Developing Habitat Suitability Models for Eastern and Rio Grande Wild Turkeys in Northeast Texas

Thank you so much to Darrion Crowley, a graduate research assistant from Texas A&M Kingsville, for submitting this awesome abstract on habitat suitability!

Developing Habitat Suitability Models for Eastern and Rio Grande Wild Turkeys in Northeast Texas

Darrion M. Crowley ¹, William P. Kuvlesky ², Humberto L. Perotto-Baldivieso ³, J. Alfonso Ortega-S. ⁴, and Leonard A Brennan ⁵

Authors are ¹ Graduate Research Assistant, Range and Wildlife Management, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA; ² Assistant Dean, Professor and Research Scientist, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA; ³ Assistant Professor, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA; ⁴ Professor and Research Scientist, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA; ⁵ Endowed Chair for Quail Research, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA. ______________________________________________

ABSTRACT

    Habitat suitability models (HSMs) are useful tools for identifying habitat areas that meet a species food, water, and cover requirements. This study focuses on the development HSMs for Eastern and Rio Grande wild turkeys in northeast Texas. The objectives of this project are to: 1) Develop habitat suitability models that will enable Texas Military Department staff to determine which habitats are optimal for harboring turkeys and 2) optimize survey methods by integrating surveys with habitat suitability models through cross-validation. We developed three models in which we assessed food, water, and cover requirements for wild turkeys. We first classified aerial imagery into woody, herbaceous, water, and bare ground. We then used a moving window analysis to quantify landscape metrics that describe wild turkey habitat: patch density, edge density, and percent land cover. The metrics were then analyzed by classifying them into a binary code in which 1 was labeled suitable and 0 unsuitable areas for wild turkey habitat. The rasters were then reclassified for each metric giving us a low, medium, and high suitability rating for each model. Once classified, all three models were compiled to give an overall suitability model for all habitat components. This provided us a map with a scale based on how many of the requirements were met in the model. To test the validity of the model, we compared GPS points acquired during winter surveys in the study area. We compared road survey GPS points to our food and water model and found that 97% of the points were in areas that met the requirements for the food model and 6% of the points were in areas met the requirements for the water model. We then compared our winter roost surveys to our cover model and found that approximately 50% of the points were found in areas that met all of the habitat requirements for cover while the other 50% were in areas that did not meet the requirements.

Student Conclave at the Summer Board Meeting

The Student Conclave represented well this year at the summer board meeting, held in Denver, the location for the national meeting in 2020. For the first time, two representatives, Averi Reynolds (Vice President) and myself (President) attended the meeting with travel and lodging costs covered by the society. Though the majority of the meeting consisted of budget managing, it was a great opportunity for us as conclave officers to see the inner workings of the society and how the directors want to see this organization progress forward. Additionally, a diversity workshop was held during the meeting which challenged our perspectives and provoked thought on how to promote inclusion within the Society for Range Management. A brief update was given by Vice President Reynolds and I on student conclave activities during the second day of the meeting. Positive feedback and genuine interest was expressed by the board and their input was welcomed.

The summer board meeting cultivated something in both VP Reynolds and I that fueled our passion only further for the society and how much we value our investment in this organization. Collaborating with a variety of people that are all driven and joined in the field of rangeland management is an honor and inspiration. We both look forward to seeing what we can do for the society in the future as we continue involved and continue building our careers. A huge thank you for the welcoming support from the board of directors and a word of encouragement to members: get excited for society- because with our current leadership and leadership to come, there is a bright future ahead! – John McQuaig