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Summer ecology of bighorn sheep in Yellowstone National Park

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dc.contributor.authorWoolf, Alan, author
dc.coverage.spatialYellowstone National Park
dc.date.accessioned2007-01-03T04:40:56Z
dc.date.available2007-01-03T04:40:56Z
dc.date.issued1968
dc.description.abstractA study of the summer ecology of bighorn sheep was conducted in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, from June 1966 to September 1967. Study objectives were to census the bighorn population, map the summer distribution, determine summer herd structure and behavior, observe daily feeding habits, and determine the effects of competition on summer ranges. The minimum number of bighorn summering in Yellowstone Park is 558. There were seven main summer herds: the NE herd, the lower Yellowstone and North park herd, the Washburn-Canyon-Specimen herd, the Gallatin herd, the NW herd, the East boundary herd, and the Bechler herd. Most summer range was in the northeast part of Yellowstone Park. Migrations to summer ranges was incomplete in some cases, and the sheep displayed tolerance for a variety of summer habitats. Ewe herd (includes yearlings):lamb ratios were 100:59 in 1966 and 100:48 in 1967. The 1967 ewe:yearling ratio of 100:28 indicated favorable yearling survival from 1966. Grasses, grass-like plants, and forbs formed the bulk of the summer diet. Carex hepburnii was the dominant plant on subalpine summer ranges and was the staple food throughout the summer. In one study site, grasses made up 80.9 and forbs 19.1 per cent of the diet. Interspecific competition was negligible during the study, but potential competition exists between bighorn and elk for space. The greatest potential danger on summer ranges may be intraspecific competition resulting in reduced tolerance to diseases and parasites.
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifier1968_Woolf_Alan.pdf
dc.identifierETDF1968100001
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10217/38358
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relationCatalog record number (MMS ID): 991003655399703361
dc.relationSK305.M6.W6
dc.relation.ispartof1950-1979
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectBighorn sheep -- Ecology -- Yellowstone National Park
dc.subjectAnimal ecology
dc.titleSummer ecology of bighorn sheep in Yellowstone National Park
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineFishery and Wildlife Biology
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

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