Wildlife Ecology and Management in South Texas

WILDLIFE ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH TEXAS

Sponsoring Institution

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Project Status

REVISED

Funding Source

HATCH

Reporting Frequency

Annual

Accession No.

0174856

Grant No.

(N/A)

Project No.

TEX08483

Proposal No.

(N/A)

Multistate No.

(N/A)

Program Code

(N/A)

Project Start Date

Feb 18, 2013

Project End Date

Feb 17, 2018

Grant Year

(N/A)

Project Director
Cooper, S. M.

Recipient Organization
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
750 AGRONOMY RD STE 2701
COLLEGE STATION,TX 77843-0001

Performing Department
Uvalde-TAMU Agr Res & Ext Cntr

Non Technical Summary
Wildlife recreation contributes $145 billion/year to the US economy. Use of wildlife is particularly important in the savanna biome and southern rangelands, such as South Texas, where rainfall and thus annual vegetative production is erratic. In semi-arid areas the economic and environmental benefits gained from utilizing wildlife frequently surpass income realized from traditional livestock grazing. Most climate change models indicate that southern regions will experience a drier and more unstable climate in the near future, and as a result this trend towards use of wildlife on marginal lands will become stronger. New paradigms in land management will be needed to maintain and support wildlife. Instead of focusing on improving grazing for livestock, land managers currently require information enabling them to optimized use of natural resources for sustainable multi-species wildlife production in a dynamic environment, where plant communities, animal populations and pests and diseases are undergoing shifts in distribution and composition. Our research methods focus on spatial distribution and interactions of wildlife, use of resources use and foraging ecology to understand the interface between the animal and its environment. The research goal is to provide information and ideas to improve management techniques for sustainable wildlife conservation and production in savanna and range land ecosystems. This will be achieved by multiple projects involving training of graduate students, and participation of landowners and wildlife managers. Outputs will be in scientific and lay publications and presentations. The benefits of this research will be in helping to sustain valuable wildlife populations and rural economies during a time of environmental change.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

60%

Applied

30%

Developmental

10%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
135	0799	1070	15%
135	0830	1070	20%
135	0850	1070	15%
135	0899	1070	50%

Knowledge Area
135 - Aquatic and Terrestrial Wildlife;

Subject Of Investigation
0850 - Wildlife habitats; 0799 - Rangelands and grasslands, general; 0830 - Wild animals; 0899 - Wildlife and natural fisheries, general/other;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology;

Keywords

Goals / Objectives
A sound understanding of responses of wildlife to habitat and environmental change and to wildlife management practices based on ecological principals is necessary to maintain long-term viability of natural populations and support a thriving wildlife utilization industry. The objectives of our research are: 1. To understand how wildlife populations respond to natural and anthropogenic environmental changes in order to improve land management for sustainable production of key wildlife species. 2. To understand the effects of changes in resource distribution within habitats on nutrition, health, and productivity of wildlife. 3. To deliver information on wildlife management techniques most appropriate to maintain diverse and sustainable quality wildlife populations in a changing climate. We aim to increase the power to predict the lasting outcomes of current wildlife management techniques and the ecological consequences of natural and anthropogenic environmental change in semi-arid environments. Research outputs will help wildlife managers gauge the cost effectiveness of land management treatments and supplemental feeding programs to enhance wildlife production and to select the best course of action. We also aim to limit unfavorable interactions between species, such as competition for resources, the risk of disease transfer and undue levels of predation, through scientific habitat management and understanding of the interactions between animal species, and between species and their environment. Most of our research is conducted on private ranches within south Texas. Interaction and involvement of the landowners and managers in the research is an important aspect of this project because it expedites adoption of new ideas and techniques by the industry. We will also involve graduate students in the research to train them as the next generation of wildlife managers and ecologists. Information will be widely disseminated by scientific publications, presentations at International, National and State scientific meetings, through cooperative interaction with A&M AgriLife Extension Service and lay presentations.

Project Methods
We will use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to determine the spatial responses of animals to landscape changes brought about by land management activities such as prescribed fire, mechanical brush clearance and range restoration, as well as less controlled events such as wild fire and habitat fragmentation due to commercial land development. The distribution of larger animals will be tracked through use of Global Positioning System (GPS) collars, while population responses of smaller species will be monitored by survey methods. GIS, GPS and animal survey techniques will also be used to assess resource selection by animals and rates of interaction between animals that ultimately affect animal health and productivity. Research will also involve nutritional studies and health screening on free ranging animals as this pertains to wildlife productivity and influences on livestock production. Some studies will also incorporated use of captive/tame wildlife to provide controlled experimentation on animal nutrition that is difficult to accomplish with wild populations. Evaluation of wildlife management techniques ranging from land treatments to herd management will be conducted with participation of local landowners, graduate students and support from the animal nutrition industry. We find that active participation in research speeds the adaption of new technologies and ideas into the commercial and public sectors. Evaluation of the acceptance of new ideas will be measured by their acceptance and use in the wildlife industry. Dissemination of results will be by publication in scientific journals, and presentations at conferences, Extension meetings and local organizations.

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences for this project are wildlife managers, biologists, students, landowners and members of the public interested in the production and conservation of wildlife on semi-arid lands, both in US rangelands and internationally in the savanna biome. Professional scientists and students were reached through peer-reviewed publications and through presentations at National and State scientific meetings. Landowners, wildlife managers and wildlife conservation foundations were reached through personal interaction, presentations and reports produced for ranches participating in scientific projects. Laypersons interested in wildlife conservation were reached through talks to community clubs and organizations. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This year four graduate students are being mentored through this project and four additional graduate students receive guidance in their studies. Professional development was obtained from participating in the National meeting of The Wildlife Society and State meetings of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society. Membership of professional organizations includes the spatial ecology and international wildlife working groups of The Wildlife Society. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated to the scientific community of biologists, wildlife managers, and students, through peer reviewed journal articles and presentations at State and National Scientific meetings. Participating landowners receive personal information and twice yearly reports on the wildlife counts and habitat assessment on their properties. Twice yearly reports are provided to all research sponsors, such as conservation foundations. Information is disseminated to the public through the website - AgriLife Today - from which many newspapers and magazines pick up articles for their publications, thus reaching thousands of people who otherwise would not know about the research. Presentations are made to local groups such as the lions and Kiwanis clubs, garden clubs and native plant society groups. Two field tours were given. Information is freely given to the Extension Service for disemmination to the public. In addition a radio interview was given to Lone Star Outdoor show and video of the dama gazelle project was made by the sponsors. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The principal investigator in this project is retiring on December 31, 2016. The final three months after the dates of this report will be spent concluding all current research projects and obligatins to sponsors. The few outstanding presentations and publications listed as submitted in this report will be completed during the next fiscal year.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The decline in quail populations, associated with changing land use patterns and affected by climate change, is of concern to biologists and land owners. The South Texas Covey Connection: a coalition of scientists and landowners is now in its 12th year. This long-term data set on quail numbers, land management and weather patterns has revealed that best land management techniques for quail vary, depending on prior rainfall. In times of drought quail require shrub cover to survive but in wetter years they thrive in open grassy prairie habitats. Thus, wildlife managers must plan for both weather types and plan according to climate change predictions for their region. Geospatial data on feral hog movements collected in prior years, has been widely shared with other scientists for incorporation into modelling studies to determine their role in disease transmission. One peer-reviewed journal article has been published and a second submitted. We also blended information on habitat selection by feral hogs with information on the location of northern bobwhites on our study ranches to assess the likelihood of feral hog predation of quail nests on rangeland. Due to differences in seasonal distribution of the species relative to water, contact rates may be less than expected. The attraction of feral hogs to lowland areas and crop fields provides a vulnerability that may be exploited in controlling their populations. The new and more accurate method of aging mature white-tailed deer that this program developed through the long-term partnership with south Texas deer ranches is increasingly being used by wildlife managers, consultant biologists and research students. Our dentine method of aging deer provides managers with the ability to age harvested deer to within a year. This has helped producers of trophy deer ensure that their deer are being harvested at peak antler production, rather than too early which represents substantial loss of potential income. In addition to native animals, Texas rangelands provide a refuge for endangered ungulate species which are being bred for both commercial use and for reintroduction to their native countries. Our research on dama gazelles is providing information on the spatial requirements, behavioral interactions and resource use of dama gazelles that is impossible to gain from the severely depleted wild populations in their native countries. This information is being used in the management of dama gazelles in Texas and is aiding conservation efforts to repatriate these critically endangered animals into new protected reserves in their native African range.

Publications

Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Cooper, S.M., and Sieckenius, S.S. 2016. Habitat selection of feral hogs and northern bobwhites in shrub-dominated rangeland. Southeastern Naturalist 15:382-393.
Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Pepin, K.M., Davis, A.J., Beasley, J., Boughton, R., Campbell, T., Cooper, S.M., Gaston, W., Hartley, S., Kilgo, J.C., Wisely, S., Wyckoff, C., and VerCauteren, K.C. 2016. Contact heterogeneities in wild pigs: implications for disease management and future research Ecosphere 7(3): Article e201230. 11pp
Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Makhado, R A., Potgieter, M.L., Luus-Powell, W.J., Cooper, S.M. and Kopij, G. 2016. Tragelaphus strepsiceros browse during the wet season in the mopani veld of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Rangeland Ecology and Management 69:408-413.
Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Makhado, R., Potgieter, M., Luus-Powell, W., Cooper, S., Oppong, C., Kopij, G. Mutisi, C., and. Makhabu, S. 2016. Tragelaphus strepsiceros browse during the dry season in the mopani veld of Limpopo Province South Africa. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa Journal. 71(1):17-21.
Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Reckseit, S. 2016. Volunteer Programs in the Conservation of Sea Turtles in Costa Rica. OAKTrust, Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Professional Papers http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/158297
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Cooper, S.M., Sieckenius, S.S.,and Silva, A.L. 2016. Antler characteristics and trophy potential of juvenile white-tailed deer. 52nd Annual Meeting of Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, San Antonio, TX. Feb 18-20 2016. Abstract.
Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Kay, S.L., Fischer, J.W., Monaghan, A.J., Beasley, J.C., Boughton, R., Campbell, T.A., Cooper, S.M., Ditchkoff, S.S., Hartley, S.B., Kilgo, J.C., Wisely, S.M., Wyckoff, A.C., VerCauteren, K.C. and Pepin, K.M. (submitted). Quantifying drivers of wild pig movement across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Movement Ecology.
Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Montalvo, A. E., Lopez,R.R., Parker, I.D., Silvy, N.J., Cooper, S.M., and Feagin, R.A. (submitted). Meso-Mammal Use of Caves in Central Texas. Wildlife Biology.
Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Montalvo, A. E., Lopez,R.R., Parker, I.D., Silvy, N.J., Cooper, S.M., and Feagin, R.A (submitted). Meso-Mammal Behavior and Resource Use in Central Texas Caves. Journal of Karst and Cave Management.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Cooper, S.M., and Mungall. E.C. 2016. Spatial ranges of male dama gazelles in West Texas. The Wildlife Societys 23rd Annual Conference, Raleigh, NC. Oct 15-19, 2016.Abstract.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Kay, S.L., Fischer, J.W., Beasley, J.C., Boughton, R., Campbell, T.A., Cooper, S.M., Ditchkoff, S.S., Hartley, S.B., Kilgo, J.C., Wisely, S.M., Wyckoff, A.C., VerCauteren, K.C. and Pepin, K.M. 2016. Feral swine resource selection at local and landscape scales across southeastern USA. Wild Pig Conference. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, April 17-21, 2016.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Kay, S.L., Fischer, J.W., Beasley, J.C., Boughton, R., Campbell, T.A., Cooper, S.M., Ditchkoff, S.S., Hartley, S.B., Kilgo, J.C., Wisely, S.M., Wyckoff, A.C., VerCauteren, K.C. and Pepin, K.M. 2016. Impact of environmental factors and individual-level characteristics on feral swine movement rates. Wild Pig Conference. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, April 17-21, 2016.
Type: Other Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Cooper, S.M., and Mungall, E.C. 2016. Spatial associations of dama gazelles on a Texas Hill Country ranch. Final report to Second Ark Foundation. December 2016. 54pp.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Cooper, S.M., and Mungall, E.C. 2017. Use of landscape by endangered dama gazelles (Nanger dama) on Texas rangeland.Texas Academy of Science 120th Annual Meeting, Belton, TX. March 3-5 2017. Abstract.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Mungall, E.C. and Cooper, S.M. 2017. Association levels of dama gazelles in different social combinations. 53rd Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, San Antonio TX. Feb 17-19, 2017. Abstract.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Mungall, C., Mungall, E.C., and Cooper, S.M. 2017. Track display and cluster analysis using MATLAB for dama gazelle GPS collar data. 53rd Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, San Antonio, TX. Feb 17-19, 2017. Abstract.

Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:This project targets wildlife managers, biologists, and landowners interested in the production and conservation of wildlife on semi-arid lands. Efforts included scientific publication and presentations at annual meetings of the Wildlife Society Texas Chapter, Texas Wildlife Association and the Statewide Quail Symposium; field days for local students, managers and landowners; descriptions of research findings in popular magazines, on-line and in newspapers; training and mentoring of graduate students; and one-on-one discussions with wildlife managers, landowners and feed industry personnel. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Four graduate students are being mentored in associated with this project and five additional graduate students receive guidance in their studies. Professional development was obtained from participating in an Emerging Leaders Conference and Research Grants Workshop and by attending Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society Annual meeting, Texas Wildlife Association, Exotic Wildlife Association and Water, Wildlife and Wide Open Spaces conferences. Membership of professional organizations includes the spatial ecology and international wildlife working groups of The Wildlife Society. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The new technique for aging trophy deer has been disseminated to biologists and wildlife managers through invited presentation at the annual meeting of the Texas Wildlife Association, personal demonstrations and training to numerous individuals. Landowners and wildlife managers helping to sponsor research projects on deer and quail conducted partially on their property receive twice yearly reports and personal advice on animal numbers and habitat condition on their property compared to the group averages. Information on quail nutrition and management has been published in scientific journals, posters displays and a student field day. Large scale maps have been created for several ranches to aid in habitat manipulation to benefit wildlife. Ongoing research activities and findings on conservation of endangered dama gazelles in Texas have been presented in the magazine of the Exotic Wildlife and on-line in AgriLife Today and as presentations and video at society meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Seven scientific articles have been submitted to peer reviewed journals of which 3 have been accepted to date. Two abstracts have been accepted for presentation at the next Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society annual meeting. The two long-term landowner funded research projects on white-tailed deer and quail will continue and we are seeking additional participants. The dama gazelle project has been greatly expanded. Four graduate students will continue with their studies, mentoring is being provided to 5 more. Additional funding is being sought to support new graduate students.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The decline in quail populations, associated with changing climate and land use patterns, is of concern to biologists and land owners. Ongoing results of quail surveys, conducted on partnering ranches during the course of research, provides landowners with information to make immediate changes in their wildlife management plans to better fit changing environmental conditions and thus maintain sustainable production of wild quail. Involvement of landowners in research greatly expedites the adoption of new ideas and technologies in by their peers and thus by society. Our research on the effect of chronic, low level ingestion of aflatoxin by northern bobwhites and scaled quail indicates that occasional consumption of contaminated grain or supplemental feed by quail is unlikely to have any harmful effects on health and reproductive capacity of wild quail. Thus the practice of feeding deer and quail to increase prpductivity on rangeland is not harmful to wild quail. The increase in feral hogs in Texas may be harmful to quail populations. Our research on habitat selection indicates that during thel breeding season of quail, feral hogs tend to be restricted to riparian habitats not greatly used by quail as nesting habitat. The influence of feral hogs as nest predators of quail may be less than predicted and will depend on the interspersion of upland nesting habitat with creeks and drainages that create travel corridors for hogs. The attraction of feral hogs to lowland area and crop fields provides a vulnerability that may be exploited in controlling feral hog populations. The new and more accurate method of aging mature white-tailed deer that this program developed to assist biologists and producers of trophy-antlered bucks is increasingly used by wildlife managers, consultant biologists and research students. The dentine method of aging deer improves ability to manage deer herds for selective harvest of trophy animals at peak antler production, thus greatly increases the profits from managed deer herds. In addition to native animals, Texas rangelands provide a refuge in which to breed endangered ungulate species for reintroduction to their native countries. Our research on dama gazelles is providing information on the spatial requirements, behavioral interactions and resource use of dama gazelles that is impossible to gain from the severely depleted wild herds in their native range. This information is being used in the management of dama gazelles in Texas and aiding conservation efforts to repatriate dama gazelles on their native African range.

Publications

Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Cooper, S. M., S. Jhala, D. Rollins, R. A. Feagin. 2015 Nocturnal movements and habitat selection of mesopredators encountering bobwhite nests. Wildlife Society Bulletin 39(1):138-146.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Cooper S. M. 2015 Data mining: comparative habitat selection of feral hogs and northern bobwhites in shrub-dominated rangeland. Statewide Quail Symposium. Abilene, TX. Sept 2015
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Cooper S. M. 2015 Is chronic exposure to low levels of aflatoxins involved in the quail decline? Statewide Quail Symposium. Abilene, TX. Sept 2015.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Cooper, S. M. and S. S. Sieckenius. 2015 Comparative habitat selection of feral hogs and northern bobwhites in shrub-dominated rangeland. Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society Annual Meeting. Corpus Christi, TX, Feb 2015.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Cooper, S. M. and A. L. Silva. 2015 Is chronic exposure to low levels of aflatoxins involved in the quail decline? Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society 50th Annual Meeting. Corpus Christi, TX. Feb 2015.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Cooper, S. M., and E. C. Mungall. 2015. Spatial distribution of dama gazelles on a west Texas ranch. Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society 50th Annual Meeting. Corpus Christi, TX. Feb 2015.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Mungall, E. C. and S.M. Cooper. 2015 Preliminary observations on distribution patterns of male dama gazelles Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society 50th Annual Meeting. Corpus Christi, TX. Feb 2015.
Type: Other Status: Submitted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Cooper S. M. 2015. Data mining: comparative habitat selection of feral hogs and northern bobwhites in shrub-dominated rangeland. Final Report to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Type: Other Status: Submitted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Cooper S. M. 2015 Is chronic exposure to low levels of aflatoxins involved in the quail decline? Final report to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: This project targets wildlife managers, biologists, and landowners interested in the production and conservation of wildlife on rangeland. Efforts included scientific presentations at the Wildlife Society Texas Chapter annual meeting; a field days for local students, managers and landowners; descriptions of research findings in popular magazines, on-line and in newspapers; training and mentoring of graduate students; and one-on-one discussions with wildlife managers, landowners and feed industry personnel Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Three graduate students are being mentored in associated with this project and four additional graduate students receive guidance in their studies. Professional development was obtained from attending Emerging Leaders Conference, 8th International Wildlife Ranching Symposium and Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society Annual meeting. Also, day trainings on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Agricultural Research, Urban Wildlife Management Workshop, Water, Wildlife and Wide Open Spaces Conference. Membership of professional organizations includes the spatial ecology and international wildlife working groups of The Wildlife Society. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The new technique for aging trophy deer has been disseminated to biologists and wildlife managers through presentation at the annual meeting of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, personal demonstrations and training to numerous individuals, publication in a scientific journal and an on-line article in AgriLife Today which has been replicated in several newspapers and wildlife magazines. Landowners and wildlife managers helping to sponsor research projects on deer and quail conducted partially on their property receive twice yearly reports and personal advice on animal numbers and habitat condition on their property compared to the group averages. Information on the quail nutrition and management has been published in scientific journals, posters displays and a student field day. Large scale maps have been created for several ranches to aid in habitat manipulation to benefit wildlife. Ongoing research activities and findings on conservation of endangered dama gazelles in Texas have been presented in the magazine of the Exotic Wildlife and on-line in AgriLife Today and as presentations and video at society meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Four scientific articles have been submitted or are being prepared for submission to peer reviewed journals. Four abstracts have been accepted for presentation at the next Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society annual meeting. A video, web and and magazine articles are planned. The two long-term landowner funded research projects on white-tailed deer and quail will continue and the dama gazelle project has been greatly expanded. Current graduate students will continue with their studies and additional funding is being sought to support new graduate students.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The decline in quail populations, associated with changing climate and land use patterns, is of concern to biologists and land owners. Ongoing results of quail surveys, conducted on partnering ranches during the course of research, provides landowners with information to make immediate changes in their wildlife management plans to better fit changing environmental conditions and thus maintain sustainable production of wild quail. Involvement of landowners in research greatly expedites the adoption of new ideas and technologies in by their peers and thus by society. Our research on the effect of chronic, low level ingestion of aflatoxin by northern bobwhites and scaled quail indicates that occasional consumption of contaminated grain or supplemental feed by quail is unlikely to have any harmful effects on health and reproductive capacity of wild quail. The increase in feral hogs in Texas may be harmful to quail populations. Our research on habitat selection indicates that in the quail breeding season feral hogs tend to be restricted to riparian habitats not greatly used by quail as nesting habitat. The influence of feral hogs as nest predators of quail will depend on the interspersion of upland nesting habitat with creeks and drainages that create travel corridors for hogs. The attraction of feral hogs to lowland area and crop fields provides a vulnerability that may be exploited in controlling feral hog populations. The new and more accurate method of aging mature white-tailed deer that this program developed to assist biologists and producers of trophy bucks is increasingly used by wildlife managers, consultant biologists and research students. The dentine method of aging deer improves ability to manage deer herds for selective harvest of trophy animals at peak antler production, thus greatly increases the profits from managed deer herds In addition to native animals, Texas rangelands provide a refuge in which to breed endangered ungulate species for reintroduction to their native countries. Our research on dama gazelles is providing information on the spatial requirements, behavioral interactions and resource use of dama gazelles that is impossible to gain from the severely depleted wild herds in their native range. This will aid in current management of dama gazelles and eventual with repopulation of dama gazelles on their native range.

