Acorn Abundance Patterns and Their Implication for Wildlife
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2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 Acorn Abundance Patterns and Their Implication for Wildlife By Michael Gregonis Wildlife Biologist 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory Why Are Acorns Important ??? ‐Valuable Food Resource ‐Highly Nutritious ‐ Survival ‐ Reproductive Output ‐Population Dynamics ‐Hunting Opportunities ‐Hunter Success 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 1 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 Acorn Predators Acorn Weevil 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory Acorn Moth 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 2 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 White‐footed Mouse 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory Eastern Chipmunk 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 3 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 Gray Squirrel 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory Wood Duck 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 4 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 Wild Turkey 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory Black Bear 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 5 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 White‐tailed Deer 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory Acorn Surveys 1) Regional Mast Survey 2) Deer Hunter Survey 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 6 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 Regional Mast Survey ‐Originated 2004 ‐NEWTTC ‐NEWAA ‐CT Implementation 2007 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory Cooperating States 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 12 Connecticut Sites (575 Trees) 1. Housatonic WMA 2. Sessions Woods WMA 3. Scantic River State Park 4. Belding WMA 5. Yale Forest 6. Aldo Leopold WMA 7. Sleeping Giant State Park 8. Cockaponset State Forest 9. Hurd State Park 10. Franklin Swamp WMA 11. Huntington State Park 12. Barn Island 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory WMA Annual Regional Mast Index 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 8 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 Regional Survey: Acorn Abundance 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory Regional Survey: Acorn Abundance 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 9 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 Yale Mast Survey Index (Zone 5) 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory Deer Hunter Survey 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 10 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 Deer Hunter Survey: Methods In the Zone ,that you hunted most, how would you rank the fall acorn crop ? Scare Moderate Abundant No Opinion/No oak trees 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory Deer Hunter Survey: Acorn Abundance 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 11 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 Deer Hunter Statewide Mast Survey 1993‐2016 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory Hunter Success Rates : Deer Hunter Survey Hunter Success Rate Vs Acorn Productivity 44 6 Abundant Hunter Success Rate Acorn Productivity Acorns 5 39 4 34 Moderate Acorns 3 29 Hunter Success Hunter Success Rate (%) 2 24 1 Scarce 19 0 Acorns Year 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 12 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 DKIR % : September ‐ December DKIR % (September - December) vs Acorn Productivity 59 6 DKIR % Sep-Dec Acorn Productivity Abundant Acorns 54 5 49 4 44 3 Moderate 39 Acorns DKIR % (Sep-Dec) % DKIR 2 34 1 29 24 0 Scarce Acorns Year 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory CT Regional Survey vs. Deer Hunter Survey 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 13 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 Take Home Messages Predict Wildlife Population Dynamics Insights into best Hunting Opportunities Predict Deer Hunter Success rates 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory Future Research Interactions of acorn, ticks and tick borne diseases Timing Timber Harvest during Abundant Acorn Years How acorn abundance affects CT Black Bear Populations Relationship of acorn abundance and Wild Turkeys Does acorn abundance affect avian species e.g. ruffed grouse, wood ducks and blue jays Determine if external characteristics exist in oaks trees that will identify good acorn producers 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 14 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 Questions? [email protected] 7/12/2018 2018 Siviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory Scott Williams, CT Agriculture Experiment Station 15 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 Predator Satiation Hypothesis Predator Satiation Hypothesis 16 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 Predator Satiation Hypothesis Predator Satiation‐Synchronization 17 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 Masting Masting 18 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 Masting 19 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 20 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 21 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 22 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 23 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 24 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 Tannin and Lipid Content White oak acorns Preferred by all wildlife Low tannin content Germinate in the fall 25 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 Tannin and Lipid Content Red oak acorns Higher tannin content (2‐4 times whites) Lipids 5‐10 times higher than whites Germinate in the spring 26 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 Deer and Seed Dispersal 27 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 28 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 29 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 30 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 31 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 32 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 33 2018 Silviculture Institute‐‐Mixed Oak‐Hickory 7/12/2018 Questions? [email protected] [email protected] 34.