Search

In a study of the relation between serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) twig diameters and twig lengths and weights, a total of 852 twigs from 110 plants on 11 different sites was examined. Equations for the regression of length and weight on diameter were developed. Despite significant variations in regression related to site, plant size, and twig location on the plant, relatively small sam- ples of browsed twigs were found to provide precise estimates of browse utilization. Estimates of big game browse utilization provide a basis for game range manage- ment in most western states. Methods used to collect this information vary from esti- mating overall percentage utilization (Al- dous 1944, Cole 1958) or length utilization (Dasmann 1951) to clipping shrub halves before and after browsing (Grimm 1939) and measuring marked twigs before and after browsing (Dasmann 1948). Almost without exception, clipping and measuring have proved to be expensive and tedious, while estimating lacks the accuracy desired for intensive range management. One way to circumvent these problems might be a technique that does not require repetitive measurement in the spring and fall. If lengths and weights of unbrowsed twigs could be determined from diameter measurements, a single postbrowsing sam- ple would replace two measurements of marked twigs. This paper reports the results of an in- vestigation of the relationships between twig diameters and lengths and twig diam- eters and weights of serviceberry in western Montana.

A little less than one-half of Colorado, or about 46,836 square miles, is occupied big-game range, on which this resource must be managed. This is an area larger than either Pennsylvania or Ohio. In 1946, a total of 112,320 big game licenses were sold; in 1947, 99,834; in 1948, 113,362. Thus, an average of more than 108,000 uitizens annually, or 10 per cent of the population, seek big game in the state. Big game license sales in Colorado amounted to $1,292,987.25 in 1948. Obviously, license cost represents only a small fraction of the money turnover involved in harvesting deer, elk, bear, and occasionally antelope in the state. All other costs, on the basis of an extensive survey made by the Colorado Game and Fish Department (Hunter, 1949), were found to be $45.78 per resident hunter, and $114.30 per non-resident hunter. Thus, the total calculated financial turnover was $6,004,415.46 in 1948. It is the belief of the writers, and of game technicians generally, that, through proper management, big game herds and values can be perpetuated. This statement is far more conservative than the often-made one that game supplies, or indeed any renewable resource, can, through proper management, be made increasingly valuable. Any resource worth one-sixth of a billion dollars in a single state is worthy of the highest form of husbandry, if for no other reason than the money value involved. This paper is, therefore, intended as a contribution to biologically and administratively sound management of the immensely valuable big game resources of the western states.

During the late 1920's and early 1930's, signs of destructive use of big game winter range began to appear along the canyon of the Selway River of northern Idaho. The once-large mule deer herds of that isolated region were beginning to dwindle, and the formerly small elk herds had built up to numbers previously unrecorded. In the ensuing years, interested agencies carried on several studies of this problem. The most recent is Pittman-Robertson Project W-97-R of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Selway Wilderness Game Study, which was begun in the fall of 1950, in cooperation with the United States Forest Service. In June of 1951, the Idaho Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit began active participation when the writer undertook some of the winter range studies. The objectives were investigations of composition of cover, stage of succession, current use, and availability of browse during winter. This paper is a part of a master's thesis entitled: A preliminary study of the

Anatomy of the Monocotyledons Vol. 2: Palmae. By Dr. P. B. Tomlinson. Edited by C. R. Metcalfe. Pp. xiii + 453 + 9 plates. (Oxford: Clarendon Press; London: Oxford University Press, 1961.) 63s. net.

