Nutritional Quality of Forages Used by Elk in Northern Idaho
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Nutritional quality of forages used by elk in northern Idaho Item Type text; Article Authors Alldredge, M. W.; Peek, J. M.; Wall, W. A. Citation Alldredge, M. W., Peek, J. M., & Wall, W. A. (2002). Nutritional quality of forages used by elk in northern Idaho. Journal of Range Management, 55(3), 253-259. DOI 10.2307/4003131 Publisher Society for Range Management Journal Journal of Range Management Rights Copyright © Society for Range Management. Download date 23/09/2021 18:43:56 Item License http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ Version Final published version Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/643655 J. Range Manage. 55: 253-259 May 2002 Nutritional quality of forages used by elk in northern Idaho MATHEW W. ALLDREDGE, JAMES M. PEEK, AND WILLIAM A. WALL Authors are Ph.D. candidate, Biomathematics Program, Statistics Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N. C. 27695; professor, Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, Ida. 83844; and Wildlife Biologist, Safari Club International, Herndon, Virg. 20170. At the time of the research the senior author was Research Assistant, Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, University ofIdaho, Moscow, Ida. Abstract Resumen The nutritional quality (digestible energy, crude protein, and Se evaluo la calidad nutricional (energia digestible, proteina minerals) of 7 known elk (Cervus elaphus Linnaeus) forages was cruda y minerales) de 7 especies forrajes que se sabe que el alce assessed at 4 different time periods from May to November. (Cervus elaphus Linnaeus) las consume, la evaluacion se realizo 4 diferentes periodos de tiempo de Mayo a Noveembre. Las Species evaluated were elk sedge (Carex geyeri Boott), Kentucky en especies evaluadas fueron: "Elk sedge" (Carex geyeri Boott), bluegrass (Pea pratensis Linnaeus), western goldthread (Coptis "Kentucky bluegrass" (Poa pratensis Linnaeus), "Western occidentalis Nuttall), clover (Trifolium repens Linnaeus), service- goldthread" (Coptis occidentalis Nuttall), "Clover" (Trifolium berry (Amelanchier alnifolia Nuttall), redstem ceanothus repens Linnaeus), "Serviceberry" (Amelanchier alnifolia Nuttall), (Ceanothus sanguineus Pursh), and Scouler willow (Salix scoule- "Redstem ceanothus" (Ceanothus sanguineus Pursh) y "Scouler riana Barratt). Mineral concentrations generally met estimated willow" (Salix scouleriana Barratt). Las concentraciones de min- requirements for elk in all seasons, except sodium remained erales generalmente satisfacen los requerimientos estimados below requirements in all seasons. Crude protein in most plant para el alce en todas las estaciones, excepto sodio el cual per- species sampled was adequate for adult gravid or lactating cows manece abajo de los requerimientos en todas las estaciones. A throughout the year, although concentrations in graminoids fell traves de todo el ano la proteina cruda de la mayoria de las especies de plantas muestreadas fue adecuada para las hembras below requirements during August. Forage provided adequate prenadas o lactantes, sin embargo, en Agosto, las concentra- gravid or lactating cows only during May, digestible energy for ciones de proteina cruda de las gramineas cayo por abajo de los indicating potential deficiencies in summer and autumn. Elk requerimientos. El forraje proveyo de energia digestible adecua- must be selective of plant parts, plant taxa, and foraging habitat da para las hembras adultas prenadas o lactantes solo en Mayo, to gain adequate nutrition. In this area, summer and fall forage indicando deficiencias potenciales en verano y otono. Para tener quality may be critical to lactating cow elk. una nutricion adecuada el alce debe ser selectivo de las partes de la planta que consume, el genero de planta y el habitat de forra- jeo. En esta area la calidad del forraje en verano y otono puede ser critica para las hembras lactantes de alce. Key Words: Elk, Cervus elaphus, forage quality, nutrition, Idaho forests in northern Idaho managed primarily for tim- Industrial and productivity (Cook in press). However, few studies have contain substantial populations of elk. These ber production described forage quality and attempt to relate this to the nutrition- forests contain a mixture of age classes of trees in a diverse al levels that elk experience. mosaic of successional patterns. However, they do not provide We examined nutritional quality of primary elk forages in an large blocks of mature timber for security cover and road densi- industrial forest. We build on the substantial number of elk habi- ties are high, causing them to fall outside of the suitable criteria tat use investigations in northern Idaho showing the importance for elk habitat developed by Leege (1984). of