Hunter Harvest Effect on The Breeding Bird Population of Northern Pintail Anas acuta in North America

Authors

Matthew Wang

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Hunter harvest and the effects that it can have on population dynamics is a relationship used by wildlife professionals when making management decisions. Hunter harvest can be compensatory or additive on wildlife populations and instances where hunter harvest has been a key role in a population decline, and sometimes demise, is an occurrence studied in wildlife management. Waterfowl numbers in North America have increased 17% since 1960, but during that same time frame the Northern Pintail population has decreased 40%. Hunter harvest data has been recorded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1961, while they have simultaneously been recording breeding bird populations of waterfowl throughout North America. Regression analysis was used in this study to determine if a significant relationship exists between hunter harvest and the breeding bird population of Northern Pintail. Hunter harvest and the variation in breeding bird population of Northern Pintail was also analyzed to test for a relationship. While direct effects of hunter harvest on the population change of Northern Pintail were found to be insignificant (P = 0.15), hunter harvest and its effect on the variation in population of Northern Pintail were found to be significant (P = 0.01). The decline of Northern Pintail in North America is a prominent issue in wildlife management and factors influencing its population must be studied to ensure the survival of the Northern Pintail

Publication Date

2018

Comments

Faculty sponsor: Dr. Andrew Hafs, Department of Biology, Aquatic Biology Program

Recommended Citation

Wang, Matthew, "Hunter Harvest Effect on The Breeding Bird Population of Northern Pintail Anas acuta in North America" (2018). Journal of Earth and Life Science. 29.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/j-earth-life-sci/29