Validation Tests of a Spatially Explicit Habitat Effectiveness Model for Rocky Mountain Elk

Roloff, Gary J.; Millspaugh, Joshua J.; Gitzen, Robert A.; Brundige, Gary C.

doi:10.2307/3803039

Cited by 29 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Radiotelemetry is clearly useful to elucidate special habitat requirements of elk, or any other species, as individuals adjust to variable weather, behavioral changes, cover and thermal requirements, and decreasing forage availability and quality among other factors (e.g., McCorquodale et al 1986;Millspaugh 1999;Roloff et al 2001). Nevertheless, radiotelemetry alone cannot adequately assess all outcomes of habitat selection to an individual animal; alternate methods are needed to elucidate, for example, nutritional or thermal consequences of such habitat selection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of subpopulations of North American elk (Cervus elaphusL.) using multiple lines of evidence: habitat use, dietary choice, and fecal stable isotopes

Walter

Leslie

Hellgren

et al. 2010

Ecological Research

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We used multiple lines of evidence to assess habitat selection, dietary choice, and nutritional outcomes for a population of North American elk (Cervus elaphus), confined to a relatively small and isolated landscape of public and private land in south-central Great Plains, USA. The area of suitable elk habitat was a topographically diverse matrix of mature oak savannah, C 4 -dominated grasslands, and C 3 -dominated agricultural fields surrounded by unsuitable lowlands fragmented by anthropogenic activities. We hypothesized that such disparity in habitat availability and quality resulted in subpopulation differences in the overall elk population. We used 3 methods to evaluate this premise: radiotelemetry to determine home range and habitat use, microhistology of plant fragments in feces to determine dietary selection, and fecal nitrogen (N) and stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (d 15 N) and carbon (d 13 C) to assess nutritional outcomes of habitat use and dietary choice. By comparing these 3 approaches, we wanted to determine if fecal indices alone could efficiently and accurately identify subpopulation structuring. Compositional analyses from radiotelemetry observations of 21 female elk identified 2 subpopulations that occupied relatively disjunct areas and showed differential preferences for forested and cultivated fields in summer but comparable preferences for cultivated fields in winter. A third unmarked subpopulation of elk was known to be largely confined to an adjacent wildlife refuge. Microhistological analyses of feces collected in all 3 areas highlighted distinct diets, outcomes of habitat occupation by the 3 subpopulations. Increased use of cultivated forages in winter was evident for 2 of the subpopulations, but the extent of use by elk was dependent on availability of cultivated forages in areas they occupied. The refuge subpopulation had no access to cultivated forage. Fecal N, fecal d 13 C, and fecal d 15 N supported the premise that the subpopulation with the greatest access to cultivated forages was on a higher nutritional plane than the other 2 subpopulations. Changes in fecal N, fecal d 13 C, and fecal d 15 N paralleled percentages of cultivated forages in the diets highlighting the utility of such fecal indices as supplemental to or surrogates for traditional methods of habitat use and dietary selection in free-ranging ungulates.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of subpopulations of North American elk (Cervus elaphusL.) using multiple lines of evidence: habitat use, dietary choice, and fecal stable isotopes

Walter

Leslie

Hellgren

et al. 2010

Ecological Research

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“…Presently, the relationship between stress hormones and population dynamics of elk is not well understood, and these results should be interpreted with caution (Millspaugh et al 2001). Johnson et al (2000) showed that as the volume of traffic increased on roads, the mean distance that elk were located from roads also increased (table 8).…”

Section: --------------Meters --------------mentioning

confidence: 95%

“…In addition, Millspaugh et al (2001) , Cassier et al 1992, Freddy et al 1986, Johnson et al 2000, Ward et al 1980. b Sources: Canfield et al 1999, Cassier et al 1992, Cole et al 1997, Creel et al 2002, Ferguson and Keith 1982, Johnson et al 2000, Lyon 1983, Millspaugh et al 2001, Phillips and Alldredge 2000, Roloff 1998, Roloff et al 2001, Rowland et al 2000, Schultz and Bailey 1978, Ward 1976, Ward et al 1980. c Sources: Canfield et al 1999Hicks and Elder 1979;King and Workman 1986;Leslie and Douglas 1980;MacArthur et al 1979MacArthur et al , 1982Papouchis et al 2001;Smith et al 1991.…”

Section: Hemionus) White-tailed Deer (O Virginianus) Elk (Cervus Ementioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing the cumulative effects of linear recreation routes on wildlife habitats on the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests.

