Summer range habits of the pronghorn antelope in central Montana with special reference to proposed sagebrush control study plots by Harold James Wentland A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Fish and Wildlife Management Montana State University © Copyright by Harold James Wentland (1968) Abstract: A study of the range use, food habits and home range of the pronghorn antelope was conducted during the summers of 1966 and 1967 on an 83,597 acre area in central Montana which included four study plots on which sagebrush will be eradicated at a later date. The purpose of my study was to record data prior to sagebrush eradication on the study plots. These data will be available for comparison with those collected after the control of sagebrush. The physiography of the area was described. The vegetation was classified into eight types as follows; Sagebrush-grassland, grassland, grease-wood, greasewood-sagebrush, shale slope, cropland, abandoned meadow and timber. Canopy coverage and frequency of occurrence was recorded for low growing vegetation. This provided data for quantitative descriptions of the first five types listed. Population characteristics were determined by classification of 4,029 ground observations and 1,559 aerial observations of individual antelope by sex and age classes. Data from ground counts indicated 262 females per 100 males and 84 fawns per 100 females in 1966 and 190 and 71, respectively, in 1967. Data from aerial counts indicated 241 females per 100 males and 57 fawns per 100 females in 1967, Highest fawn-female ratios obtained during ground counts occurred in early August, 1966 and late July, 1967. A total of 5,874 individual antelope observations were recorded by vegetation type. These data indicated declining use of the sagebrush-grassland vegetation type and a corresponding increase in use of the shale slope, greasewood, greasewood-sagebrush and cropland vegetation types combined, as the summer progressed in both 1966 and 1967. Despite this trend the sagebrush-grassland vegetation type received 50 percent or more of the total use both summers. The density of big sagebrush was recorded at 2,980 individual antelope observation sites in the sagebrush-grassland vegetation type. Both years at least 90 percent of these antelope were observed on areas where densities of big sagebrush were estimated to be scattered or common. Antelope food habits data were obtained primarily by examination of 62 feeding sites and supplemented, in 1967, by analysis of the contents of 12 rumen samples. Forbs comprised 86 and 97 percent, shrubs 14 and 3 percent, and grasses a trace, of the total use at feeding sites in 1966 and 1967, respectively. In 1967 these forage classes averaged 85, 14 and 2 percent, respectively, of the total identifiable material in 12 rumen samples. Five forbs constituted 62 percent or more of the total use at feeding sites both years and averaged 35 percent of identifiable material in rumen samples. These included fringed sagewort (Artemisia, frigida), long-leaf sagebrush /Artemssia longif'olia), three-leafed milkvetch (Astragalus gilviflorus), alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and sweetclover, (Melilotus officinalis). The latter four were the only plant species present in the antelope diet in significantly higher proportions than in the plant community. Four Artemisia species together constituted 28 and 14 percent of the total use at feeding sites in 1966 and 1967, respectively, and averaged 10 percent by volume of identifiable material in rumen samples. Characteristics of summer home ranges were determined by successive observations of 19 individually recognizable antelope. Territorial males moved the shortest distances between successive observations and had the smallest home ranges. Males associated with male herds moved the greatest distances between successive observations and had the largest home ranges. Females associated with other females and fawns or with females, fawns and a single male were intermediate with respect to these measurements. Females moved 59 percent further between successive observations when not accompanied by a territorial male. The average size of home ranges of territorial males was 121 percent larger on the sagebrush-grassland vegetation type than on the greasewood vegetation type.  O- Q k SUMMER RANGE HABITS OF THE PRONGHORN ANTELOPE IN CENTRAL MONTANA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO PROPOSED SAGEBRUSH CONTROL STUDY PLOTS by HAROLD JAMES WENTLAND A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE ■ in Fish and Wildlife Management Approved: He df&C Ma j o r D,Ap&rtment Graduate Dean M O NT ANA STATE ,UNIVERSITY Bozeman, Montana March, 1968 iii \ ACKNOWLEDGMENT ? To the following, among others, I wish to express sincere appreci­ ation for their contributions to this study: Dr. Don C.