Habitat Selection and Use by Bighorn Sheep (Ovis Canadensis) on a Northwestern Montana Winter Range PDF Download

Author: Mark Edward Tilton
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Bighorn sheep
Languages : en
Pages : 242

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Author: Alyson B. Courtemanch
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781321062953
Category : Bighorn sheep
Languages : en
Pages : 105

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The persistence of many migratory ungulate populations worldwide is threatened due to anthropogenic impacts to seasonal ranges and migration routes. Very little is known about the ability of migratory ungulates to adapt to migration disruption or loss. We proposed the Alternative Foraging Strategies Hypothesis (AFSH) as a framework for identifying various seasonal behavioral strategies that ungulates may use to cope with migration loss. We tested the AFSH using the formerly migratory Teton bighorn sheep population in northwest Wyoming, which ceased migrating over 60 years ago, but has persisted as resident. We used global positioning system (GPS) data to evaluate winter and summer habitat selection and seasonal elevational movements for 28 adult female bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) from 2008-2010. Resource selection functions revealed that Teton bighorn sheep have altered their winter foraging strategies to survive as residents by seeking out rugged, high elevation, windswept ridgelines. Seasonal movement analyses indicated that bighorn sheep undergo a newly documented "abbreviated migration" strategy that is closely synchronized with vegetation green-up patterns within their one range. We also investigated the long-term behavioral responses of bighorn sheep to backcountry skiing and snowboarding, which pose an additional challenge to surviving in their new high elevation habitats. We found that bighorn sheep avoided areas of backcountry recreation, even if those areas were otherwise relatively high quality habitat. Avoidance behavior resulted in up to a 30% reduction in available high quality habitat for some individuals. Bighorn sheep avoided areas with both low and high recreation use. Individual bighorn sheep exposed to high levels of recreation exhibited increased daily movement rates and home range sizes compared to sheep exposed to low or no recreation. These results reveal that bighorn sheep appear to be sensitive to forms of recreation which people largely perceive as having minimal impact to wildlife, such as backcountry skiing. The identification of alternative foraging strategies, the habitats that support them and the additional challenges to ungulates after migration loss, such as human recreation, can help reveal the underlying benefits of migration and help conserve ungulate populations after migration loss.

Author: Lynn R. Irby
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Bighorn sheep
Languages : en
Pages : 12

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Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) were reported to occur in all mountain ranges in and around Yellowstone National Park (YNP) in the late 1800's (Mills 1937). European expansion into the upper Yellowstone River Valley during the 19th century caused bighorn sheep numbers to drastically decline from competition with livestock, introduction of livestock disease, hunting, and loss of habitat. The establishment of YNP, other management areas, and hunting regulations protected remaining bighorn populations. Although some populations were eliminated, others increased and reestablished into historic ranges (Buechner 1960, Keating 1982).

Author: Walter A. Van Dyke
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Bighorn sheep
Languages : en
Pages : 44

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Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Wildlife conservation
Languages : en
Pages : 838

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Author: Gretchen Irene Fowles
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Animal populations
Languages : en
Pages : 206

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Translocations of bighorn sheep have had variable success due to the lack of good quality, predictive habitat models and of regular follow-up monitoring of translocated populations. This research helps to fill these voids. Radio telemetry was used to estimate the habitat use of a newly reintroduced population of California bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana) on the Jim Sage Range in Idaho. The habitat characteristics of locations used by groups of sheep were compared to those of randomly selected locations over two different geographic scales by use of GIS and logistic regression. The characteristics included vegetative composition, terrain ruggedness, distance to water sources, distance to steep slopes, slope, aspect, and elevation. Predictive habitat selection models based on winter, lambing, and summer habitat use were developed. The habitat models correctly classified 78-82% of used locations. Open grassy areas, distance to steep slopes and water, high elevation, and rugged terrain significantly contributed to the presence of sheep. The models suggested that there is an adequate amount of suitable habitat to support a viable population on the Jim Sage Range but that barriers may prevent their access to a portion of the range. Characteristics of the population, including births, deaths, movement patterns, and group composition and size were also monitored so that baseline data with which to compare future data to evaluate the status of the population would be provided. Adequate lambing and recruitment rates were observed. Twenty-two deaths occurred since the first translocation, and mountain lions were a major cause of these. Most of the mountain lion kills occurred during the first four months after the first release. Group size varied seasonally and was positively affected by population density.

Author: Norman S. Smith
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Bighorn sheep
Languages : en
Pages : 44

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Author: Luigi E. Morgantini
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Big game animals
Languages : en
Pages : 374

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Author: J. Arthur Hayes
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Bighorn sheep
Languages : en
Pages : 148

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Author: Gordon H. Dicus
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Bighorn sheep
Languages : en
Pages : 178

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