Energy-Protein Based Supplements Improve Decadent Sagebrush use by Elk
Class
Article
Graduation Year
2018
College
S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources
Department
Wildland Resources Department
Faculty Mentor
Juan Villalba
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Energy and protein-based supplements improve decadent sagebrush use by elk
Taylor, J., Veblen, K., Thacker, E. and Villalba, J.J.
Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
In the Intermountain West, elk (Cervus elaphus) often occur in high numbers and in some cases over-use the best quality rangeland, potentially threatening other wildlife species such as mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Many shrub-dominated communities are in late successional stages, dominated by mature even-aged shrubs with little recruitment of young plants. Elk supplementation is an attractive option for reducing competition and for rejuvenating sagebrush stands through browsing since nutrients allow ungulates to ingest a greater proportion of low-quality and secondary compound-containing woody species like sagebrush. We offered choices of high-energy (molasses) and high-protein (soybean meal) supplements presented in 4 feeders (2 feeders/supplement) to encourage elk to visit and forage an unproductive sagebrush stand. Elk preferred (2:1) molasses to soybean meal and a scan sampling technique using trail cameras revealed elk consuming supplement and browsing sagebrush on 69± 8.5 % and 40± 4.8 % of the scans recorded (N=820), respectively. Sagebrush utilization was measured in a 5 m wide belt transect within a distance of 100 m from the feeders and it was 75-100%, 50-75%, 25-50%, 5-25%, and 0-5% at 0, 40, 80 and 100 m from the feeders. In conclusion, elk supplementation is a promising strategy to rejuvenate sagebrush stands and to enhance ecosystem services in the intermountain west.
Key words: competition, browsing, preference, supplementation, sagebrush
Location
South Atrium
Start Date
4-13-2017 1:30 PM
End Date
4-13-2017 2:45 PM
Energy-Protein Based Supplements Improve Decadent Sagebrush use by Elk
South Atrium
Energy and protein-based supplements improve decadent sagebrush use by elk
Taylor, J., Veblen, K., Thacker, E. and Villalba, J.J.
Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
In the Intermountain West, elk (Cervus elaphus) often occur in high numbers and in some cases over-use the best quality rangeland, potentially threatening other wildlife species such as mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Many shrub-dominated communities are in late successional stages, dominated by mature even-aged shrubs with little recruitment of young plants. Elk supplementation is an attractive option for reducing competition and for rejuvenating sagebrush stands through browsing since nutrients allow ungulates to ingest a greater proportion of low-quality and secondary compound-containing woody species like sagebrush. We offered choices of high-energy (molasses) and high-protein (soybean meal) supplements presented in 4 feeders (2 feeders/supplement) to encourage elk to visit and forage an unproductive sagebrush stand. Elk preferred (2:1) molasses to soybean meal and a scan sampling technique using trail cameras revealed elk consuming supplement and browsing sagebrush on 69± 8.5 % and 40± 4.8 % of the scans recorded (N=820), respectively. Sagebrush utilization was measured in a 5 m wide belt transect within a distance of 100 m from the feeders and it was 75-100%, 50-75%, 25-50%, 5-25%, and 0-5% at 0, 40, 80 and 100 m from the feeders. In conclusion, elk supplementation is a promising strategy to rejuvenate sagebrush stands and to enhance ecosystem services in the intermountain west.
Key words: competition, browsing, preference, supplementation, sagebrush