Ruffed grouse brood habitat on reclaimed surface mines in West Virginia
In West Virginia, land-use practices that break up large blocks of mature forests would potentially benefit ruffed grouse. Ruffed grouse were shown to use openings created by surface mining, particularly during the brood period. Human-imprinted ruffed grouse chicks were used to evaluate food and cover on reclaimed surface mines. Old and new reclamation techniques were studied in relation to ruffed grouse brood habitat. Reclaimed surface-mined areas did not provide the quality habitat for ruffed grouse chicks that unmined land provided. Grass-legume reclamation had the poorest food and cover. A 25-year-old reclaimed mine planted to autumn olive had the best food cover. The shrub canopy provided a more favorable microclimate for insects and establishment of herbaceous vegetation. Insects and, to a lesser extent, forbs were important foods for ruffed grouse during the early brood period. Planting rows of shrubs in addition to the current practice of planting grasses and legumes on surface-mined areas is suggested to create ruffed grouse brood habitat.
- OSTI ID:
- 6307341
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
010800 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
510500* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
BIRDS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FEDERAL REGION III
HABITAT
LAND RECLAMATION
LAND USE
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
SURFACE MINING
USA
VERTEBRATES
WEST VIRGINIA