Topic
Callipepla
About: Callipepla is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 102 publications have been published within this topic receiving 1235 citations.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
TL;DR: This work addresses the relationship between both simple precipitation and Palmer drought indices and Northern Bobwhite and scaled quail abundance among years in relatively dry as opposed to wet ecological regions of Texas to help wildlife biologists and managers better account for annual variability in quail productivity in semi-arid environments.
Abstract: Although weather variables are known to influence quail abundance in some habitats, most studies have addressed only limited geographic areas and indices to weather conditions. The few replicated studies addressed relatively similar climate zones. We used 21 years (1978-98) of quail abundance data collected by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologists to address the relationship between both simple precipitation and Palmer drought indices and Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and Scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) abundance in 6 ecological regions of Texas. Three 12-month Palmer indices were more highly correlated with changes in Northern Bobwhite abundance in the South Texas Plains ecological region than was raw precipitation alone. The 12-month Modified Palmer Drought Severity Index (PMDI) was correlated (r s ≥ 0.78, P ≤ 0.001) with the mean number of Northern Bobwhites visually observed per survey route in the Rolling and South Texas Plains ecological regions, while a 12-month, raw precipitation index was correlated (r s = 0.64, P = 0.002) with Northern Bobwhite abundance in only the South Texas Plains. The PMDI and raw precipitation were correlated (r s ≥ 0.67, P ≥ 0.001 and r s ≤ 0.57, P ≤ 0.007, respectively) with the mean number Scaled Quail observed per survey route in the Edwards Plateau, South Texas Plains, and Trans-Pecos Mountains and Basins ecological regions. There was no relationship (P ≥ 0.437) between changes in quail abundance and the PMDI or raw precipitation in the Gulf Prairies and Marshes physiographic region, where precipitation was relatively high. The monthly PMDI was a better indicator of changes in both northern bobwhite and Scaled Quail abundance among years than was monthly precipitation alone. Both monthly and 12-month precipitation-based weather indices were more correlated with changes in Northern Bobwhite and scaled quail abundance among years in relatively dry as opposed to wet ecological regions. Our approach should help wildlife biologists and managers better account for annual variability in quail productivity in semi-arid environments so that long-term populations trends can be better elucidated.
93 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used video surveillance equipment to document wildlife use of three water catchments located in the Sonoran Desert, southwestern Arizona, USA, from June 2000 to November 2003.
Abstract: Construction of water developments has been used as a wildlife-habitat improvement technique in desert environments since the 1940s. Use of water developments by wildlife has been described in anecdotal observations, through water-hole counts, and with triggered still-cameras, but few studies have directly quantified wildlife use. We used video surveillance equipment to document wildlife use of 3 water catchments located in the Sonoran Desert, southwestern Arizona, USA, from June 2000 to November 2003. For each visitation, we recorded time of day, season of use, and activities engaged in, and we correlated visits with temperature and relative humidity. We logged 37,989 observation hours and documented 34 species using the water catchments. Most of the species recorded visited water catchments year-round with use peaking during June and July. The number of visits by nongame species (i.e., bats, raptors, mammalian predators, and rodents) exceeded the number of visits by game species (mule deer [Odocoileus hemionus], doves [Zenaida spp.], and Gambel's quail [Callipepla gambelii]). Visitation frequency for turkey vultures (Cathartes aura), owls, diurnal raptors, mule deer, coyotes (Canis latrans), and other mammalian predators increased with temperature. Most visits culminated in the animal drinking water. Other activities recorded were bathing, consumption of plant material and carrion, and intraspecies and interspecies interactions. We recorded 8 predation attempts: 4 by avian predators and 4 by bobcats (Lynx rufus). Although we documented that a number of species frequented water catchments, our observations do not prove need. However, we believe our observations do provide support for constructing water catchments that can accommodate a wide diversity of species.
72 citations
TL;DR: C calibration of mtDNA genetic distances suggests that the speciation events are much older than the late Pleistocene dates given by Hubbard, and phylogenetic relationships among the four species in the Scaled Quail complex are addressed.