\ Quimby, Montana State University, for technical supervision and guidance in preparation of the manuscript; Dr. Richard J. Mackie, formerly with the Montana Fish and Game Department, for initial project planning; Dr. W. -E. Booth, Montana State University, for verification of plant specimens; Mr. Steve Bayless and Mr. Duane Pyrah, Montana Department of Fish and Game, for ad­ vice and field assistance; Dr. Robert L. Eng and Dr. Richard J. Graham, Montana State University, for critical reading of the manuscript; Mr. Thomas Mussehl and Mr. Kenneth Greer of the Montana Department of Fish and Game for assistance in various phases of the project; and to my wife, Dolores, for patience, encouragement,.and assistance. During the study, • the writer was supported by the Montana State Department of Fish and Game under Federal Aid Project No. W-105-R-^l, No. W-105-R-2, ' and No. W-1Q5-R-3 Page. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS VITA A C K N O W L E D G M E N T . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii TABLE OF C O N T E N T S .. .■_ _ _ ....... .. .. .___ _ _ _ ____ __ .. .•_ _ _ ■_ _ _ ■... . iv LIST -OF'TABLES. . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . / . . , . . . . . - v ' LIST OF FIGURES.,.. vii ABSTRACT .•viii IN T R O D U C T I O N . . . ................. DESCRIPTION OF- THE STUDY AREA... VEGETATION..'.,....,............... I 3 6 Sa gebrush-Grassland Vegetation Type........................... IO Grassland Vegetation T y p e . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Greasewood Vegetation T y p e . . . . . . . - - - - 14 Greasewood-Sagebrush Vegetation-Type. 14 Shale Slope, Vegetation T y p e _ _ _ i..-. 14 Other Vegetati oh T y p e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - 16 PRONGHORN ANTELOPE POPULATION C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S , . . , . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . - 20 USE OF VEGETATION T Y P E S . ; . . - . , . . - . . . . - . , . : . - . , . . - . , , . - . 23- SUMMER FOOD H A B I T S . . . . - . , . . . , 27 SUMMER HO ME RANGES....,..-., e e e • ©’ o e. 38 ' A P P E N D I X . ...-. .4 LITERATURE C I T E D . . . ' . . . . - . , 40 64 VTabl e LIST OF TABLES Page I. II. CONSTANCY, CANOPY COVERAGE AND FREQUENCY OF TAXA FOR FIVE VEGETATION TYPES AS DETERMINED BY - EXAMINATION OF 2 X 5 DECIMETER PLOTS.... . ... .-. . . .............. . .-. . . .-. ...... BIG SAGEBRUSH CHARACTERISTICS ON THE DIFFERENT PROPOSED TREATMENT SITES ON EACH OF THE SAGEBRUSH CONTROL' STUDY PLOTS AS DETERMINED BY MEASUREMENTS ALONG IOO-FOOT LINE TRANSECTS..... •....•___ •___ •. ... .-___ •....■___ ■___ _ . . _____ •..... 19 III. SEX AND AGE CLASSES OF ANTELOPE ON THE STUDY AREA AS DETERMINED DURING FIVE AERIAL COUNTS IN THE SUMMER OF 1967..... ....................................... .. • 21 IV. SEX AND AGE CLASSES OF ANTELOPE ON THE STUDY AREA AS DETERMINED DURING GROUND COUNTS, 1966-1967___•____■___ ....... ■ 22 V. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF 5,874 OBSERVATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL — ANTELOPE BY ONE-HALF MONTH INTERVALS ON SIX VEGETATION x' TYPES DURING THE SUMMERS OF 1966 AND 1967___ ■___ •___ 24 VI. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF 2,980 INDIVIDUAL ANTELOPE ^ OBSERVATIONS BY FOUR SAGEBRUSH DENSITY CATAGORIES DURING / THE SUMMERS OF 1966 AND 1967.... ...........■___ ............L.. 26 VII. VIII. IX. SUMMER FOOD HABITS OF ANTELOPE BY MONTH AND YEAR AS / DETERMINED FROM 9,111 INSTANCES OF USE.ON 62 FEEDING SITES / IN THE SUMMERS OF 1966 AND 1967. .Y ............. L SUMMER FOOD HABITS OF ANTELOPE BY VEGETATION TYPE AS DETERMINED FROM 9,111 INSTANCES OF-USE ON 62 FEEDING ( SITES IN THE SUMMERS OF 1966 AND 1967.............. ■___ ■___ FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE AND VOLUME PERCENTAGES OF PLANT TAXA AND FORAGE CLASSES AMONG 12 RUMEN SAMPLES COLLECTED IN OCTOBER, 1966 AND 13 RUMEN SAMPLES COLLECTED OVER A FIVE MONTH PERIOD IN SUMMER, 1967. ... .■...... ■_ _ _ •_ _ _ •_ _ _ ■....■- - - - 28 / 34 X. CHARACTERISTICS OF HOME RANGES OF ANTELOPE AS DETERMINED Z ' BY SUCCESSIVE OBSERVATIONS OF EACH OF 10 BANDED AND 9 OTHERWISE RECOGNIZABLE INDIVIDUALS... ------'........■---•.... .V iT o XI. MONTHLY CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA FROM THE UNITED STATES — DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE WEATHER STATION AT FLATWILLOW ON THE EAST EDGE OF THE STUDY AREA........................4. - 42 / vi LIST OF-,TABLES (Continued) Table Page XII. • TAXA WITH LESS THAN I PERCENT CANOPY•COVERAGE OR 5 PERCENT FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE ON VEGETATION TYPES ■. AS DETERMINED BY EXAMINATION OF 2 -X 5 DECIMETER P L O T S 43 XIII. CONSTANCY, CANOPY COVERAGE AND -FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE OF TAXA ON THE'DIFFERENT PROPOSED TREATMENT SITES ON THE-WINNETT SAGEBRUSH CONTROL STUDY PLOT. . . . .... . . .'. ...... . 46 XIV.. CONSTANCY, CANOPY COVERAGE,'AND FREQUENCY OF.OCCURRENCE OF TAXA ON THE DIFFERENT PROPOSED TREATMENT SITES ON THE KING SAGEBRUSH CONTROL STUDY PLOT.___ -___ .. ..>. .... . . . . 49 XV. CONSTANCY,-CANOPY COVERAGE AND FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE OF. . TAXA-ON THE DIFFERENT PROPOSED TREATMENT SITES ON THE SIBBERT .SAGEBRUSH CONTROL STUDY .PLOT.... . . . . . . . . . .