RECORD
Pattern of Herbivory, Nitrogen Content, and Biomass of Bluebunch Wheatgrass on a Mountain Sheep Habitat in Central Idaho
- Title:
- Pattern of Herbivory, Nitrogen Content, and Biomass of Bluebunch Wheatgrass on a Mountain Sheep Habitat in Central Idaho
- Creator:
- Peek, James M.
- Date Created:
- 2010
- Description:
- Bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata [Pursh] A. Love) is a major forage species for mountain sheep (Ovis canadensis) in central Idaho. Observed condition of this forage species is high, prompting an investigation of herbivory levels and subsequently nutrient content and biomass of this species. Mean amounts of tissue removed from wheatgrass plants on a slope frequently used by mountain sheep ranged from 5.3% to 26.8% from 1992-1996. Nitrogen levels ranged from 0.7-1.4% from 1998-2007 in plants collected in late June after seed-set. Higher levels of N occurred in growth following wildfire burns. Above-ground growth of bluebunch wheatgrass ranged from 11 .3 to !02.1 gm/m2 and was highly correlated with spring precipitation. While herbivory on this major forage species was low to moderate, nitrogen levels may vary enough to affect mountain sheep population trends without appreciably affecting productivity of their major forage species.
- Subjects:
- bighorn sheep ecology salmon river mountains bluebunch wheatgrass
- Source Identifier:
- b2-BighornSheep-036
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
Source
- Preferred Citation:
- "Pattern of Herbivory, Nitrogen Content, and Biomass of Bluebunch Wheatgrass on a Mountain Sheep Habitat in Central Idaho", Taylor Wilderness Research Station Archive, University of Idaho Library Digital Initiatives
- Reference Link:
- https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/taylor-archive/items/b2-bighornsheep-036.html
Rights
- Rights:
- In Copyright. Educational Use only. Educational use includes non-commercial use of text and images in materials for teaching and research purposes. Digital reproduction permissions assigned by University of Idaho Library. For more information, please contact University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives Department at libspec@uidaho.edu.