Summer and fall browse utilization by an Alaskan bison herd
-
-
Authors: V. Waggoner, and M. Hinkes
Date: 1986
Journal: Journal of Wildlife Management
Volume: 50
Number: 2
Pages: 322-324
Summary of Methods: This study, of the Farewell, Alaska, bison (Bison bison) herd, indicated shrubs, especially willow (Salix spp.) may be important in the diet during summer and fall. From fecal samples collected and analyzed, the summer diet was composed of 94.2% willow, whereas the fall shrub diet was composed of approximately 60% willow and 40% silverberry (Elaeagnus spp.) and buffaloberry (Sheperdia spp.). Bison are restricted to narrow floodplains due to surrounding topography over much of the route between winter and summer range. The 3 samples collected from this part of the migration route indicate heavy use of shrubs. When grasses and sedges are available on the migration route they are used heavily. No quantitative evaluation of the Farewell summer habitat was made, but no habitat disturbance caused by bison activity was noted during the authors' incidental observations of this range. It is believed that summer range in not a limiting factor for Farewell bison.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Documented Case History
Keywords: bison, bison bison, alaska, food habits, fecal samples, summer range, fall range
Annotation: None
-
Get article
Cite article with DOI
-