Landowner and biologist perceptions of game bird predators and management
Abstract Nest survival has been identified as one of the most influential vital rates causing population change in game birds, and depredation, often influenced by habitat loss and fragmentation, is the primary cause of nest failure of upland game birds. We were interested in quantifying and compari...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1443 |
| _version_ | 1797688362441637888 |
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| author | Samantha R. Fino Larry M. Gigliotti Aaron T. Pearse Joshua D. Stafford |
| author_facet | Samantha R. Fino Larry M. Gigliotti Aaron T. Pearse Joshua D. Stafford |
| author_sort | Samantha R. Fino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Nest survival has been identified as one of the most influential vital rates causing population change in game birds, and depredation, often influenced by habitat loss and fragmentation, is the primary cause of nest failure of upland game birds. We were interested in quantifying and comparing the perspectives of landowners and biologists in South Dakota regarding complex predator‐prey interactions to improve communication and management efficacy. We developed a questionnaire regarding the following: 1) general attitude statements about game bird species; 2) perceived impacts of 9 factors (e.g., development, pollution, predators) and 13 potential predators on game bird abundances; and 3) attitude statements regarding use of lethal predator control and nesting habitat management practices. A cluster analysis using landowner attitude statements about predator management identified 3 landowner segments that had strong (most supportive; 37%), moderate (moderately supportive; 35%), or weak (least supportive; 28%) attitude statements about lethal predator control. Landowner segments most supportive and moderately supportive of predator control rated predators as the primary negative factor impacting game bird abundances and agreed that predators were the primary cause of game bird abundance declines, whereas the landowner segment least supportive of predator control rated habitat loss as the top factor and disagreed that predators were the primary cause of game bird declines. Biologists rated habitat loss as the top factor negatively impacting game bird abundances and disagreed that predators were the primary cause of game bird abundance declines. Thus, when considering the effectiveness of strategies to reduce nest depredation, most landowners focused on the direct cause of nest failures (predators), whereas biologists focused on an indirect cause (habitat loss). Perception differences among these groups emphasizes the need for better communication on proximate and ultimate factors affecting game bird populations and how these differences may impact management decisions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:30:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-50f99273bc8c4f2eb5be1339e16ccf95 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2328-5540 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:30:08Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj.art-50f99273bc8c4f2eb5be1339e16ccf952023-09-12T04:31:27ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402023-09-01473n/an/a10.1002/wsb.1443Landowner and biologist perceptions of game bird predators and managementSamantha R. Fino0Larry M. Gigliotti1Aaron T. Pearse2Joshua D. Stafford3Department of Natural Resource Management South Dakota State University Box 2140B Brookings South Dakota 57007 USAU.S. Geological Survey, South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit South Dakota State University Box 2140B Brookings South Dakota 57007 USAU.S. Geological Survey Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center 8711 37th St SE Jamestown ND 58401 USAU.S. Geological Survey, South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit South Dakota State University Box 2140B Brookings South Dakota 57007 USAAbstract Nest survival has been identified as one of the most influential vital rates causing population change in game birds, and depredation, often influenced by habitat loss and fragmentation, is the primary cause of nest failure of upland game birds. We were interested in quantifying and comparing the perspectives of landowners and biologists in South Dakota regarding complex predator‐prey interactions to improve communication and management efficacy. We developed a questionnaire regarding the following: 1) general attitude statements about game bird species; 2) perceived impacts of 9 factors (e.g., development, pollution, predators) and 13 potential predators on game bird abundances; and 3) attitude statements regarding use of lethal predator control and nesting habitat management practices. A cluster analysis using landowner attitude statements about predator management identified 3 landowner segments that had strong (most supportive; 37%), moderate (moderately supportive; 35%), or weak (least supportive; 28%) attitude statements about lethal predator control. Landowner segments most supportive and moderately supportive of predator control rated predators as the primary negative factor impacting game bird abundances and agreed that predators were the primary cause of game bird abundance declines, whereas the landowner segment least supportive of predator control rated habitat loss as the top factor and disagreed that predators were the primary cause of game bird declines. Biologists rated habitat loss as the top factor negatively impacting game bird abundances and disagreed that predators were the primary cause of game bird abundance declines. Thus, when considering the effectiveness of strategies to reduce nest depredation, most landowners focused on the direct cause of nest failures (predators), whereas biologists focused on an indirect cause (habitat loss). Perception differences among these groups emphasizes the need for better communication on proximate and ultimate factors affecting game bird populations and how these differences may impact management decisions.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1443game birdslandowner surveynest predatorsPrairie Pothole RegionSouth Dakota |
| spellingShingle | Samantha R. Fino Larry M. Gigliotti Aaron T. Pearse Joshua D. Stafford Landowner and biologist perceptions of game bird predators and management Wildlife Society Bulletin game birds landowner survey nest predators Prairie Pothole Region South Dakota |
| title | Landowner and biologist perceptions of game bird predators and management |
| title_full | Landowner and biologist perceptions of game bird predators and management |
| title_fullStr | Landowner and biologist perceptions of game bird predators and management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Landowner and biologist perceptions of game bird predators and management |
| title_short | Landowner and biologist perceptions of game bird predators and management |
| title_sort | landowner and biologist perceptions of game bird predators and management |
| topic | game birds landowner survey nest predators Prairie Pothole Region South Dakota |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1443 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT samantharfino landownerandbiologistperceptionsofgamebirdpredatorsandmanagement AT larrymgigliotti landownerandbiologistperceptionsofgamebirdpredatorsandmanagement AT aarontpearse landownerandbiologistperceptionsofgamebirdpredatorsandmanagement AT joshuadstafford landownerandbiologistperceptionsofgamebirdpredatorsandmanagement |