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Demographics of Black Vultures in North Carolina
Author(s) -
BLACKWELL BRADLEY F.,
AVERY MICHAEL L.,
WATTS BRYAN D.,
LOWNEY MARTIN S.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the journal of wildlife management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1937-2817
pISSN - 0022-541X
DOI - 10.2193/2006-146
Subject(s) - vulture , demographics , vital rates , population growth , population , geography , demography , south carolina , wildlife , age structure , population size , ecology , biology , public administration , sociology , political science
Understanding the contributions of vital rates to species population growth is critical to developing new management protocols. We constructed a model population for black vultures ( Coragyps atratus ) in North Carolina, USA, based on demographic data from a 14‐year study. The model population was similar in stage structure to the reference population, and adult survival was the primary contributor to the annual rate of increase (10.6%). We suggest that the North Carolina black vulture population is experiencing high rates of survival and fertility, potentially breeding at an age younger than previously assumed, and growing rapidly.