J. M. Dabney

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) recovery strategy is based on conservation biology principles. It implements landscape-scale management by identifying 26 habitat management areas (HMAs) totaling nearly 810,000 hectares. Within these designated HMAs, longer timber harvesting rotations will be established. Management intensity levels (MILs) will be established based on red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) population size. The smallest populations will receive the most intensive direct RCW management while being most restrictive...

Wood duck (Aix sponsa) broods were counted 15 of 19 years (1973-90) using the night-float technique on a 1O.8-km segment of the Holston River, eastern Tennessee. Broods were counted 9 years before and 6 years after the initiation of September hunting seasons. Mean harvest (¯x = 26,797, SE = 2,130) of wood ducks in Tennessee after September hunting began was 279% higher (t = 7.50, P = 0.0001, df = 14) than the mean harvest (¯x = 9,604, SE = 845) before September hunting. The adjusted mean number of broods (¯x = 7.25, SE = 1.25) observed following initiation of September hunting was...

Oak decline is a complex disease involving interactions between initiating environmental or biological stresses and subsequent attack by normally secondary pests. It causes crown dieback, reduced radial growth and tree mortality, which in tum, influences wildlife habitat. In upland hardwood stands, oaks (Quercus spp.) are affected most while other species infrequently show crown symptoms or mortality. Recent surveys of declining stands in the southeastern United States show that 80% of the dominant and codominant trees are affected. Species in the red oak group are damaged more than those...

Day and night float counts for wood duck (Aix sponsa) broods were conducted on a 10.8 kilometer segment of the Holston River during the spring of 1973. Nighttime float counts were made using two boats, one down each side of the stream. Hand-held airplane landing lights were used to search the water's edge for roosting broods. Daytime float counts were made the morning following each night census on the same segment of river as the night census. The night and day methods were compared. Eight float counts during the day and eight during the night were completed. The mean number of broods...