Use of pellet-group plots to measure trends in deer and elk populations

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · Wildlife Soc. Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5884575

Rowland, M M; White, G C; Karlen, E M

Distribution and abundance of mule deer and elk were studied from 1976 to 1981 near Los Alamos, New Mexico, using pellet-group counts. Pellet-group data were shown to fit the negative binomial distribution. Counts for mule deer varied among years in all vegetation types; the population trend was generally downward. Pellet-group counts for elk (winter only) increased in ponderosa pine, but remained unchanged in other areas. Deer pellet groups were distributed similarly from year to year and were nonrandom (i.e., clumped). Elk pellet groups also were clumped, but were clumped less in mixed conifer during the latter part of the study. In ponderosa pine, where deer were most abundant, pellet groups were clumped less than in other habitats. Similarly, in mixed conifer, where elk numbers were highest, pellet groups were clumped least. Neither weather nor fire appeared to affect greatly counts of deer or elk pellet groups, although fire may have influenced distribution of elk. 37 references, 5 tables.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5884575
• Journal Information: Wildlife Soc. Bull.; (United States), Vol. 12:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DEER
POPULATION DYNAMICS
POPULATIONS
MEASURING METHODS
CORRELATIONS
FECES
HABITAT
NEW MEXICO
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
FEDERAL REGION VI
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
NORTH AMERICA
RUMINANTS
USA
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
510100* - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (-1989)