Aspen Bibliography

Winter use of Douglas-fir forests by blue grouse in Colorado

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Journal of Wildlife Management

Volume

54

Issue

3

First Page

471

Last Page

479

Publication Date

1990

Abstract

We studied winter use of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forests by blue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) from 1981 to 1983 at 2 study areas in northcentral Colorado. Comparisons of used and available stands indicated grouse were concentrated spatially, but there were no consistent differences related to basal area of tree species, conifer stem densities, and topography that were common to both areas. Blue grouse used dense (2,000 stems/ha) second growth (40-75 yr old), open to dense (200-1,900 stems/ha) mature (100-200 yr old), and open (<100 stems/ha) old-growth (200-600 yr old) stands. Stands used were composed of Douglas-fir alone or in association with subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), limber pine (P. flexilis), Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum), and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides). Grouse used stands on mesic northern and eastern aspects, on xeric southern and western aspects, at elevations of 2,530-2,960 m, and on slopes of 1-45°. Preferential use (P < 0.05) of Douglas-fir trees occurred within stands that had an abundance of limber pine (use = availability) and subalpine fir (use < availability). Large Douglas-fir (20-90 cm dbh) were preferred (P < 0.05) within stands that had an abundance of smaller (≤15 cm dbh) trees. Both sexes used similar trees.

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