The northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) decline has become a cause ce´le´bre of wildlife conservation during the past 2 decades. With few exceptions, current broad-scale population trends show ongoing erosion in bobwhite numbers across most of the species' range. The causes of these declines are ultimate factors exacerbated by certain proximate factors. Ultimate factors are centered on the loss and fragmentation of habitat. Proximate factors such as predation and disease also may be present. The impacts of some factors, such as climate change, remain unknown but may influence bobwhite population trajectories over the long term. Progress has occurred in bobwhite conservation efforts since 1990 and has culminated in the formation of the National Bobwhite Technical Committee and the publication of the Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative. The vast majority of prevailing agricultural, forestry, and to some extent rangeland land uses in the United States continue as threats to bobwhite population persistence in the foreseeable future. Land-use patterns that once sustained widespread abundance of northern bobwhite during the early 20th century clearly are past and likely never to return. Landscape features that sustain and elevate northern bobwhite populations will only be maintained as a function of purposeful management actions directed at saving and creating usable space. ß 2012 The Wildlife Society.KEY WORDS adaptive management, bobwhite, Colinus virginianus, conservation planning, northern bobwhite, Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative, quail.Two decades ago, Brennan (1991) published an article titled, ''How can we reverse the northern bobwhite population decline?'' The publication outlined a series of observations and issues related to factors that were responsible for the nearly range-wide decline of the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). Northern bobwhites had been declining at a considerable rate across their geographic range prior to 1991, but very few conservationists had taken notice. The publication of Brennan (1991) seemed to awaken a complacent quail profession that did not appreciate the general status of northern bobwhite in the United States at the time.Since the publication of Brennan (1991), considerable effort has been directed at the conservation of northern bobwhite and its habitat. When cast in a broader context of the past 2 decades, it is clear that bobwhite conservation efforts have gained traction, and perhaps even an element of critical mass, that will provide a basis for further achievement. We examine what has happened to the northern bobwhite over the past 20 years in the context of ultimate and proximate factors that influence their mostly declining populations. We identify ongoing and emerging threats to bobwhite conservation and discuss the initiatives that wildlife professionals, landowners, quail hunters, and conservationists have developed in an effort to stop the decline. Lastly, we use this paper as a forum to clarify some misunderstandings that were ...

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Optimal collection and preservation protocols for fecal DNA genotyping are not firmly established. We evaluated 3 factors that influence microsatellite genotyping success of fecal DNA extracted from coyote (Canis latrans) scats: 1) age of scat, 2) preservative, and 3) diet content. We quantified genotyping success by comparing rates of allelic dropout, false alleles, and failed amplifications among consensus genotypes. We used a panel of 6 microsatellite loci to genotype 20 scat samples, each of which was subjected to 3 age (1 day, 5 days, and 10 days post‐deposition) and 3 preservation (DET buffer, 95% ethanol [EtOH], and lysis buffer) treatments. Both sample age and storage buffer had a significant effect on success and reliability. Ethanol and DET buffer preserved fecal samples with similar efficiency, and both were superior to lysis buffer. Our analysis of DNA degradation rates revealed that samples collected as early as 5 days of age yielded DNA that was highly degraded relative to samples collected on day 1. We tested the influence of dietary remains on microsatellite genotyping by using scat samples consisting predominantly of insect prey (n = 5), mammalian prey (n = 9), or the remains of juniper (Juniperus spp.) berries (n = 6) and compared EtOH and DET buffer preservation efficacy. We observed a significant interaction effect between storage buffer and diet for the probability of a false allele in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), suggesting that the optimal preservation technique depended on the food remains comprising the scat. Scats comprised of juniper berry remains were more reliably genotyped when preserved in DET than EtOH. Mammalian prey‐based scats were more reliable when stored in EtOH than DET buffer. Insect‐predominant scats were preserved in EtOH and DET buffer with similar efficiency. Although accurate and reliable results can be obtained from scats collected at ≥5 days of age, we suggest sampling design to include collection of scats <5 days of age to minimize field and laboratory expenses. We suggest EtOH preservation for scats of obligate carnivores and of facultative carnivores with a diet consisting primarily of mammals. We suggest DET buffer preservation for animals with a diet consisting of plant‐derived foods. Lysis buffer protocols that we employed should not be used for fecal DNA preservation. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.

The exotic s-,J.Itccdar (Tamarix rcmto.s'issio~a) has become the dominant woody plant in many riparian systems in the southwestern United States. We evaluated the effects of saltcedar clearing and overbank river flooding on recruitment of cottonwood (Populus fremontii) and saltcedar vegetation in the Rio Grande floodplain of central New Mexico, USA in 1993 and 1994. Overbank flooding coincided with the natural river hydrograph. After two seasons of growth, cleared areas supported more 1993 cohort cottonwoods and saltcedar than uncleared controlled areas. There were no differences between cleared and uncleared areas for the 1994 cohort after one growing season. Although there was a 2-week difference in the date of peak river flows between 1993 and 1994, similar seedling densities of both species were recorded for both years. The descending limb of the 1993 hydrograph was more gradual than the 1994 hydrograph, however, resulting in a higher survival rate of 1993 seedlings. Soil texture, soil salinity, elevation, and soil moisture data were collected from all plots and compared with seedling densities for each seedling sample date. Elevation and soil moisture indices were the most influential variables on seedling density. Decreasing soil moisture variables resulted in consistent seedling mortality lot all species in cleared and uncleared plots for both cohorts. Secondary channels developed as a result of vegetative clearing where natural river fluvial processes provided topographic relief and sediment deposition for seedling establishment. Greater densities of cottonwoods and coyote willows (Salix exigua) were found on these deposits compared with remaining portions of cleared plots. Saltcedar clearing in conjunction with peak river flows in late May or early June encourages recruitment of native riparian plants, particularly along sand deposits created as a result of secondary channel development. Receding flows correlated with a receding water-table level of about 2 cm/ day enhances native seedling densities relative to sahcedar.

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