Publications

Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Cooper, S. M. and M. van der Merwe. 2014. Game ranching for meat production in marginal African Agricultural lands. Journal of Arid Lands Studies 24(1):249-252.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Cooper, S.M. and M. van der Merwe 2014. Game ranching for food security in southern Africa: the Texas connection. 50th Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society. Feb 1922 2014. Austin, TX.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Mungall, E. C. and S. M. Cooper, 2014 Preliminary observations on distribution patterns of male dama gazelles. Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society. Feb 1922 2014. Austin, TX.
Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Cooper, S. M. 2014 Final Report: Data analysis on the home range of free-ranging male dama gazelles on a large west Texas ranch. 52 pp. Second Ark Foundation

Progress 02/18/13 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: This project targets wildlife managers, biologists, and landowners interested in the production and conservation of wildlife on rangeland. Efforts included scientific presentations at the Wildlife Society Texas Chapter annual meeting; a field day for landowners interested in enhancing production of wild quail; descriptions of research findings in popular magazines, on-line and in newspapers; poster presentations at a county fair; training and mentoring of graduate students; and one-on-one discussions with wildlife managers, landowners and feed industry personnel. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Three new graduate students are being mentored in associated with this project and have just started taking their academic courses. One Masters student has recently graduated and taken up a position as a wildlife biologist. Hands-on training in radio-telemetry and use of global positioning system (GPS) collars was provided to 2 co-workers on the exotic wildlife project. Professional development was obtained from attending presentations at the annual meeting of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society and membership in the spatial ecology and international wildlife working groups of The Wildlife Society. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The new technique for aging trophy deer has been disemminated to biologists and wildlife managers through presentation at the annual meeting of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, personal demonstrations and training to numerous individuals, publication in a scientific journal and an on-line article in AgriLife Today which has been replicated in several newspapers and wildlife magazines. Landowners and wildlife managers helping to sponsor research projects on deer and quail conducted partially on their property receive twice yearly reports and personal advice on animal numbers and habitat condition on their property compared to the group averages. Information on the role of predators in quail management was presented to biologists and wildlife managers at the annual meeting of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society and to the public at the Rolling Plains Quail Researcgh Ranch Field Day. Ongoing research activities and findings on conservation of endangered dama gazelles in Texas are presented in the magazine of the Exotic Wildlife and on-line in AgriLife Today. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The decline in huntable quail populations, associated with changing climate and land use patterns, is of concern to bilogists and land owners. Ongoing results of quail surveys, conducted on partnering ranches during during the course of research, provide landowners with information to make immediate changes in their wildlife management plans to better fit changing environmental conditions and thus maintain sustainable production of wild quail. Involvement of landowners in research greatly expedites the adoption of new ideas and technologies in by their peers and thus by society. Wildlife managers often consider that predation has a strong negative effect on quail populations. Our research on the nocturnal activities of coyotes, raccoons and bobcats, and their relative encounter rate with quail nests, indicates that bobcats have little effect on quail in grassland habitats. Furthermore, removal of coyotes may be counterproductive because coyotes may deter the more numerous smaller predators, such as raccoons, from utilizing grasslands where bobwhites nest. Adoption of the idea of balancing predator populations, rather than trying to eliminate all predators, is gaining traction through adoption by the Extension Service and hence to landowners attending field days. Relative to deer herd management, we have recently developed a new and more accurate method of aging white-tailed deer that will assist biologists and producers of trophy bucks to harvest animals at peak antler production. Ability to improve selective harvest greatly increases the profits from managed deer herds. The dentine deer aging technique is already being adopted by several wildlife managers, consultant biologists and research students. Ultimately greater profits from managed wildlife enhances the biodiversity of rangeland because use of rangeland for wildlife production, rather than livestock, provides habitat for a greater diversity of native species. Providing feed for wildlife, especially deer, is a common management practice in Texas. In semi-arid environments, supplemental feeding reduces the variability in quantity and quality of native forage for game animals. We have worked with commercial animal feed producers in testing the suitability of new deer feeds incorporating biofuel residues. Information from these projects goes directly to the animal feed industry to improve the health, productivity and profitability of managed white-tailed deer on ranchland. In addition to native animals, Texas rangelands provide a refuge in which to breed endangered ungulate species for reintroduction to their native countries. Our research on dama gazelles is providing information on the spatial requirements, behavioral interactions and resource use of dama gazelles that will aid in their production and eventual repopulation of their native range.

Publications

Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Cooper, S. M., S. S. Sieckenius, and A. L. Silva. 2013 Dentine method: Aging white-tailed deer by tooth measurements. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 37(2):451457.
Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Fisher, A. C., G. Schuster, W. J. Cobb, A. J. James, S. M. Cooper, A. Per�z de Le�n, and P. J. Holman 2013. Molecular characterization of Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) spp. infecting cattle (Bos taurus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis) in the United States. Veterinary Parasitology 197(1):29-42.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Cooper, S. M, D. Rollins, S. Jhala. 2013. Distribution of common raccoons and coyotes during quail nesting season. Proceedings of the Quail National Quail Symposium. 7:273
Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Jhala, S. 2013. Nocturnal movements and distribution of bobcats, coyotes and raccoons during quail nesting season. Thesis, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Cooper, S. M., S. Sieckenius, R. B. Taylor. 2013. Assessing use of a tub feed by white tailed deer. 49th Annual meeting of Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society. Houston, TX. Feb 21-23, 2013
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Jhala, S., S. M. Cooper, D. Rollins. 2013. Nocturnal habitat selection and movements of bobcats on the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch. 49th Annual meeting of Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society. Houston, TX. Feb 21-23, 2013
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Jhala, S, and S. Cooper. 2013. GPS study of nocturnal predators of quail. Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch 6th Annual Field Day Abstracts, page 41. Sept 27, 2013. Roby, Texas.

Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: A sound understanding of responses of wildlife to habitat and environmental change and to wildlife management practices based on ecological principals is necessary to maintain long-term viability of natural populations and support a thriving wildlife utilization industry. We aim to increase the power to predict the lasting outcomes of current wildlife management techniques and the ecological consequences of natural and anthropogenic environmental change in semi-arid environments. Research outputs will help wildlife managers gauge the cost effectiveness of land management treatments and supplemental feeding programs to enhance wildlife production and to select the best course of action. We also aim to limit unfavorable interactions between species, such as competition for resources, the risk of disease transfer and undue levels of predation, through scientific habitat management and understanding of the interactions between animal species and between species and their environment. Most of our research is conducted on private ranches within south Texas. Interaction and involvement of the landowners and managers in the research is an important aspect of this project because it expedites adoption of new ideas and techniques by the industry. Information has also been widely disseminated by scientific publications, presentations at International, National and State scientific meetings, through cooperative interaction with AgriLife Extension Service and increasingly on electronic media. PARTICIPANTS: Major participants in this program in 2012 were Susan Cooper, research staff Shane Sieckenius and Andrea Silva and Masters student Shesh Jhala. Collaborators include many members of Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Service, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University. Partner organisations were Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Wintergarden Groundwater Conservation District, Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch, ADM Nutrition Alliance, Wildlife Ranching LLP and several private landowners especially those participating in the South Texas Covey Connection and South Texas Deer Study Group. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences are landowners and wildlife managers of south Texas and other semi-arid rangelands who are interested in producing quality wildlife through habitat conservation and improvement and through better techniques of assessing animal quality. Also employees of State and Federal agencies managing land for wildlife concerned with wildlife production and interactions between wildlife and livestock that affect animal health and agricultural productivity. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: There are no major modifications to this project, although sub-projects may change in response to the need for new information and to examine new ideas and aspects of understanding of the ecological principals behind wildlife responses to changes in resource quantity, quality and distribution.

Impacts
Wildlife is a valuable economic resource in semi-arid environments. We work closely with landowners to optimize wildlife management techniques aimed at producing quality game animals in a sustainable manner. Projects range in scale from measuring the effectiveness of landscape-scale habitat manipulation techniques, to refining techniques of individual animal management so that selective harvesting can improve both range health and the quality of animals produced. Large scale brush reduction is often used to increase productivity and diversity of habitat for livestock and wildlife. In a long-term cooperative research project with several south Texas ranches we have found that the most effective habitat configurations for quail production vary in accordance with rainfall. In years of ample rainfall, northern bobwhite thrive in open, herbaceous, areas but in drought conditions shrubby areas are essential to maintain quail populations by providing protection from predators and shelter from inclement weather. Climate change models indicate that southern rangelands will become drier, so using our information landowners can select land manipulations will be most beneficial in future years. Supplemental feeding is one management technique to even out the naturally erratic availability of quality nutrition for game animals. We investigated the use of novel forms of supplemental feed to assist absentee and small scale landowners provide supplemental nutrition to their deer herds. Food plots grown for wildlife require irrigation if they are to be of value. Due to water limitations, we investigated use rainwater harvesting for deficit irrigation of forb and small grain plots. Results suggest rainwater harvesting to be feasible but the scale is better suited to growing small patches of crops for game birds rather than for deer. Control of predation is important in game bird management. The study of hunting patterns of mammalian-predators during the quail nesting season indicates the effects of predation by bobcats, coyotes and raccoons are not additive, the presence of coyotes appears to limits incursions by other predators into the grassland areas used as nest sites by bobwhites. Also leaving dense cactus stands provide effective barriers to the movement of raccoons and provide refugia for quail. In contrast, the increasingly popular management practice of providing supplemental feeding stations for quail attracts raccoons into quail nesting areas thus increasing the risk that nests will be lost to predation. Out long-term project with landowners, to develop several known age deer herds has allowed us to create a new techniques for aging wild caught bucks by tooth wear measurements that provides much needed greater accuracy than conventional aging methods. This assists managers in achieving selective harvest for optimal economic returns from managed deer herds. We also investigated the spatial and temporal distribution of wildlife as potential vectors of emerging diseases such as cattle tick fever and Chagas' disease which pose a potential health risk for humans, livestock and service animals.

Publications

Jhala, S, S. M. Cooper, and D. Rollins. 2012. Camera survey to assess mesopredator habitat use. Annual Meeting of Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Fort Worth, TX. Feb 2012. Abstract.
Soria, C. M., M. M. Kramm, W. B. Miller, S. M. Cooper, and R.R. Lopez. 2012. Role of mammalian species as hosts for Chagas Disease (Trypanosoma cruzi) at Lackland Air Force Base. 62nd Annual James Steele Conference in Nature Transmissible to Man. San Antonio, TX. June 2012. Abstract.
Cooper, S. M. 2012. Comparing wildlife ranching and venison production in Texas and South Africa. Wildlife Ranching 5(4):76-79.
Cooper, S. M. and D. I. Leskovar. 2012. Selective feeding on artichoke foliage by white-tailed deer in Texas. Acta Horticulturae 942:221-224.
Perotto-Baldivieso, H. L, S. M. Cooper, A. F. Cibils, M. Figueroa-Pagan, K. Udaeta, C. Rubio. 2012. Detecting autocorrelation problems from GPS collar data in livestock studies. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 136:117-125.
Cooper, S.M. 2012. AgriLife Deer Aging Chart. Technical Publication ESP-473 https://agrilifebookstore.org/
Cooper, S. M, D. Rollins, S. Jhala. 2012. Distribution of common raccoons and coyotes during quail nesting season. Quail VII Seventh National Quail Symposium. Tucson, AZ, Jan 2012. Abstract.
Cooper, S. M., S. S. Sieckenius, and A. L. Silva. 2012. Accurate measurements of tooth wear improve aging of white-tailed bucks. Annual Meeting of Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Fort Worth, TX. Feb 2012. Abstract.

Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: A sound understanding of responses of wildlife to habitat change and wildlife management practices based on ecological principals is necessary to maintain long-term viability of natural populations and support a thriving wildlife industry. We aim to increase the power to predict the lasting outcomes of current wildlife management techniques and the ecological consequences of natural and anthropogenic environmental change in semi-arid environments. Research outputs will help wildlife managers gauge the cost effectiveness of land management treatments and supplemental feeding programs to enhance wildlife production and to select the best course of action. We also aim to limit unfavorable interactions between species, such as competition for resources, the risk of disease transfer and undue levels of predation, through scientific habitat management and understanding of the interactions between animal species and between species and their environment. Most of our research is conducted on private ranches within south Texas. Interaction and involvement of the landowners and managers in the research is an important aspect of this project because it expedites adoption of new ideas and techniques by the industry. Information has also been widely disseminated by scientific publications, presentations at national and state scientific meetings, through cooperative interaction with AgriLife Extension Service and increasingly on electronic media. PARTICIPANTS: Major participants in this program are Susan Cooper, research staff Shane Sieckenius and Andrea Wappel and student Shesh Jhala, who also had the opportunity for eight months of intensive training in ranch management during an internship at Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch. Collaborators include Dale Rollins, Jim Gallagher, and many other members of Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Service and Texas A&M University. Partner organisations are Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Winter Garden Ground Water Conservation District, Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch and several private landowners especially those participating in the South Texas Covey Connection and South Texas Deer Study Group. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences are land owners and managers of south Texas and semi-arid rangelands who are interested in producing quality wildlife through habitat conservation and improvement, and through better techniques of assessing animal quality. Also employees of state and federal agencies managing land for wildlife and those concerned with wildlife production and interactions between wildlife and livestock that affect animal health and agricultural productivity. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Wildlife is a valuable economic resource in semi-arid environments. We work closely with landowners to optimize wildlife management techniques aimed at producing quality game animals in a sustainable manner. Projects range in scale from measuring the effectiveness of landscape-scale habitat manipulation techniques, to refining techniques of individual animal management so that selective harvesting can improve both range health and the quality of animals produced. Large scale brush reduction is often used to increase productivity and diversity of habitat for livestock and wildlife. In a long-term cooperative research project with several south Texas ranches we have found that the most effective habitat configurations for quail production vary in accordance with rainfall. In years of ample rainfall, northern bobwhite thrive in open, herbaceous, areas but in drought conditions shrubby areas are essential to maintain quail populations by providing protection from predators and shelter from inclement weather. Climate change models indicate that southern rangelands will become drier, so using our information landowners can select land manipulations will be most beneficial in future years. Wildfire is an extreme version of the prescribed burns used to create structural diversity of habitat. Monitoring the recovery of biodiversity after an extensive wildlife, as measured by rodent populations and vegetation communities, shows the resiliency of rangeland and native wildlife populations to change. Three years after fire we found that the vegetative community composition had returned to close to its original state and consequently there were few enduring changes in small mammal community composition. Supplemental feeding is one management technique to even out the naturally erratic availability of quality nutrition for game animals. Food plots grown for wildlife require irrigation if they are to be of value. Due to water limitations, we investigated use rainwater harvesting for deficit irrigation of forb and small grain plots. Results suggest rainwater harvesting to be feasible but the scale is better suited to growing small patches of crops for game birds rather than for deer. Control of predation is important in game bird management. The study of hunting patterns of mammalian-predators during the quail nesting season indicates the effects of predation by coyotes and racoons are not additive, the presence of coyotes appears to limits incursions by raccoons into the grassland areas used as nest sites by bobwhites. Also dense cactus stands provide effective barriers to the movement of raccoons and provide refugia for quail. In contrast, the increasingly popular management practice of providing supplemental feeding stations for quail attracts raccoons into quail nesting areas thus increasing the risk that nests will be lost to predation. At the individual animal scale, long-term monitoring of individual know-age wild white-tailed deer has allowed managers to refine their herd management criteria to develop valuable high quality deer herds and we have defined a means of aging wild caught bucks with much needed greater accuracy than conventional methods.

Publications

Moseley, W.A., Cooper, S.M, Hewitt, D.G., Fulbright, T.E., and DeYoung, C.A. 2011. Effects of supplemental feeding and density of white-tailed deer on rodents. Journal of Wildlife Management 75(3):675-681.
Seabury, C.M., Bhattarai, E.K., Taylor, J.F., Viswanathan, G.G., Cooper, S.M., Davis, D.S., Dowd, S.E., Lockwood, M.L., and Seabury, P.M. 2011. Genome-wide polymorphism and comparative analyses in the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus): A model for conservation genomics. Public Library of Science One. 6:e15811.8pp.
Cooper, S.M., Perotto-Baldivieso, H.L., Meek, M.G., Figueroa-Pagan, M., and Owens, M.K. 2011. Influence of ranch infrastructure on the spatial distribution of white-tailed deer on South Texas rangeland. Animal Production Science 51(4): iv-cxcix.
Cheleuitte-Nieves, C., Perotto-Baldivieso, H., Wu, X.B., Cooper, S.M., and Holloway, J.W. 2011. Seasonal and diurnal patterns of spatial spread and the influence of resources on a free-ranging cattle herd in a semi-arid rangeland in South Texas, USA. 96th Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Austin, Texas. Aug, 2011. Abstract.
Cooper, S.M., Figueroa-Pagan, M., Sieckenius, S.S., and Silva, A.L. 2011. Home range size of white-tailed deer inside and outside a high fence. Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society. San Antonio, Texas. Feb, 2011. Abstract.
Cooper, S.M. and S.S. Sieckenius. 2011. Rainwater harvesting for drip-irrigated wildlife food plots. Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society. San Antonio, Texas. Feb, 2011. Abstract.
Witecha, M.J., Litt, A.R., Fulbright, T.E., Cooper, S.M, and Walker, D.P. 2011. Effects of wildfire on small mammal communities. Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society. San Antonio, Texas. Feb, 2011. Extended abstract.
Witecha, M.J., Litt, A.R., Fulbright, T.E., Cooper, S.M, and Walker, D.P. 2011. Effects of extensive and variable wildfire on small mammal abundance and species richness. 91st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists. Portland, Oregon. June, 2011. Abstract.

Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: This research uses ecological principals to develop our understanding of responses of wildlife to habitat change. The aim is to increase our power to predict the long-term outcomes of current wildlife management techniques, and the ecological consequences of natural and anthropogenic environmental change in semi-arid environments. Research outputs will help wildlife and land managers assess the cost effectiveness of land management treatments to enhance wildlife production and select the optimal course of action. It also aims to limit negative interactions between species, such as competition for resources, the risk of disease transfer and excessive predation through scientific habitat management and understanding of the interactions between animal species and between species and their environment. Most projects are conducted on private ranches within south Texas. Interaction and involvement of the landowners and managers in the research is an important aspect of this project, because it expedites adoption of new ideas and techniques by the industry. Information has also been widely disseminated by scientific publications, presentations at International, National and State scientific meetings and through cooperative interaction with AgriLife Extension Service and increasingly on electronic media. PARTICIPANTS: Participants in this program are Susan Cooper, research staff Shane Sieckenius, Andrea Silva, and Manuel Figueroa-Pagan and student Christopher Cheleuitte-Nieves. Collaborators include Dale Rollins, J.W. Holloway, Jim Gallagher, and many other members of Texas Agrilife Research and Extension Service and Texas A&M University. Partner organisations are Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, South West Texas Junior College, Cranfield University, UK and many private landowners especially those participating in the South Texas Covey Connection and South Texas Deer Study Group. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences are land owners and managers of south Texas and semi-arid savanna and rangeland who are interested in producing quality wildlife through habitat and population conservation and management. Also employees of state and federal agencies managing land for wildlife who are need information on wildlife management techniques and interactions between wildlife and livestock that affect animal health and agricultural productivity. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
This research focuses on responses of native herbivores to changes in resource distribution and habitat structure. Wildlife is a valuable economic resource in semi-arid environments. We work closely with landowners to optimize wildlife management techniques and assess their long-term influence on both game and non-game species. Projects range in scale from assessing the effectiveness of landscape-scale habitat manipulation techniques, to refining techniques of individual animal assessment so that selective harvesting can improve both range health and deer quality. Large scale brush reduction is often used to increase productivity and diversity of habitat for livestock and wildlife. In a long-term cooperative research project with several south Texas ranches we have found that the most effective habitat configurations for quail production vary in accordance with rainfall. In wet years northern bobwhite select open, herbaceous, areas but in drought conditions shrubby areas are essential to maintain quail populations by providing shelter and protection from predators. Climate change models indicate that southern rangelands will become drier, so using our information landowners can select land manipulations will be most beneficial in future years. Wildfire is an extreme version of the prescribed burns used to create structural diversity of habitat. Monitoring the recovery of rodent populations and vegetation after an extensive wildlife showed the resiliency of rangeland and native wildlife populations to change. We found little evidence of change in vegetation composition or resultant changes in small mammal community composition after fire. Also, unlike in temperate forests, heavy browsing of the vegetation by white-tailed deer had little effect on abundance and diversity of small mammal species. Predation risk for game species can be altered by management decisions. The study of hunting patterns of meso-predators during the quail nesting season indicates the effects of predation by coyotes and racoons are not additive, the presence of coyotes limits incursions by raccoons into the grassland areas used as nest sites by bobwhites. However, the increasingly popular management practice of providing supplemental feeding stations for quail attracts raccoons into quail nesting areas thus increasing the risk that nests will be lost to predation. A third topic is disease, we are cooperating in assessing the prevalence of viral and tick borne diseases in wild deer and the genetic basis of disease resistance in these animals. All these research projects aim to improve the management of wildlife on rangeland through use of ecological principals to predict wildlife responses to changes in resource distribution.

Publications

Cooper, S.M., H.L. Perotto-Baldivieso, M.G. Meek, M. Figueroa-Pagan. 2010. Distribution of white-tailed deer on South Texas rangeland. 7th International Deer Congress, Huilo Huilo Chile Aug 1-6 2010 Abstract.
Cooper, S. M. and D. Rollins. 2010 Nocturnal habitat use and movements of mammalian predators of quail in Texas. The Wildlife Society 17th Annual Conference, Snowbird, Utah Oct 2-6 2010 Abstract.
Cooper, S.M. M.l Figueroa-Pagan, and D. Rollins. 2010 Hunting patterns and habitat use by mammalian predators of quail. 46th Annual meeting of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Galveston, TX. Feb 2010. Abstract.
Cooper S.M. 2010 Managing for quail in wet and dry years. Past, present and future landownership concerns: wildlife, livestock, fisheries and private ranch security. Texas AgriLife Extension Service Laredo June 10, 2010. Abstract.
Sieckenius, S.S. and S.M. Cooper. 2010 Calibrating deer aging by tooth wear for South Texas. 46th Annual meeting of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Galveston, TX. Feb 2010. Abstract.
Witecha, M. J., A. R. Litt, T. E. Fulbright, S. M. Cooper, and D. P. Walker. 2010. Effects of wildfire on small mammal communities. 46th Annual meeting of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Galveston, TX. Feb 2010.Galveston, TX. Abstract.
Witecha,M.J., A. R. Litt, T. E. Fulbright, S. M. Cooper, D. Walker 2010. Effects of wildfire on small mammal communities. 1st Javelina Research Symposium 2010, TAMU-Kingsville. April 26, 2010. Abstract.
Cooper, S.M. 2010. GPS Predators: Coyotes And Cactus Keep Raccoons At Bay WildWonderings Blog Feb 2, 2010.
Cooper , S.M. 2010. GPS predators: Do coyotes and cactus keep raccoons at bay RPQRR e-Quail Newsletter, Feb 2010, Vol 2, No. 2.
Cooper, S.M., H.M. Scott, G.R. De la Garza, A.L. Deck, and J.C. Cathey. 2010. Distribution and Inter-species Contact of Feral Swine and Cattle on Rangeland in South Texas: Implications for Disease Transmission. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 46(1):152-164.
Ramos, C.M., S.M. Cooper, and P.J. Holman. 2010. Molecular and serologic evidence for Babesia bovis-like parasites in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in south Texas. Veterinary Parasitology 172 (3-4) 214-220.

Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: This research uses ecological principals to develop our understanding of responses of wildlife to habitat change. The aim is to increase our power to predict the long-term outcomes of current wildlife management techniques, and the ecological consequences of natural and anthropogenic environmental change in semi-arid regions. Research outputs will help wildlife and land managers assess the cost effectiveness of land management treatments and enhance wildlife production, while limiting negative interactions between species, such as predation, competition for resources and the risk of disease transfer. Most projects are conducted on private ranches within south Texas. Interaction and involvement of the landowners and managers in the research is an important aspect, because it expedites adoption of new ideas and techniques by the industry. Information has also been widely disseminated by scientific publications, presentations at International, National and State scientific meetings and through cooperative interaction with AgriLife Extension Service. Data is being shared with epidemiological modelers to improve validity of animal disease modeling. PARTICIPANTS: Participants in this program are Susan Cooper, research staff Shane Sieckenius, Andrea Wappel, and Mauel Figueroa-Pagan and student Christopher Chelliutte-Nieves. Collaborators include Humberto Perotto, J.W. Holloway, Dale Rollins, Jim Gallagher, and many other members of Texas Agrilife Research and Extension Service and Texas A&M University. Partner organisations are Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Science, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, South West Texas Junior College and many private landowners especially those participating in the South Texas Covey Connection and South Texas Deer Study Group. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences are land owners and managers of south Texas and semi-arid rangelands who are interested in producing quality wildlife through habitat conservation and improvement and through better techniques of assessing animal quality. Also employees of state and federal agencies managing land for wildlife and concerned with wildlife production and interactions between wildlife and livestock that affect animal health and agricultural productivity. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: There are no major modifications to this project, although sub-projects may change in response to the need for new information and to examine new ideas and aspects of understanding of the ecological principals behind wildlife responses to resource distribution.

Impacts
This research focuses on responses of native herbivores to changes in resource distribution and habitat structure. Wildlife is a valuable economic resource in semi-arid environments. We work closely with landowners to optimize wildlife management techniques and assess their long-term influence on both game and non-game species. Projects range in scale from assessing the effectiveness of large scale habitat manipulation techniques, to refining techniques of individual animal assessment so that selective harvesting can improve both range health and deer quality. Large scale brush reduction is often used to increase productivity and diversity of habitat for deer and quail. We found that the most effective habitat configurations for quail production vary in accordance with rainfall. In wet years bobwhites select open, herbaceous, areas but in drought conditions shrubby areas are essential to maintain populations by providing shelter and protection from predators. The new study of hunting patterns of coyotes and raccoons during the quail nesting season indicates that competitive exclusion of raccoons by coyotes limits incursions by raccoons into the grassland areas favored as nest sites by bobwhites. This advantage is undermined by management attempts to provide supplemental feeding stations for quail, these attract raccoons into the nesting areas. In northern regions high deer densities suppress shrub cover required by breeding birds, but in Texas we found little evidence of structural habitat change due to deer browsing and resultant changes in small mammal abundance. A study of the effects of fire and exotic grass invasion on biodiversity is ongoing. Data on interactions between cattle, deer and feral hogs is being shared with wildlife epidemiologists to model risk of disease transfer between wildlife and livestock on rangeland. This will improve the ability to respond to and contain animal disease outbreaks that may threaten agricultural production on rangeland. We are cooperating in assessing the prevalence of viral and tick borne diseases in wild deer and the genetic basis of disease resistance in these animals. All these research projects aim to use an understanding of the ecological principals behind wildlife responses to resource distribution in order to improve the management of wildlife on rangeland.

Publications

Cooper, S.M., J.C. Cathey, D.L. Alford, and S.S. Sieckenius. 2009. Influence of rainfall, type of range and brush management on abundance of northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) in southern Texas. The Southwestern Naturalist 54(1):13-18.
Lansing S.W., S.M. Cooper, E.E. Boydston, and K.E. Holekamp. 2009 Taphonomic and zooarchaeological implications of spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) bone accumulations in Kenya: a modern behavioral ecological approach. Paeleobiology 35(2):289-309.
Cooper, S.M. 2009. Wildlife Forage Requirements. Texas Pasture and Forage Work Group Beeville, TX.
Cheleuitte-Nieves C., H. Perotto-Baldivieso, X.B. Wu, S.M. Cooper. 2009 Spatial spread of a cattle herd as a function of period of day, season, and activity in a semi-arid rangeland in South Texas, USA. Society for Range Management, 62nd Annual Meeting, Albequerque, NM (Abstract)
Cooper, S.M., R.M. Cooper, and A.L. Wappel. 2009. Rodent population response to brush reduction by roller-chopping and prescribed burning. 44th Annual Conference of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Lubbock, TX.
Cooper, S.M. and D.I. Leskovar. 2009. Selective Feeding on Artichoke Foliage by White-Tailed Deer in Texas. VII International Symposium on artichoke, cardoon and their wild relatives. Bretagne Biotechnologie Vegetale, Saint-Pol de Leon, Brittany, France.
Cooper, S.M. H.L. Perotto-Baldivieso, and M.K. Owens. 2009. Distribution and interaction of white-tailed deer and cattle in south Texas rangeland. Society for Range Management, 62nd Annual Meeting, Albequerque, NM.
Cooper S.M. and D. Rollins. 2009. Search patterns and habitat use by mammalian predators of quail. Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch, Roby, TX.
Cooper, S.M. and S.S. Sieckenius. 2009. South Texas Covey Connection.. 44th Annual Conference of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Lubbock, TX.
Cooper, S.M., A.L. Wappel, R.M. Cooper, M.K. Owens. 2009. Population responses of small mammals to brush reduction techniques in shrub dominated rangeland. The Wildlife Society 16th Annual Conference, Monterey, CA.
Holstrom L.K., A. Parham, H.M. Scot, W. Cupit, X.B. Wu, S.m. Cooper, and T.E. Carpenter. 2009. Describing and predicting movement patterns of feral swine (Sus scrofa): implications for infectious disease dynamics. International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics (ISVEE) Conference XII. Durban, South Africa.
Holman P. and S. Cooper. 2009. Boophilus ticks and their pathogens - an epidemiological survey of reservoir hosts for Texas tick fever (Bovine Babesiosis, AgriLife Research Report.
Leskovar, D.I., T. Shinohara, S. Agehara, S.M.Cooper, K. Yoo and B. Patil. 2009 development of cultural strategies for artichoke production in Texas consumers to farm: changing patterns in the fruit and vegetable industry 2009 Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, Austin TX.
Moseley, W.A., S.M. Cooper, D.G. Hewitt, C.A. DeYoung, T.E. Fulbright, and D. Draeger. 2009. Deer management has little effect on sympatric rodent species. 44th Annual Conference of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Lubbock, TX.

Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: This research aims to increase our power to predict the long-term outcomes of current wildlife management techniques, using ecological principals to develop our understanding of responses of wildlife to habitat change. Research outputs will help managers assess the cost effectiveness of land management treatments and improve wildlife production, while limiting negative interactions between species, such as competition for resources and the risk of disease transfer. All projects have been conducted on private ranches within south Texas and interaction and involvement of the landowners and managers is an important output, putting knowledge in the hands of the people who will be adopting the new ideas. Information has also been disseminated widely by scientific publications, presentations at national and state scientific meetings and through cooperative interaction with AgriLife Extension Service. Data has been shared with epidemiological modelers to improve validity of animal disease modeling. PARTICIPANTS: Participants in this program are Susan Cooper PhD, research staff Shane Sieckenius, Andrea Wappel, and Mauel Figueroa-Pagan and students William Moseley, and Christopher Chelliutte-Nieves. Collaborators include Humberto Perotto, J.W. Holloway, Dale Rollins, Jim Gallagher, and many other members of Texas Agrilife Research and Extension Service. Partner organisations are the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Science, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Oklahoma State University, Center for Animal Disease Modeling and Surveillance at UC Davis, South West Texas Junior College, Joe Skeen Institute for Rangeland Restoration, US Forest Service - Rocky Mountain Research Station, and many private landowners especially those participating in the South Texas Covey Connection and South Texas Deer Study Group. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences are land owners and managers of south Texas and semi-arid rangelands who are interested in producing quality wildlife through habitat conservation and improvement and through better techniques of assessing animal quality. Also employees of state and federal agencies managing land for wildlife and concerned with wildlife production and interactions between wildlife and livestock that affect animal health and agricultural productivity. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: There are no major modifications to this project, although sub-projects may change in response to the need for new information and to examine new ideas and aspects of understanding of the ecological principals behind wildlife responses to resource distribution.

Impacts
This research focuses on responses of native herbivores to changes in resource distribution and habitat structure. Wildlife is a valuable economic resource in semi-arid environments. We work closely with landowners to optimize wildlife management techniques and assess their long-term influence on both game and non-game species. Projects range in scale from assessing the effectiveness of large scale habitat manipulation techniques, to refining techniques of individual animal assessment so that selective harvesting can improve both range health and deer quality. Large scale brush reduction is often used to increase productivity and diversity of habitat for deer and quail. We found that the effectiveness of prescribed fire in reducing shrub cover in semi-arid areas was limited. Burns tend to be patchy and vegetation regrowth is dependent upon rainfall patterns. Prescribed fire had less effect on small mammal populations than mechanical brush treatment, and had little effect on the spatial distribution of quail, white-tailed deer, cattle and their food resources. Mechanical techniques of shrub reduction had a greater impact on populations of small mammals. Clearing large areas of shrubs by root-plowing was identified as the most effective land treatment for increasing northern bobwhite populations. Over-browsing by deer is a habitat problem in some northern areas, but in south Texas we found no evidence that deer density influenced small mammal populations. Supplemental feeding of deer is a common range management practice to improve antler size and trophy quality. We established that supplemental feeding of deer has little effect on home range size of deer or on sympatric small mammal populations. Ranch infrastructure, such as water sources, feeders and roads, has a strong influence on the distribution of larger animals. The distribution of cattle and feral hogs is strongly influenced by water distribution. Cattle, deer and to a lesser extent feral hogs use ranch roads for travel. This affects the distribution of grazing and indicates greatest contact between wildlife and livestock occurs near water and ranch roads. Deer and cattle both select the most productive ecological sites within rangeland, thus these areas must be managed for multispecies production, since cattle avoid rocky terrain this can be managed primarily for deer and other wildlife. Data on interactions between cattle, deer and feral hogs is being shared with wildlife epidemiologists to model risk of disease transfer between wildlife and livestock on rangeland. This will improve the ability to respond to and contain animal disease outbreaks that may threaten agricultural production on rangeland. We cooperate in assessing the prevalence of viral diseases in wild deer and the genetic basis of disease resistance in these animals. All these research projects aim to use an understanding of the ecological principals behind wildlife responses to resource distribution in order to improve the management of wildlife on rangeland.

