http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3 http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-3-2.xsd
Effects of fire and grazing on yellow rail habitat in a Texas coastal marsh
Forty-nine yellow rails (Coturnicops noveboracensis) rofilm Inc. were captured on Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge during 1996-97 and 1997-98 winter season. A weighted drag-line was pulled through marshes to flush yellow rails and individuals were captured using a hand-held net. Prior to release, morphological data were recorded and a radio-transmitter was attached. Individuals were located using a homing-tracking method and a 0.25-m2 quadrat sample was taken of plant-species height and cover, which were averaged for total-plant height and total-plant cover. Additionally, dead-plant cover, and water depth were recorded at 10 am above ground in an attempt to measure habitat associated with yellow rails. Analysis of 307 fixes taken on 28 individuals during 1996-97 an = 160) and 1997-98 an = 147) winter season indicated yellow rails were associated with a total plant-height of 53.5 cm (SD + 53.2), dead-plant cover of 28.8% (SD + 26.5), total-plant cover of 61.6% (SD + 62.3), and 1.3 cm (SD + 1.9) standing water. Analysis of radio-telemetry locations obtained by Geographical Information System (GlS) revealed small (R = 16,380 m2 in 1996-97 and k = 17,606 m2 in 1997-98), overlapping activity ranges. Habitat parameters were used to develop a theoretical yellow rail habitat model, which was used to evaluate effects of management regimes on potential yellow rail habitat. Four experimental units were selected that had a 4-year management history of either no treatment (Control), fall-biennial prescribed tire (Burn), cattle grazing at 1.0 AUM/ha/6 months (Graze), and a combination of biennial prescribed fire and cattle grazing (Burn/Graze). Habitat parameters were measured on experimental units during April 1997 and May 1998. After 4 years, habitat parameters on Control, Burn, and Burn/Graze units were different from yellow rail habitat parameters. Habitat measurements on the Graze unit were similar to yellow rail habitat. Therefore, results suggested that cattle grazing may increase availability of yellow rail habitat.
"Major Subject: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences".
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-87).