One hundred and twenty-one white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from 24 counties in 11 southeastern states were examined for muscleworm, Parelaphostrongylus andersoni, and meningeal worm, P. tenuis. Muscleworm was found in deer of 12 counties in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Meningeal worm was recovered from deer in 10 counties of Arkansas, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Concomitant infections with P. andersoni and P. tenuis occurred in deer of two counties in North Carolina. Future studies on the distribution of protostrongylid lungworms of white-tailed deer must be based on the location and identification of adult nematodes since first-stage larvae of Parelaphostrongylus are indistinguishable morphologically.
Historic and recent information on the occurrence of avian pox, an infectious viral disease, in southeastern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) is summarized. An apparent long-term(> 50 year) low-level (< 2 percent) rate of infection occurred prior to an outbreak with a 12-fold increase in prevalence in 1978-1979. Post-outbreak monitoring during the two succeeding years disclosed that the regional prevalence of infection declined to near the pre-outbreak rate. The significance of avian pox as a regional and local mortality factor is discussed.
We present the results of a long-term (1970-85) band recovery study of northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) at Tall Timbers Research Station, Leon County, Florida. The mean annual survival rate of male quail (18.7 ? 1.2 [SE] %) was significantly (P = 0.01) greater than that of females (14.3 ? 1.2%). The difference between survival of young (6-9 months old) and adults (>1 yr old) was 3 ? 2.2% and not significant. Survival rates varied significantly among years. The mean harvest was 23.3 ? 0.53%/year. Young male quail were harvested at a significantly higher rate than adult males (2% difference). There was no significant difference between harvest rates of young and adult females. Juvenile male and female harvest rates were not significantly different. However, adult females were harvested at a significantly higher rate than adult males (5% difference). Harvest varied among years. The mean annual kill (harvest rate + crippling loss) was approximately 30% for both sexes. Male and female natural mortality were approximately 52 and 56%, respectively. There was evidence of additivity of hunting and natural mortality for this population harvested in late winter. Our long-term study provides information on the survival processes for northern bobwhite quail that can be used to enhance management of the species. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 53(1):1-6 Although research on northern bobwhite quail began in the 1920's (Stoddard 1931, Errington 1933), studies of quail survival have been limited. Sound management requires good estimates of mortality rates. Mortality for hunted species can be estimated from band recovery data using models prepared by Brownie et al. (1985). These models also provide band recovery rate estimates. Harvest rate is easily obtained if the reporting rate of bands is known. Total kill estimates follow from harvest estimates if an estimate of crippling loss is available. With these data managers can partition hunting and natural (nonhunting) mortality. A recent series of papers questions whether hunting and natural mortality are additive (Anderson and Burnham 1976, Anderson et al. 1982, Nichols and Hines 1983, Burnham and Anderson 1984, Burnham et al. 1984, Nichols et al. 1984). Most of this work applies to waterfowl, particularly mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), for which the most band recovery data are available. We report the results of a long-term bandrecovery study of bobwhite quail at Tall Timbers Research Station, Leon County, Florida. We obtained survival estimates and test the additive and compensatory mortality hypotheses (Anderson et al. 1982). W. L. Cornelius assisted with computing and J. D. Nichols reviewed an earlier draft of the manuscript. We thank present and past coworkers and many biologists and volunteers, especially wildlife technician students at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, for their help. This study was supported in part by Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, Florida and by an appropriation from the Congress of the United States. Funds were administered and research coordinated under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act and through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Hemorrhagic disease (HD) caused by bluetongue and epizootic hemorrhagic disease viruses occurred in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) of seven southeastern states during the late summer and early fall, 1971. The disease first appeared in South Carolina and then erupted almost simultaneously in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Peracute, acute, and chronic forms of HD were distinguished. Few gross lesions were observed in peracute HD but hemorrhage and edema commonly were seen in acute HD. Stomatitis and laminitis characterized the chronic disease. Mortality rate appeared to be related to the number of deer on the area.
An outbreak of avian pox, with an estimated 12-fold increase in the incidence of infection, occurred among wild bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) in the southwestern Georgia/northcentral Florida region. The outbreak was first detected in July, 1978, and continued at least until March, 1979. During this period, 26 separate clinical case accessions involving 43 bobwhites from 8 counties in Florida and Georgia were diagnosed as avian pox. A survey of 2,586 bobwhites from 6 southeastern states revealed avian pox infections in 312 bobwhites from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Seventy-seven percent of the infected birds in the survey had only mild lesions on the legs and feet; however, 23% had more extensive lesions on the head. Severely affected birds had lesions around the eyes, nares, and in the mouth which impaired vision, respiration, and/or feeding. Infection rates were not related to age or sex of the birds but varied greatly among locales, even on adjoining properties. A morbidity rate of approximately 2% and a mortality rate between 0.6 and 1.2% were estimated for a 13,000 km2 region in Georgia and Florida.
