Resource partitioning and browse use by sympatric elk mule deer and white-tailed deer on a winter range in western Montana

Content Provider	Semantic Scholar
Author	Baty, G.
Copyright Year	1995
Abstract	Baty, G. Ross, M.S., May 1995 Wildlife Biology Resource Partitioning and Browse Use by Sympatric Elk, Mule Deer and White-Tailed Deer on a Winter Range in Western Montana (228 pp.) Director: C. Les Marcumx^f^^^^^^^/ Wintering ecology and forage relationships of sympatric elk (Cervus elaphus) . mule deer (Odocoileus hemiorius) and white-tailed deer ( 0. vireinianus) , were studied on the Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area from 1991-1994. Twenty vegetation types were delineated along 40 km of transects. Winter aerial counts indicated that cervid densities were about 28/km^. Winter mortality, habitat use and distribution of elk, mule deer (MD) and white-tailed deer (WTD) were evaluated by counting carcasses and 61,671 track-sets along 320 km of total transect distance during 1992 and 1993. Cervid spatial distributions were also estimated using radio­ telemetry. Winter carcass densities were 41 cm) during both winters, but WTD avoided such sites. Resource-use overlap among elk, MD and WTD was relatively low both winters. Overlap was greater between elk and both deer species in 1992, which was influenced by a recent wildfire. Overlap between MD and WTD was low both years because of high spatial separation. High spatial overlap between elk and MD was offset by low dietary similarity. Overall, periods with deep snow did not increase overlap. These results provided evidence that interspecific competition may have functioned in shaping niche relationships. Browse production and utilization varied across types. S i ^ s on sou&h^aspects produced more browae-and—received-greater^ use than sites on north aspects. Serviceberry (Amalanchier alnifolia) was the dominant producer. Browse as sole forage for cervids at observed densities would supply food for about 9 days. Periodic cervid population reductions in conjunction with prescribed burning would improve productivity of winter forage. More dense-mature conifer stands are needed to provide severe winter cover for WTD. Winter severity indices, browse sampling methods, and vegetation descriptions are also presented. ii
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Resource Type	Article