Interannual dynamic resource selection patterns of the northern bobwhite in a region with poor edaphic conditions

Understanding an organism's shifting resource needs throughout its
life cycle is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies.
Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations have been declining
for nearly a century due largely to habitat loss/degradation. Many
management regimes are based on analyses of resource selection conducted
at coarse temporal scales, often within regions with productive soils.
Although prior research provides a foundation for the development of
management guidelines, patterns derived from finer-scale temporal analyses
and varying ecological contexts may reveal novel information. We compared
inferences derived from analyses conducted at varying temporal scales
(full year, two-season, and daily [moving-window]; n = 1,302 bobwhites) in
southeastern North Carolina, a region with poor edaphic conditions (i.e.,
nutrient-poor soils). We focused on four habitat attributes that can be
affected by management: distance to fallow fields, distance to
supplemental feed lines, distance to deciduous cover, and burn status.
Habitats were strongly avoided for 18 weeks following a burn, and were not
selected for until the following spring. Deciduous cover, primarily
hardwood drains and Carolina bays, was selected year-round with the
strongest selection from October - April (strongest distance-to-deciduous,
23 January β: -0.49 [95 % CI: -0.44 – -0.54]). Bobwhites selected for
fallow fields strongest from March-October (strongest distance-to-fallow
field, 10 August β: -0.47, [95 % CI: -0.39 – - 0.55]). Finally, bobwhites
always selected for areas nearer feed lines with an increase outside
brood-rearing (late September - March; distance-from-feedline 4 February
β: -0.85, [95 % CI: -0.79 – -0.91]. Management for bobwhite populations in
regions with poor edaphic conditions should consider alternative burn
regimes to mitigate effects on bobwhites. Managers may consider fallow
field enhancement for the dormant season and accommodate the increased
selection for feed lines in winter. Fine-temporal analysis captured
dynamic resource selection patterns in response to key habitat attributes
specific to regions with poor edaphic conditions.