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Ecology of the Black-Tailed Jack Rabbit Near a Solid Radioactive Waste Disposal Site in Southeastern Idaho

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Ecology of the Black-Tailed Jack Rabbit Near a Solid Radioactive Waste Disposal Site in Southeastern Idaho University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1987 Ecology of the black-tailed jack rabbit near a solid radioactive waste disposal site in southeastern Idaho John C. Grant 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 Grant, John C., "Ecology of the black-tailed jack rabbit near a solid radioactive waste disposal site in southeastern Idaho" (1987). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 7052. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/7052 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]. COPYRIGHT ACT OF 1976 T h i s i s an unpublished m a n u s c r ip t in w h ic h c o p y r ig h t SUBSISTS. An y f u r t h e r r e p r in t in g o f i t s c o n t e n t s m u s t b e APPROVED BY THE AUTHOR. Ma n s f ie l d L ib r a r y Un iv e r s i t y o f Mo n t a n a Da t e : ______ I 9 S '?__ Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ECOLOGY OF THE BLACK-TAILED JACK RABBIT NEAR A SOLID RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL SITE IN SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO by John C. G rant B.S., South Dakota State University, 1982 Presented in partial fulfillm ent of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science University of Montana 1987 Approved By: ChairmanVBoard of Examiners in. Graduate ScHCoT Date Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: EP37853 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 PubWwig UMI EP37853 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 ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 - 1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. G ra n t, John C ., M .S ., June 1987 W ild lif e B io lo g y Ecology of the Black-tailed Jack Rabbit Near a Solid Radioactive Waste Disposal Site in Southeastern Idaho (64 pp.) Director: I. J. Ball A study of black-tailed jack rabbits (Lepus californicus) was conducted from July 1982 until October 1985 at the Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC) of the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory in southeastern Idaho to evaluate the potential role of this species in radionuclide transport. Population estimates during annual summer highs were 2.76+0.25/ha in 1982, 0.91+0.11/ha in 1983, and 0.40+0.04/ha in 1984, compared to near zero each winter. Radio-telemetry provided summer home range estimates of 31.0(+12.4) ha. All radio-collared jack rabbits departed RWMC in late fa ll and traveled as far as 57.3 km (x=16,2+13.2). Disturbed habitat at RWMC was utilized more during nights; natural habitat more during days. Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum) and summer cypress (Kochia scoparia). which were associated with disturbed sites, were the 2 most abundant plants in diets. The potential for radionuclide transport from the RWMC is discussed even though body tissues did not have significantly elevated radionuclide concentrations. n Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT......................................................................................................................................11 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES.......................................................................................... v LIST OF FIGURES...................................................................................................................... v1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................... 1 STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION............................................................................. 3 METHODS Population Density ....................................................................... 5 Movement P a tte rn s .................................................................................................6 Vegetation Analysis ....................................................................... 8 Habitat U tilization ............................................................................................ 9 Food H a b its ............................................................................................................. 9 Radionuclide Concentrations......................................................................... 11 RESULTS Population Density .............................................................................................13 Movement P a tte rn s ...............................................................................................14 Vegetation Analysis ................. 18 Habitat U tilization ................. 19 Food H a b its ............................................................................................................20 R adionuclide Concentrations......................................................................... 21 DISCUSSION.................................................................................................................................23 LITERATURE CITED..................................................... 31 TABLES..........................................................................................................................................35 FIGURES................................................... .40 APPENDICES A. Size Distribution of Fecal Pellets From Known Leporld S pecies.................................. 52 B. List of Plants Identified In Vicinity of the INEL R a dioa ctive Waste Management Complex ...........................................55 C. Inventory of Radionuclide Concentrations in Black-tailed Jack Rabbits Collected on the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory ....................................................59 m Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research was supported through funds and equipment provided by the United States Department of Energy and the Montana Cooperative W ildlife Research Unit. Many people contributed to the progression and completion of. this project. They a ll deserve thanks and acknowledgement for their time and effort. My advisory committee. Drs. J. Ball, L. Metzgar, B. Q'Gara, of the University of Montana, and Dr. D. Markham, of the U.S. Department of Energy, deserve special thanks. Other Department of Energy employees who provided advice and assistance Include J. Arthur, D. Halford, S. Rope, T. Reynolds, B. Mortensen, and R. Dickson. Graduate students working on other INEL research projects who helped with my research Include S. Knick, M. S ta ffo r d , R. G ates, H. Browers, D. K oehler, F. Howe, and D. G enter. Students Involved In summer programs with Associated Western Universities and Lincoln University, Missouri, provided Invaluable field and laboratory assistance. They Include H. Blair, R. Bennetts, E. Hellgren, B. Buis, S. Kraft, C. Frazer, L. Dimond, C. Gordon, M. Cox, J . V ore, D, Bexton, E. Buckner, K. F llp p in , and D. Fuchs. I also appreciate the assistance provided by V. Johnston, G. Schwarz, D. Wulf, W. Aelrstuck, T. Zahn, L. Flake, J. Canfield, T. Craig, E. Craig, R. Miller, C. Grant, P. Grant, J. Spencer, P. Merrlam, E. Bottum, S. Cuthbert, and F. Cassirer. IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Movement p a tte rn s o f b la c k -ta ile d ja c k ra b b its a t th e INEL R a dioa ctive Waste Management Complex. Table 2. Percent occurrence and percent cover of three categories of plants and non-vascular plant entities on natural and d is tu rb e d p lo ts a t th e INEL R a d io a ctive Waste Management Complex. Table 3. Vegetal composition of black-tailed jack rabbit diet, in percent dry weight, as determined by microhistological analysis of feces. Table 4. Concentrations of radionuclides in tissues of black-tailed ja ck ra b b its c o lle c te d a t INEL R a dioa ctive Waste Management Complex and at a control site. Table 5. Average concentrations of radionuclides in black-tailed ja c k ra b b its a t the INEL R a dioa ctive Waste Management Complex and at a control area. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Map of the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory.
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