Radiotelemetry units were designed and used to transmit body temperatures from two pregnant pronghorn antelopes ( Antdocapra ame7Wicana ) confined in a small pen. Normal body temperatures were established, after which the animals were experimentally inoculated with leptospirosis and a temperature record kept. It was found that the normal body temperatures for both animals was 38.5 C and that a rise of 3.0 C occurred in one doe at the onset of the disease and lasted S hours. The temperature then dropped to 39.5 C and remained at this level. The second doe did not become infected but showed a temperature rise of 1.7 C during fawning and a return to normal 4 hours later. Novel features of the telemetry system consist of the use of a keyed squegging oscillator, a flat package-arrangement for easier surgical implanting, and a noncritical circuit design employing inexpensive and readily available components. BODY TEMPERATURE IN ANTELOPE * Lonsdale et at. 747 pronghorn antelope. J. Mammal. 48( 3 ) :489490. SERGEANT, D. E., AND D. H. PrMLO rr. 1959. Age determination in moose from sectioned incisor teeth. J. Wildl. Mgmt. 23(3 ) :31S321. Recei1sed for publication February 10, 1971. cementum of the teeth o£ barren ground caribou. Canadian J. Zool. 41(1):111-113. MITCHELL, G. J. 1965. Natality, mortality and related phenomena in two populations of pronghorn antelope in Alberta, Canada. Ph.D. Thesis. Washington State Univ. 205pp. 1967. Minimum breeding age of female Research has been undertaken at the Sybille Big Game Research Unit of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission to study bovine leptospirosis in pronghorn antelope through artificial infection of captive animals. The current phase of the study called for sacrificing the animals at the time of peak infection in order to collect tissues for fluorescent antibody examinations. The particular animals under study were mature does weighing about 95 pounds each; they were approximately 6 months pregnant. The course of this disease is such that an infected adult antelope shows little visible sign of illness. It was felt that a rise in body temperature 1 The study was supported in part by Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration, Wyoming Project FW3-R. would signal the onset of the disease, and at that time the animals were to be sacrificed. Direct measurements of body temperature, using a rectal thermometer, on a big game animal give almost meaningless results due to the rise in temperature from the stress and excitement of the animal being handled. Under such circumstances, a radiotelemetry system that allows remote determination of body temperature is ideally suited. A long record of body temperature telemetry applied to both wild and domestic animals is available in the literature beginning with the pioneering work of Eklund and Charlton ( 1959) and continuing through the present time with a report of Downhower and Pauley ( 19 70 ) . Bligh and Harthoorn (196S) described a system, for use on large African mammals, which This content downloaded from 157.55.39.198 on Thu, 21 Jul 2016 05:04:57 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 748 Journal of Wildlife AIanagement, Vol. 35> No. 4> October 1971 employed an implanted thermistor connected to an external transmitter and gave acouracies to within 0.1 C. Fryer et al. (196B) desenbed a short-range miniature unit, completely implantable with an accuracy of O.OS C. After reviewing the extensive literature on this topic, the authors decided that none of the systems described would fulfill the unique requirements of this project and hence designed and built their own apparatus. Long-term (3 months) reliability was a prime requirement since antelope are difficult to handle in captivity and it was hoped that a repeat of the surgery, because of apparatus failure would not be necessary. Furthermoren a rise in body temperature of several degrees was anticipated with the ons/et of the diseaseS and this made precision measurements unnecessary. An accuracy of 0.5 C was considered ample. AlsoS the data were to be collected under field conditions by personnel who assumed the recording chores in addition to heavy work loads. Consequently, a data-collecting system as simple as was feasible was desired. Lastly7 a lited equipment budget was availablen and iis placed a premium on minimum component design and the use of an inexpensive receiver. This report describes the relatively simple telemetry system used. The authors acknowledge the assistance of M. Schrib and W. Marshall, who constructed the apparatus and of F. Blunt and his assistants, who collected most of the field data on temperature.

Using theoretical arguments and a computer simulation model, we have concluded that in- creased yields may be obtained from some big game populations by harvesting only once every several years. Since productivity per female increases with age in most big game populations, and since hunting shifts the age distribution towards younger animals, annual harvest may result in lowered mean produc- tivity. Periodic harvest may help prevent changes in productivity. Computer simulation suggests that yield may be increased by 10 to 20 percent by periodic harvest and that the best interval between har- vests is usually 24 years. Abstract: Using theoretical arguments and a computer simulation model, we have concluded that in- creased yields may be obtained from some big game populations by harvesting only once every several years. Since productivity per female increases with age in most big game populations, and since hunting shifts the age distribution towards younger animals, annual harvest may result in lowered mean produc- tivity. Periodic harvest may help prevent changes in productivity. Computer simulation suggests that yield may be increased by 10 to 20 percent by periodic harvest and that the best interval between har