-. . . .-. . . .- 53 XVI.. CONSTANCY, CANOPY COVERAGE AND FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE. OF TAXA ON THE DIFFERENT PROPOSED TREATMENT SITES ON THE IVERSON SAGEBRUSH ■ CONTROL STUDY, PLOT...............___ 55 XVII. XVIII. PERCENTAGE ,DISTRIBUTION OF OBSERVATIONS OF-INDIVIDUAL ANTELOPE IN .EACH OF FIVE GROUP TYPES BY VEGETATION TYPE , z" DURING THE SUMMERS OF 1966 AND .1967.-. . ........ ■___ '___ _ .1. 57 PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF 5,874 OBSERVATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL ANTELOPE BY SEX AND AGE ON SIX VEGETATION TYPES DURING THE SUMMERS OF 1966 AND 1967.... _____________ .. .... _____ •___ • 59 XIX. ■ NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUAL ANTELOPE OBSERVATIONS MADE DURING 10 GROUND AND 5 AERIAL COUNTS FROM JUNE 16 TO SEPTEMBER 15, 1967, LISTED BY SQUARE MILES......___ ■........■___ 60 X X . ■ NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUAL ANTELOPE OBSERVATIONS MADE ON THE ■ DIFFERENT PROPOSED TREATMENT -.SITES OF EACH OF THE" SAGEBRUSH CONTROL STUDY PLOTS DURING 10 GROUND - AND 5 AERIAL COUNTS IN THE SUMMER OE 1967. .'___ ... .-.. . .-_____ •___ ■___ ■___ '____■___ ___ 62 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. • The study area showing the sagebrush control study plots and vegetation types a y. . . ■ 4 2. Sagebrush-grassland vegetation type, sagebrush aspect - rare; ..... .......... . . . . ............... ............... > 11 3. Sagebrush-grassland vegetation type, sagebrush aspect - s c a t t e r e d . . ...... ■ 11 4. Sagebrush-grassland vegetation type, sagebrush aspect - common.... ................... .................................■ 12, 5. Sagebrush-grassland vegetation type,, sagebrush aspect - dense.... ....................................... .............. 12 6. Grassland vegetation type. .. . - . . . . . . . .-. ...-. 13 7. Greasewood vegetation type... .......■ 13 8. Greasewood-sagebrush vegetation type........................ ■ 15 9. Shale slope vegetation type......... . .... ....... . 15 10. Cropland (alfalfa) vegetation type. ....... ..... ... ...'. 17 11. Abandoned meadow vegetation type.. .. ......... . . ......... 17 12. Timber vegetation type.... 18 ‘A ‘ ’S x • 13. ■ Study area showing land ownership..... ................. . .. . 41 14. Grid map of study area for use with Tables XIX and XX in showing locations of antelope observations......... ‘ 63 viii ABSTRACT A study o f ■the range.use, food habits and home range of the prongr horn antelope was. conducted during the summers of 1966 and 1967 on an 83,597 acre.area in central Montana which included .four,study plots on which sagebrush will be ,eradicated at a later date: The purpose of my study was to record data prior to .sagebrush eradication on the study plots'. These data will be available for comparison with those collected after the control of sagebrush. The physiography of the area was.described. ' The vegetation was clas­ sified into eight types as follows; Sagebrush-grasslandgrassland, grease- wood; greasewood-sagebrush,shale slope, cropland, abandoned meadow and timber. Canopy coverage and frequency of occurrence was recorded for low growing vegetation. This provided data for quantitative descriptions.of the first five types listed. Population.characteristics were determined by classification of 4,029 ground observations and 1,559 aerial observations of individual antelope by sex and age classes. " Data from ground counts indicated 262 females per 100 males and 84 fawns per 100 females in 1966 and 190 and 71, respective- . Iy, in 1967. Data from aerial counts indicated 241 females per 100 males and 57 fawns per 100 females in 1967. Highest fawn-female .ratios obtained during ground counts,occurred in early August, 1966 and late July, 1967. A total of 5,874 individual antelope observations were recorded"by. vegetation type. ■ These data indicated declining use of the sagebrush-, grassland vegetation type.and a.corresponding increase in use of .the shale slope, greasewood, greasewood-sagebrush and cropland vegetation types com­ bined, as the summer progressed in both 1966 and 1967. . Despite this trend the sagebrush-grassland vegetation type,received.50 percent or more of the total use■both,summers. . The density of.big sagebrush.was recorded at 2,980 individual antelope observation sites in.the sagebrushrgrassland vegetation type. Both years at least 90 percent of these antelope were observed on areas where densities of big sagebrush were .estimated to be scattered o r . common. Antelope food habits data were obtained primarily by examination of 62 feeding sites and supplemented, ,in 1967, by analysis of the contents ■ of 12 rumen samples. Forbs comprised 86 and 97 percent,.shrubs 14 and 3 percent, and grasses a trace, of the total use at feeding sites in 1966 and 1967, respectively. In 1967 these forage classes averaged 85, 14 and 2 percent, respectively, of the total identifiable material in 12 rumen. samples. ■ Five forbs. constituted 62 percent or more of the total use at