Download or read book Cougar Demographics and Resource Use in Response to Mule Deer and White tailed Deer Densities A Test of the Apparent Competition Hypothesis written by Hugh S. Robinson and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Apparent competition has been suggested as a contributing factor in the decline of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) populations in southern British Columbia and northern Washington. Apparent competition, whereby two prey species compete indirectly through a shared predator, can mimic direct competition by having a negative effect on one or both prey species. For cougars (Puma concolor) to be responsible for mule deer decline through apparent competition they must firstly have a numerical response which is tied to their prey either in a short term aggregative response, or long term numeric response. If present, the effects of apparent competition are magnified if the prey are not food limited, if one prey species has access to a refuge from predation that is not accessible by the second prey, if cougars do not switch between abundant prey, and if cougars do not limit their own density through a land tenure system. From 2001 to 2006 I conducted research testing the apparent competition hypothesis in a cougar, mule deer, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) community in northeastern Washington. Under high harvest pressure the cougar population maintained itself through immigration of juveniles that were likely responding to high habitat quality/prey abundance. This suggests that cougar numerical response may ultimately be set by prey availability. I also found that, at a finer scale, cougar aggregative response is best predicted by the density of their primary prey (white-tailed deer). I found no conspecific avoidance between cougars and limited avoidance of human habitation. Finally, with the reduction of cougar populations the growth rates of both species of deer increased significantly suggesting that their populations are predator and not food limited. In conjunction, these three papers give strong support for the presence of apparent competition in this system.
Download or read book Biology and Management of White tailed Deer written by David G. Hewitt and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2011-06-24 with total page 668 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Winner of the Wildlife Society Outstanding Edited Book Award for 2013! Winner of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society Outstanding Book Award for 2011! Winner of a CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title Award for 2011! Biology and Management of White-tailed Deer organizes and presents information on the most studied large mammal species in the world. The book covers the evolutionary history of the species, its anatomy, physiology, and nutrition, population dynamics, and ecology across its vast range (from central Canada through northern South America). The book then discusses the history of management of white-tailed deer, beginning with early Native Americans and progressing through management by Europeans and examining population lows in the early 1900s, restocking efforts through the mid 1900s, and recent, overabundant populations that are becoming difficult to manage in many areas. Features: Co-published with the Quality Deer Management Association Compiles valuable information for white-tailed deer enthusiasts, managers, and biologists Written by an authoritative author team from diverse backgrounds Integrates white-tailed deer biology and management into a single volume Provides a thorough treatment of white-tailed deer antler biology Includes downloadable resources with color images The backbone of many state wildlife management agencies' policies and a featured hunting species through much of their range, white-tailed deer are an important species ecologically, socially, and scientifically in most areas of North America. Highly adaptable and now living in close proximity to humans in many areas, white-tailed deer are both the face of nature and the source of conflict with motorists, home-owners, and agricultural producers. Capturing the diverse aspects of white-tailed deer research, Biology and Management of White-tailed Deer is a reflection of the resources invested in the study of the species’ effects on ecosystems, predator-prey dynamics, population regulation, foraging behavior, and browser physiology.
Download or read book Effects of Cougar Predation and Nutrition on Mule Deer Population Declines in the Intermountain Province of the Columbia Basin 2001 2002 Annual Report written by and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 54 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Construction of the Grand Coulee and Chief Joseph dams has resulted in inundation and loss of 29,125 total habitat units for mule deer and irrigation agriculture in many parts the Intermountain Province (IM) of the Columbia Basin. Mule deer in the Shrub-Steppe are ranked high priority target species for mitigation and management and are declining in most portions of the subbasins of the IM. Reasons for the decline are unknown but believed to be related to habitat changes resulting from dams and irrigation agriculture. White-tailed deer are not ranked as target species and are believed to be increasing throughout the basin because of habitat changes brought about by the dams and irrigation agriculture. Recent research (1997-2000) in the NE IM and adjacent Canadian portions of the Columbia Basin (conducted by this author and funded by the Columbia Basin Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program B.C.), suggest that the increasing white-tailed deer populations (because of dams and irrigation agriculture) are resulting in increased predation by cougars on mule deer (apparent competition or alternate prey hypothesis). The apparent competition hypothesis predicts that as alternate prey (white-tailed deer) densities increase, so do densities of predators, resulting in increased incidental predation on sympatric native prey (mule deer). Apparent competition can result in population declines and even extirpation of native prey in some cases. Such a phenomenon may account for declines of mule deer in the IM and throughout arid and semi-arid West where irrigation agriculture is practiced. We will test the apparent competition hypothesis by conducting a controlled, replicated ''press'' experiment in at least 2 treatment and 2 control areas of the IM subbasins by reducing densities of white-tailed deer and observing any changes in cougar predation on mule deer. Deer densities will be monitored by WADFW personnel using annual aerial surveys and/or other trend indices. Predation rates and population growth rates of deer will be determined using radio telemetry. Changes in cougar functional (kills/unit time), aggregative (cougars/unit area), numerical (offspring/cougar), and total (predation rate) responses on deer will also be monitored using radio telemetry. The experiment will be conducted and completed over a period of 5 years. Results will be used to determine the cause and try to halt the mule deer population declines. Results will also guide deer mitigation and management in the IM and throughout the North American West.
