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School of Environment and Natural Resources

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Graduate Exit Seminar - Grant Ravary

Plan to join Grant Ravary's graduate exit seminar on June 12, 2024, at 9:30 am in Kottman Hall 333 or via Zoom. Grant will present, "A Multiscale Habitat Connectivity Analysis for Ring-necked Pheasant in the State of Ohio."

Abstract: Ring-necked Pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) are a game bird that was introduced in Ohio in the 1800’s. Loss of nesting and winter habitat to commercial agriculture has led to Pheasant's decline across North America, including in Ohio. I aim to uncover relationships between pheasant responses to habitat type and connectivity through a multiscale framework. We hypothesize fragmentation could be a driver of this decline due to the increasing urbanization, reduction of grassland, and pheasant’s dispersal capabilities. Using the existing roadside call surveys conducted by the Ohio Department of Natural resources, we developed an occupancy model to inform and measures of connectivity. Our objectives are to find existing occupied patches, the connections between them, and potential areas that would improve connectivity in the state of Ohio. My objectives were to find suitable patches, connections between them, and areas that would improve connectivity. I used estimates of functionally connected habitat to target areas that could improve connectivity. This project will help the ODNR locate and restore habitat in a cost-effective manner to help recover pheasant populations in the state of Ohio.

 Advisor: Dr. William Peterman