feeding sites both years and averaged 35 percent of identifiable material in rumen samples. These included fringed sagewort (Artemssia, frigida), long-leaf sagebrush ,,(ArtemBsia Zongifolio), three-leafed milkvetch {Astra­ galus gilviftorus), alfalfa {Medicago sativa) and sweetclover , QdeZiZotus ' offioinaZis), The latter four.were the only plant species present in the ix antelope diet in significantly higher proportions than in the plant com­ munity. Four. Avtemisi-Ci species together constituted 28 and 14 percent of the total use at feeding sites in 1966 and 1967, respectively, and averaged ID percent by volume of identifiable material in rumen samples.. Characteristics of summer home ranges were determined by successive observations of 19 individually recognizable antelope. Territorial males moved the shortest distances between successive observations'and had the smallest home ranges. " Males associated with male herds moved the great­ est distances between successive observations and had the largest home ranges. Females associated, with other females and fawns or with females, fawns and a single male were intermediate with respect to these measure­ ments. Females moved 5 9 .percent further between successive observations ■ when not accompanied by a territorial male. The average size of home, ranges of territorial males was 121 percent larger on the■sagebrush- grassland vegetation type than on the greasewood vegetation type. INTRODUCTION In recent years there has been an increasing trend toward sagebrush (Artemssia spp.) eradication, and the consequent reduction of associated forbs (Martin 1965), to increase the volume of grasses for livestock on public and private rangelands. These changes in floral composition have caused much concern among wildlife biologists in Montana with respect to the possible effects on various non-game and game species. To study the short and long range effects on wildlife of ecological changes resulting from sagebrush eradication, a 10-year project was initiated in 1965 by the Montana Fish and Game Department, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, in Central Montana. The current study is a part of that proj ect. The predominant role of sagebrush-grassland vegetation in.the general ecology of the pronghorn antelope (Anti-Zooapra ameviaana) in Montana has been elucidated by Cole (1956) and Cole.and Wilkins (1958). Quantitative data concerning the effects of sagebrush eradication on the pronghorn are lacking. Insight about possible effects may be gained by reference to studies of both pronghorn food and range use habits (Ferrel and Leach 1952; Cole, op ci-t.; Cole and Wilkins, op ait.; and Dirschl 1963) and the effects of sagebrush eradication on associated vegetation (Hurd 1955; Blaisdell.and Mueggler 1956; and Hedrick et at. 1966). Results of these studies strongly suggest that the ecological changes in floral composition resulting from sagebrush eradication would produce results incompatible with pronghorn food and range use habits. — 2 ■— - My study was conducted during the summers of 1966 and 1967 in cen­ tral Montana to obtain quantitative data on range use, food habits and behavior of the pronghorn antelope in summer on and-adjacent to sagebrush control study plots prior to.the control of sagebrush. These quantita­ tive data will be available for comparison with those collected after the control of sagebrush on the study plots. DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA The- study area, with boundaries as shown.on Figure I and located ap­ proximately 50 miles east of Lewistown in central Montana, comprised a- bout 83,597 acres including four sagebrush control study plots. Private lands constituted 57.9 percent of the area and public lands, which are administered by the Bureau of Land Management or the State of Montana,. 42.1 percent (Appendix, Figure 13). Rangeland predominates. Croplands, restricted largely to bottoms, comprised 2 percent of the total. Alfalfa was the principal crop but some wheat was also grown. . The physiography is characterized by undulating and sharply rolling upland plains, gravel capped benches, shale slopes and bottomlands (Gies- eker 1938). The latter two occur where erosion has dissected the upland plains.. McDonald, Elk, Spring, Yellow Water, and Pike Creeks flow through the area. Yellow Water Storage Reservoir and numerous small stock ponds are also located here. The soils have developed over cretaceous shales of the Colorado for­ mation (Andrews et dl. 1944). Upland soils range from heavy clays to shaly clay loams. Shale slopes have soils ranging from fine shale loams to coarse shale.gravels. Bottomlands have thin surface horizons ranging from silty clays to clay loams interspersed with barren hardpan spots. Gieseker (@jp ) describes the climate of the area as semiarid ".... characterized by a comparatively low rainfall, great temperature extremes, a large number of sunny days,.and a relatively low humidity." The average annual precipitation at Flatwillow (U.S. Department of Commerce Figure I — 4 — I I Sagebrush-Grassland