Theses and Dissertations

Advisor

Rush, Scott

Committee Member

Vilella, Francisco

Committee Member

Evans, Kristine

Date of Degree

8-7-2025

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Applied Anthropology

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine influences of tree cover, light pollution, average ambient air temperature, and roadkill abundance on Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) and Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) detection, occupancy, and abundance within Mississippi. Data was collected via road surveys. Highways were selected as transects of 290 m in length to survey for vultures and roadkill. The locations of detected vultures were GPS marked. To evaluate relationships of vulture detection, occupancy, and abundance with the covariates, I used dynamic occupancy models and open binomial N-mixture models. Average ambient air temperature had a positive relationship with Black Vulture detection during the breeding season, and roadkill abundance had a positive relationship with Turkey Vulture detection. A complex negative relationship existed between vulture occupancy and abundance and percent tree cover, and light pollution exhibited a negative relationship with Turkey Vultures but a positive one with Black Vultures.

Sponsorship (Optional)

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

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