seral shrub communities as foraging areas. Substantial knowl- Elk presumably select habitats that have high quality, abundant edge of food habits and responses of forage plants to logging and forage, or provide cover (Patton 1974, Edge et al. 1988, Thomas burning is also available for this area to pursue the analyses. al. 1979). Nutritional quality of available forages may change et Specific objectives were to (1) assess the variability in digestible with phenological stage, between vegetation classes, aspect, and energy, crude protein, and mineral concentrations of known elk overstory structure (Irwin and Peek 1979). Nutrition is assumed forages across seasons and topographical aspect; (2) determine be a primary factor influencing elk distribution, abundance, to seasonal trend in nutritional quality by species and vegetation class; and (3) compare nutritional quality of representative forage Authors wish to thank J. G. Cook , P. J. Heglund, R. K. Steinhorst , and C. J. species with the daily nutritional requirements of elk. Williams for their advice. K.L. Launchbaugh extended use of her lab for the nutri- tional analysis. J. Scott and B. Knapton provided invaluable field assistance. Research was funded by Potlatch Corporation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Study Area and the University of Idaho. This is University of Idaho, College of Natural The study area was located west of the Dworshak Reservoir in Resources Journal Series Paper Number 956. the North Fork of the Clearwater River drainage, in Clearwater Manuscript accepted 7 Sept. 01. County, Ida. (45°N, 116.15°W). Mild summers and long-cold JOURNAL OF RANGE MANAGEMENT 55(3) May 253 winters characterize the climate in the area study area received over 30,000 hunter- tent, and macro- and micro-element con- (Hansen et al. 1989). Annual precipitation days use in recent years (Idaho Department centrations. is 93.6 cm with the majority falling as of Fish and Game 1999). Alldredge (1999) The IVDMD was determined using the snow from November through February. reported that elk foraged in areas that had Tilley and Terry (1963) technique as mod- Western Red Cedar-Pachistima (Thuja pli- been logged within the past 20 years, ified by Pearson (1970). Ancom filter bags cata Donn-Pachistima myrsinites except during the rifle hunting season, were used to contain the material during Rafinesque) habitat type dominates the when they switched to mature conifer fermentation. In-vitro-dry-matter-diges- area (Daubenmire and Daubenmire 1968). cover, confirming the general pattern tion was terminated after 48 hours for all Alldredge et al. (2001), Cooper et al. observed by Hash (1973), Hershey and trials. To reduce variability in the lab pro- (1987), Crookston and Stage (1999), Irwin Leege (1984), Irwin and Peek (1983b, cedure, rumen inoculum was obtained and Peek (1979), Moeur (1985), and Stage McLean (1972), and Unsworth et al. from a single Hereford cow maintained on (1973) have described the successional (1998) in northern Idaho. a constant alfalfa diet and all analyses patterns, species composition, and produc- were done within a 2 month period. tivity of this habitat type in northern Estimates of gross energy were deter- Idaho. Methods mined for 2 samples for each species with- Logging since the 1920's has created a in each time period using bomb calorime- variety of seral stands from clearcuts to Collections try. Digestible energy was determined for closed-canopy forests. Approximately We selected graminoids, forbs, and all samples collected by approximating 14% of the area is a recently cut, grass/low shrubs known to be important in the elk digestible energy as the product of shrub community. Kentucky bluegrass diet in the area (Irwin and Peek 1983a, digestibility and gross energy (Hobbs et al. (Poa pratensis L.), elk sedge (Carex gey- Kingery et al. 1996, Leege 1969, Leege 1982, Robbins 1983). Crude protein was eri Boott), pearly everlasting (Anaphalis and Godbolt 1985, Nelson and Leege estimated as 6.25 times the percent nitro- margaritacea L.), fireweed (Epilobium 1982, Young and Robinette 1939). Elk gen content (A.O.A.C.1984). angustifoliums L), senecios (Senecio trian- sedge, Kentucky bluegrass, western The organic and mineral composition of gularis Hooker), pentstemons (Pentstemon goldthread, clover, serviceberry, redstem the 7 selected forage species was estimat- spp Mitch.), pinegrass (Calamagrostis ceanothus, and Scouler willow were col- ed across seasons and years. Organic con- rubescens Buck.), wild strawberry lected to represent the variety of species stituents of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and (Fragaria vesca L.) were common forbs used by elk and abundant in the study sulfur (S), were determined using a com- and graminoids. Clover (Trifolium repens area. bustion technique (McGeehan and Naylor L.) commonly