We identified nest predators of northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) on private lands in northern Florida and southern Georgia, USA, using continuous infrared micro-video cameras, 1999-2001, and compared these results to predictions based on diagnostic sign at nests. Mammals (59%), snakes (29%), and ants (12%) accounted for known bobwhite nest depredations. Mammalian predators, in order of importance, were the raccoon (Procyon lotor), nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), bobcat (Lynx rufus), hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus), and coyote (Canis latrans). Using diagnostic sign, technicians correctly classified 30% of mammalian depredations to species and overestimated nest depredations by snakes. A classification tree model correctly classified 75% of the test sample (n = 33) into "mammal" or "snake" categories, but still overestimated depredations by snakes. We documented a broader predator community upon bobwhite eggs than previously known for northern Florida and southern Georgia and confirmed that snakes were significant nest predators in some years. We conclude that diagnostic sign at depredated nests was unreliable for identifying nest predators of northern bobwhites. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 69(1):124-132; 2005

No abstract

Frequently burned old field shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata)–loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) woodlands in the southeastern US provide important wildlife habitat and multiple ecosystem services. Because these communities differ in composition of dominant plant species and have different land use legacies than native pine savannas, the ability to prevent encroachment by off-site broadleaf woody tree species using fire alone is in question. We use a long-term fire experiment to demonstrate that old field pine communities have been prevented from transitioning to hardwood forests for over 50 years through judicious application of prescribed fire applied at 1–2 year intervals, whereas communities with three-year fire intervals show signs of transitioning to hardwood forest. We emphasize tailoring fire regimes to particular contexts of land use history to achieve the most historic and sustainable ecosystem structure and function possible for conservation of native flora and fauna. Study Implications: Demonstrating the ability to maintain natural forest structure of old field loblolly pine–shortleaf pine communities in the southeastern US using frequent prescribed fire has implications for the future sustainability of hundreds of thousands of hectares of such land used to provide critical habitat for many species of imperiled and culturally valued wildlife. It also provides insight into restoration of longleaf pine communities on postagricultural land as promoted by multiple highly funded government initiatives. Frequently burned pine savannas and woodlands are resilient to wildfire and sustain natural hydrological cycles, both important for mitigating the effects of global climate change.

No abstract

No abstract