scholarly journals Nutritional-Landscape Models Link Habitat Use to Condition of Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Merems ◽  
Lisa A. Shipley ◽  
Taal Levi ◽  
Joel Ruprecht ◽  
Darren A. Clark ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (10) ◽  
pp. 1292
Author(s):  
Kirby D. Bristow ◽  
Larisa E. Harding ◽  
Richard W. Lucas ◽  
Thomas C. McCall

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 >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.


2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1395-1406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P Sullivan ◽  
Druscilla S Sullivan ◽  
Pontus M.F Lindgren ◽  
Douglas B Ransome

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.


2008 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 205
Author(s):  
Gilbert Proulx

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.


2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Alan Mortenson ◽  
Jason Andrew Robison

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