Download or read book Effects of Cougar Predation and Nutrition on Mule Deer Population Declines in the IM Province of the Columbia Basin Annual Report 2002 2003 written by and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 54 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Construction of the Grand Coulee and Chief Joseph dams has resulted in inundation and loss of 29,125 total habitat units for mule deer and irrigation agriculture in many parts the Intermountain Province (IM) of the Columbia Basin. Mule deer in the Shrub-Steppe are ranked high priority target species for mitigation and management and are declining in most portions of the sub basins of the IM. Reasons for the decline are unknown but believed to be related to habitat changes resulting from dams and irrigation agriculture. White-tailed deer are believed to be increasing throughout the basin because of habitat changes brought about by the dams and irrigation agriculture. Recent research (1997-2000) in the NE IM and adjacent Canadian portions of the Columbia Basin (conducted by this author and funded by the Columbia Basin Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program B.C.), suggest that the increasing white-tailed deer populations (because of dams and irrigation agriculture) are resulting in increased predation by cougars on mule deer (apparent competition or alternate prey hypothesis). The apparent competition hypothesis predicts that as alternate prey (white-tailed deer) densities increase, so do densities of predators, resulting in increased incidental predation on sympatric native prey (mule deer). Apparent competition can result in population declines and even extirpation of native prey in some cases. Such a phenomenon may account for declines of mule deer in the IM and throughout arid and semi-arid West where irrigation agriculture is practiced. We will test the apparent competition hypothesis by conducting a controlled, replicated 'press' experiment in at least 2 treatment and 2 control areas of the IM sub basins by reducing densities of white-tailed deer and observing any changes in cougar predation on mule deer. Deer densities will be monitored by WADFW personnel using annual aerial surveys and/or other trend indices. Predation rates and population growth rates of deer will be determined using radio telemetry. Changes in cougar functional (kills/unit time), aggregative (cougars/unit area), numerical (offspring/cougar), and total (predation rate) responses on deer will also be monitored using radio telemetry. The experiment will be conducted and completed over a period of 5 years. Results will be used to determine the cause and try to halt the mule deer population declines. Results will also guide deer mitigation and management in the IM and throughout the North American West.
Download or read book Cougar written by Maurice Hornocker and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2009-12-15 with total page 331 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The cougar is one of the most beautiful, enigmatic, and majestic animals in the Americas. Eliciting reverence for its grace and independent nature, it also triggers fear when it comes into contact with people, pets, and livestock or competes for hunters’ game. Mystery, myth, and misunderstanding surround this remarkable creature. The cougar’s range once extended from northern Canada to the tip of South America, and from the Pacific to the Atlantic, making it the most widespread animal in the western hemisphere. But overhunting and loss of habitat vastly reduced cougar numbers by the early twentieth century across much of its historical range, and today the cougar faces numerous threats as burgeoning human development encroaches on its remaining habitat. When Maurice Hornocker began the first long-term study of cougars in the Idaho wilderness in 1964, little was known about this large cat. Its secretive nature and rarity in the landscape made it difficult to study. But his groundbreaking research yielded major insights and was the prelude to further research on this controversial species. The capstone to Hornocker’s long career studying big cats, Cougar is a powerful and practical resource for scientists, conservationists, and anyone with an interest in large carnivores. He and conservationist Sharon Negri bring together the diverse perspectives of twenty-two distinguished scientists to provide the fullest account of the cougar’s ecology, behavior, and genetics, its role as a top predator, and its conservation needs. This compilation of recent findings, stunning photographs, and firsthand accounts of field research unravels the mysteries of this magnificent animal and emphasizes its importance in healthy ecosystem processes and in our lives.