Grassland Shale S lope ■ i Greasewood G reasewood-Sagebrush Cropland H tt H Abandoned Meadow PcWl T imber The study area showing the sagebrush control study plots and the vegetation types. — -5 — . Weather Station), on the east edge of the study area, is 12.57 inches. ■ The average summer (June-August) precipitation is 5.7.6 inches. During the summers of 1966 and 1967 precipitation was 61.3 percent below and 12.7 percent above normal, respectively. The mean average annual tern-, perature is 45.4 degrees. The highest temperature recorded during the study period was 105 degrees in July, 1966 and the lowest was 35 degrees in June, 1966. Monthly climatological.data.for both summers are shown in,the Appendix, Table X I . ■ Major influent wild mammals on the area, besides the pronghorn antelope, include the .wUite-tailed -deer 'XQdeco-Lleus vi-vgini-anus') and the ■ ■ ' r mule deer (Odece-ileus fyemienus). VEGETATION Cole. (op ci-t.) and Bayless (1967) studied the vegetation of the same general area as that of the current study. My analysis"follows closely that of the latter. His investigation made use of quantitative measure^ ments and included my study area. The occurrence and distribution of vegetation types shown on Figure I, with slight modification,are from Bayless. Plant nomenclature is that of Booth (1950) and Booth and Wright - (1959). Floral composition of the vegetation types of the study are'a, in­ cluding the sagebrush control study plots, was determined by a modifica- ■ tion of the technique of Daubenmire (1959). The.canopy coverage and frequency of each taxon occurring within 2 x 5 decimeter plots, systemat­ ically placed within a relatively homogeneous and undisturbed portion of each vegetation stand,.were visually estimated. ‘ The coverage classes were: Clasr1=0-5 percent; Class 2=5-25 percent; Class 3=25-50 percent; Class 4=50-75 percent; Class 5=75=95 percent; and Class 6=95-100 percent. The midpoints of these classes were used in data tabulations. Ground cover.was evaluated by making a visual estimate of the percent of bare- ground, rock and litter within the plot frames. A sample unit consisting of twenty 2 x 5 decimeter plots placed at 10-foot intervals along 50-foot radial lines of a circle's cardinal points was examined.within each of 79 vegetation stands on the area exclusive of the sagebrush control study plots (Table I and Appendix, Table XII). One sample unit was. located at each of 48 antelope feeding sites as well as TABLE I. CONSTANCY, CANOPY COVERAGE AND FREQUENCY OF TAKA FOR FIVE VEGETATION TYPES AS DETERMINED BY EXAMINATION OF 2 X 5 DECIMETER PLOTS. ■ Taxa : - Vegetation Type.. Sagebrush- Grassland • 46' Stands • .920.Plots' Grassland 5 Stands' .100■Plots' Greasewood. 7 Stands 140,Plots' Greasewood? , Sagebrush • 8 Stands 160 Plots Shale Slope 13 Stands 260 Plots Cy/Cv/Fr-/ Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr SHRUBS Artemesia tridentata 96/11/39 X 63/ 3/15 31/ I/ 4 Chrysethamnus-nauseesus X3/ . x . 25/ 4/ 3 . 46/ 2/15 Gutferrezia sarethrae ■ 74/ 3/26 60/ .1/16 X 50/.I/ 9 31/ I/ ,9 Resa arkansana ■ X 14/ I/ -4 13/1/ I 54/ 2/11 Sareebatus vermiculatus ■ X 29/.I/ 4 63/ 2/ 8 Total S h r u b s • 100/12/40- 80/ 1/18 - 43/ 1/14 88/ 5/26 85/ 8/44 FORBS AchiVlea millefelium X 86/ 6/50 63/ 1/17 X Andresaee septentrienalis X 38/tr/ 6" Arenaria heekeri 48/ -.1/15 . X 15/ 8/ I Artemesia. frigida 72/ 3/25 100/ 4/50 43/. 2/14 88/ 7/36 Artemesia IengifeVia X 92/ 5/32 Artemksia.Iudevieiana 29/ I/ 8 X Astragalus spp = ■ X 29/ I/ 6 38/ I/ 6 Astragalus gilviflerus ■ 31/tr/ -7 Aster spp. 14/ I/ 9 Aster eemnutatus X 43/ 4/24 Chenepedium album 29/tr/ 5 . Rriegenum multieeps X 31/ I/ 8 Grindeilia squarnose , 24/tr/ 5 29/ I/ 6 63/tr/ 8 Haplepapfes nuttailii- 33/tr/ .8 Hymenexys riehardsenii■ 20/tr/ I Medieage sativa X 86/14/30 X Meliletus effieinalis-. 30/ I/ 9 57/ 9/41 88/ 9/38 TABLE I. (CONTINUED). Vegetation-Type Taxa Sagebrush- . Grassland 46 . Stands 920 Plots Grassland 5 Stands .100.Plots Greasewood 7 Stands .140,Plots Greasewood- Sagebrush 8 Stands 160. Plots Shale Slope ' 13 Stands 2.60 Plots Cy'/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Mioreseris spp. ■ 14/ 2/ 3 ' z" Opuntia pelyoantha 46/ I/ 6 60/tr/12 63/ I/ 6' Petalestemen oandidum 11/ I/ 4 / Phlex heedii 65/ 2/25 40/ 1/17 - Plantago purshii 43/ 1/12 100/tr/25 X Pelygenum avioulare X X 8/tr/ 5 Petentilla pennsylvanica , 13/tr/63 Pseralea tenuiflera■ X X . 14/ I/ 3 13/ .1/ 2 Sphaeraloea cecoinea - ■ 78/ 1/22 100/ 1/36 X X X Taraxacum' effioinale X X 57/ 4/27 63/ I/ 4 Thermepsis rhembifolia X X 100/ 6/43 Tragepegen dubius X X . 57/ 4/16 X Vioid amerioana 57/1/16 60/tr/ 6 X 63/ I/ 7 X . Unknown Forbs 63/tr/10 80/tr/12 X 75/ 1/13 X Total Forbs 100/15/89 100/ 1/14 100/42/92 100/22/86 100/ 9/64 GRASSES AND GRASS-LIKE PLANTS Agrepyren deserteirum X 14/1/ 5 Agropyren smithii 98/14/70 100/12/76 100/44/86 100/23/86 85/ 3/17 Agrepyren spioatum 52/ 3/18 X X 38/ 2/13 Beuteleua graoilis 63/10/32 100/21/76 43/ I/ 6 50/. 3/12 X Bremus ..tecterum. 11/ I/ 4 43/. 