Serviceberry: Ecology Distribution and Relationships to Big Game
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1975 Serviceberry: Ecology distribution and relationships to big game D. Dennis Hemmer The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Hemmer, D. Dennis, "Serviceberry: Ecology distribution and relationships to big game" (1975). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 6809. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/6809 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SERV/ICEBERRY; ECOLOGY, DISTRIBUTION, AND RELATIONSHIPS TO BIG GAME By Dennis M. Hemmer B .S., University of Montana, 1971 Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA 1975 Approved by Chairman, Board of Examiners UMl Number: EP37610 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMT OMMTtation Publithing UMl EP37610 Published by ProQuest LLC (2013). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code uesf ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 -1346 Hemmer, llennis M*, M. S., August, 1975 Resource Conservation Ucrvl ceberry: Ecology, Distribution, and Relationships to Big Came (7 6 p p .) D ir e c to r : Ijee K. middleman Western serviceberry (Arnelanehier aln ifolia) was studied for a 2 year period, beginning 1 July 1973* Objectives were to determine within Montana the geographic distribution; topo graphic, altitudinal, and community relationships; density by area; and season of use. Observations were made throughout Mon tana. Due to size of area, sampling was both extensive and in t e n s iv e . Five growth forms were described representing overlapping classifications. Root systems were composed of combinations of lateral and vertical roots. Leaves varied greatly in size and shape, with no consistent pattern. Serviceberry reproduced végé ta lively and by seed. Vegetative reproduction was most frequent, whereas reproduction by seed was important primarily in disper sion to new areas. Berry production occurred primarily in mature plants, but was reduced by stress from low moisture or browsing. oerviceberry was present in a ll portions of the state, but most abundant and widespread in northwestern Montana. Density varied with site, but was greatest in drier sites, and burns in moister sites. Aerial mapping at flowering time proved unsatis- fa cL o ry . Significant correlation was not found between cover class or density and slope, aspect, soil depth, elevation, moisture, and temperature. Serviceberry is a highly preferred browse species; only redstem ceanothus (Ceanothus sanguinus) appeared to be more pre ferred by big game. Heaviest use by big game was from December to March, March to June second, and September to December third. June to Septem ber use could not be accurately measured, but appeared light. Percent consumed was computed by twig length removed, and number of twigs used; the two methods correlated w ell. Percent length removed was converted to percent weight removed. Production varied with current annual growth, canopy cover, plant height and growth form. A derived production index corre lated poorly with actual clipped plots. Production was lower in 197)4 than in 1973. Clubbing was restricted in serviceberry to harsh sites. Heavy use in productive areas did not result in clubbing, but appeared to stimulate growth or tillerin g. Eight management suggestions were made. i i ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 1 would like to thank the following people whose help made this thesis possible: The Montana Fish and Game Department who funded the stucV under project W-120-R. The Forest and Conservation Experiment Station of the Univer sity of Montana School of Forestry* who provided supplemental summer funding • The game management personnel who helped me in their respec tive areas. D rs. O’Gara, Lyon* and Pengelly, members of my committee* for their reading and criticism of the thesis. Dr. Lee Eddleman* my committee chairman, for his guidance and advice throughout the study. My wife Mary Kay, for her typing* field assistance* and encourage ment. - Ill - TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT......................................................................................... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS...................................................................................... iv LIST OF T A B L E S ..................................................................................................vi LIST OF FIGURES................................................................................................ vii CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION....................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 2 - LITERATURE REVIEW...........................................................3 CHAPTER 3 - METHODS AND MATERIALS............................................7 CHAPTER 4 - RESULTS AND DISCUSSION..........................................14 Ecology ................................................................................................................ 14 Growth F o rm .............................................................................................14 R o o ts .............................................................................................................17 L e a v e s .....................................................* ............................................... 18 Reproduction.............................................................................................18 Distribution and Density .............................................................................23 Northwestern Montana.........................................................................28 Southwestern Montana....................... 35 Southcentral Montana.............................................................................36 Southeastern Montana..........................................................................36 Northeastern M ontana.........................................................................37 Northcentral and Central M ontana................................................. 37 - IV - TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page Aerial Mapping................................................................................................. 38 Topographic, Altitudinal, and Community Relationships........................................... 40 Big Game Relationships 40 CHAPTER 5 - MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS......................................57 CHAPTER 6 - SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS......................................60 CHAPTER 7 - LITERATURE CITED ..............................................................64 APPENDIX.....................................................................................................................67 — V — LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1 . Distribution of serviceberry stands by aspect and elevation ....................................................................................... 41 2. Habitat type distribution of 115 northwestern Montana serviceberry s ta n d s .................................................... 42 3. Percent of leader length used on serviceberry by season, 1973-74 ....................................................................... 45 4. Percent of leader length used on serviceberry by season, 1974-75 46 5. Browsing history of serviceberry treuisects from Montana Fish and Game Department transect records................................................................................................... 47 6. Serviceberry leader production, total in millimeters for 80 le a d e r s ........................................................ 51 7. Production estimates used in evaluating serviceberry sta n d s........................................................................ 68 8. Moisture ratings used in evaluating serviceberry stands ........................................................................ 68 9* Temperature ratings used in evaluating serviceberry stands ....................................................................... 68 10. Moisture and temperature ratings for respective habitat types ....................................................................................... 69 11 . Site data for 115 northwestern Montana serviceberry stands ........................................................................ 71 — VI — LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1 . Montana Fish and Game Department d is tric ts.........................8 2* Serviceberry growth fo rm s .......................................................... 15 3. Comparison