Potential Effects of Global Warming on Quail Populations

Authors

Fred S. Guthery, Texas A&M University
N. David Forrester, Texas A&M University
Kenneth R. Nolte, Texas A&M University
Will E. Cohen, Texas A&M University
William P. Kuvlesky Jr., Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge

Abstract

Populations of scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) and northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) have declined in North America coincident with global warming. We speculate on a cause-effect relation between global warming and quail declines. Quail are sensitive to operative temperatures >38.7 C, which commonly occur under natural conditions in southern latitudes. Based on empirical results, the laying season for quail may be reduced by as much as 60 days because of high temperatures. We provide mechanistic models that show how reduction in length of the laying season suppresses per-capita annual production. Global warming could be associated with declining quail populations through suppression of reproduction; it also could exacerbate the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation. These possibilities should be explored in field and laboratory research.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7290/nqsp0445jw

Recommended Citation

Guthery, Fred S.; Forrester, N. David; Nolte, Kenneth R.; Cohen, Will E.; and Kuvlesky, William P. Jr. (2000) "Potential Effects of Global Warming on Quail Populations," National Quail Symposium Proceedings: Vol. 4 , Article 48.
https://doi.org/10.7290/nqsp0445jw
Available at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/nqsp/vol4/iss1/48