scholarly journals Late-Winter Habitat Use by Mule Deer, Odocoileus hemionus, in Central Interior British Columbia

2008 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 205
Author(s):  
Gilbert Proulx
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Winter Habitat

In central interior British Columbia, extensive cut blocks to recover timber killed by the Mountain Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) could impact negatively on Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) late-winter habitat. This study assessed the possibility of predicting the distribution of potential late-winter habitat for Mule Deer with the BC Vegetation Resources Inventory (VRI) dataset used to produce forestry maps. On the basis of literature review and roadside inventories in December 2004, I predicted that high-quality Mule Deer late-winter habitat would correspond to mature and old conifer-dominated stands with ≤ 20% deciduous species, a canopy closure ≥ 45%, tree heights ≥ 23 m, tree diameter at breast height ≥ 24 cm, and basal area ≥ 45 m2/ha, and would be located on < 60% slopes on south, southeast, southwest or west aspects, or on flat ground. I allocated weight values to these criteria to classify map polygons into high-, medium- and low-quality polygons, and produce predictive maps of late-winter habitat use by Mule Deer. I tested my predictive habitat rating by snowtracking along 18 km of transects in February-March 2006, and 15.6 km of transects in February 2007. I recorded 31 and 12 Mule Deer tracks in 2006 and 2007, respectively, all in high-quality polygons. The observed frequency of tracks per polygon type was significantly (P < 0.001) different from expected. All tracks were in mature and old conifer-dominated stands including 10-60% Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta) and 10-20% Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides). This study showed that it was possible to predict the distribution of potential late-winter habitat for Mule Deer using a series of habitat criteria and the VRI dataset. The extensive harvesting of Lodgepole Pine in mixed coniferous stands will undoubtedly have a negative impact on Mule Deer late-winter habitat quality and quantity. The rating of habitat types developed in this study should be used in forest management plans to determine sites that should be protected from logging.

scholarly journals Winter Habitat Use by Moose, Alces alces, in Central Interior British Columbia

2005 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilbert Proulx ◽  
Rhonda M. Kariz
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Alces Alces ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Winter Habitat ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Pine Stands

In central British Columbia, recent epidemics of Mountain Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) have resulted in the use of expansive clearcut areas to remove infested mature and old Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta) stands. This study aimed to determine if Moose (Alces alces) use late-successional Lodgepole Pine stands in mid- to late-winter. Moose activity and habitat use was determined during February-March track surveys in 2000 (60 km) and 2001 (55.7 km). In 2000 (69 tracks) and 2001 (313 tracks), Moose track distribution differed significantly (P < 0.05) from random. They were significantly more abundant than predicted in young stands (dominated by Picea spp.), or early seral stages; they were less abundant than predicted in mature and old Lodgepole Pine stands. It is unlikely that harvesting late-successional Lodgepole Pine stands would affect Moose winter habitat supply.

Influence of repeated fertilization on forest ecosystems: relative habitat use by mule deer and moose

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1395-1406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P Sullivan ◽  
Druscilla S Sullivan ◽  
Pontus M.F Lindgren ◽  
Douglas B Ransome
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Winter Habitat ◽  
South Central ◽  
Mature Stands

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that large-scale precommercial thinning (PCT) and repeated fertilization of young lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) stands would enhance relative habitat use by mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus Rafinesque) and moose (Alces alces L.) in summer and winter periods, compared to that in mature and old-growth stands. Replicate study areas were located near Summerland, Kelowna, and Williams Lake in south central British Columbia, Canada. Each study area had a range of PCT densities, with and without fertilization, and mature and old-growth stands. Habitat use in summer and winter was measured by pellet-group counts of deer and moose from 1999 to 2003, 6–10 years after the onset of treatments. During summer months, habitat use by deer was enhanced by PCT with fertilization, and the 1000 stems/ha fertilized stands experienced greater use than the unthinned or mature stands. Winter habitat use by deer was similar in the 1000 stems/ha fertilized stands and old-growth stands. In both summer and winter, moose preferred fertilized to unfertilized stands and low-density to high-density stands. Intensive management of young lodgepole pine forests has considerable potential to develop summer and winter ranges for these ungulates.

Influence of fire severity and vegetation treatments on mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) winter habitat use on the Kaibab Plateau, Arizona

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (10) ◽  
pp. 1292
Author(s):  
Kirby D. Bristow ◽  
Larisa E. Harding ◽  
Richard W. Lucas ◽  
Thomas C. McCall
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Fire Regime ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Winter Habitat ◽  
Similar Treatment ◽  
Natural Fire ◽  
Winter Range ◽  
Kaibab Plateau

