Forage Selection By Bighorn Sheep Ewes And Lambs In Southcentral Colorado

Author : Erin Wood
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 90 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (127 download)

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Download or read book Spatial Ecology and Resource Selection of Bighorn Sheep (ovis Canadensis) Ewes in a Prairie Badlands Population written by Erin Wood and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 90 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The basic spatial ecology and habitat relationships of female bighorn sheep in Nebraska are poorly understood. Establishing seasonal patterns of space use and resource selection for this population at the margin of their historical and current range addresses a key knowledge gap and provides important baseline information for ongoing conservation efforts in Nebraska. We deployed GPS radio-collars on 56 adult ewes in western Nebraska to quantify seasonal space use, movements, and resource selection of ewes. To investigate spatial ecology, we quantified movements of ewes and the factors that influence home range size, seasonal use, and spatial stability across seasons. Home range behavior and seasonal movements within this population appear to differ from others that have strong migratory tendencies. Multivariate modeling highlighted seasonal differences in space use and predicted a generally positive, non-linear relationship between home range size and road density. We also quantified resource selection patterns of female bighorn sheep within their home ranges and inferred factors that influence resource selection with a focus on predation risk, forage efficiency, and human disturbance. We used mixed-effects logistic regression with used and available locations for each individual to evaluate selection of topographical features, escape terrain, an index of high quality forage, and natural and anthropogenic landscape features. Ewes selected escape terrain, more rugged terrain, higher elevations, and water in all seasons. Selection of roads, development, and crops varied by season and subpopulation. Our work elucidates behavioral patterns of female bighorn sheep in Nebraska that may influence their survival and reproductive success. Our results should contribute to improved understanding of the factors limiting population growth for this declining population of conservation concern.