What is density-dependence and could it be driving the patterns we're seeing in declining populations? Dr. Mark McConnell joins Marcus and Will to pull knowledge from research on density-dependence in upland game bird species and how these factors may affect wild turkey populations.

Papers:

• Byrne, Michael E., et al. "Nest site fidelity and nesting success of female wild turkeys." Wildlife Society Bulletin 46.2 (2022): e1279.

• Guthrie, Joshua D., et al. "Evaluation of a global positioning system backpack transmitter for wild turkey research." The Journal of Wildlife Management 75.3 (2011): 539-547.

• Londe, David W., et al. "Review of range‐wide vital rates quantifies eastern wild Turkey population trajectory." Ecology and Evolution 13.2 (2023): e9830.

• McGhee, Jay D., and James M. Berkson. "Estimation of a nonlinear density-dependence parameter for wild turkey." The Journal of wildlife management 71.3 (2007): 706-712.

• McGhee, Jay D., and Jim Berkson. "Correlation of eastern wild turkey poult: hen ratios with population indices to detect reproductive density dependence." Virginia Journal of Science 58.3 (2007): 3.

• Stevens, Bryan S., et al. "Structural uncertainty limits generality of fall harvest strategies for wild turkeys." The Journal of Wildlife Management 81.4 (2017): 617-628.

• Taylor II, Jimmy D., et al. "Seasonal survival and cause-specific mortality of northern bobwhites in Mississippi." National Quail Symposium Proceedings. Vol. 4. No. 1. 2000.

• Vangilder, Larry D., and Eric W. Kurzejeski. "Population ecology of the eastern wild turkey in northern Missouri." Wildlife Monographs (1995): 3-50.

Dr. Mark McConnell (Academic Profile)

Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile)

Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile)

Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow)  

UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab)

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.

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Produced by Charlotte Nowak