Is wild turkey habitat selection spatially consistent? A three‐decade meta‐analysis in Mississippi

Widely distributed species may alter habitat selection based on availability of resources or may respond in dissimilar ways to broadly classified landcovers that exhibit regionally varying ecological distinctions. Failing to account for selection discrepancies may impair management decisions. Eastern wild turkeys ( Meleagris gallopavo silvestris ; hereafter, wild turkey) need heterogenous environments. Although numerous studies have investigated wild turkey habitat selection, little work has quantified whether the strength of selection differs spatially. To better understand habitat selection in wild turkeys across dissimilar landscapes, we examined telemetry data gathered across 7 study sites in Mississippi, USA, over a nearly 3‐decade span. After first determining the appropriate scale at which to examine our data, we found wild turkeys exhibited a functional response to total forest cover. Across our study sites, strength of selection for forest cover was inversely related to availability within individual turkey home ranges. Our results further suggest wild turkeys exhibited regional differences in selection of hardwood forests. Implications from our findings provide important considerations for managers and pose questions about the intricacies of wild turkey habitat selection that future research should examine more thoroughly.