Ruffed grouse brood habitat on reclaimed surface mines in West Virginia

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6307341

Kimmel, R O

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
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
BIRDS
HABITAT
LAND RECLAMATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
LAND USE
SURFACE MINING
WEST VIRGINIA
ANIMALS
FEDERAL REGION III
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
USA
VERTEBRATES
510500* - Environment
Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)
010800 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Waste Management