Habitat Selection, Foraging Behavior, and Dietary Nutrition of Elk in Burned Aspen Forest

Abstract

Prescribed burning is frequently used to enhance regeneration of aspen. The effects of burning aspen on wild ungulates are poorly understood. We used free-ranging tame elk to assess diet composition and quality on a site containing a 40-ha aspen burn, pure unburned aspen, mixtures of aspen and conifers, and other habitats. Foraging preferences of eik among the habitats were also investigated. Overall, no dietary nutritional differences were found between burned and unburned aspen habitats. Diet composition by forage class varied somewhat, due primarily to an abundance of very paintable post-fire forbs on the bum. Time spent feeding was significantly different among habitats. The bum was substantially more attractive for foraging probably because preferred forages were consistently available and greater foraging efficiency was possible than in other habitats.

Utilization of heterogeneous grasslands by domestic herbivores: Theory to management

“…Cook [21] Improving forage quality can be used to lure cattle to a feeding site. Burning removes standing dead and makes forage more attractive to large herbivores [17,58]. Applying nitrogen fertilizer can increase forage utilization from two [27] up to five times [38] the level of unfertilized areas.…”

Effects of long-term use by big game and livestock in the Blue Mountains forest ecosystems.

“…Data were collected on dietary composition, foraging efficiency, and dietary quality using bite-count methods (Canon andothers 1987, Wickstrom andothers 1984).…”

Effects of fire management of southwestern natural resources

“…Rejuvenation of these stands is critical, because only 7% of the estimated 479,000 acres (193,850 ha) of aspen in Arizona and New Mexico is in the seedling and sapling stage; the rest are mature or overmature (Patton and Jones 1977). A survey of aspen over the West has indicated that without management intervention seral aspen stands will probably be replaced by conifers, and stable ones may become all-aged and less productive (DeByle et al 1987). Although relatively stable aspen stands have been identified in other areas of the Rocky Mountains (Harniss and Harper 1982), those in the Southwest are seral and will be eventually replaced by conifers, perhaps at a faster rate than those in western Colorado.…”

“…They concluded clearcutting aspen in small blocks on an 80-year rotation would increase "edge," species diversity, and even total number of birds. Canon et al (1987) compared elk foods and feeding habits among several habitats, including burned and unburned aspen stands and mixtures of aspens and conifers. They found no dietary nutritional differences between burned and unburned aspen stands but did note that time spent feeding was substantially greater on burned aspen sites, probably because preferred forages were consistently available.…”