Multi-Scale Analyses of Habitat Use by Elk Following Wildfire

Biggs, J.; VanLeeuwen, Dawn; Holechek, Jerry L.; Valdez, Raúl

doi:10.3955/046.084.0103

Cited by 16 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 35 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Events such as prescribed fires, wild fires, and logging lead to a forest that transitions from a climax community of mature trees to early‐seral grass and forb species, resulting in increased use by elk (Lyon and Jensen , Dyke and Darragh , Biggs et al ). Bark‐beetle affected forests experience a somewhat similar transition as observed in other forest disturbances, from climax communities to a forest with increased understory vegetation (Kovacic et al , Stone and Wolfe , Pec et al ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi‐scale habitat selection of elk in response to beetle‐killed forest

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Forests of the Rocky Mountains (USA and Canada) have experienced a large‐scale bark‐beetle (Dendoctronus ponderosae) epidemic that has led to widespread mortality of pine trees, followed by structural and compositional changes to the forest. The millions of dead trees resulting from this event likely have an effect on ecosystem processes, but currently those effects are mostly unclear. Changes to forest canopy and understory structure are likely to affect behavior and space use of large ungulates as forage abundance, thermal cover, and locomotive costs are presumably altered. We developed and tested hypotheses for how resource selection in summer of female elk (Cervus canadensis; n = 47; 2012–2016), the primary large mammal in our study area, was influenced by changes in canopy, understory vegetation, and downed logs in bark‐beetle affected forest in south‐central Wyoming, USA. We employed global positioning system (GPS) technology, an imagery‐derived land cover classification specifically depicting beetle‐affected forest, and on‐the‐ground forest measurements to develop resource and step selection functions. At the study area scale, elk avoided beetle‐killed forest during nearly all parts of the day and selected for intact conifer forest during the day. At the micro‐habitat scale, as canopy cover decreased in beetle‐killed areas, there was a concomitant increase in grass biomass and downed logs. Nevertheless, while in the forest, elk did not alter resource selection relative to changes in understory vegetation or downed logs. The boost in forage abundance within beetle‐killed areas was insufficient to overcome the presumed increases in energy expenditures associated with locomotion and thermoregulation in beetle‐killed forests. The bark‐beetle epidemic has altered how elk use the landscape and has resulted in a potential loss of forest habitat that elk use during the day. Our results indicate that habitat treatments (i.e., fire or harvest) that remove standing dead trees and downed logs in beetle‐killed forest would further facilitate understory growth while reducing the locomotion costs associated with foraging in beetle‐killed forest. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi‐scale habitat selection of elk in response to beetle‐killed forest

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…, Rettie and Messier , Biggs et al. ). Because organisms shift selection patterns to exploit changing resource availability (e.g., elk seeking increased forage availability at high elevations as spring turns to summer; Hebblewhite et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying ecologically relevant scales of habitat selection: diel habitat selection in elk

2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Although organisms make resource selection decisions at multiple spatiotemporal scales, not all scales are ecologically relevant to any given organism. Ecological patterns and rhythms such as behavioral and climatic patterns may provide a consistent method for identifying ecologically relevant scales of habitat selection. Using elk (Cervus canadensis) as an example species, we sought to test the ability of behavioral patterns to empirically partition diel scales for modeling habitat selection. We used model selection to partition diel scales by shifts in dominant behavior and then used resource selection probability functions to model elk habitat selection hierarchically at diel scales within seasons. Model selection distinguished four diel temporal partitions following elk crepuscular behavioral patterns: dawn, midday, dusk, and night. Across seasons, model-averaged coefficients indicated that elk shifted from selecting grassland cover at dawn/dusk, to selecting for greater canopy and forest cover at midday, and then to areas with greater herbaceous biomass at night. Top models changed between diel intervals in spring and fall but stayed the same across diel intervals in winter and summer. In winter, elk selected for southern aspects during midday, for unburned areas at dawn/dusk, and for areas burned within 1-3 yr at dawn/dusk and night. In spring, elk selected for northern aspects and for areas burned within 1-3 yr at midday, for areas farther from roads at dawn/dusk and midday, and for areas farther from water at midday. In summer, elk changed diel preferences for fewer covariates: At dawn/dusk and midday, elk selected for areas farther from water and avoided forest cover, and at night, elk selected for areas burned within 1-3 yr. In fall, elk selected for areas burned the previous year at dawn/dusk and night, for higher elevations at midday, and for areas closer water at night. Using behavioral patterns to identify ecologically relevant scales can help identify overlooked habitat requirements such as diel changes in preference for fire history, forage availability, and cover. We show that the ecological relevancy of a given scale (e.g., a diel temporal scale) can change throughout a given extent (e.g., across seasons).

show abstract

“…Additionally, neighboring land managers have cited the need to maintain elk populations at levels that reduce impacts on other natural resources including aspen (Populus tremuloides) and riparian areas (Rupp et al 2001;Neff et al 2007). Many of the elk that calve and summer on the VCNP migrate eastward to more human-populated areas during winter (Biggs et al 2010) where there are different concerns, such as elk-vehicle collisions and impacts on private land. While separate studies were initiated to evaluate movements of adult elk and cause-specific mortality of elk calves on the VCNP (Biggs et al 2010;Bernal 2013), the focus of this study was to describe the spatial and social ecology of coyotes to increase our understanding of coyotes in high-elevation environments and inform managers about the elkcoyote dynamic on the VCNP.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Space use and social ecology of coyotes (Canis latrans) in a high-elevation ecosystem: relative stability in a changing environment

Gifford

Gese

Parmenter³

2016

J Ethol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Coyote (Canis latrans) spatial and social ecology are variable, but have been little studied in high-elevation environments. In these temperate ecosystems, large ungulates are prevalent and coyote pack size may be large in order for them to scavenge and defend ungulate carcasses from conspecifics in neighboring packs. We initiated a study to understand the spatial and social ecology of coyotes on the Valles Caldera National Preserve, a high-elevation (2450-3400 m) protected area in northern New Mexico. Our objectives were to (1) describe the home range size and habitat use of coyotes in the preserve, (2) describe coyote movements within and outside of packs, and (3) to evaluate the relationship between coyote social cohesion and the amount of elk (Cervus elaphus) in the coyote diet. We acquired global positioning system and telemetry locations from 33 coyotes from August 2005 to July 2009. We classified 23 coyotes (70 % of individuals) as residents (i.e., territorial) during at least part of the study and ten coyotes (30 %) as transients. Overall mean home range size of resident packs was 10.6 ± 2.2 (SD) km 2 . Home range size varied between packs, but did not vary by season or year. Coyotes used dry and wet meadow habitats as expected based on availability; coyotes used riparian habitat more than expected, and forests less than expected. Social cohesion did not vary among biological seasons. Alpha coyotes were more socially cohesive with each other than with other pack members, and a transient exhibited temporal-spatial avoidance of pack members while inside the pack's territory followed by integration into the pack. Contrary to expectations, we found no relationship between coyote social cohesion and the proportion of elk in coyote diets. We concluded that coyote space use and sociality on the preserve were relatively stable year-round despite changes in biological needs, snow depth, and utilization of variously sized prey.

show abstract

Multi-Scale Analyses of Habitat Use by Elk Following Wildfire

Cited by 16 publications

References 35 publications

Multi‐scale habitat selection of elk in response to beetle‐killed forest

Multi‐scale habitat selection of elk in response to beetle‐killed forest

Identifying ecologically relevant scales of habitat selection: diel habitat selection in elk

Space use and social ecology of coyotes (Canis latrans) in a high-elevation ecosystem: relative stability in a changing environment

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About