Predation and ring-necked pheasant population dynamics

Because ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) are an important wildli fe resource in agricultural ecosystems, we reviewed the role of predators o n pheasant population dynamics and suggest management options to ameliorate predation. Predator reduction programs hare the potential to increase surv ival and recruitment, but these parameters decrease once predator control c eases. Extensive application of predator reductions may be ethically questi onable, and habitat management directed at moderating the effects of predat ors at the landscape scale is expensive. An extensive distribution of cover during the nesting and brood-rearing periods can increase pheasant recruit ment. Federal agricultural and conservation programs can be used to accompl ish many of these landscape habitat improvements, but federal and state age ncies must provide the technical assistance to deliver the program options to producers. New federal farm programs aimed at improving avian survival a nd recruitment must have an evaluation and monitoring component built in to determine their effectiveness.