Diet composition, forage selection, and potential for forage competition among elk, deer and livestock on aspen-sagebrush summer range
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Authors: J. L. Beck, and J. M. Peek
Date: 2005
Journal: Rangeland Ecology & Management
Volume: 58
Number: 2
Pages: 135-147
Summary of Methods: The potential forage competition between elk, mule deer, cattle and domestic sheep were evaluated by comparing diet composition, dietary overlap and forage selection in the Jarbidge Mountains of northeastern Nevada (41° 30' to 42° 00' N, 115° 00' to 115° 30' W) for three years. Elk, cattle, mule deer, and domestic sheep fecal samples were collected and submitted for microhistological analysis to evaluate botanical composition of diets. Forage consumption was evaluated at feeding sites in aspen and sagebrush communities for elk, cattle, mule deer, and domestic sheep.
Article Summary / Main Points: Elk, mule deer, cattle and sheep all consumed large amount of forbs during the summer months resulting in a high dietary overlap for that time. The highest dietary overlap occurred between cattle and sheep, with the lowest between deer and cattle. There was moderate overlap between elk and deer summer diets, with no differences between elk and sheep spring diets. Also, the summer diets of elk, deer and sheep were not different. There was no difference between what cattle and sheep consumed. Summer elk diets were dominated by forbs, deer diets were mostly woody browse, and cattle and sheep diets consisted primarily of graminoids. The potential for high dietary overlap during a dry summer, with reduced forb quality and availability, may lead to strong competition between these species within the aspen community. Cattle foraged selectively on forbs in aspen communities and on graminoids in sagebrush communities, reflecting relative forage availabilities. There were no differences between what elk, cattle, and sheep selected for in aspen communities. The implementation of mixed grazing systems that promote a high diversity of graminoids and forbs in the summer range of these ungulates may reduce potential competition.
Vegetation Types: Sagebrush Steppe
MLRA Ecoregions: 25 Owyhee High Plateau
Agrovoc Control Words: Rangelands Herbivory Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: alkaloids, cattle, diet overlap, domestic sheep, feeding sites, nevada, spurred lupine
Annotation: The findings from this three year research are applicable to aspen-sagebrush summer rangelands. Dietary overlap and competition among species is a huge issue, but this does not take into account the effect of the presence of domestic livestock and the human actives that come with them on diet and foraging site locations. Due to the lack of replication (i.e., only 1 diet x species x year), it is impossible to assess the interaction of year and species.
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