Consumption of fresh alfalfa hay by mule deer and elk

Tame mule deer and elk were fed fresh alfalfa hay at night and given various alternate forages during the day. This schedule, simulating farmland depredation feeding, yielded consumption values for field-growing alfalfa hay.     

Occurrence of ticks on mule deer in central Utah

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Two species of ticks were collected from mule deer and identified as Dermacentor albipictus (Packard) and Ixodes sp. The rate of occurrence of these ticks was found to be 99.6 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively. The infestation rate increased from 18.2 percent in January, to 87.5 percent in February, to 100.0 percent in March.     

Influences of sex and weather on migration of mule deer in California

I examined differences by sex and influences of weather on timing and patterns of migration of Rocky Mountain mule deer ( Odocoileus h. hemionus ) in the eastern Sierra Nevada, California, during 1984-87. Deer initiated spring migration from the winter range at about the same time in all years and made extensive use of holding areas at intermediate elevations. Radio-telemetered deer showed strong fidelity to summer ranges over as many as four years. Fall weather produced different patterns of fall migration. Storms during October produced a pulsed migration, in which most animals mmiiggiraatteedd to the winter range during or soon after the storm; in a year without a storm, fall migration was gradual. Despite the influence of storms on the pattern of fall migration, the median date of fall migration by females did not vary over years; however, among males it was later in a year without fall storms.     

Survivorship and cause-specific mortality in five populations of mule deer

We used retrospective analyses to investigate cause-specific mortality and survivorship among 5 populations of mule deer ( N = 168 telemetered animals) wintering in the western Great Basin during 1986-1994. These populations existed under similar environmental conditions, but survivorship functions differed among them. Monthly survival ranged from 0.964 to 0.990, and annual survival ranged from 0.643 to 0.884. The proportion of deaths attributed to predation and malnutrition or anthropogenic causes did not differ among the 5 populations. Predation was the leading cause of mortality; mountain lions were responsible for approximately 90% of the deer killed by predators. No difference existed among these populations in the proportion of telemetered deer that were killed by mountain lions, but proportionally more females than males were killed by these large fields. Predation by mountain lions is the primary source of mortality and a widespread phenomenon among the populations of mule deer we investigated.     

Presence of maxillary canine teeth in mule deer in Utah

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} During the winters of 1980–1984 winter mortality of mule deer fawns in central Utah was assessed. It was determined that the winter mortality ratio for female fawns as compared to males was 156:100. This mortality factor should be taken into consideration by game and range managers when determining harvest recommendations.          

Home-range size and overlap of sympatric male mule and white-tailed deer in Texas

Information about the ecology of sympatric male deer is limited, which may influence management strategies for these species. We estimated home-range and core-area sizes and overlap, and survival of sympatric male desert mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus eremicus ) and white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) in west central Texas. We captured 18 males of each species, fitted them with radio-collars, and monitored them for mortality from 2000 through 2003. We calculated home ranges for 7 males of each species in 2001 and 2002. Home-range sizes of mule deer (8.8 km 2 ) and white-tailed deer (7.4 km 2 ) were similar. Interspecific home-range overlap was less common than intraspecific overlap. Mean annual survival was 0.76 (SE = 0.04) for mule deer and 0.80 (SE = 0.06) for white-tailed deer. The high degree of home-range overlap and similar survival between the 2 deer species suggest that management targeting only 1 species may be unfeasible.     

Differential winter mortality between male and female mule deer fawns in Utah

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} During the winters of 1980–1984 winter mortality of mule deer fawns in central Utah was assessed. It was determined that the winter mortality ratio for female fawns as compared to males was 156:100. This mortality factor should be taken into consideration by game and range managers when determining harvest recommendations.          

Late summer changes in mule deer diets with increasing use on bitterbrush rangeland

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Late summer diet composition of mule deer was determined daily within a mountain browse enclosure dominated by antelope bitterbrush. Palatable forages of low abundance were rapidly depleted, and bitterbrush continually composed over 50% of the diet, even at utilization exceeding 350 deer-days/ha. The relationship of bitterbrush forage production and deer-days use is discussed.     

