1. Modeling Nutritional Carrying Capacity for Translocated Desert Bighorn Sheep in Western Texas
- Author
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Eric C. Hellgren, Randall W. DeYoung, W. Frank Robbins, Tim E. Fulbright, and Ira D. Humphreys
- Subjects
geography ,Desert bighorn sheep ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,Ecology ,biology ,symbols.heraldic_supporter ,Forage ,biology.organism_classification ,Pasture ,Agronomy ,Habitat ,Grazing ,symbols ,Rangeland ,Restoration ecology ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Ovis canadensis ,Nature and Landscape Conservation - Abstract
Restoration of desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) is proceeding in several western states. Measurement of nutritional resources (quality and quantity) is not normally conducted to assess future and present translocation sites, although it has been recommended generally for evaluation of ungulate habitat. We estimated nutritional carrying capacity (based on nitrogen in forage species) of three mountain ranges in Trans-Pecos Texas where desert bighorn sheep have been translocated. We used an explicit nutritional constraint model to estimate carrying capacity on a seasonal basis. Although drought conditions prevailed during the study period, bighorns were not limited by quantity of vegetation. However, forage biomass of high nutritional quality (>1.5% N) was very low (
- Published
- 2000
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