Relationship of Forest Characteristics and Landscape Patterns To Wild Turkey Populations in Eastern and Central South Dakota

Characteristics of habitat mosaics and key landscape components in areas occupied by stable or expanding and marginal wild turkey (Meleagris gallapavo) populations in the prairie woodland regions of central and eastern South Dakota were identified and compared to 3 areas along the Big Sioux and James rivers that may have potential to support wild turkey populations, but are currently lacking turkeys. Tree species diversity was greatest in deciduous forests of northeastern South Dakota which included Roberts, Marshall, and Jerauld counties. The means of nineteen landscape and forest characteristic variables were compared among the most forested quarter ( best quarter ) (84. 2 1 ha) of each sample plot and the total (333.62 ha) sample plot from each geographic region (n = 8). Area and perimeter of forest in the southcentral woodlands region, currently supporting stable or expanding wild turkey populations, were greater than all other regions. The percent cover of forest in the most forested quarter varied from 44. 7% in the southcentral woodlands region to 7.8% on the western tributaries such as Medicine and Plum creeks. In regions inhabited by wild turkeys, cropland cover in the most forested quarter ranged from 2.5% in the northeastern woodlands region to 46% in the eastern riparian region; grassland ranged from 15. 5% in the eastern riparian region to 73. 9% on the western tributaries. Sites in the western tributary region, with stable or expanding populations of wild turkeys, had less forest cover than any other region, including potential introduction areas on the Big Sioux and James rivers. Based on habitat characteristics, potential introduction sites along the Big Sioux and James rivers could support a marginal population of wild turkeys. However, because of the high human densities along these rivers hybridization with domestic turkeys and dependence on farmsteads may pose problems