Abstract: We obtained 1,040 bp of sequence from the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes cytochrome b (cyt b; 736 bp) and NADH-subunit 2 (ND2; 304 bp) to address phylo- genetic relationships among the four species in the Scaled Quail complex. California Quail (Callipepla californica) and Gambel's Quail (C. gambelii) were sister taxa, whereas the rela- tionships of the Elegant Quail (C. douglasii) and Scaled Quail (C. squamata) were unclear; they might be sister species, or Elegant Quail might be the sister to California plus Gambel's quails. A third, less-likely alternative predicts a contemporaneous origin of Elegant Quail, Scaled Quail, and the ancestor of California and Gambel's quail. The latter phylogenetic hy- pothesis, however, matches Hubbard's (1973) biogeographic model. Irrespective of which biogeographic hypothesis is correct, calibration of mtDNA genetic distances suggests that the speciation events are much older than the late Pleistocene dates given by Hubbard. Cal- ibration of the rate of mtDNA (cyt b, ND2) evolution based on dating of fossil remains of the extinct species Cyrtonyx cooki suggested a rate of 2% per million years. Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), Mountain Quail (Oreortyx pictus), and Montezuma Quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) were successively more distantly related to the Scaled Quail complex. Phylo- genetic trees derived from allozymes (Gutierrez et al. 1983) and mtDNA sequences were topologically identical, suggesting that both types of gene trees recover the species tree. Re-
44 citations
TL;DR: Although body mass and reproduction of both species were affected by protein and energy deficiencies, scaled quail were less affected and dietary energy was more important to body mass stasis and reproduction than dietary protein in both quail.
Abstract: We compared the effects of dietary protein and energy deficiencies on northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) reproduction and determined if nutritional deficiencies lead to reproductive failure in quail. Captive adult female quail were fed diets that varied in protein and energy content, at both ad libitum and restricted levels. Protein and energy deficiencies led to declines in body and ovary mass, and egg production, but did not affect egg mass of either species. Although body mass and reproduction of both species were affected by protein and energy deficiencies, scaled quail were less affected. Dietary energy was more important to body mass stasis and reproduction than dietary protein in both quail. Low energy diets led to elevations in corticosterone and increased food consumption in both species. Neither species increased food consumption in response to low dietary protein. Our study supports the hypothesis that macronutrient deficiencies can lead to reproductive failures in northern bobwhite and scaled quail.
43 citations
TL;DR: Scaled quail may be better adapted to exploiting habitats created by drought and/or overgrazing than bobwhite quail within sympatric ranges because of their ability to use a wide variety of food plants.
Abstract: Crops of 111 bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus texanus) and 36 scaled quail (Callipepla squamata castanogastris) were collected in southwest Texas in late 1979 and 1980 during drought. Both quail species ate a wide variety of seeds and fruits from plants such as bristlegrasses (Setaria spp.), purple dalea (Dalea lasiathera), bundleflower (Desmanthus virgatus), doveweed (Croton spp.), euphorbia (Euphorbia spp.), capul (Schaefferia cuneifolia) and spiny hackberry (Celtis pallida). Mean number of food items per crop for quail collected during the fall-winter was 8 and 15 for bobwhite and scaled quail, respectively. Seeds of forbs and woody plants were relatively more important to scaled quail, whereas bobwhites consumed more grass seed. Green vegetation comprised 72% of the diet of bobwhite quail and 52% of the diet of scaled quail during the fall-winter. Insects were important as food to both quail species. Desert termites (Termitidae) were consumed heavily during the fall-winter. Diets of bobwhite and scaled quail exhibited a relatively low degree of overlap during the fall-winter of 1979-80 (Co = 0.22), and a higher degree of overlap during June (Co = 0.67) and September (Co= 0.57) of 1980. Grazing management practices which produce good range conditions and maximum plant diversity is desirable. Plant diversity may be particularly important for maintaining an adequate food supply for quail during drought. Because of their ability to use a wide variety of food plants, and their preference for more open, xeric habitats, scaled quail may be better adapted to exploiting habitats created by drought and/or overgrazing than bobwhite quail within sympatric ranges.
43 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2016 | 5 |