4/20 50/ 3/19 Calamagrostis mentanensis 24/tr/ 5 62/ 6/32 Calamovilfa lengifelia ■ X 77/16/53 . Carex spp. 74/ 2/16 80/ 5/36 X 63/ I/ 9 X TABLE. I,.. (CONTINUED) . ' " Vegetation Type■ - Taxa - Sagebrush-. Grassland 46 Stands■ ■ 920..Plots-= - Grassland 5 Stands ■. 100 Plots Greasewood 7 ' Stands. 140 Plots Greasewood- Sagebrush 8 Stands 160 Plots Shale Slope 13. Stands 260 Plots Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr D-IsachZi-S stvieta Festuca oetiflora' Koeleria cristaia X . X 78/ 4/35 40/tr/13 80/ 1/24 43/ 7/13 X 63/ 7/41 X 75/ 2/21 15/ I/ 3 Fhleum fratense Poa spp. ■ 57/ 1/15 80/ 1/18 14/ 6/11 57/ 8/24 100/ 6/38 - 23/ I/ 6 Sehedonnardus ipanieulatus 37/ I/ 7 40/tr/ 6 38/ 1 / 5 X • Stipa eomata 59/ 3/17 . 80/. 6/55 Stipa virdula 63/ -2/11 40/ I/ 5 29/ 3/11 25/1/ 3 X ■ Total Grasses 98/42/98 100/49/100 • 100/65/94 100/49/96 - 100/26/84 OTHERS Lichens 65/ 2/40 80/ 1/40 38/tr/10 . 69/tr/15 Selaginella densa Bareground 28/ 5/15 100/48/94 100/44/100 71/16/51 25/ I/ 3 100/30/71 100/78/100 Rock 48/ I/ 9 80/ 3/33 25/tr/ 5 X Litter lA/ 100/31/95 — — — 57/34/54 50/21/44 23/ 4/21■ Litter I I ■ 75/ 1/12 13/ I/ 3 . I/ includes taxa with at least I percent canopy.coverage or 5 percent frequency- of occur­ rence in at least one vegetation type. Others are included in Appendix, Table XII. 2/ Constancy (percent occurrence among stands)/Canopy Coverage (percent of area covered b y .foliage)/Frequency•(percent occurrence.among plots). 3j. X indicates taxon present but less "than I percent canopy.coverage-and 5 percent frequency of occurrence. 4/ Litter I includes dead vegetative material lying on.the ground. Litter II includes dead vegetative material still standing. 10 - < 31 supplemental sites on five of the eight vegetation types. No measure­ ments were taken for the cropland, abandoned meadow and timber-vegetation types. Each of these was limited in distribution, of little importance to antelope and/or more or less homogeneous. Sa gebrush-Grassland Vegetation Type: This type (Figures- 2, 3, 4, and 5) was the most extensive on the. study area comprising 59 percent. Big sagebrush (Artemtssia tridentata) , the dominant, was found in varying degrees of association with grasses and forbs, apparently dependent on slope, exposure and/or intensity of grazing. The common grasses included western wheatgrass (Agvopyvon smithti) t blue grama (Beuteleuq gracisHs), - junegrass (Keeleria cristata), ■ bluebunch wheatgrass (Agvopyren spiaatum) and needle-and-thread (Sti-pa oomata). Fringed sagewort {Avtemhs'la - fv-ig-ida) , Hood's phlox CEhlexhoedrLi), scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea.ceccinea) and American vetch (Vieia amerioana) were the common forbs. Grassland Vegetation Type: This type (Figure 6) comprised 7 percent of the area. Important grasses, occurring in varying degrees of dominance, were blue grama, west­ ern wheatgrass and needle-and-thread. Fringed sagewort was the most common forb. •. ** Figure 3. Sagebrush-Grassland Vegetation Type, Sagebrush Aspect - Scattered I H I Figure 4. Sagebrush-Grassland Vegetation Type, Sagebrush Aspect - Common. Figure 5 v ■ ^ ' ^ f r 6 ' ^ . . .. 4>r , Sagebrush-Grassland Vegetation Type, Sagebrush Aspect - Dense. i H K) I Figure 6. Grassland Vegetation Type. Figure 7. Greasewood Vegetation Type. i H U> 14 - Greasewood Vegetation Type: This type (Figure-7) occurred along the creek bottoms and covered 6 percent of the area. Greasewood' (Saveobatus vemi'ioulatus') was the domi­ nant shrub. Western wheatgrass and desert saltgrass (DistichZis stvlctd) were the dominant grasses. . Important forks included alfalfa (Medieage SatrIvd), yellow sweetclover (Melilotus offiatnalis), yarrow (Aehillea milefoliim), common.dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and common salsify (Tragopogon dubius) . Greasewood-Sagebrush Vegetation Type: This type (Figure 8) occurred on extensive depressions in the uplands and on the.lower slopes adjacent to creek bottoms. It comprised 22 per­ cent of the area. Greasewood and big sagebrush were the dominants. West­ ern wheatgrass, desert saltgrass and bluegrass (Pea spp.) were the most common grasses. Common forks included fringed sagewort and yellow sweetclover. Shale Slope Vegetation Type: This type (Figure,9) included 2 percent of the total area. Domi­ nants included the shrubs, rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus) and prairie rose (Rosa arkansana); the grasses, prairie sand reedgrass (Calamovilfa longifolia) and plains reedgrass {Calamagrostis montanensis) x and the forks, prairie thermopsis (Thermopsis rhombifolia) and longleaf sagebrush (Artem&sia longifolia). H Ln I Figure 8. Greasewood-Sagebrush Vegetation Type. figure 9. Shale Slope Vegetation Type. — 16 — Other Vegetation Types: The cropland type (Figure 10) covered 2 percent of the area; the abandoned meadow type (Figure 11) I percent; and the timber type (Figure 12) I percent.. The cropland type included primarily alfalfa and some wheat fields. The abandoned meadow type was abandoned agricultural land reseeded nat­ urally to native grasses or artificially with crested wheatgrass (Agvo- pyvon deseTtovum) and gradually reverting