Habitat Analysis and Management Considerations for Ruffed Grouse for a Multiple Use Area in Michigan

Regional Variation in the Nutritional Ecology of Ruffed Grouse

“…of habitats with a well-developed understory is well documented in other areas (Bump et al 1947, Berner andGysel 1969), and is consistent with findings for transplanted grouse in Tennessee (White andDimmick 1978, Gudlin andDimmick 1984). The highest relative use (grouse flushed/km) for the clearcut bottom may have been influenced by the high fruit production in that area, but there were too few obse·rvations to be conclusive.…”

Ruffed grouse brood habitat use in a mixed hardwood forest: Implications for forest management in the Appalachians

“…We created a set of a-priori candidate models using combinations of microhabitat variables previously determined important to ruffed grouse broods. Variables included in models were percent total groundcover, percent vertical cover 2 m, midstory stems 11.4 cm DBH, and density of invertebrates in orders preferred by ruffed grouse chicks (Stewart, 1956;Berner and Gysel, 1969;Porath and Vohs, 1972;Godfrey, 1975;Kubisiak, 1978;Maxson, 1978;Kimmel and Samuel, 1984;Thompson et al, 1987;Scott et al, 1998;Fettinger, 2002;Haulton et al, 2003). We used biascorrected Akaike's information criterion (AIC c ) and weight of evidence (w i ) to rank and select the model(s) that most parsimoniously fit the data (Burnham and Anderson, 1998).…”

“…Provision of brooding areas may be a cornerstone of such plans, as fulfilling specific brood requirements also improves conditions for adults throughout the year. The reverse, however, may not be true, as broods are less adaptable to unfavorable conditions (Berner and Gysel, 1969).…”

“…Requirements include ample invertebrates, a diversity of moderately dense, herbaceous groundcover and a high density of midstory shrubs and woody stems (Berner and Gysel, 1969;Porath and Vohs, 1972;Godfrey, 1975;Gullion, 1977;Kubisiak, 1978;Maxson, 1978). The diversity of forest stands exhibiting these conditions included lowland speckled alder (Alnus rugosa, Godfrey, 1975), mature alder-aspen (Populus tremuloides, P. grandidentata, Kubisiak, 1978), and various combinations of forest openings and edge habitats (Berner and Gysel, 1969;Porath and Vohs, 1972;Maxson, 1978).…”

Activity, home range, and habitat usage of female ruffed grouse during the egg-laying, incubation, and early brood periods as determined by radiotelemetry

“…Schladweiler (1965) reported the use of alder habitats. Berner and Gysel (1969) stated that in summer adult males and broodless hens used cover types similar to those used by drumming males in spring, i.e. lowland hardwoods, aspen, and aspen-hardwood mixtures.…”