GARRISON, G. A. 1953. Effects of clipping on some range shrubs. J. Range Manage. 6:309-317. HOLMGREN, A. H., AND J. L. REVEAL. 1966. Checklist of the vascular plants of the Intermountain Region. U.S. Forest Serv. Res. Paper INT.-32. 160 p. HORMAY, A. L. 1943. Bitterbrush in California. U.S. Forest Serv., Calif. Forest and Range Exp. Sta. Res. Note 34. 12 p. LAYCOCK, W. A. 1967. How heavy grazing and protection affects sagebrush-grass range. J. Range Manage. 20:206213. NEFF. D. J. 1963. The effect of use on the vigor of browse plants. Job. Compl. Rep., Fed. Aid Project No. PRW78-R., Ariz. Game and Fish Dep. Processed. 8 p. + XII. PECHANEC, J. F., AND G. D. PICKFORD. 1937a. A weight estimate method for the determination of range or pasture production. J. Amer. Soc. Agron. 29:894-904. PECHANEC, J. F., AND G. D. PICKFORD. 1937b. A comparison of some methods used in determining percentage utilization of range grasses. J. Agr. Res. 54:753-756. SMITH, A. D. 1949. Effects of mule deer and livestock upon a foothill range in northern Utah. J. Wildl. Manage. 13:421-423. SMITH, A. D., AND D. M. GAUFIN. 1950. The use of movable paddocks in the study of forage preferences of mule deer and livestock. Tran. N. Am. Wildl. Conf. 15:512518. SMITH, A. D., AND D. D. DOELL. 1968. Guides to allocating forage between cattle and big game on big game winter range. Utah State Div. of Fish and Game Publ. 68-11. 32 p. SMITH, A. D., AND P. J. URNESS. 1962. Analysis of the twig length method of determining utilization of browse. Utah State Dept. of Fish and Game Publ. 62-9. 34 p. U.S. DEPT. COMMERCE. 1961-69. Climatological dataUtah Vols. 63-71.

New Castle, Colo., Sept. 1, 1894. To the Editor: —Possibly some of your many readers may be interested in a line from "the heart of the Rockies;" not that we have much disease here, for we have very little where good habits prevail. I have seen an occasional case of "mountain fever," a form of remittent, consequent upon exposure and the hot days and cool nights of July and August, altitude causing a lower type and temperature than is found in the low, damp regions where the disease is most common. Both observation and reason commend the careful use of the still fashionable agents that depress the heat-producing centers. An enforced idleness consequent upon "labor troubles," "a strike" in a mining camp of 1,200, when the wages were so low they could not live, though they spent annually from seventy-five to an hundred thousand dollars for alcoholics, permitted me to camp out during August in the near by "big game country."

ROOSEVELT, THEODORE. 1899. Big game hunting in the Rockies and on the Great Plains. G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York & London. SHIRAs, GEORGE 3RD. 1906. Hunting wildlife with camera and flashlight, Vol. II, National Geographic Soc., Washington, D. C. SQUIRES, W. A. 1951. Nature News, Natural Science Dept., New Brunswick Museum, Saint John, N. B. March 1951. TRAUTMAN, M. B. 1942. Ducks following bald eagle. Wilson Bull., 54(2): 139. YEAGER, L. E. 1950. Bald eagles attack crippled gull. Wilson Bull., 62(4): 210. Accepted for publication February 15, 1952.

A study was undertaken to determine the incidence, distribution, and relative importance of helminths in wild ruminants of South Dakota. Big game species examined and numbers of helminth species found were as follows: 83 white-tailed deer (5 species of nematodes, 3 of cestodes), 30 mule deer (3 spp. of nematodes, 3 of cestodes), 60 pronghorn antelope (13 spp. of nematodes, 2 of cestodes), 20 elk (5 spp. of nematodes, 2 of cestodes), 5 bison (7 spp. of nematodes, 1 of cestode), 3 bighorn sheep (6 spp. of nematodes, 2 of cestodes), and one mountain goat (3 spp. of nematodes). There were new host records for several species of nematodes. The absence of trematodes was conspicuous. The pronghorn antelope was the most heavily parasitized of the 7 species sampled. Since they occur on livestock rangelands in the western part of the state, they may have some importance as reservoirs for helminths of sheep and cattle. The presence of lungworms, Protostrongylus spp., in the bighorn sheep and mountain goat merits further investigation, as lungworms have been implicated as limiting factors in populations elsewhere. Seven species of big game mammals occur in South Dakota, viz., mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, elk, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, and bison. All except bighorn sheep are hunted, either in regular hunting seasons or in strictly controlled, limited hunts and herd thinning operations. Aside from the importance of these animals to sportsmen, many of them occur on rangelands utilized by domestic livestock and are of importance to stockmen. There has been no previous statewide study on the parasites of these game mammals. This study was undertaken to determine the incidence, distribution, and relative importance of helminths in wild ruminants of the state. The sources of the game animals are shown in Figure 1. A companion study involved a sampling of many of these same animals for pesticide residues, the results of which have been reported elsewhere (Greenwood et al., 1967; Moore et al., 1968).