Context Wildfire and vegetation treatments affect mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) populations across the western United States. However, the relative influence of fire and treatments on habitat use by mule deer in Arizona is not well defined. Aims We examined locations of mule deer on the Kaibab Plateau in northern Arizona, so as to determine the influence of vegetation treatments and wildfire severity on deer habitat-use patterns across their winter range where fires and treatments had occurred previously. Methods We used locations (n = 11297) from 21 adult female mule deer fitted with global positioning system collars to model probability of use as a function of habitat covariates. Key results The best model describing winter-range habitat use by mule deer on the Kaibab Plateau included covariates describing the age of vegetation treatments and fire severity. Increased deer use in winter was associated with areas of lower terrain ruggedness and reduced snow depths. Deer use also increased in areas that experienced a higher average fire severity, resulting in decreased vegetation heights. Among treatment age classes, deer use was greatest in areas containing vegetation treatments that were ≤6 years old, but negatively associated with treatments that were &gt;6 years old. Conclusions Vegetation treatments designed to remove or reduce less palatable tree and shrub species to improve forage conditions may increase the use of winter habitats by deer on the Kaibab Plateau. Similarly, prescribed fire and rangeland treatments designed to return areas to a more natural fire regime and, thereby, generate new plant growth, may improve winter-range habitat conditions for mule deer. Implications Similar treatment strategies may also benefit mule deer populations throughout the western USA, by improving forage conditions on critical habitats and reducing the potential for catastrophic wildfire.

Winter habitat use by mule deer in the central interior of British Columbia

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 1721-1725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harold M. Armleder ◽  
Michaela J. Waterhouse ◽  
Dagmar G. Keisker ◽  
Richard J. Dawson
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Snow Depth ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Biological Data ◽  
Planning System ◽  
Winter Habitat ◽  
Winter Range ◽  
Crown Closure

We analyzed winter habitat use by 23 radio-collared mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) in the central interior of British Columbia, Canada, from February 1982 to March 1989. This research was essential to provide sound biological data for development of a selection silvicultural and planning system that would integrate timber harvesting with the habitat needs of mule deer. Habitat selection was analyzed by comparing deer use with habitat availability of various levels (categories) of the following variables: age, crown closure, species composition, slope, and aspect. Additionally, we compared the use of each category among snow classes. Regardless of snow depth class, use of old stands (> 140 years) by deer was greater than the availability of that age category. Also, the use of old stands was greater in moderate (26–40 cm) and deep (>40 cm) snow depth classes than in the low snow depth class. Areas of winter range dominated by Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) were more often used than areas where other tree species were most common. In the deep snow class, use of both moderate and high crown closures categories exceeded their availability.

scholarly journals Late-winter habitat use by the Fisher, Pekania pennanti (Erxleben, 1777), in the Boreal Plains Ecozone of northwestern Saskatchewan, Canada

2014 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
pp. 272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilbert Proulx
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Larix Laricina ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Winter Habitat ◽  
Boreal Plains ◽  
Pekania Pennanti ◽  
Crown Closure

Late-winter habitat use by the Fisher, Pekania pennanti (Erxleben, 1777) in northwestern Saskatchewan was assessed in February 2009, 2011, and 2012. A total of 78 Fisher tracks were recorded over 60 300 m of snowshoe surveys. Fisher tracks were significantly less frequent than expected in Tamarack (Larix laricina [Du Roi] K. Koch) stands with > 40% crown closure and mainly 0–10 m trees (P < 0.05) and in open areas. Fishers used other habitat types equal to availability, including muskeg and coniferous, mixed, and deciduous forest stands. Maintaining mosaics of forest stands of different seral stages interspersed with muskeg would meet the late-winter habitat needs of Fishers in the Boreal Plains Ecozone of northwestern Saskatchewan.

scholarly journals Winter Habitat use by Mule Deer in Idaho and Montana

2015 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja M Smith ◽  
Paul R Krausman ◽  
Greg Painter
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Winter Habitat

scholarly journals Comparison of seasonal habitat selection between threatened woodland caribou ecotypes in central British Columbia

Rangifer ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena S. Jones ◽  
Michael P. Gillingham ◽  
Dale R. Seip ◽  
Douglas C. Heard
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Rocky Mountains ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Recovery Planning ◽  
Specific Mapping ◽  
Selection Of

Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in British Columbia have been classified into ecotypes based on differences in use of habitat in winter. Although recovery planning focuses on ecotypes, habitat use and selection varies within ecotypes. Our objectives were to compare habitat use and selection among previously identified woodland caribou herds at the transition zone between northern (Moberly, Quintette, and Kennedy herds) and mountain (Parsnip herd) ecotypes in central British Columbia. We developed selection models for each herd in spring, calving, summer/fall, early and late winter. Topographic models best predicted selection by most herds in most seasons, but importance of vegetation-cover was highlighted by disproportionate use of specific vegetation-cover types by all caribou herds (e.g., in early winter, 75% of Kennedy locations were in pine-leading stands, 84% of Parsnip locations were in fir and fir-leading stands, and 87 and 96% of locations were in alpine for the Moberly and Quintette herds, respectively). Using a combination of GPS and VHF radio-collar locations, we documented some spatial overlap among herds within the year, but use of vegetation-cover types and selection of elevations, aspects, and vegetation-cover types differed among herds and within ecotypes in all seasons. Habitat use and selection were most similar between the two northern-ecotype herds residing on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. This research indicates that habitat use and selection by caribou herds in all seasons is more variable than ecotype classifications suggest and demonstrates the value of undertaking herd-specific mapping of critical habitat for woodland caribou.

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