EFFECTS OF HURRICANE HUGO ON THE FRANCIS MARION NATIONAL FOREST WILD TURKEY POPULATION
Abstract: The Francis Marion National Forest (FMNF) is an important area for wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) in South Carolina. On 21 September 1989, Hurricane Hugo, a category IV storm, struck the South Carolina coast, and the strongest winds swept across the FMNF. Over 1 billion boar...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
1995-01-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1995.tb00212.x |
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| Summary: | Abstract: The Francis Marion National Forest (FMNF) is an important area for wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) in South Carolina. On 21 September 1989, Hurricane Hugo, a category IV storm, struck the South Carolina coast, and the strongest winds swept across the FMNF. Over 1 billion board feet of timber were damaged or destroyed. To determine the effects of Hurricane Hugo on the FMNF wild turkey population, we examined spring turkey harvest and reproduction pre‐ and post‐Hugo. Prior to Hugo, the spring turkey harvest increased at a mean annual rate of 18% on the FMNF and 25% statewide. Following the storm, the harvest declined 22% per year on the FMNF, whereas the statewide spring harvest increased 4% annually. Mean number of hens with poults (P = 0.07), brood size (P = 0.008), gobblers observed (P = 0.018), total turkeys observed (P = 0.011), and recruitment ratio (P = 0.006) have declined since the storm. The negative habitat alterations from Hurricane Hugo that occurred on the FMNF were responsible for the decline in the wild turkey population. |
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| ISSN: | 2328-5540 |