Diet and habitat selection of wood bison in relation to seasonal changes in forage quantity and quality
Diet and habitat selection of wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) were studied in the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary, Northwest Territories, between February 1986 and April 1988. Wood bison showed pronounced seasonal changes in diet. Sedges constituted 96.1–98.8% of the winter diet. During summer, the di...
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Language: | English |
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Canadian Science Publishing
1991
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z91-376 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z91-376 |
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z91-376 2024-09-15T17:59:56+00:00 Diet and habitat selection of wood bison in relation to seasonal changes in forage quantity and quality Larter, Nicholas C. Gates, Cormack C. 1991 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z91-376 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z91-376 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 69, issue 10, page 2677-2685 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 journal-article 1991 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z91-376 2024-07-18T04:13:34Z Diet and habitat selection of wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) were studied in the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary, Northwest Territories, between February 1986 and April 1988. Wood bison showed pronounced seasonal changes in diet. Sedges constituted 96.1–98.8% of the winter diet. During summer, the diet became a more diverse mix of sedge (Carex spp.), grass (Graminae), and willow (Salix spp.). Lichen (Cladina mitis) became a major dietary component in fall. Summer browsing on willows increased when sedge standing crops were reduced. Forage availability was the main factor determining habitat selection. Wet sedge meadows provided the most available crude protein in winter and were the preferred winter habitat. Willow savannas provided the most available crude protein in summer and were the preferred summer habitat. Between June and October, all forages except lichen decreased in nitrogen content and increased in fibre content. The lack of distinct habitat preference in fall corresponded to dispersion of animals into forested habitats, increased use of lichen as forage, and more homogeneous availability of crude protein among habitats. Snow conditions were harsher in 1987–1988 than in 1986–1987, which affected forage availability and caused a noticeable shift in habitat use. Article in Journal/Newspaper Bison bison athabascae Northwest Territories Wood Bison Bison bison bison Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Journal of Zoology 69 10 2677 2685 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Canadian Science Publishing |
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crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
description |
Diet and habitat selection of wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) were studied in the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary, Northwest Territories, between February 1986 and April 1988. Wood bison showed pronounced seasonal changes in diet. Sedges constituted 96.1–98.8% of the winter diet. During summer, the diet became a more diverse mix of sedge (Carex spp.), grass (Graminae), and willow (Salix spp.). Lichen (Cladina mitis) became a major dietary component in fall. Summer browsing on willows increased when sedge standing crops were reduced. Forage availability was the main factor determining habitat selection. Wet sedge meadows provided the most available crude protein in winter and were the preferred winter habitat. Willow savannas provided the most available crude protein in summer and were the preferred summer habitat. Between June and October, all forages except lichen decreased in nitrogen content and increased in fibre content. The lack of distinct habitat preference in fall corresponded to dispersion of animals into forested habitats, increased use of lichen as forage, and more homogeneous availability of crude protein among habitats. Snow conditions were harsher in 1987–1988 than in 1986–1987, which affected forage availability and caused a noticeable shift in habitat use. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Larter, Nicholas C. Gates, Cormack C. |
spellingShingle |
Larter, Nicholas C. Gates, Cormack C. Diet and habitat selection of wood bison in relation to seasonal changes in forage quantity and quality |
author_facet |
Larter, Nicholas C. Gates, Cormack C. |
author_sort |
Larter, Nicholas C. |
title |
Diet and habitat selection of wood bison in relation to seasonal changes in forage quantity and quality |
title_short |
Diet and habitat selection of wood bison in relation to seasonal changes in forage quantity and quality |
title_full |
Diet and habitat selection of wood bison in relation to seasonal changes in forage quantity and quality |
title_fullStr |
Diet and habitat selection of wood bison in relation to seasonal changes in forage quantity and quality |
title_full_unstemmed |
Diet and habitat selection of wood bison in relation to seasonal changes in forage quantity and quality |
title_sort |
diet and habitat selection of wood bison in relation to seasonal changes in forage quantity and quality |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
1991 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z91-376 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z91-376 |
genre |
Bison bison athabascae Northwest Territories Wood Bison Bison bison bison |
genre_facet |
Bison bison athabascae Northwest Territories Wood Bison Bison bison bison |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 69, issue 10, page 2677-2685 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z91-376 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
69 |
container_issue |
10 |
container_start_page |
2677 |
op_container_end_page |
2685 |
_version_ |
1810437046489055232 |