Food habits and range conditions of bison and sympatric ungulates on the Upper Chitina River, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Miquelle D. 1985. Food habits and range conditions of bison and sympatric ungulates on the Upper Chitina River, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Research/Resources Management Report. AR-8. National Park Service, Alaska Region. Anchorage, Alaska
This comprehensive report gives the results of a summer 1984 investigation into the food habits and habitat conditions of moose, bison, and horses in the upper Chitina River area. Six habitats were identified and are described: gravel bar-forb, wet sedge, Dryas meadow, shrub/forb, poplar forest, and spruce forest. Five permanent study sites, each of 2 hectare size, were established to monitor habitat conditions and assess bison impact on plants. Standard line transect methodology was used to capture data. Vegetation characteristics are described. Present densities of all ungulates appeared low, and the habitat generally was unaffected by them. Food habits were determined by fecal examination in the lab; data are reported for summer and winter seasons. All three ungulates depended heavily on Elaeagnus and Salix in winter; these were important summer foods for bison as well.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Miquelle, Dale
- Date of Issue
- 1985
- Publisher
- National Park Service, Alaska Region
- Units
- WRST
- Keywords
- Alces alces, Animal Studies, Bear Island, Bison, Bison (Bos bison), Bryson Bar, Canyon Creek, Chitina River, Claus Bar, Diet, Distribution, Equus spp., Forage, Goat Creek, Habitat, Horses, Kiagna River, May Creek, Moose (Alces alces), Pease lease, Plant Studies, Plants, Range, Tana River, Terrestrial Mammals, Ungulates, Vegetation, Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park And Preserve, Young Creek