Download or read book Effects of Reproductive Status of Mountain Lions on Prey Selection of Mule Deer and White tailed Deer in Northeastern Washington written by Jonathan R. Keehner and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 33 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Prey Selection and Kill Rates of Cougars in Northeastern Washington written by Hilary Stuart Cruickshank and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 53 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Cougar Predation and Population Growth of Sympatric Mule and White tailed Deer written by Hugh S. Robinson and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 92 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Advantages of Habitat Selection and Sexual Segregation in Mule and White tailed Deer written by Martin Benjamin Main and published by . This book was released on 1994 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: I studied sexual segregation in mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and white-tailed deer (Q. virginianus) in different environments and at different population densities to test the hypothesis that sexual segregation occurs in ungulates as the result of different reproductive strategies; females select habitat and behave in manners primarily designed to promote offspring survival, while adult males act primarily to maximize energy stores prior to the rut. Data collected for both species were consistent with this hypothesis. Mule deer segregated both socially and spatially. Compared to males, female mule deer used areas that were closer to water, supported superior browse species, and provided greater security for offspring from coyotes. Locally available resources enabled females to minimize movements, the apparent consequence of which was the depletion of forb biomass, the major diet class for both sexes. Males ranged further than females, a strategy that provided a diet high in forbs and high in quality. The occurrence of mixed-sex groups in highly productive areas suggested that males responded to forage availability and not females perse, and that the effects of localized grazing pressure by females may competitively exclude males from areas. Sexual segregation was not maintained by intersexual aggression in either mule or white-tailed deer. White tailed deer segregated socially, but demonstrated broad spatial overlap. During the peak of segregation (June-October), male behaviors were consistent with a pre-rut energy saving and forage seeking strategy; males used larger areas and made longer short term movements than females, but were less active overall and were relatively more active at night. Females were less mobile and foraged in smaller areas than males, particularly during fawn rearing periods (June-October). I also tested the hypothesis that male white-tailed deer segregate and range widely to scout potential mates and rivals. Based upon comparisons of areas used by radio-collared males and females during the peak periods of segregation (June-September) with areas used during the rut, this hypothesis was rejected.
Download or read book Using Science to Improve the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2013-10-04 with total page 399 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Using Science to Improve the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program: A Way Forward reviews the science that underpins the Bureau of Land Management's oversight of free-ranging horses and burros on federal public lands in the western United States, concluding that constructive changes could be implemented. The Wild Horse and Burro Program has not used scientifically rigorous methods to estimate the population sizes of horses and burros, to model the effects of management actions on the animals, or to assess the availability and use of forage on rangelands. Evidence suggests that horse populations are growing by 15 to 20 percent each year, a level that is unsustainable for maintaining healthy horse populations as well as healthy ecosystems. Promising fertility-control methods are available to help limit this population growth, however. In addition, science-based methods exist for improving population estimates, predicting the effects of management practices in order to maintain genetically diverse, healthy populations, and estimating the productivity of rangelands. Greater transparency in how science-based methods are used to inform management decisions may help increase public confidence in the Wild Horse and Burro Program.
Download or read book The Science of Overabundance written by William J. Mcshea and published by National Geographic Books. This book was released on 2003-01-17 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Easily the most common of America’s large wildlife species, white-tailed deer are often referred to as "overabundant." But when does a species cross the threshold from common to overpopulated? This question has been the focus of debate in recent years among hunters, animal rights activists, and biologists. William McShea and his colleagues explore every aspect of the issue in The Science of Overabundance. Are there really too many deer? Do efforts to control deer populations really work? What broader lessons can we learn from efforts to understand deer population dynamics? Through twenty-three chapters, the editors and contributors dismiss widely held lore and provide solid information on this perplexing problem.