Publications

Cooper, S.M., H.L. Perotto-Baldivieso, M.K. Owens, M.G. Meek, and M.Figueroa-Pagan. 2008. Interaction between white-tailed deer and cattle in a semi-arid grazing system. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 127:85-92.
Meek, M.G., S.M. Cooper, M.K. Owens, R.M. Cooper and A.L. Wappel. 2008. White-tailed deer distribution in response to patch burning on rangeland. Journal of Arid Environments 72:2026-2033
Perotto-Baldivieso, H.L., E. Melendez-Ackerman, A. Martinez, P. Calle, O.M. Ramos Gonzales, M. Quinones, P. Leimgruber, C.A. Christen, G. Pons, M.A. Garcia, and S.M. Cooper. (2008 on line) Spatial distribution, connectivity, and the influence of scale: habitat availability for the endangered Mona Island Rock Iguana. Biodiversity and Conservation 18:xxx-xxx http://www.springerlink.com/content/j4u68x854j6hu8r0/
Cooper, S.M. 2008. Distribution and interaction of deer and cattle. Range Management Symposium/Workshop: Integrating Range Type and Companion Grazing Strategies. Texas State University, San Marcos, TX.
Cooper, S.M. 2008. Interactions and distribution of deer and cattle on rangeland. Proceedings, West Texas Deer Study Group: Back to the basics deer management (ed R. Linux) Albany, TX. 37 pp
Simmons, H., H. M. Scott, and S.M. Cooper. 2008. Feral Swine Density Estimation Methods: Short-Term and Long-Term Response Methodologies to Disease Incursions. Proceedings, A discussion Document based on a Statewide Workshop at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Service Center, Uvalde, TX.
Cheleuitte-Nieves, C., H. Perotto-Baldivieso, X.B. Wu, S. Cooper, J.W. Holloway. 2008 Abstract. Landscape Scale Study of Cattle Herd Dynamics in a Semi-arid Rangeland. Hispanic Leaders in Agriculture and the Environment. San Antonio, TX.
Holmstrom, L. K., A. Parham, W. Cupit, X.B. Wu, S. Cooper, H.M. Scott. 2008 Abstract. Movement patterns of feral swine (Sus scrofa) in a South Texas rangeland: implications for disease transmission dynamics. Epidemics: journal and conference of infectious disease dynamics. Asilomar, CA.
Holmstrom, L. K., A. Parham, W. Cupit, X.B. Wu, H.M. Scott, S. Cooper. 2008 Abstract. Movement patterns of feral swine (Sus scrofa) in a South Texas rangeland: implications for disease transmission dynamics. Annual Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases (CRWAD) at Chicago, IL.
Moseley W.A., S.M. Cooper, D.G. Hewitt, T.E. Fulbright, C.A. DeYoung. 2008. Abstract. Effects of supplemental seeding and density of white-tailed deer on the spatial distribution of small mammals. Wildlife Society 15th Annual Conference Miami, FL.
Perotto-Baldivieso, H.L. S.M. Cooper, A.F. Cibils. 2008 Abstract. New challenges to rangeland connectivity in the Southwestern United States. Environmental Workshops 2008. Habitat fragmentation and cultural landscapes: the role of ecological connectivity and biological corridors. Universidad Internacional de Andalucia, Baeza, Spain.
Perotto-Baldivieso, H.L., S.M. Cooper, M. Figeroa-Pagan, and J. Romo. 2008. Abstract. Too much data? Optimizing GPS collar data collection schedules. Joint Meeting of the Society for Range Management and the American Forage and Grassland Council. Louisville, KY.

Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07

Outputs
OUTPUTS: This research aims to increase our power to predict the long-term outcomes of current wildlife management techniques, using ecological principals to develop our understanding of responses of wildlife to habitat change. Research outputs will help managers assess the cost effectiveness of land management treatments and improve wildlife production, while limiting negative interactions between species, such as competition for resources and the risk of disease transfer. Information has been disseminated by scientific publications, cooperative interaction with AgriLife Extension Service, presentations at national and state level scientific meetings, and by interaction with individual landowners and managers. PARTICIPANTS: Participants in this program are Susan Cooper PhD, her staff Shane Sieckenius and Andrea Wappel, and students Michael Meek, William Moseley, and Guadelupe de la Garza. Collaborators include M. Keith Owens, J.W. Holloway, Morgan Scott, Christopher Seabury, Dale Rollins, Dean Ransom, Humberto Perotto, and many other members of Texas Agrilife Research and Extension Service. Partner organisations are the Joe Skeen Institute for Rangeland Restoration, US Forest Service - Rocky Mountain Research Station, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas AgriLife Reseach (formerly Texas Agricultural Experiment Station), Texas A&M College of Veterinary Science, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, South West Texas Junior College Wildlife Management Program, and private landowners especially those participating in the South Texas Covey Connection and South Texas Deer Study Group. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences are land owners and managers of south Texas and other semi-arid rangelands who are interested in producing quality wildlife through habitat conservation and improvement and better techniques of assessing animal quality. Also employees of state and federal agencies managing land for wildlife and concerned with wildlife production and animal health.

Impacts
This research focuses on responses of native herbivores to changes in resource distribution and habitat structure. Wildlife is a valuable economic resource in semi-arid environments. We work closely with landowners to optimize wildlife management techniques and assess their long-term influence on both game and non-game species. Projects range in scale from assessing the effectiveness of large scale habitat manipulation techniques, to refining techniques of individual animal assessment so that selective harvesting can improve range health and deer quality. Reduction of brush cover is often used to increase productivity and diversity of habitat for deer and quail. Mechanical shrub reduction impacts populations of small mammals, but population responses of quail seem to be more influenced by precipitation and range productivity than by method and pattern of brush clearance. We found the effectiveness of prescribed fire in reducing shrub cover in semi-arid areas was limited. Burns tend to be patchy and vegetation regrowth is dependant upon rainfall patterns. Prescribed fire had less initial negative effect on small mammal populations than mechanical brush treatment, but had little effect on the spatial distribution of quail, white-tailed deer, cattle and their food resources. Ranch infrastructure, such as water sources, feeders and roads, has a strong influence on animal distribution. Cattle distribution was mainly influenced by roads and water distribution. Deer also used roads for travel but did not linger near water and feeders. Thus, the impact of cattle grazing is likely to be greatest near roads and water, but over use of vegetation near deer feeders may not be a problem. Deer and cattle both select the most productive sites within rangeland, thus these areas must be managed for multispecies production, but cattle avoid rocky terrain, therefore rough terrain can be managed primarily for deer and other wildlife. Supplemental feeding of deer is a common management practice to improve antler size and trophy quality. We established that supplemental feeding did not reduce home range size of deer and are now investigating the impact of supplemental feeding of deer, and deer densities, on other wildlife species. We focused on small mammals and on raccoons which are important components of natural ecosystems as well as vectors of disease and a potential agricultural pest. Feral hogs are also a problem species in rangeland and can transmit economically damaging diseases to livestock. Using GPS technology we quantifed the distribution of cattle and feral hogs on rangeland. Interspecific contacts occurred most commonly at water sources, in irrigated pastures and on ranch roads. Frequencies of interaction at multiple spatial and temporal scales are being calculated for inclusion in a model of risk of disease transfer between feral hogs and livestock on rangeland. This work will aid in developing containment plans in the event of disease outbreak. All these research projects aim to use an understanding of the ecological principals behind wildlife responses to resource distribution in order to improve wildlife management techniques.

Publications

Cathey, J. C., S. M. Cooper, D. L. Alford, D. Ransom, Jr. 2007. Roost site selection and survival of pen-reared northern bobwhite. Texas A&M University System, Texas Cooperative Extension Publication L-5477 Pp. 1-6.
Cooper S.M, J.W. Holloway, and M.K. Owens. 2007 Interactions between Cattle, White-tailed Deer and Northern Bobwhite on Rangeland Modified by Prescribed Fire. Final report RMRS Joint Venture agreement #03-JV-11221-602-281. US Forest Service - Rocky Mountain Research Station.
Moseley, W.A., and S.M. Cooper. 2007. Feeder Invaders- Raccoons. South Texas Wildlife 11(2):1-2.
Cooper, S.M., J.C. Cathey, and S.S. Sieckenius. 2007. Landscape factors influencing bobwhite abundance in Southern Texas during high rainfall years. 42nd Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society. Beaumont, TX. (Abstract)
Meek. M.G., S.M. Cooper, M.K. Owens, and A.L. Wappel. 2007. Distribution of white-tailed deer relative to prescribed burns on Rangeland in South Texas, USA. 42nd Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society. Beaumont, TX. (Abstract)
Cooper, R.M., S.M. Cooper, and M.K. Owens.2007. Spatial interaction between white-tailed deer and cattle on rangeland. Joe Skeen Institute for Range Restoration Annual Workshop, Helena, MT, Aug 21-24 2007. (Abstract)
Meek, M.G., S.M. Cooper, M.K. Owens, and A.L. Wappel. 2007 Spatio-temporal distribution of white-tailed deer relative to prescribed burns on rangeland in south Texas, USA Joe Skeen Institute for Range Restoration Annual Workshop, Helena, MT, Aug 21-24 2007. (Abstract)
Ransom, D., S.M. Cooper, J.C. Cathey, and D. Rollins 2007 Northern bobwhite and small mammal responses to patch disturbance for restoration of Rangeland ecosystems. Joe Skeen Institute for Range Restoration Annual Workshop, Helena, MT, Aug 21-24 2007. (Abstract)
Cooper, S.M., H.M. Scott, J.C. Cathey; G.R. De La Garza, II; A.L. Deck; R.R. Lopez. 2007 Estimating wildlife - livestock contact rates on rangeland with application to epidemiological modeling The Wildlife Society, 14th Annual Conference, Tucson, AZ, September 22-26, 2007(Abstract)
Meek, M.G., S. M. Cooper, M. K.Owens, A. L. Wappel. 2007. Distribution of white-tailed deer relative to prescribed burns on rangeland in south Texas, USA. The Wildlife Society, 14th Annual Conference, Tucson, AZ, September 22-26, 2007(Abstract)

Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06

Outputs
Our research focuses on responses of native herbivores to changes in resource distribution and habitat structure. Wildlife is a valuable economic resource in semi-arid environments. We work closely with landowners to optimize wildlife management techniques and assess their long-term influence on both game and non-game species. Habitat manipulation is a major tool for enhancing production of game species. Large scale brush reduction is often used to increase inter-dispersion and diversity of habitat for deer and quail. We show that population responses of quail to brush reduction seem to be more influenced by precipitation and range productivity than pattern of brush clearance and method used to open up the landscape. In semi-arid areas prescribed burns tend to be patchy and have less initial negative effect on small wildlife species than mechanical brush treatment. We currently have GPS collars on deer and cattle to assess their spatio-temporal distribution relative to range restoration by prescribed burns, and predict their potential effect on regeneration of vegetation. This year herbivore response to habitat improvement has been minimal due to dry conditions limiting vegetative regrowth. Another common range management practice is supplemental feeding of deer to improve trophy quality. This alters the distribution of food resources on the land and affects many wildlife species. We show that although concentrating feed resources does not alter home range size of deer it does concentrate foraging activity around the feeders. Since supplementally fed deer still continue to utilize browse this can cause localized habitat degradation. Control of deer numbers is required to limit over use of the vegetation. We are working with landowners to improve techniques of assessing deer age and potential antler quality, so that selective harvest can improve both range health and deer quality. A new study examining the direct and indirect effects of supplemental feeding of deer on density and distribution of non-game species has begun. This study focuses on small mammal, and on raccoons which are important vectors of disease and a potential agricultural pest. Feral hogs are a problem species in rangeland and can transmit a variety of economically damaging diseases to livestock. We have completed field data collection in a project using GPS technology to quantify the distribution of cattle and feral hogs relative to landscape and anthropomorphic features. Interspecific contacts occurred most commonly at water sources, in irrigated pastures and along ranch roads where hunters lay corn trails to increase the visibility of deer. Frequencies of interaction at multiple spatial and temporal scales are being calculated for inclusion in a model of risk of disease transfer between feral hogs and livestock on rangeland. This work will aid in developing containment plans in the event of disease outbreak. All these research projects aim to use an understanding of the ecological principals behind wildlife responses to resource distribution to improve wildlife management techniques.

Impacts
As wildlife becomes an increasingly important resource more land is being improved for wildlife through costly large scale habitat manipulations. This research uses ecological principals to help develop our understanding of responses of both game and non-game wildlife to habitat change and will increase our power to predict the long-term outcomes of current wildlife management techniques. This should help managers assess the cost effectiveness of land management and improve wildlife production.

Publications

De la Garza, G. R., A. L. Deck, H. M. Scott, S. M. Cooper, J. C. Cathey, J. W. Stuth, S. S. Sieckenius, D. L. Alford, and A. L. Wappel. 2006. Inter-specific contact rates and variable land usage among feral swine and cattle in south Texas, USA. Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics. Cairns, Australia. ISVEE 11:437-439.
Meek, M. G., S. M. Cooper, M. K. Owens, and A. L. Wappel. 2006. Spatio-temporal distribution of white-tailed deer relative to prescribed burns on rangeland in south Texas, USA. Advances in Deer Biology: Deer in a Changing World Editors: Ludyk Bartos, Adam Dusek, Radim Kotrba, Jitka Bartosova-Vichova Proceedings of the 6th International Deer Biology Congress, Prague, Czech Republic, 7-11 August 2006 Abstract no.28: p 44. Research Institute of Animal Production, Praha, Czech Republic.
Cooper, S. M., J. C. Cathey, and S. S. Sieckenius. Video-scale: 2006 A novel device to quantify consumption of supplemental feed by wildlife. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34(5).xxx-xxx.

Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05

Outputs
We are interested in the spatial and temporal responses of wildlife populations to habitat management strategies in semi-arid rangelands. Habitat improvement is an important technique used to increase wildlife productivity and biodiversity. Two total participatory research projects with local landowners are ongoing and provide important links with the clientele. These project focus on improving the production of commercially valuable wildlife. We are also investigating the long-term effects of range restoration through mechanical brush control and prescribed burning on populations of northern bobwhite and small mammals across an ecological gradient from north to south Texas. Preliminary data indicates a reduction in wildlife immediately after treatment, although changes are less severe for burned areas than for mechanical treatment. Longer term changes are being monitored as the vegetation regenerates. Changes in the spatial distribution of white-tailed deer in response to prescribed burns, and competition with cattle, is the focus of a new MS project. Baseline data indicated that there is very little interaction between deer and cattle on untreated rangeland. Post treatment data collection is ongoing. Not all increases in wildlife populations are desirable. Feral hogs pose a threat to the livestock industry as vectors of disease. We are using G.P.S. telemetry collars and automatic video cameras to provide data on spatial distribution of cattle and feral hogs on rangeland and to estimate contact rates between these species. Data is being incorporated into epidemiological models to improve their predictive power in rangeland conditions. Two MS students are currently analyzing the first years data to determine seasonal habitat use and frequency of contact between cattle and hogs. In Texas supplemental feeding of deer is a common management practice. We have shown that supplemental feeding alters the spatial distribution of white-tailed deer within their home range resulting in increased browsing pressure on vegetation around feeders. The combined effects of supplemental feeding and stocking rates of deer on habitat sustainability and wildlife populations is the focus of a new long-term collaborative project. Effects of supplemental feeding on deer productivity are evident just 1 year into the project. Individual animal consumption of feed is being measured by an automated video-camera system developed last year. The projects seeking to identify the cause of declining breeding stocks of white-winged doves are almost completed. The decline appears to be related to changing agricultural practices which have reduced the quality but not quantity of food available for doves. Sorghum is plentiful but nutritional studies with captive doves indicate that while this grain sustains adult doves the protein levels are inadequate for fledglings. Weed seeds that would provide the necessary protein are in short supply due to current clean farming methods.

Impacts
We aim to increase the understanding of the ecological principals behind wildlife responses to range management practices in semi-arid regions, and to use this understanding to optimize the long-term productivity and biodiversity of wildlife populations.

Publications

Cooper, S.M., M.K. Owens, R.M. Cooper, and T.F. Ginnett. 2006. Effect of supplemental feeding on spatial distribution and browse utilization by white-tailed deer. Journal of Arid Environments.
Cooper, S.M., A.L. Wappel and C.A. Hamilton 2006. Partial albinism in the hispid pocket mouse Chaetodipus hispidus in South Texas. Texas Journal of Science.
Cooper, S.M. 2006. Reducing feral hog activity near deer feeders: comparing cottonseed and pelleted supplement. Proceedings of The Wildlife Society Southwestern Section, Alpine TX.
Brown R.D., and S.M. Cooper. 2006. The nutritional, ecological and ethical arguments against baiting and feeding deer. Wildlife Society Bulletin.

Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04

Outputs
Large scale brush suppression by mechanical treatment or prescribed fire, and provision of supplemental feed are common wildlife management practices on rangeland. As part of a multi-disciplinary, multi regional, project we are assessing long-term effects of range restoration through brush control on wildlife biodiversity and quail populations. In addition the spatial distribution of white-tailed deer relative to prescribed burns, and their interaction with cattle at these sites, is being studied using GPS telemetry. Pretreatment data has been collected for both projects and the first land treatments have been implemented. Not all increases in wildlife populations are desirable. Feral hogs pose a threat to the livestock industry as vectors of disease. Our student is using GPS telemetry collars and automatic video cameras to providing data on interspecific contact rates between cattle and feral hogs for the development of veterinary response models to curb potential disease outbreaks. Ranch mapping is complete and animal position data has been collected for 1 season. Supplemental feeding of deer causes changes in wildlife population dynamics and alters the distribution of browsing pressure on the vegetation. Our recently completed project showed that provision of supplemental feed may alter the spatial distribution of deer within their home range resulting in increase in browsing pressure on vegetation around feeders. Several non-target species also use the food provided for deer. A student has been hired for a new project to quantify population density, reproductive success and juvenile survival of non-target animals relative to the availability of supplemental feed. This project is part of a collaborative study on the effects of supplemental feeding and stocking rates on deer populations and habitat quality. We also examined the feasibility of using cottonseed as the supplement for deer, since this product contains gossypol which is toxic to non-ruminant animals. Use of cottonseed eliminated problems with non-target wildlife. The deer were slow to accept cottonseed, but adding a sweetener increased consumption in poor habitats. An automated technique was invented to measure consumption and intake rates of individual animals eating supplemental feed. White-winged doves are another important game species. Breeding numbers have declined in the traditional nesting areas. Quantification of the historical changes in land use patterns and food availability for doves indicates that doves are not food limited. The difference is that now sorghum comprises the bulk of the food, rather than a variety of natural seeds. Collaborative, ongoing, nutritional studies with captive doves indicate that sorghum is nutritionally inadequate to maintain doves while they are provisioning nestlings. We are also involved in two collaborative projects with landowners to improve management techniques for the production of quail and quality white-tailed deer.

Impacts
Our research is aimed at evaluating the ecological impacts of wildlife management practices on rangeland and changing land use patterns, in a scientific manner; with a view to increasing our understanding of the ecological principals behind habitat and wildlife responses.

Publications

Cooper S.M., M.K. Owens, D.E. Spalinger, and T.F. Ginnett. 2003. The architecture of shrubs after defoliation and the subsequent feeding behavior of browsers. Oikos 100:387-393.
Cooper, S,M. and J.C. Cathey: 2004 Quantifying the Consumption of Plain and Sweetened Whole Cottonseed by Wildlife. South Western Association of Naturalists 51st Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX.
Cooper S.M., S.S. Sieckenius, J. Guerra, J.C. Cathey and B.D Wright. 2004 Video-scale: an Accurate Way to Monitor the Consumption of Supplemental Feed by Wildlife . South Western Association of Naturalists 51st Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX.

Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03

Outputs
1.) The decline in breeding populations of white-winged doves in south Texas has been of concern for land managers, hunters and ecologists for some time. According to information gathered in this project the decline does not seem to be related to the change in spatial distribution of food resources. Further study of the breeding energetics of captive doves relative to food quality, and a study modeling the sub-lethal effects of pesticides in irrigation waters has begun. 2.) Studies on the effect of supplementation on white-tailed deer continue with an examination of the potential use of cottonseed as a high protein supplement for deer. Consumption of whole cottonseed by deer can be increased by adding a sweetener. However the sweetener did not increase palatability to non-ruminant animals including problem species such as feral hogs and raccoons. Consumption of various supplemental feeds by individual free-ranging wild animals is being measured by use of a video-camera linked to a weigh-scale. This novel technology is the first time accurate information can be gathered on effects of supplemental feed on wild animals at the individual animal level. 3.) Feral hogs are not only cause a problem by eating food provided for deer. These abundant, widespread animals will be a major source of infection to livestock should a disease such as foot and mouth enter the country. A project has been initiated using G.P.S. collars to determine the movements of feral hogs on rangeland, and to model contact rates and potential disease transmission between hogs and cattle, with a view to developing a control plan should disease occur. An MS student has been recruited for this project and field work is about to begin. 4.) Landowner participation is critical for the transfer of scientific knowledge to the community. Two landowner participation projects have been initiated in conjunction with project TEX8910. The first is a long-term study of tooth-wear, and antler-development in white-tailed deer. This project is designed to refine the current method of aging deer and assessing the potential trophy quality of bucks. This will provide better quality management tools to ranch owners. In the first year 5 landowners participated and 240 deer were captured and measured. Additional landowners will be participating this year . The second project involves assessing brush clearance patterns to improve habitat conditions for bobwhite quail. So far 8 landowners are participating in the study, and all baseline ranch surveys have been completed. 5.) Two other projects assessing ecosystem function through the response of wildlife populations (deer, quail and small mammals) to large scale land treatments have been initiated. Field work will begin in the spring.

Impacts
This project will provide better scientific knowledge of ecosystem function and herbivore nutrition. This knowledge will help to maintain healthy sustainable wildlife populations on rangeland. The impact of landowner participation in the projects will be rapid implementation of new ideas within the community and direct feedback for further development of reseach ideas and techniques.

Publications

Cooper S.M. (2003) EasiFlo Cottonseed: a supplemental feed for deer that is not attractive to feral hogs. Pp. 23-24. Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society 38th Annual Meeting, Waco, TX.
Cooper S.M. (2004) Cottonseed as a supplemental feed for white-tailed deer in game bird management areas. Wildlife Society Bulletin (In press)

Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02

Outputs
New studies have been initiated to help understand the continued decline of breeding populations of white-winged doves in south Texas with a view to reversing this trend. Data collection for the first year is complete. A feasibility study on using cottonseed as a supplemental feed for deer, instead of the more traditional protein pellets or shelled corn, has shown that non-ruminant species including feral hogs, are not attracted to the cottonseed. This solves the problem of these animals concentrating around deer feeders and harming nesting quail. Data collection has begun on two new studies to assess the effects of herbivory on shrub biomass production and allocation to plant defense. Publications are being prepared on the effect of supplemental feeding on use of space and browse utilization by white-tailed deer, and on intake rate maximization and diet selection by white-tailed deer.

Impacts
This project aims to enhance basic scientific knowledge of herbivore foraging ecology, and to provide practical scientific information to managers and landowners in south Texas to enable them to develop ecologically sound wildlife management programs.

Publications

Cooper, S.M., Owens, M.K., Spalinger, D.E. and Ginnett, T.F. (2003) The architecture of shrubs after defoliation and the subsequent feeding behavior of browsers. Oikos 99:
Cooper, S.M., Cooper, R.M., Owens, M.K., and Ginnett, T.F. (2002) Effect of supplemental feeding on use of space and browse utilization by white-tailed deer. In: Land Use for Water and Wildlife, D. Forbes and G. Piccinni (eds.), Texas A&M Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Uvalde. UREC-02-031.
Cooper,S.M., and Ginnett, T.F. (2002) Mechanisms of intake depletion for white-tailed deer feeding on spiny shrubs. In: Land Use for Water and Wildlife, D. Forbes and G. Piccinni (eds.), Texas A&M Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Uvalde. UREC-02-031.
Osborn, R.G., Ginnett, T.F., and Cooper,S.M. (2002) Why do female and male white-tailed deer select different habitats? In: Land Use for Water and Wildlife, D. Forbes and G. Piccinni (eds.), Texas A&M Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Uvalde. UREC-02-034.
Wright, B.D., Lyons, R.K., Cathey, J.C., and Cooper, S.M. (2002) White-tailed deer browse preferences for south Texas and the Edwards plateau. 8pp. Texas Cooperative Extension Service, The Texas A&M University System. B-6130.

Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01

Outputs
We have completed the field experiment on the effect of supplemental feeding on use of space and browse utilization by white-tailed deer. Supplemental feeding of deer on rangeland had no effect home range sizes of the animals. However, activity within the home range was altered. Browsing intensity was greatest near the feeders. Since deer selected the better quality plants, range depletion around feeders may be expected. The project to evaluate 10 summer forages for use in food plots for white-tailed deer is also nearing completion. Lablab, iron & clay cowpeas, and several new varieties of bundle flower are superior in yield, nutritional value and palatability to wild deer. Sunflowers are not suitable as deer forage. The study of gender differences in the foraging behavior of white-tailed deer is complete and the thesis has been written. This large project will assist in assuring that land management practices address the needs of both bucks and does. The experimental phase of our study on mechanisms of intake rate depletion for white-tailed deer feeding on spiny shrubs is complete. Deer experience a very rapid depletion of intake rate when feeding on spiny plants due to active selection by the deer for larger bites. This has implications for understanding how browsers interact with their food plants. Experimental work on intake rate maximization and diet selection by white-tailed deer is complete, but the data is still in the early stages of analysis.

Impacts
This project aims to provide practical scientific information to improve wildlife management programs, especially for white-tailed deer in south Texas, as well as enhancing basic scientific knowledge of herbivore foraging ecology.

Publications

Osborn, R.G. 2001 Nutritional Ecology of White-tailed Deer: Effects of Gender on Foraging Behavior and Digestive Efficiency. PhD Dissertation. Texas A&M University, College Station & Kingsville.
Osborn, R.G., & Ginnett, T.F. 2001 Fecal nitrogen and 2.6 diaminopimelic acid as indices to dietary nitrogen in white-tailed deer. The wildlife Society Bulletin, 29:1131-1139.
Tolleson, D.R., Osborn, R.G., Struth, J.W., Ginnett, T.F. & Applegath M. 2000 Determination of dietary tannin concentration in white-tailed deer via near inflared reflectance spectroscopy of feces. Proceedings of the first National Conference on Grazing Lands (In Press).

Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00

Outputs
1. We completed a study designed to evaluate the effect of deer feeders on use of space and home range size of white-tailed deer. We monitored 24 radio-collared white-tailed deer in areas with and without feeders. There was no difference in home range size between deer with or without feeders in their home ranges. However, deer with feeders in their home ranges had core areas only 50% as large as those of deer without feeders in their home ranges. 2. We completed an experiment designed to compare the digestive efficiency of male, lactating female, and non- lactating female white-tailed deer using full-balance digestion trials. Animals were tested on both a high nitrogen/low fiber diet and a low nitrogen/high fiber diet. Laboratory analyses on fecal, urine, and forage samples collected during the experiment is currently underway. 3. We completed the second year of a two-year project designed to evaluate 9 summer forages for use in food plots for white-tailed deer. Two food plots were planted during April 2000 with replicated strips of the following forages: Laredo soybeans, rio alfalfa, iron and clay cowpeas, mung beans, and five varieties of bundleflower. Plots were clipped at two-week intervals to measure biomass production and estimate utilization by deer. Samples for forage nutritional analysis were taken. Observations of deer using the plots were made to assess relative deer preference for the various forages. Forage chemistry for the 1999 season has been accomplished and is ongoing for the year 2000 samples. 4. We are continuing research into the population dynamics of white-tailed deer in Texas and its relationship to environmental variables. We have shown that fawn production may be either positively or negatively correlated with precipitation in Texas, depending upon region. In an attempt to understand the mechanisms for this we are now attempting to correlate fawn production with NDVI indexes from satellite imagery.

Impacts
This research is providing results that will aid in the sustainability of deer management as a major economic activity on private lands in Texas as elsewhere. The results are applicable to biologists as well as ranch managers.

Publications

Ginnett, T. F. & Young, E. L. B. 2000. Stochastic recruitment in white-tailed deer along an environmental gradient. Journal of Wildlife Management 64, 713-720.
Cooper, S. M. & T. F. Ginnett. 2000. Potential effects of supplemental feeding of deer on nest predation. Wildlife Society Bulletin 28, 660-666.

Progress 01/01/99 to 12/31/99

Outputs
We completed a three-year field experiment on the effects of deer supplementation on non-target-species. We examined the effect that deer feeders may have on the nesting success of ground nesting birds due to the fact that deer feeders attract and concentrate nest predators, such as raccoons. We monitored predation rates on artificial nests in sites with and without supplemental feeding. Sites with feeders had higher predation rates than sites without feeders although the effect was modified by precipitation. The effect of feeders on predation rates was most pronounced during wet years and was negligible during dry years. We completed the field phase of a study designed to evaluate the effect of deer feeders on use of space and home range size of white-tailed deer. We monitored 24 radio-collared white-tailed deer in areas with and without feeders. Data analysis is pending. Foraging rates of deer and other ungulates are affected by the physical structure of available forages. We completed a study to determine the effect of plant architecture on foraging rates of white-tailed deer. A variety of plant architectural variables were measured on 9 species of woody browse common to south Texas. Plants were then fed to 3 male and 3 female deer and intake rates measured. Multivariate statistics will be used to determine the effect of architecture variables on bite sizes and intake rates of the deer. We initiated a new two-year project to evaluate 10 summer forages for use in food plots for white-tailed deer. Two food plots were planted during April 1999 with either 3 or 4 strips of the following forages: Laredo soybeans, rio alfalfa, comanche partridge pea, aztec sunflower, awnless bushsunflower, iron and clay cowpeas, mung beans, and two varieties of bundleflower. Plots were clipped at two-week intervals to measure biomass production and estimate utilization by deer. Samples for forage nutritional analysis were taken. Observations of deer using the plots were made to assess relative deer preference for the various forages. Forage chemistry for the 1999 season will be conducted during the winter of 2000. The food plots will be replanted during April 2000 with several new forages. Thorns on plants are though to be evolved responses to herbivory by large mammals. Previous research has shown that plant spines restrict intake rates of large herbivores by restricting bite size. In new experiments with southern plains woodrats, we have shown that plant spines also protect plants from herbivory by rodents that climb within the plant canopy to harvest fruits and seeds. This protection is due to two mechanisms: restriction of movements of the animals within the canopy, and shifting of woodrat preferences towards less-well protected plants. We are continuing research into the population dynamics of white-tailed deer in Texas and its relationship to environmental variables. We have shown that fawn production may be either positively or negatively correlated with precipitation in Texas, depending upon region. In an attempt to understand the mechanisms for this we are now attempting to correlate fawn production with NDVI indexes from satellite imagery.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Ginnett, T. F. & Demment, M. W. 1999. Sexual segregation by Masai giraffes at two spatial scales. African Journal of Ecology 37, 93-106.
Ginnett, T. F., Dankosky, J. A., Deo, G. & M. W. Demment. 1999. Patch depression in grazers: the roles of biomass distribution and residual stems. Functional Ecology 13, 37-44.
Ginnett, T. F. 1999. Statistical tests for density-dependence in Texas white-tailed deer populations. Paper presented at the 34th Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, March 11-13, 1999, Amarillo, Texas, Abstract.
Ginnett, T. F. 1999. Spatial patterns in recruitment in Texas white-tailed deer populations. Paper presented at a symposium: Ecology and Management of Ungulates: integrating Across Spatial Scales, August 24-28, 1999, Nelson, British Columbia, Abstract.
Ginnett, T. F., Cooper, S. M., & M. W. Demment. 1999. Mechanisms of patch depression in ungulates: comparing grazers and browsers. Paper presented at a symposium: Ecology and Management of Ungulates: Integrating Across Spatial Scales, August 24-28, 1999, Nelson, British Columbia, Abstract.

Progress 01/01/98 to 12/31/98

Outputs
We conducted the second year of a three-year field experiment into the effects of deer supplementation on non-target species. Previous studies have shown that the provision of supplemental deer feed attracts and concentrates nest predators (i.e. skunks and racoons) of ground-nesting birds such as wild turkeys. We are examining the effect that provision of supplemental feed has on nest predation rates using artificial nests in sites with and without supplemental feed. In contrast to 1997 in which predation rates were much higher at supplemented sites, predation rates in 1998 were only slightly greater at the fed sites. Extended drought during the spring resulted in poor nesting cover and higher overall predation rates, which tended to mask the effects of the feeders. We examined the influence of dietary tannins on fecal nitrogen levels in captive white-tailed deer. Eighteen tame deer were first placed on tannin-free diets at five levels of dietary nitrogen to establish a normal relationship between dietary and fecal nitrogen. The 18 deer were then randomly assigned to diets in a factorial combination of 10 or 20 percent crude protein, and 0, 20, or 40 percent oak leaves (which provided a tannin source). Tannin-containing diets resulted in elevated fecal nitrogen relative to tannin-free diets on the high quality diet but not on the low quality diet. The use of fecal nitrogen as a field indicator of diet quality is therefore suspect, at least when diet quality is good. We have initiated a new study to determine the effect of year-round deer feeders on the space use and home range size of white-tailed deer. Two male and 2 female deer were captured in each of 6 areas (24 deer total) and outfitted with radiotelemetry collars during July. Three of the areas are provisioned with deer feeders and three are without. Deer are being relocated on a regular basis by triangulation of radio signals. This study will continue throughout 1999. 4. Natural populations may be regulated by density-independent factors such as drought, or by density-dependent factors such a competition. Previous studies of our have shown that fawn production, particularly in west Texas, is regulated by precipitation, a density-independent factor. Using data from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, we analyzed population trends and fawn production of white-tailed deer throughout Texas for signs of density-dependent population regulation. A variety of regression models were tested in this analysis. Evidence of density- dependent population regulation is scant, except for the Edward's Plateau which contains the highest density of deer in the state.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Cooper, S. M., and Ginnett, T. F. 1998. Spines protect plants against browsing by small climbing mammals. Oecologia, 113: 219-221.
.Ginnett, T. F. 1998. Rainfall-recruitment dynamics for Texas white-tailed deer along an environmental gradient. Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Corpus Christi, Texas, Abstract.
Ginnett, T. F. 1998. Rainfall-recruitment relations for Texas white-tailed deer along a precipitation gradient. Annual Meeting of The Wildlife Society, Buffalo, New York, Abstract.

Progress 01/01/97 to 12/31/97

Outputs
Bite selection processes by white-tailed deer were analyzed to understand instantaneous intake rate depression that occurs as deer deplete patches of forage. Intake rate depression was due to declining bite mass as opposed to increasing handling time. Deer showed active selection for larger bites. We also assessed sex, age, and individual variation in the functional responses of white-tailed deer. Functional response curves were generated for each of 12 deer (3 adult males, 3 adult females, 3 yearling males, 3 yearling females). Data analysis for this experiment is pending. We examined the effects of thorns on the foraging efficiency of southern plains woodrats. Woodrats were tested under three levels of thorniness. Foraging efficiency was highest when thorns were absent and lowest when thorns were long and dense. We are studying the effects of deer supplementation on non-target species in a field study. Preliminary indications are that sites with deer feeders experience greater nest predation rates than sites without feeders. We are studying patterns of fawn production in the state of Texas. Fawn production is strongly related to precipitation in the western half of the state but not in the eastern half.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Cooper, S.M., and T.F. Ginnett. 1998. Spines protect plants against browsing by small climbing mammals. Oecologia. (In Press).
Ginnett, S.M., and T.F. Ginnett. 1998. Factors influencing intake rate depression for white-tailed deer feeding from small patches of forage. Texas Chapter, Wildl. Soc. Ann. Mtg., Beaumont, TX.
Ginnett, T.F., Cooper, S.M., and M.W. Demment. 1997. A comparison of patch depression mechanisms in mammalian grazing and browsing herbivores. Amer. Soc. Mammal. Ann. Mtg., Stillwater, OK.
Lyons, R.K. and T.F. Ginnett. 1998. Integrating deer, quail and turkey habitat. Texas Agricultural Extension Service (In Press).