MICROHABITATS OF MERRIAMS TURKEYS IN THE BLACK-HILLS, SOUTH-DAKOTA

Merriam's Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo merriami) are associated with p onderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests in the western United States, but are not native to the ponderosa pine forest of the Black Hills, So uth Dakota. The Black Hills population was established by transplantin g birds from New Mexico and Colorado between 1948 and 1951. Despite be ing outside its original range, this population provides a unique oppo rtunity to assess mechanisms of habitat selection because the age of t he population is known and literature indicates that it is more produc tive than other populations, We studied micro-habitats of Merriam's Tu rkeys in the Black Hills, South Dakota between 1986 and 1991. We found few differences in microhabitats among diurnal time periods or betwee n sexes. Cluster analysis of variables at turkey microhabitats indicat ed two groups, broadly interpreted as summer and winter microhabitats. Winter microhabitats of turkeys had less understory vegetation and mo re overstory cover than random sites, which in turn had less understor y and more overstory cover than summer microhabitats. Both random site s and winter microhabitats had higher basal area of ponderosa pine tha n summer microhabitats, Summer microhabitats had trees with the larges t dbh. Random sites had more small and large woody debris than sites u sed by turkeys. Tree density at random sites was more than two times g reater than at winter microhabitats and more than three times greater than at summer microhabitats. Turkeys preferred southern exposures dur ing winter. Production of pine seed, a major food item of turkeys, dif fered among years. There was a strong relationship between abundance o f pine seeds and microhabitats selected by turkeys. Basal area of micr ohabitats between October and March was positively correlated with ann ual ponderosa pine seed production. Abundance of ponderosa pine seeds at turkey microhabitats during this period was at least four times the estimated average annual production. Management prescriptions for pon derosa pine of basal area less than or equal to 18 m(2)/ha will reduce winter habitat for turkeys. Summer habitats are more compatible with timber management goals far ponderosa pine in the Black Hills.