Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 5-1977 Diet Composition and Activities of Elk on Different Habitat Segments in the Lodgepole Pine Type, Uinta Mountains, Utah William B. Collins Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd Part of the Other Life Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Collins, William B., "Diet Composition and Activities of Elk on Different Habitat Segments in the Lodgepole Pine Type, Uinta Mountains, Utah" (1977). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 1662. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/1662 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. DIET COMPOSITION AND ACTIVITIES OF ELK ON DIFFERENT HABITAT SEGMENTS IN THE LODGEPOLE PINE TYPE, UINTA MOUNTAINS, UTAH by William B. Collins A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Range Science Approved: Major Prof~~sC)t , Committee Member ~ittee Member ¢ . Dean of Graduate School UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 1977 ii AC~JOWLEDGEMENTS I am indebted to Dr. Philip J. Urness for his direction, many hours of advisement, and patient review of the manuscript. Committee members. Dr. John Malechek and Dr. Walter F. Mueggler, have also given much appreciated advice. This study was supported by Federal Aid Project W-IOS-R and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. The DWR was cooperative and help­ ful in all aspects of this project, and I especially wish to thank Dennis D. Austin, DWR biologist, for his careful collection of plant production data. Finally, I thank my wife, Mardene, for cheerfully allowing me to spend so many fun hours with my elk. William B. Collins iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . ii LIST OF TABLES v LIST OF FIGURES vi ABSTRACT . vii INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES 1 Introduction 1 Objectives 2 Hypotheses 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 3 DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA 6 METHODS AND PROCEDURES 10 Raising and Training Elk for Diet and Behavioral Observations 10 Determination of Biweekly Elk Diets • 14 Determination of Habitat Segment Preferences 17 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 19 Biweekly Diets 19 Diets in wet meadow 19 Diets in dry meadow 36 Diets in clearcut 36 Diets in mature forest . 37 Diets in stagnated forest 39 Similarity of diets 39 General relationships 41 Tame elk methods 41 Maintenance on native forage 42 Diet preference ratings 43 Habitat Segment Preferences • 44 Grazing 44 Resting and other activities 44 Elk day 49 Effects of moon phase and weather 49 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page Pellet group distributions and defecation rates • 50 Tame elk methods • 53 Grazing Values • 53 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS • 62 LITERATURE CITED • • 65 APPENDICES • 68 Appendix A. Plant Species Names • 69 Appendix' B. Calf Raising Data • 72 v LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Diet composition by dry weight and food preferences of elk grazing wet meadows for two-week periods from 27 June to 18 September 21 2. Diet composition by dry weight and food preferences of elk grazing dry meadows for two-week periods from 27 June to 18 September 25 3. Diet composition by dry weight and food preferences of elk grazing clearcut for two~eek periods from 27 June to 18 September 29 4. Diet composition by dry weight and food preferences of elk grazing mature forest for two-week periods from 27 June to 18 September 32 5. Diet composition by dry weight and food preferences of elk grazing stagnated forest for two-week periods from 27 June to 18 September 34 6. Similarity indexes (%) and rank order correlation coefficients (rs ) comparing on a species-dry-weight basis the diets of elk on different habitat segments of the lodgepole pine type, Uinta Mountains, Utah. 40 7. Comparative voluntary use of different habitat segments in the lodgepole pine ecosystem, Uinta Mountains, Utah 46 8. Mean consumption rates of elk (g/min) on different habitat segments in the lodgepole pine type, Uinta Mountains, Utah 54 9. Common and botanical names of plant species appearing in the text 69 10. Capture and training success data • 73 11. Feeding schedule and amounts for elk calves 74 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Biweekly elk diets by forage class on five habitat segments in the lodgepole pine ecosystem, northeastern Utah. Percentages are on a dry-weight basis 20 2. Effect of mushrooms on overall time spent and consumption within forested segments. Time measurements are the average time elk would graze these segments before moving to a non- forested segment 38 3. Mean relative time expenditures for the 24-hour elk day based on observations of seven elk for six 24-hour periods. 