back to the native stands. . The timber type, characterized by ponderosa pine (Pinus pendevosa), occurred along shaly rims and on the higher shale slopes. A total of 146 sample units were examined on the four sagebrush con­ trol study plots all of which were in the sagebrush-grassland vegetation type. These measurements showed that vegetation characteristics were similar to those for the sagebrush-grassland vegetation type determined on other parts of the study area (Table I). They are included in the Appendix, Tables XIII, XIV, XV and XVI, because of their significance for comparison wi,th post-treatment data. The number, canopy intercept and height of big sagebrush plants encountered along 100-foot.lines within each sample unit on the sagebrush control study plots' were recorded (Table II). - — - . • ’ ‘ Figure 10. Cropland (Alfalfa) Vegetation Type. Figure 11. Abandoned Meadow Vegetation Type. 18 X % 4 * -■* Figure 12. Timber Vegetation Tyne. TABLE LI. BIG■SAGEBRUSH CHARACTERISTICS ON .THE DIFFERENT PROPOSED TREATMENT SITES ON EACH OF THE SAGEBRUSH CONTROL STUDY PLOTS AS. DETERMINED BY MEASUREMENTS ALONG IOO-FOOT LINE TRANSECTS. . Study Plots . and Proposed Treatment .Sites No. of 100-Foot Line Intercepts. ■ Average No. Plants/100- Foot Line Average . Intercept/ 100-Foot' . Line JkZ Average Intercept/ Live Plant Average Height■ of Live . Plants^/ Average Maximum Height of Live Plants — / WINNETT Complete Spray(1)— ' 14 Live/Dead 26.6/ 1.5 Live/Dead 22.3/ 0.9 0.8 7.1 14.2 . Strip Spray (3) 13 19.8/ 0.8 15.6/ 0.4 0,8 6.4 11.4 Defer Control (7) 17 24,1/ 0.4 26.4/ 0,6 1.1 8.7 16.9 . KING Complete Spray(I) 5 16.6/ 0.2 16.1/ 0.1- 0.9 7.6 13.8 Contour Furrow(S) 15 21.2/ 1.4 17.2/ 1.1 0.-8 7.0 16.9 Interseed (6) 10. 16.2/ 1.2' 13.1/ 0.9- 0.-8 6.9 12.3 Defer Control (7) 2 ■ 6,5/ 0.5 4.0/ 0.2 0.-6 5.8 15.0 Open Control (8) 10 15.8/ 1.0 15.9/ 0.7 1.0 8.9 15.3 SIBBERT • Partial Spray (2) 10 23.1/ 1.0 19.7/ 0.9 0.9 11.9 17.7 Open Control (8) 9 14.1/ 0.7 11.1/ 0.3 0.8 9.5 - 19.7 ■ IVERSON Partial Spray (2) 17 29.3/ 0.4 28:2/ 0.4 0.9 ... 7.9 12,7 Defer Control (7) 12 35.6/ 1.0 31.9/ 0.7 0.9 6.8 11.4 Open Control (8) 12 28.0/ 0.8 28.1/ 0.9 1.0 9.6 16.0 I/ Intercept in ■ feet and tenths, of feet. Heights in inches and tenths of inches., 2/ Represents the average of the heights of the; highest plants measured along the 100-foot line transects on each treatment site. _3/ Numbers in parenthesis identify the proposed treatment'sites and indicate their locations.on each sagebrush control study plot on Figure 14 in the Appendix. PRONGHORN ANTELOPE POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS A 50-mile vehicle route which covered most of the study area in- ' eluding the four sagebrush control study plots was established (Appen­ dix, Figure 14). The occurrence of antelope was determined with the aid of 7 x 35 binoculars and a 15-60x spotting scope while driving the route. ’ at speeds not exceeding 20 miles per hour during mornings and evenings. The route was covered once during each of 27 weeks in the summers of 1966 and 1967. Five aerial censuses were conducted during the summer of 1967. ■ Each was begun shortly after sunrise. Each successive I-mile wide north-south strip was flown until the entire study area was covered. The aerial censuses provided the best estimate of total numbers of antelope on the study area (Table III). The highest count was 406 on August I. A total of 4,029 individual antelope observations were classified by sex and age from the ground and 1,559 from the air (Tables III and IV). Data from ground counts indicated there were 262 females per 100 males arid 84 fawns per 100 females in 1966 and 190 and 71, respectively, in 1967. Data from aerial counts for 1967 indicated 241 females per 100 males and 57 fawns per 100 females. Possible, mortality among fawns due to exces­ sive rainfall (Baker 1952; Buechner 1950) in June, 1967 may account .for the relatively low fawn:female ratio that year. A total of 4.79 inches of rain fell during this month as compared to the normal of 3.17 inches. Ninety-five percent of the total fell during the first half of June.' High­ est fawn:female ratios obtained during ground counts were in early August 21 - TABLE III. SEX AND' AGE'CLASSES' OF-ANTELOPE ON THE STUDY AREA AS -DETERMINED DURING FIVE AERIAL"COUNTS 'IN THE SUMMER OF 1967. I/ Date Weather Condition Adult's . No. F ' No. M. ;i No. . - Fawns. Total Classified Females: IpO Males Fawns: 100 Females. 6/18 Calm and 1 Overcast 117 65 ' 59 241 180 50 7/9. Calm■and Clear 130 78 91 299 167 70 8/1 Calm■and Clear 192 82 132 406 234 - 69 8/24 Calm and Clear 171 49 88 308 • 349 51 9/11 ■ Calm and Clear 175 52 _Z8 305 337 45. TOTAL 785 325 . 