Kristyn Stewart
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Master of Science in Range and Wildlife Management
Montezuma Quail Habitat Use in the Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos Ecoregions of Texas
I began my career in wildlife at a very young age, although I did not recognize all the signs pointing me to this profession until my senior year of high school. I was raised in Chatfield, Texas (which you will have to google to find) on what seemed to me as a forty-acer playground. My father taught me to hunt ethically, fish successfully, and appreciate what nature had to offer.
I began my educational journey in wildlife science at Tarleton State University, where I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in the fall of 2017 and then accepted a master’s position at Texas A&M University-Kingsville in the spring of 2018. My project is focused on determining the influence of juniper on Montezuma quail habitat use in the Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos ecoregions of Texas. Our goal is to fit Montezuma quail with backpack GPS transmitters to track movement throughout the day. After accumulating points used by individual quail, I will collect vegetation data to identify habitat suitability thresholds and potential site selection preferences. With this research, I look forward to providing land managers and biologists with a better understanding of specific habitat requirements of Montezuma quail, to aid in future conservation of this secretive species.