Download or read book Yellowstone Cougars written by Toni Karen Ruth and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Examines the effect of wolf restoration on cougar population in Yellowstone National Park. No other study has addressed theoretical and practical aspects of competition between large carnivores. A thorough examination of cougar ecology, how they interact and [are] influenced by wolves, how this knowledge informs management and conservation"--Provided by publisher.
Download or read book Desert Puma written by Kenneth A. Logan and published by Island Press. This book was released on 2001-08-01 with total page 498 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Scientists and conservationists are beginning to understand the importance of top carnivores to the health and integrity of fully functioning ecosystems. As burgeoning human populations continue to impinge on natural landscapes, the need for understanding carnivore populations and how we affect them is becoming increasingly acute.Desert Puma represents one of the most detailed assessments ever produced of the biology and ecology of a top carnivore. The husband-and-wife team of Kenneth Logan and Linda Sweanor set forth extensive data gathered from their ten-year field study of pumas in the Chihuahua Desert of New Mexico, also drawing on other reliable scientific data gathered throughout the puma's geographic range. Chapters examine: the evolutionary and modern history of pumas, their taxonomy, and physical description a detailed description and history of the study area in the Chihuahua Desert field techniques that were used in the research puma population dynamics and life history strategies the implications of puma behavior and social organization the relationships of pumas and their preyThe authors provide important new information about both the biology of pumas and their evolutionary ecology -- not only what pumas do, but why they do it. Logan and Sweanor explain how an understanding of puma evolutionary ecology can, and must, inform long-term conservation strategies. They end the book with their ideas regarding strategies for puma management and conservation, along with a consideration of the future of pumas and humans. Desert Puma makes a significant and original contribution to the science not only of pumas in desert ecosystems but of the role of top predators in all environments. It is an essential contribution to the bookshelf of any wildlife biologist or conservationist involved in large-scale land management or wildlife management.
Download or read book Management of Large Mammalian Carnivores in North America written by The Wildlife Society and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 78 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This review addresses the current management of larger mammalian carnivores to increase, maintain, or reduce their numbers, while taking into account the population of certain ungulate prey and their relation to predators, social pressures and attitudes of the public towards predators, and the effects of sport hunting and trapping on carnivore population dynamics. This review considers brown bears "(Ursus arctos," black bears "(U. americanus)," coyotes "(Canis latrans)," wolves "(Canis lupus, C. lycaon)," and mountain lions "(Felis concolor." The appendix presents the results of a statistical analysis of trends discussed in this report.
Download or read book Large Carnivores and the Conservation of Biodiversity written by Justina Ray and published by Island Press. This book was released on 2013-04-09 with total page 544 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Large Carnivores and the Conservation of Biodiversity brings together more than thirty leading scientists and conservation practitioners to consider a key question in environmental conservation: Is the conservation of large carnivores in ecosystems that evolved with their presence equivalent to the conservation of biological diversity within those systems? Building their discussions from empirical, long-term data sets, contributors including James A. Estes, David S. Maehr, Tim McClanahan, Andrès J. Novaro, John Terborgh, and Rosie Woodroffe explore a variety of issues surrounding the link between predation and biodiversity: What is the evidence for or against the link? Is it stronger in marine systems? What are the implications for conservation strategies? Large Carnivores and the Conservation of Biodiversity is the first detailed, broad-scale examination of the empirical evidence regarding the role of large carnivores in biodiversity conservation in both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. It contributes to a much more precise and global understanding of when, where, and whether protecting and restoring top predators will directly contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. Everyone concerned with ecology, biodiversity, or large carnivores will find this volume a unique and thought-provoking analysis and synthesis.
Download or read book Mule and Black tailed Deer of North America written by Olof C. Wallmo and published by . This book was released on 1981 with total page 632 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Developed in co-operation with U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
Download or read book Land Mammals of Oregon written by B. J. Verts and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 1998 with total page 728 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first comprehensive, up-to-date treatment of mammals of Oregon since Vernon Bailey's THE MAMMALS AND LIFE ZONES OF OREGON was published in 1936. This new book provides a basic reference to mammalian life in the northwestern U.S., with descriptions of 136 extant or recently extirpated species. 122 color and 36 b&w photos, 140 maps, 150 drawings.