45 4. Pellet-group distribution related to mean grazing time and walking by habitat segment. One-hundred percent of all observed defecations occurred during grazing or walking activity 51 5. Relationship of dry-weight consumption rate to grazing use. 55 6. Comparative grazing values for elk of five different habitat segments in the lodgepole pine type 56 7. Biweekly consumption rates of elk in reference to the lowest rate allowing consumption of 5 kg dry matter per day, the apparent dry-weight requirement fQr a mature cow elk (USFS 1969), in 12 hours of grazing (mean observed grazing time for free-ranging elk in the lodgepole pine type) 59 8. Total consumption relative to available area of each habitat segment 60 vii ABSTRACT Diet Composition and Activities of Elk on Different Habitat Segments in the Lodgepole Pine Type, Uinta Mountains, Utah by William B. Collins, Master of Science Utah State University! 1977 Major Professor: Dr. Philip J. Urness Department: Range Science The biweekly diets of tame elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni) were established on a species dry-weight basis for different habitat segments of the lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) type, Principal species in the diets (5% or more) on each habitat segment were generally composed of preferred species. However, some highly abundant but non-preferred species took on principal dietary status, whereas some preferred species, scarce in the vegetation, contributed less than 5 percent to diets. Forbs contributed most to total consumption; grasses and sedges were the second largest contributors. Browse appeared to be of limited importance, but mushrooms had special significance in forested habitat segments. Preference changes were evident as forb species matured. Consumption rates were significantly higher in habitat segments having greater species diversity and forage density. The time tame elk spent grazing, ruminating, lying, grooming, traveling, standing, drinking, and playing was referenced to specific habitat segments in which each activity occurred. One thousand and eight hours of individual elk activity were observed over a series of six 24-hour periods. Wet meadows, dry meadows, clearcuts. and revege~ tated roads were preferred as grazing sites, while mature and stagnated viii forests were clearly non-preferred. Wet meadows, revegetated roads, and mature forest were preferred for resting and non-grazing activities. The distribution of pellet groups deposited by tame elk was determined with reference to habitat segment and form of activity at the time of deposition. Pellet group distributions thus obtained, were strongly unrepresentative of relative time spent in various habitat segments. (82 pages) INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Introduction Knowledge of elk diets and preferences for habitat segments is requisite to the development of silvicultural practices that will positively affect elk summer range. The market for lodgepole pine products has increased as availability of other timber resources has declined, thus the type has taken on added commercial value in recent years. Subsequent increases in logging activity in this type will strongly impact important elk summer range in the Uinta Mountains in northeastern Utah. Summer range, in the Uinta Mountains as well as other extensive areas dominated by lodgepole pine, may be more important to the productivity of an elk herd than winter range. It is to these summer ranges that the elk return to regain condition lost during the winter. Here too, the elk rear their young and re-establish good body condition for breeding and the onset of winter. Mature and stagnated forest occupies the major portion of the type, and forage resources in these situations are generally sparse and/or low in quality. Thus, great potential exists for increasing elk summer range values through various silvicultural practices that open the forest canopy and promote growth of high-quality elk forages. However, before guidelines on the size, density, shape, and distribution of clearings can be specified~ the features of forest open~ngs that attract elk use must first be determined. 2 Objectives 1. To raise and train six elk calves for use in dietary and behavioral studies. 2. To determine biweekly summer diets of elk on various habitat segments within the lodgepole pine type in terms of species composition and relative percentage by weight. 3. To determine dietary yield per unit of effort on different habitat segments within the lodgepole pine type. 4. To determine activity patterns and relative habitat segment preferences of unconfined elk on lodgepole pine summer range. Hypotheses The null hypotheses tested in this study were: 1) consumption rates of elk using forested and nonforested habitat segments are not significantly different, and 2) relative distributions of pellet groups and actual elk use on different habitat segments are not significantly different. 3 LITERATURE REVIEW The effect of range forage quality on big game production was recognized by Cheatum and Severinghaus (1950) who found that the fertility of deer was directly related to the quality of their range. Indirect losses of big game through low reproductive success, though less obvious than winter malnutrition losses, are in some cases as or more important to herd status.