Weight gains averaged 1.14 kg over 432 days. Average linear dispersal was 4.9 km. Dispersal distances for males and females were not significantly different and dispersal directions were randomly distributed. Home ranges of 14 radio-monitored raccoons were not significantly different than those of resident raccoons in the same area. The translocation of raccoons may be a valid management technique provided that suitable habitat exists, resident raccoon populations are low, animals are transferred from similar habitat types, and illegal or dog training mortality can be controlled.

Incisors and jawbones were collected from known-age Texas white-tailed deer (Odocoileus \\'i,.~inianus texanus) which had been captured, ear-tagged, and released as fawns and harvested during public hunts in subsequent years. Incisors from 25 knownage whitetails were aged by Matson's Commercial Microtechnique Laboratory using the cementum analysis technique. The jawbones from these same 25 deer were aged using the tooth replacement and wear technique by wildlife biologists / wildlife technicians of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Matson correctly aged 4 (16.0o/r) of the 25 knownage incisors. Nineteen (90.5%) of the incorrect ages assigned by Matson were younger than the known age. Biologists/technicians correctly aged 242 (66.7%) of 363 possible assigned ages using the tooth replacement and wear technique. Ninety-two (76.0%) of the incorrect ages assigned by the biologists technicians were older than the known age.

Feeding strategies of the beaver (Castor canadensis) were investigated on the Savannah River Plant in the Upper Coastal Plain region of South Carolina. Three beaver colonies. comprising 4 ponds, were selected. Feeding by beavers upon woody vegetation was monitored monthly. Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) was the most important woody species for the beaver. Stems 2.5 - 5.0 cm diameter stump high and stems located within the water were preferentially selected. Selection of woody vegetation decreased during spring and summer months and increased during winter months. One pond was deserted apparently because of a shortage of preferred food items within the normal foraging area.

Nineteen wild turkeys (MeleaKris Kallupavu silvestris) were restocked in a North Carolina mountain habitat in February and March. 1978. Each turkey was equipped with a solar-powered radio transmitter package. Seasonal home ranges and maximum seasonal distances from the release site were determined from the date of release through winter 1979. Turkeys were tracked from 29 days to 406 days following release. Dispersal from the release site continued through fall 1978 before stabilizing. The average maximum distance from the release site at that time for 9 hens and I gobbler was 7.0 km (4.3 mil. Seasonal home ranges were largest during spring and smallest during winter. The average spring 1978 range for 9 hens and 6 gobblers was 1.335 ha. The average winter 1979 range for 7 hens and I gobbler was 178 ha.

Available information concerning the past and present alligator (Alli~otor mississippiensis) populations in Florida are summarized. Population status is described on the basis of past harvest records, complaint rates, population surveys and opinions of hunters, buyers, and biologists. Based on these data it appears probable that the alligator's past population status was somewhat less serious than previously supposed and the future of the alligator appears secure.

Annual and seasonal ranges of 76 resident and 13 restocked wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) from the Alabama Lower Coastal Plain were studied over a 3-year period in a north Alabama mountain habitat. Turkeys were tracked by radio telemetry. After exploratory movements of up to 9.2 km, restocked turkeys adjusted to the habitat within about 6 weeks and included the release site in their annual ranges which were almost identical in size to those of resident birds. Resident turkeys released at their capture-site used it as part of their annual range and when released as far away as 4.0 km returned to the capture-site. Mean annual ranges of 1,544 ha for 33 resident and 1,559 ha for 9 restocked turkeys were measured and were over 3 times larger than those reported for the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.