Some Sources of Error in Using Pellet-Group Counts for Censusing Deer

Etten, Robert C. Van; Bennett, Carl L.

doi:10.2307/3798548

Cited by 35 publications

(26 citation statements)

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“…This lack of difference may be due to the relatively long persistence of pellets on xeric sites (Harestad and Bunnell, 1987). Pellets on dry sites with sparse vegetation often persist for many years in a relatively unchanged condition (Van Etten and Bennet, 1965). Some of the pellet groups on our xeric sites may have been deposited before or soon after the wolf reintroduction of 1995, confounding our results.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 48%

Trophic cascades among wolves, elk and aspen on Yellowstone National Park’s northern range

Ripple

Larsen

Renkin

et al. 2001

Biological Conservation

362

278

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Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) biomass has declined in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) in the past century. We installed permanent belt transects (plots) for long-term monitoring of aspen stands both within and outside of established wolf pack territories on YNP's northern range to determine if reintroduced wolves are influencing elk browsing patterns and aspen regeneration through a trophic cascades interaction. Wolves may have an indirect effect on aspen regeneration by altering elk movements, browsing patterns, and foraging behavior (predation risk effects). Elk pellet groups, aspen sucker heights, and the percentage of browsed suckers were the variables used to measure differences in aspen stands in high and low wolf-use areas of the northern range. The aspen stands in the high wolf-use areas had significantly lower counts of elk pellet groups in the mesic upland steppe and the combined mesic upland steppe and riparian/wet meadow habitat types. Based on our pellet group results, it appears that elk foraging behaviors may have been altered by the increased risk of predation due to the reintroduction of the wolf. In the riparian/ wet meadow habitat type, mean aspen sucker heights were significantly higher in the high wolf-use areas than in the low wolf-use areas. The percentage of browsed suckers in high and low wolf-use areas showed no significant differences in any of the habitat types. Considering the high browsing pressure in YNP aspen stands, it is uncertain whether the taller aspen suckers measured in the high wolf-use areas will eventually join the aspen overstory. These permanent plots represent a valuable baseline data set to assess any current and future aspen regeneration responses to the reintroduction of wolves in YNP. #

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 48%

Trophic cascades among wolves, elk and aspen on Yellowstone National Park’s northern range

Ripple

Larsen

Renkin

et al. 2001

Biological Conservation

362

278

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“…Para estimar la densidad de venados se utilizó el modelo propuesto por Eberhardt y Van Etten [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] con base en la fórmula y una tasa de defecación de 12.7 grupos fecales por individuo por día ya que es la tasa de defecación que más se ha utilizado para estimaciones en bosques templados. Con esta fórmula se estima el número de individuos por kilometro cuadrado: …”

Section: Estimación De La Densidad De La Poblaciónunclassified

Estudio poblacional y uso de hábitat por el venado cola blanca (Odocoileus virginianus)en un bosque templado de la Sierra de Pachuca, Hidalgo, México

Sánchez‐Rojas

Aguilar-Miguel

Hernández-Cid

2009

Tropical Conservation Science

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ResumenSe estimó la densidad y el uso de hábitat (por categorías de edad y sexo) de una población del venado cola blanca (Odocoileus virginianus) en un bosque templado de la sierra de Pachuca, Hidalgo. La estimación de la densidad se calculó mediante el conteo de grupos fecales y se evaluó el uso del hábitat por medio de la presencia de excremento. La morfología de los pellets se evaluó mediante el método K media difusa para obtener las categorías: I)juveniles, II)machos adultos y III)hembras adultas. Se midieron características de abundancia, diversidad y arquitectura de la vegetación leñosa y se utilizó un análisis de componentes principales (ACP) para identificar las variables de mayor relevancia y la heterogeneidad entre las unidades de evaluación. Para evaluar las diferencias entre los grupos de edad y sexo se utilizó un Análisis de Función Discriminante (AFD). La densidad estimada fue de 2.1 ± 1.6 ind/km 2 . La clasificación mostró que el 40% de los pellets fueron asignados a juveniles, el 40% a hembras y 20% a machos. El ACP mostró que las variables de los arbustos son más importantes y que hay un área extensa de hábitat disponible para los venados, mientras que el AFD detectó diferencia significativa en el grupo de los jóvenes con respecto a los adultos en los sitios donde la vegetación de estrato arbustivo es más cerrada. En términos de conservación es importante contar con datos de la densidad de la población pues permite la comparación de monitoreos posteriores, pero sobretodo empezar a documentar como responden las especies dentro de las Unidades de Conservación y Manejo para Uso Sustentable Palabras clave: Odocoileus virginianus, uso de hábitat, densidad, Unidades de Conservación y Manejo para Uso Sustentable. AbstractDensity and habitat use (between age and sex classes) of a white tailed deer population. was estimated in a pine-oak forest at la Sierra de Pachuca, Hidalgo. The population density was estimated using the pellet count method and the occurrence of pellets was used to evaluate the habitat use. The morphology of pellets was utilized with the K mean Fuzzy Clustering method to obtain three categories: I) young, II) adult male and III) adult female. We recorded the abundance, diversity and architecture of woody plant and then analyzed with principal component analysis (PCA), in order to detect de main factor of habitat and the heterogeinity. To evaluate differences between age-sex classes we used functional discriminate analysis (FDA). Population density obtained was 2.12 ± 1.6 ind/km 2 , the classification showed that 40 % of pellets was detected as young, the 40 % as female and 20 % as male. The PCA showed that main variables were associated with shrubs vegetation and exist a large suitable habitat for deer and FDA detected significant differences in sites between young and adult use with high density vegetation of shrubs. In terms of conservation it is important to have data on population density because it allows comparisons in monitoring activities; also it is important for starting to ...

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“…Plot size and number depend on herbivore type and density, spatial variability in amounts of dung being less in small animals and ones that defecate more frequently. In the above-mentioned study with species ranging in size from grouse to cattle, there were eight plots per site, each of 15 m 2 and having long narrow shape to prevent dung being overlooked (van Etten & Bennett 1965). Volumes of dung are usually determined by displacement of water in 1 or 2-litre polythene cylinders.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dung properties and defacation characteristics in some Scottish herbivores, with an evaluation of the dung-volume method of assessing occupance

Welch¹

1982

Acta Theriol.

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Some Sources of Error in Using Pellet-Group Counts for Censusing Deer

Cited by 35 publications

References 0 publications

Trophic cascades among wolves, elk and aspen on Yellowstone National Park’s northern range

Trophic cascades among wolves, elk and aspen on Yellowstone National Park’s northern range

Estudio poblacional y uso de hábitat por el venado cola blanca (Odocoileus virginianus)en un bosque templado de la Sierra de Pachuca, Hidalgo, México

Dung properties and defacation characteristics in some Scottish herbivores, with an evaluation of the dung-volume method of assessing occupance

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