Prevalence of Elaeophora schneideri and Onchocerca cervipedis in mule deer from central Utah

Thirteen of 265 deer (4.9 percent) from central Utah were positive for Elaeophora schneideri, and 180 (67.9 percent) were infected with Onchocerca cervipedis. The rate of infection for E. schneideri and O. cervipedis increased significantly with age of the host (chi - square of 17.5 and 15.5, respectively, p     

Winter habitat-use pattern of elk, mule deer, and mosse in southwestern Wyoming

Habitat-use patterns of mule deer, elk, and moose were determined on two winter range near Kemmerer, Wyoming. Mule deer used areas with the least snow depth and dominated by sagebrush. Elk were located more often than expected on wind-swept hills but used sagebrush communities more frequently as snow depths increased. Moose were generally found associated with broad, riparian zones. All three species occasionally used the same area but differed in their use of specific vegetation types and topography.     

Managing livestock grazing for mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) on winter range in the Great Basin

History and technical literature describing potential effects of livestock grazing on mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) populations and winter range habitat are reviewed. Recommendations for livestock grazing on winter ranges within the Great Basin are advanced.     

Temporal and spatial distribution of highway mortality of mule deer on newly constructed roads at Jordanelle Reservoir, Utah

In this paper we evaluated traffic characteristics and vegetation and topographic features associated with mule deer kills on 3 highways (US 40, SR 32, SR 248) in northeastern Utah. We also compared number, and sex and age composition of roadkills to that of the living population observed during spotlight counts. From 15 October 1991 to 14 October 1993 we documented 397 deer roadkills: 51.6% were does, 18.9% bucks, 21.7% fawns, and 7.8% could not be classified. Sixty-seven percent of adult kills were 2.5 yr of age. Kill composition compared closely to spotlight counts. Of 1515 spotlight deer, 65.2% were does, 8.9% bucks, and 25.9% fawns. Spotlight density and deer mortality were strongly correlated from summer 1992 through summer 1993 ( r = 0.94). Traffic conditions, topographic features, and vegetative characteristics contributed to mortality levels. Roadkills were highest along US 40 (68% year 1, 55% year 2) where traffic volume and speed were significantly higher along either state route. Large drainages intersected highways in 78% of designated kill zones. Roads adjacent to agricultural areas along all routes sustained the fewest highway mortalities. Percent cover was higher (40%) in kill zones than in other areas (29%).     

Effects of browsing by native ungulates on the shrubs in big sagebrush communities in Yellowstone National Park

The effects of elk ( Cervus elaphus ), pronghorn ( Antilocapra americana ), and mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) browsing on shrubs in big sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata ) communities were monitored over a 31-year period in Yellowstone National Park. Ungulates were restricting Wyoming big sagebrush (spp. wyomingensis ) heights, size, and recruitment on the lower-elevation stratum only, while no such suppression was observed on the high-elevation stratum. Parallel increases in mountain big sagebrush (spp. vaseyana ) densities and cover occurred over the study period on both browsed and unbrowsed sites at the higher-elevation stratum, although big sagebrush, green rabbitbrush ( Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus ), and horsebrush ( Tetradymia canescens ) were slightly taller and crown sizes were slightly larger on unbrowsed than browsed sites. Wyoming big sagebrush utilization (percent leader use) was eight times higher (￣ x = 87 ± 7.2% by pronghorns, mule deer, and elk) on the low-elevation winter ranges stratum (the Boundary Line Area [BLA] portion of the winter range), while mostly mountain big sagebrush with leader use averaged only 11 ± 4.1% (nearly all by elk) on the high-elevation range stratum. In addition, annual aboveground biomass production of big sagebrush did not differ between browsed and unbrowsed study sites on the high-elevation stratum of the winter range. Population turnover was higher on browsed plots versus unbrowsed plots. No difference was observed in percent dieback of big sagebrush adult plants between browsed and unbrowsed plots at the higher stratum. Browsing did not influence the number of leaves or seedstalks per plant ( P > .05), but leaves averaged 45% longer and seedstalks 42% longer on browsed big sagebrush. Ungulate browsing, however, apparently suppressed production, germination, and survival of Wyoming big sagebrush on the low-elevation stratum. Numbers of Wyoming big sagebrush declined 43% and cover declined 29%, 1957-1990, on browsed sites on the BLA. Annual biomass production on browsed sites at the low-elevation stratum was only 6-35% that of unbrowsed sites, and big sagebrush recruitment was less on browsed sites. Percent leader use of big sagebrush did not differ between the period of ungulate reductions, 1962-1969, and the 1980s on the lower stratum (￣ x = 87% leader use), but utilization was less on higher portions of the winter range during the period of elk reductions (￣ x = 2%) than during the 1980s following cessation of elk controls (￣ x = 11%).     

