Effects of Winter Road Grooming on Bison in Yellowstone National Park

Bjornlie, Daniel D.; Garrott, Robert A.

doi:10.2307/3803109

Cited by 49 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Use of spatial memory to revisit foraging areas has been documented for several ungulate species (Bailey et al 1989, Hewitson et al 2005) and is likely used by bison given their well-defined travel corridors. Our results agree with conclusions by Bjornlie and Garrott (2001) and reaffirmed by Gates et al (2005) that Yellowstone bison use roads when convenient and when they align with natural travel pathways. Repeated use of the trail by bison traveling in single file lines maintains it in a ''self-groomed'' state, an adaptation for saving energy while traveling in snow (Telfer and Kelsall 1984).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Covariates Affecting Spatial Variability in Bison Travel Behavior in Yellowstone National Park

Bruggeman

Garrott

White

et al. 2007

Ecological Applications

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Understanding mechanisms influencing the movement paths of animals is essential for comprehending behavior and accurately predicting use of travel corridors. In Yellowstone National Park (USA), the effects of roads and winter road grooming on bison (Bison bison) travel routes and spatial dynamics have been debated for more than a decade. However, no rigorous studies have been conducted on bison spatial movement patterns. We collected 121 380 locations from 14 female bison with GPS collars in central Yellowstone to examine how topography, habitat type, roads, and elevation affected the probability of bison travel year-round. We also conducted daily winter bison road use surveys (2003-2005) to quantify how topography and habitat type influenced spatial variability in the amount of bison road travel. Using model comparison techniques, we found the probability of bison travel and spatial distribution of travel locations were affected by multiple topographic and habitat type attributes including slope, landscape roughness, habitat type, elevation, and distances to streams, foraging areas, forested habitats, and roads. Streams were the most influential natural landscape feature affecting bison travel, and results suggest the bison travel network throughout central Yellowstone is spatially defined largely by the presence of streams that connect foraging areas. Also, the probability of bison travel was higher in regions of variable topography that constrain movements, such as in canyons. Pronounced travel corridors existed both in close association with roads and distant from any roads, and results indicate that roads may facilitate bison travel in certain areas. However, our findings suggest that many road segments used as travel corridors are overlaid upon natural travel pathways because road segments receiving high amounts of bison travel had similar landscape features as natural travel corridors. We suggest that most spatial patterns in bison road travel are a manifestation of general spatial travel trends. Our research offers novel insights into bison spatial dynamics and provides conceptual and analytical frameworks for examining movement patterns of other species.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Covariates Affecting Spatial Variability in Bison Travel Behavior in Yellowstone National Park

Bruggeman

Garrott

White

et al. 2007

Ecological Applications

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“…Ungulates are known to react to human activity and infrastructures (Schneider and Wasel 2000;Bjornlie and Garrott 2001;Vistnes and Nellemann 2001). Regardless of cause, flight responses to human disturbances may result in temporal and spatial shifts in habitat use, as has been reported for chamois Rupicapra rupicapra, ibex Capra ibex ibex, and for elk Cervus elaphus (Cassirer et al 1992;Ingold et al 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

The non-impact of hunting on moose Alces alces movement, diurnal activity, and activity range

2008

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Previous studies on moose Alces alces have suggested that interactions with humans may trigger antipredator behaviors and generate a demographical cost. Therefore, we hypothesized that disturbances from small and big game hunting may have negative effects on moose movements, diurnal activity, and activity range. Using location data from 64 moose equipped with GPS collars from three populations (Low Alpine, Inland, Coastal) with different temporal human presence and spatial accessibility, we evaluated the impact of hunting on moose activity rhythms. On average, female moose in the low human population density (Low Alpine) area (<0.5/km 2 ) had significantly lower movement rates during moose hunting season, but variation in movement rates among individuals were higher compared with female moose in regions with denser human populations (6-24/km 2 ). We found no evidence that reproductive status influenced female moose sensitivity to disturbance. As expected, females used smaller activity ranges and were less active nocturnally than males. The high within-group variation suggests that current hunting disturbance levels do not alter moose population behavior in general. Our data indicate that alterations in movement were related to rutting activity, not human disturbance induced by hunting. In line with behavioral theory, our study suggests that some individuals were more sensitive to hunting disturbance than the general population. Our work suggests that individual moose may perceive human predation risk to be similar to other predation risks.

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“…Goodwin Jr (1975) observed an elk (Cervus canandensis) cow with two calves travelling along a power line ROW (500 kV, 41 m wide). Forman and Deblinger (2000) sighted a moose (Bjornlie and Garrott, 2001;Bruggeman et al, 2007), although surrounding terrain can be confounding (Bruggeman et al, 2006).…”

Section: Power Line Routes As Corridorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of power lines on ungulates and implications for power line routing and rights-of-way management

Bartzke¹,

May²,

Bevanger³

et al. 2014

Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv.

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Thousands of kilometres of power lines exist and more are planned. Ungulates that range over large areas are likely to encounter power lines, but a synthesis of power line effects on ungulates is lacking. Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) are suspected to avoid power lines up to distances of 4 km. In contrast, some forest ungulates preferentially forage in power line rights-of-way, cleared areas under power lines. We reviewed the factors that possibly influence avoidance and attraction effects of power lines on ungulates, construct a conceptual framework, and make suggestions on how to mitigate avoidance effects through power line routing and rights-of-way management. Power line construction, noise and electromagnetic fields are possible sources of disturbance, while rights-of-way management influences habitat use under power lines. Disturbance and altered habitat use can induce barrier and corridor effects, thereby influencing connectivity. Species-specific effects influence behavioural disturbance and habitat use. We found little evidence for behavioural disturbance of reindeer or forest ungulates under power lines. Forest ungulates could benefit from browsing in power line rights-of-way if they are managed to provide abundant and preferred forage as well as sufficient cover. However, power lines may facilitate access for hunters and predators. As a precaution, construction of power lines should be avoided in calving areas. To establish a causal relationship between the construction of power lines and potential avoidance, before-after-impact-control studies are recommended. More research is needed to make recommendations for the optimal design of power line networks.

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Effects of Winter Road Grooming on Bison in Yellowstone National Park

Cited by 49 publications

References 14 publications

Covariates Affecting Spatial Variability in Bison Travel Behavior in Yellowstone National Park

Covariates Affecting Spatial Variability in Bison Travel Behavior in Yellowstone National Park

The non-impact of hunting on moose Alces alces movement, diurnal activity, and activity range

The effects of power lines on ungulates and implications for power line routing and rights-of-way management

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