Gaines¹,

Singleton²,

Ross³

2003

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We conducted a literature review to document the effects of linear recreation routes on focal wildlife species. We identified a variety of interactions between focal species and roads, motorized trails, and nonmotorized trails. We used the available science to develop simple geographic information system-based models to evaluate the cumulative effects of recreational routes on habitats for focal wildlife species for a portion of the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests in the state of Washington. This process yielded a basis for the consistent evaluation of the cumulative effects of roads and recreation trails on wildlife habitats, and identified information gaps for future research and monitoring. We suggest that managers use an adaptive management approach to address wildlife and recreation interactions because of the complexity and uncertainty of these issues.Keywords: Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests, linear recreation routes, focal wildlife species, cumulative effects. SummaryWe conducted a literature review to document the effects of linear recreation routes (roads, motorized trails, nonmotorized trails, designated and groomed ski and snowmobile routes) on wildlife and to assess the current level of human influences on focal wildlife species habitats on a portion of the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests in the state of Washington. The assessment consisted of seven steps: (1) identification of wildlife species and groups, ( 2) identification of focal species within each wildlife group, (3) identification of the road-and trail-associated factors for each focal species, (4) development of assessment processes and geographic information system (GIS) models to evaluate the influence of road-and trail-associated factors on focal species habitats, (5) application of the models to assess the current conditions of focal species habitats, (6) identification of information gaps, and (7) monitoring and adaptive management. Completion of this process yields a basis for the consistent evaluation of the cumulative effects of roads and recreation trails on wildlife habitats relative to the existing baseline conditions.We identified 238 articles on the effects of recreation trails, roads, and related subjects on wildlife. Of these, 183 articles were used to identify the interactions between roads and recreation trails and 29 focal wildlife species. These articles included technical publications, books, agency publications, theses, and dissertations.There is more science available to describe the interactions between focal wildlife species and roads than between focal species and recreation trails. Much of the research has been focused on wide-ranging carnivores and ungulates. Other lesser known species could benefit from additional research on the effects of roads, especially for less mobile species where roads may inhibit movements or fragment habitats. The most common reported interactions included displacement and avoidance where animals were reported as altering their use of habitats in response to road...

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“…Consequently, wildlife habitat models are often preferred. Several wildlifehabitat relationships models have been developed for forest managers to predict future distribution and abundance of a species given information on existing or future habitat conditions (Black and Scherzinger 1976;Schamberger et al 1986;Lyon 1983;Wisdom et al 1986;Morrison et al 1992;Roloff 1998;Rowland et al 2000;Roloff et al 2001). Some of these models are currently used in a wide range of applications.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Refinement of the Arc-Habcap model to predict habitat effectiveness for elk

Benkobi¹,

Rumble²,

Brundige³

et al. 2004

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You may order additional copies of this publication by sending your mailing information in label form through one of the following media. Please specify the publication title and series number. Fort Collins Service Center AbstractWildlife habitat modeling is increasingly important for managers who need to assess the effects of land management activities. We evaluated the performance of a spatially explicit deterministic habitat model (Arc-Habcap) that predicts habitat effectiveness for elk. We used five years of radio-telemetry locations of elk from Custer State Park (CSP), South Dakota, to test predicted habitat effectiveness by the model. Arc-Habcap forage and coverforage proximity components predicted elk distribution in CSP. However, the cover component failed to predict elk distribution in CSP. Habitat effectiveness calculated as the geometric mean of the model components failed to predict elk distribution and resulted in under-utilization of habitats predicted to be good and over-utilization of habitats predicted to be poor. We developed a new formula to calculate habitat effectiveness as an arithmetic average of the model components that weighted forage more than cover or cover-forage proximity. The new formula predicted actual elk distribution across categories of habitat effectiveness. Elk selected cover and forage areas ≤100 m from cover-forage edges. Arc-Habcap predicted that areas adjacent to roads were not usable by elk. Elk used areas adjacent to primary roads, but use was less than the proportional area comprised for primary roads, and about equal to proportional area adjacent to secondary roads and primitive roads. All sapling/pole and mature structural stages of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) were considered as both forage and cover by Arc-Habcap and consequently considered optimal in the cover-forage model component. We suggested revisions for both the cover-forage proximity component and areas adjacent to roads.

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Validation Tests of a Spatially Explicit Habitat Effectiveness Model for Rocky Mountain Elk

Cited by 29 publications

References 31 publications

Identification of subpopulations of North American elk (Cervus elaphusL.) using multiple lines of evidence: habitat use, dietary choice, and fecal stable isotopes

Identification of subpopulations of North American elk (Cervus elaphusL.) using multiple lines of evidence: habitat use, dietary choice, and fecal stable isotopes

Assessing the cumulative effects of linear recreation routes on wildlife habitats on the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests.

Refinement of the Arc-Habcap model to predict habitat effectiveness for elk

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