Effects of prairie dog rodenticides on deer mice in western South Dakota

Mortality of nontarget small mammals was determined after application of three black-tailed prairie dog ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) rodenticide treatments (prebaited zinc phosphide, prebaited strychnine, and strychnine alone) in western South Dakota. Immediate (September 1983) and long-term (September 1983 through August 1984) impacts on deer mouse ( Peromyscus maniculatus ) relative densities were evaluated and the three rodenticide treatments were compared for efficacy. The three treatments had no significant (α < .10) immediate impacts on deer mouse relative densities, although zinc phosphide did lower them; that impact was not, however, long term. Long-term impacts of the two strychnine treatments were variable, with an increase in deer mouse densities with the strychnine only treatment. Overall, comparisons among the three treatments indicated that zinc phosphide was more effective than either strychnine treatment in reducing deer mouse densities.     

Optimal temperatures for growth and upper thermal tolerance of juvenile northern leatherside chub

We examined optimal temperatures for growth and the upper thermal tolerance of juvenile northern leatherside chub ( Lepidomeda copei ). We conducted 2 experiments using the acclimated chronic-exposure method to estimate optimal temperature for growth of age-0 northern leatherside chub (range 12.8–28.3 °C). Upper thermal tolerance was estimated using the critical thermal maximum (CTM) and upper incipient lethal temperature (UILT) methods for fish acclimated at 15, 18, 23, and 28 °C. We also measured stream temperatures in Yellow Creek, Summit County, Utah, during July–August 2006 to compare our results to actual summer stream temperatures. Survival in growth tests was not significantly different between treatment temperatures in either experiment (P > 0.098). The optimal temperature for growth in the 1st trial estimated from the 2nd-order polynomial regression was 23.0 °C, falling outside the range of experimental temperatures (12.8–22.2 °C). The estimated optimal temperature for growth in the 2nd trial was 23.2 °C. In the upper thermal tolerance tests, juvenile northern leatherside chub had CTM values between 29.6 and 35.0 °C; CTM values increased as acclimation temperature increased. Upper incipient lethal temperatures (LT50) ranged from 26.5 to 30.2 °C, increasing with acclimation temperature. Summer stream temperatures in Yellow Creek had a lower mean (14.0–18.1 °C) than did the optimal temperature for growth determined in these studies, but these temperatures exhibited diel fluctuations as large as 15.7 °C.     

