Effect of bobwhite habitat management on red imported fire ant populations

Red imported fire ants (RIFA) have caused damage to our agricultural, economic, and wUdlife resources since then accidental introduction approximately 50 years ago at the port of Mobile, AL. RIFA populations are positively correlated to habitats maintained through disturbance. Disturbance is often used as a tool to enhance habitat for early successional wildlife species, such as northern bobwhite {Colinus virginianus). Thus, habitat management techniques that utilize disturbance may be indirectly harming wildlife by benefiting RIFA. The two objectives of this study were: (1) evaluate the use of distance among estimating RIFA populations; and (2)determine whether RIFA populations increase in response to prescribed burning and disking, two commonly used habitat management techniques for northern bobwhite.

RIFA mound density estimates were compared using distance sampling, belt transects, and complete counts. Complete counts were conducted after vegetation on the plots had been removed using prescribed burning. Mean RIFA mound density estimates did not differ among the three methods. Estimates of detectability of RIFA mounds within the belt transects were 89.9-100%. Estimated transect lengths required for determination of RIFA mound densities are reported at given levels of precision with distance sampling.

RIFA mound densities were different between years (F= 5.05, df= 2, P>F= .0148), but not among treatments (F= 0.22, df= 2, P>F= .8044). Future research should examine the effects of habitat treatments on RIFA in different habitat types, as well as examine the effects of environmental factors on RIFA populations.