Weather severity index on a mule deer winter range. [Odocoileus hemionus hemionus]

Journal Article · Thu May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · J. Range Manage.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3899059· OSTI ID:7120291

Leckenby, D A; Adams, A W

Temperature, wind, and snow conditions predictably affect the nutrition, behavior, distribution, productivity, and mortality of free-ranging cattle and big game in winter. Indexing of data obtained with commonly available weather instruments to reflect episodes of positive and negative energy balances of free-ranging ruminants could aid scheduling of feeding programs and planning of cover-forage manipulations. Such a weather severity index was developed and tested over 11 winters. Plausible levels of stress and episodes of relative severity were depicted during winters when mule deer exhibited low, moderate, and high mortality. The index curves mirrored over-winter declines of fat reserves probably sustained by mule deer. Lesser weather severity was predicted and measured in a western juniper woodland than in an adjacent rabbitbrush steppe community in southcentral Oregon. 32 references, 3 figures, 2 tables.

• Research Organization: Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, La Grande
• OSTI ID: 7120291
• Journal Information: J. Range Manage.; (United States), Vol. 39:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DEER
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
WEATHER
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
BEHAVIOR
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FORAGE
FORECASTING
MORTALITY
NUTRITION
OREGON
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SNOW
WIND
ANIMAL FEEDS
ANIMALS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
DATA
FEDERAL REGION X
FOOD
INFORMATION
MAMMALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
PLANTS
RUMINANTS
USA
VARIATIONS
VERTEBRATES
510100* - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (-1989)