responsibilities to the total range resource. Acceptance Agr., Mrashington, D. C. (See also Foreword in: Report of Workshop on Income-Producing Recreation Enterof fee hunting systems by sportsmen and state agencies prises at Denver, Colo. Soil Conserv. Serv., Washington, is essential to insure the success of such ventures. CoD. C. April 30, 1963). operation between landowners and the South Dakota KNETSCH, JACK L. 1966. Financing public outdoor recreaDepartment of Game, Fish, and Parks is also imperation. Nat. Conf. on Policy Issues in Outdoor Recreation, tive, especially in the matter of big game damage Sept. 6-8, 1966, Logan, Utah. (Paper distributed by claims by landowners and the number of licenses availBureau of Outdoor Recreation, U. S. Dep. of the Interior, able to both residents and non-residents. Washington, D. C.).

Correct substitution rates of one grazing animal for another under common use take place at uniform rates, being governed at any point by the utilization standard of some single species. The capacity under common use may be grealer than that realized with the less suited animal alone, or greater than either animal alone, depending upon the particular combination of animal numbers and the particular range.

A study of weather records and the annual grouse kill in Wells Gray Park, British Columbia, showed a relationship between June weather and the fall kill. A positive correlation coefficient of 0.913 was found to exist between the fall grouse kill and the mean maximum June temperature. The grouse involved were chiefly ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus). It seems apparent that high temperatures in late spring and early summer are an important factor in the reproductive success of grouse. This study was undertaken to explore the possible relationship between weather and fall grouse populations in Wells Gray Park, British Columbia. It was hoped that the results might be useful in forecasting population trends as well as in contributing to knowledge of the ecology of the species. Field observations for a 10-year period in Wells Gray Park suggested to the writ- ers that warm weather in spring and early summer is associated with high populations of ruffed grouse in the fall. Two sets of data were used to test this hypothesis: (1) weather data for the park, compiled regularly at Park Headquarters for the Government of Canada, and (2) records kept since 1952 of all game species killed in the park. Records of the annual grouse kill were assumed to give at least a rough indication of fall population levels. Grouse are not abundant in the park and are usually killed along roads and trails by hunters seeking big game. A few local people hunt grouse for sport. Bag limits and length of hunting season varied during the study period, but these variations do not seem to have af- fected the kill. Few hunters obtained bag limits anyway, and most grouse were killed before November 1, even though the sea- son was in some years extended beyond that date. Hunters have shown repeatedly that they cannot distinguish among the three most common species of grouse in the park -ruffed grouse, spruce grouse (Canachites canadensis), and blue grouse (Dendraga- pus obscurus)-so all grouse are included in figures showing the annual kill. We esti- mate that approximately 85 percent of the annual kill consists of ruffed grouse, with little variation through the years. This esti- mate is based on both our own hunting ex- perience and the contents of hunters' bags which we were able to examine. June weather was more closely linked to the fall kill than was May or April weather. The mean maximum daily temperature for the month was found more significant in relation to kill data than were other mean

COLONEL MARCUSWELL MAXWELL, who died suddenly in a Nairobi nursing home on April 21, was one of the most successful photographers of wild life in East Africa, his photographs of lions, elephants, giraffes, rhinoceroses and other big game being some of the best ever taken, while his photographic studies of the eastern gorilla have never been surpassed. He shared with his namesake, Marius Maxwell, the distinction of being not only a photographer but also a photographic artist in that nearly every exposure he made was a picture.

THE article by Sir Harry Johnston in NATURE of December 7 on “The Preservation of the African Fauna and its Relation to Tropical Diseases” gives a most admirable and sympathetic review of the subject; but there is one statement to which I must venture to take exception as not conveying, in my opinion, an accurate impression of the known facts of the case, namely, the following sentence:—“But within the last twelve months or so it has been proved conclusively by the biologists at work in Uganda that the large antelopes of that country are the hosts of dangerous trypanosomes, amongst others of the trypanosome which causes sleeping sickness”.