Effects of habitat on clutch size of ornate tree lizards, Urosaurus ornatus

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-indent:.25in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Clutch size is an important determinant of female reproductive success in reptiles. Although female body size explains much variation in clutch size, other important factors include differences in food availability, predation risk, morphology, and demography. Ornate tree lizards, Urosaurus ornatus, display extensive variation in life history traits, including clutch size. Tree lizards primarily use 2 distinct habitat types&mdash;trees and rock surfaces&mdash;which influence both the performance and morphology of this species and may affect life history traits such as clutch size. As food availability, microclimate, and, potentially, predator escape probabilities differ between these 2 habitats, I predicted that tree- and rockdwelling lizards would allocate resources toward clutch size differently. Clutch size variation was compared among 15 populations of U. ornatus sampled from the different habitat types. Urosaurus ornatus individuals living on trees had significantly larger clutches than those living on rocks, even after including the effects of body size and environment. Two potential mechanisms leading to larger clutches in tree-dwelling lizards are (1) differences in food availability and (2) differences in performance (sprint vs. endurance) requirements for predator escape in the 2 habitats. Inconsistent distribution of habitat type across the phylogenetic tree indicates either many cases of independent evolution in the allocation strategies of these lizards or a consistent phenotypically plastic response to similar environmental challenges in different populations. El tama&ntilde;o de puesta es un determinante importante del &eacute;xito reproductivo de las hembras. Aunque el tama&ntilde;o corporal de la hembra explica gran parte de la variaci&oacute;n en el tama&ntilde;o de puesta de los reptiles, otros factores importantes incluyen las diferencias en la disponibilidad de alimento, el riesgo de depredaci&oacute;n, la morfolog&iacute;a y la demograf&iacute;a. La lagartija arbolera Urosaurus ornatus exhibe gran variaci&oacute;n en caracter&iacute;sticas de historia de vida, incluyendo el tama&ntilde;o de puesta. Esta lagartija usa principalmente dos h&aacute;bitats distintos, &aacute;rboles y superficies de rocas, los cuales influyen tanto en el desempe&ntilde;o como en la morfolog&iacute;a de esta especie y pueden afectar las caracter&iacute;sticas de historia de vida como el tama&ntilde;o de puesta. En vista de que la disponibilidad de alimento, el microclima y posiblemente el escape de los depredadores difieren entre estos dos h&aacute;bitats, fue posible predecir que las lagartijas que viven en &aacute;rboles distribuir&iacute;an sus recursos de una manera diferente a la de las lagartijas que viven en las rocas con respecto al tama&ntilde;o de puesta. Comparamos la variaci&oacute;n en el tama&ntilde;o de puesta entre 15 poblaciones de U. ornatus provenientes de los dos tipos de h&aacute;bitat. Las Urosaurus ornatus que viven en los &aacute;rboles tuvieron puestas considerablemente m&aacute;s grandes que las que viven en las rocas, aun despu&eacute;s de incluir los efectos del tama&ntilde;o corporal y del ambiente. Dos mecanismos que podr&iacute;an llevar a puestas m&aacute;s grandes en lagartijas que viven en &aacute;rboles son (1) diferencias en la disponibilidad de alimento, y (2) diferencias en las capacidades necesarias (velocidad/resistencia) para eludir depredadores en los dos h&aacute;bitats. La distribuci&oacute;n del tipo de h&aacute;bitat en el &aacute;rbol filogen&eacute;tico indica, o muchos casos de evoluci&oacute;n independiente en las estrategias de asignaci&oacute;n de recursos de estas lagartijas, o una reacci&oacute;n sistem&aacute;tica y fenot&iacute;picamente pl&aacute;stica a presiones ambientales similares en distintas poblaciones.     

Effects of artificial shading on distribution and abundance of juvenile chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha )

The influence of artificial shade on the distribution and abundance of juvenile chinook salmon was studied in a side channel of the South Fork Salmon River, Idaho. Fish biomass and abundance were greater in shaded than in unshaded areas when compared to both cumulative incident light reaching the study sections during the 72-hour test runs and instantaneous incident light conditions at the end of the 72-hour test runs. Because conditions may be atypical at the time of instantaneous light measurement, we prefer cumulative incident light for relating light and shade conditions to daytime distribution (abundance and biomass) of juvenile chinook salmon.     

Short-term effects of logging on red-backed voles and deer mice

Clearcutting and selective logging effects on red-backed voles ( Clethrionomys gapperi ) and deer mice ( Peromyscus maniculatus ) were studied (September&ndash;November, 1975; June&ndash;October, 1976) in Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wyoming. Five selective cuts (total 137 ha) removed 57 percent (range 34&ndash;74 percent) of the trees. One clearcut (9.6 ha) eliminate 84 percent of the trees. Soils remained mesic in selective cuts, but became xeric in the clearcut. Snap-trapping indicated that voles were most abundant on the unlogged and selectively cut mesic sites (76 percent of 408 captures), whereas deer mice were more common on the xeric clearcut (80 percent of 60 captures). Species composition remained unchanged on selective cuts following logging (77 percent voles of 256 captures), but changed from predominantly voles to mostly deer mice (80 percent of 60 captures) in the clearcut. Intraspecific age and sex ratios, litter sizes, and morphological measurements were compared between logged and unlogged areas.     

Effects of dwarf mistletoe on growth and mortality of Douglas-fir in the Southwest

The effects of dwarf mistletoe ( Arceuthobium douglasii ) on growth and mortality of Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii ) were studied on 387 plots in mixed-conifer stands in three national forests in New Mexico and two in Arizona. Analyses of 8,570 trees showed that low infection ratings (dwarf mistletoe classes 1 or 2) had no significant effect on tree growth, but that losses increased markedly as infection severity increased. Average volume growth losses for trees over 10 inches in diameter were: dwarf mistletoe class 3, 10%; class 4, 25%; class 5, 45%; and class 6, 65%. Mortality of Douglas-fir in stands severely infested with dwarf mistletoe was three to four times that of healthy stands. These high losses confirm the need for silvicultural control of Douglas-fir dwarf mistletoe in the Southwest.