Selection of Ecological Sites by Pronghorn in Trans-Pecos Region of Texas

French, Justin T.; O'Shaughnessy, Ryan; Harveson, Louis A.; Warnock, Bonnie J.; Garrison, Taylor O.; Gray, Shawn S.

doi:10.1894/0038-4909-63-2-96

Cited by 1 publication

(3 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…For over a century, scientists have recognized general patterns of pronghorn habitat selection. At the broadest scale, they select areas with undulating topography, often referred to as gently rolling hills, and flat terrain (Cook and Irwin 1985, Kilgore and Fairbanks 1997, Hervert et al 2005, Fleishman et al 2017, French et al 2018). Conversely, pronghorn tend to avoid rugged areas, including mountainous terrain and slopes exceeding 30%, likely because of their inability to traverse steep or rocky terrain and avoid predation (Kilgore and Fairbanks 1997, Hervert et al 2005, Burroughs 2013).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Conversely, pronghorn tend to avoid rugged areas, including mountainous terrain and slopes exceeding 30%, likely because of their inability to traverse steep or rocky terrain and avoid predation (Kilgore and Fairbanks 1997, Hervert et al 2005, Burroughs 2013). Within flat or gently rolling hills, pronghorn select shrublands and grasslands and avoid woodlands and areas with large secondary canopy or brush components (Irwin and Cook 1985); this avoidance strategy helps in predator detection and escape (Burroughs 2013, Keller et al 2013, Duncan et al 2016, Fleishman et al 2017, French et al 2018). In some cases, however, vertical vegetation structure can contribute to thermal refugia in hot, dry conditions (Buechner 1950, Hughes 1991).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Broad-scale Habitatmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contrasting management paradigms for pronghorn in the arid Southwest and their northern range: a review

Bean,

Butterfield,

Fiehler

et al. 2023

J Wildl Manag

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Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), a symbol of western North America, experienced diverging population trajectories since the mid‐twentieth century, with northern populations showing signs of recovery while those in the arid Southwest have struggled to persist. We conducted a systematic literature review of papers published through August 2023 to understand 3 questions. What are the habitat conditions needed for pronghorn to persist? What management actions can be taken to foster higher quality habitat? Do these actions differ for populations in the arid Southwest compared to their northern counterparts? Although the fundamental habitat requirements for pronghorn persistence have remained constant since the early 2000s, it has become clear that precipitation is a key factor influencing pronghorn populations in the arid Southwest. The precise mechanisms by which precipitation influences pronghorn population dynamics are not yet clear, whether through the availability of free water, by affecting forage quality, or indirectly via predator‐prey dynamics. Although range‐wide forage enhancement may be impractical, providing additional free water sources could facilitate greater movement, enabling pronghorn to access more and higher quality forage and areas with lower predation risk. To clarify how pronghorn persisted for thousands of years in this harsh environment, we must gain a better understanding of their historical metapopulation and migratory behaviors in the arid Southwest.

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