Distribution and quality of forage in relation to habitat use of female Roosevelt elk in managed forests of the Olympic Peninsula, Washington
Boyd KL. 2009. Distribution and quality of forage in relation to habitat use of female Roosevelt elk in managed forests of the Olympic Peninsula, Washington. Humboldt State University
From the Abstract: "I examined the relationship between seasonal habitat use and changes in cover and quality of forage in different vegetation types used by Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) in managed forests on the Hoko game management unit, Olympic Peninsula, Washington. Elk were expected to maximize energetic gain by using vegetation types that contained the greatest cover of good quality forage (i.e. high energy protein content, low tanin content) during each season. ... Shrub cover was extensive and shrub quality was good across the landscape in summer, and elk used each vegetation type, except old clear cuts, in proportion to its availability during summer. ... These findings suggest that non-forest and riparian areas are of greater benefit to the nutritional condition and reproduction of Roosevelt elk on the Hoko game management unit than younger clear cuts."
- Type
- Academic
- Authors
- Boyd, Kristina
- Date of Issue
- 2009-05
- Publisher
- Humboldt State University
- Units
- OLYM
- Keywords
- Forage, Habitat, managed forest, Roosevelt Elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti), Thesis