448 1,559 — ' - I/ Two observers, one being the pilot,.were .present on every flight. for 1966 and in late July, for 1967. Yearling females were included in the fawn:female■calculations,as they could not be distinguished in the field. ■ Some,workers have reported that antelope may breed as fawns (Buechner ep clt. ; Wright and Dow 1962).. In the summer ..of 1966 Bayless (e>p eit.) con-r ducted four aerial censuses of the Yellow .Water Triangle which included my.study area. He found 309 females per 100. males and 74 fawns per 100 females.. ' He also reported that aerial censuses conducted by personnel of the Montana Department of Fish and Game in 1962 and 1963 on the same area disclosed fawn:female ratios of 90:100 both.years. ■ 22 TABLE IV. SEX AND AGE CLASSES OF ANTELOPE ON THE STUDY AREA AS DETERMINED • DURING GROUND COUNTS, 1966-1967 . Time - Adults____ . Total Females: Fawns: Period Female's Males • •Fawns Uncl.. Classified 100 Males 100 Females June 1-15 1966 34 19 21 - 74 179 62 1967 ■ — --. — - ---. —---■ — June 16-30 1966 130 41 80 42 251 317 62 1967 232 128 136 8 496 181 59 July 1-15' 1966 115 39 85 8 239 295 74 1967 206 99 162 - 467 208 79 July 16-31. 1966 97 38 79 22 214 255 81 . 1967 ■ 264 164 215 4 643 161 81 Aug. 1-15 1966 77 26 103 31 206 296 134 1967 262 147 178 7 587 178 68 Aug. 16-31 1966 77 37 78 59 192 208 101 1967 276 113 193 87 582 244 70 Sept. 1-15 1966 34 15 29 18 78 227 85 1967 — -T — — T — —---- — “ . Combined 1966 564 215 475 180 I ,254 262 84 1967 1,240 651 884 . 106 2,775 190 71 USE OF VEGETATION TYPES I recorded the vegetation type on which each individual antelope was first observed. Ground observations totaled 1,434 in 1966 and 2,881 in 1967. In addition, 1,559 observations were recorded from the air in 1967. The ground and aerial data were combined for this year (Table V). During both summers a trend in the intensity of use of vegetation types was apparent. There was a progressive decline in use of the sage- brush-grassland vegetation type and a corresponding increase in total use of the shale slope, greasewood, greasewood-sagebrush, and cropland vege­ tation types combined (Table V ) . The latter three types occurred on mesic sites located in depressions and/or along creek bottoms. On these sites succulent vegetation persisted longer than on the dry uplands where the sagebrush-grassland.type occurred. On .the.dry.shale slope vegetation type somewhat succulent vegetation persisted throughout most of the summer. Data reported by.Cole (op eit.) and Bayless (op cit.) show a similar trend. Though this trend was apparent both summers, there was a difference between the summers. The magnitude of change in use of these vegetation types between successive periods in general and between early and late summer was far greater in 1966 than in 1967. A possible explanation is that during the first 2 months of the summer of 1966 rainfall was 65 per- ■ cent below normal (85 percent-June; 19 percent-July). As a result much of the succulent vegetation on the upland sagebrush-grassland vegetation type became desiccated by late June. This may have resulted in the antelope shifting early to the mesic sites where succulent vegetation persisted. TABLE V. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF 5,874 OBSERVATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL ANTELOPE BY ONE-HALF MONTH INTERVALS ON SEVEN VEGETATION TYPES DURING THE SUMMERS OF 1966 AND 1967. Time Interval Grass­ land & Aban­ doned Meadow Sage­ brush Grass­ land Shale Slope Grease- wood Grease- wood Sage­ brush Cropland "(alfalfa) Shale Slope- Greasewood- Grease-Sage- Cropland Combination Total Antelope June 1-15 1966 I 99 _ 74.. 1967 - - - -. - - - - . . June 16-30 1966 5 87 tr 3 4 8 293 1967 I 77 9 2 11 tr 22 • 745 July 1-15 1966 2 51 5 6 36 47 247 1967 5 69 6 33 16 2 25 770 July 16-31 1966 50 9 20 21 _ 50 236 1967 - 63 14 7 11 - 5 37 643 Aug. 1-15 1966 7 32 11 8 36 5 61 237 1967 2 56 12 7 17 6 42 1,000 Aug. 16-31 1966 28 16 18 9 29 72 251 1967 - 52 12 17 5 14 48 977 Sept . 1-15 1966 7 6 I 31 54 93 96 1967 2 57 10 - 16 ■ 15'- . 41 305 AVERAGE ■ 1966 2.1 50.6 6.7 8.0 19.6 12.6 47.3 1967 1.7 62.3 10.5 6.0 12.7 7,0 . 35.8 25 - During the same period in 1967 rainfall was 42 percent above normal (51 percent-June; 21 percent-July). Succulent vegetation on the uplands persisted through a greater part of the summer. This may have resulted in the antelope remaining on the sagebrush-grassland vegetation type longer and in greater numbers than in 1966. ■ Despite differences in intensities of intrasummer use, the sage- ■ brush-grassland vegetation type averaged 50 percent or more.of the total use both summers. In general this also held true whether the ob­ servations of individual antelope were separated by sex and age classes or by group typfes (Appendix,, Tables XVII and XVIII). Antelope seemed to prefer the sagexbrush-grassland vegetation type and .moved onto the other more restricted types in large numbers only when the, succulent vegetation on the former became desiccated. The density of big sagebrush was recorded at each of 960 and 2,020 individual antelope observation sites within the sagebrush-grassland vegetation type in 1966 and 1967, respectively. For both summers at least 90 percent of these antelope were observed on areas where densi­ ties of big sagebrush were estimated to be scattered or common (Table VI). Locations of all antelope observed in 1967 are listed by coordinates and study areas in the Appendix, Tables XIX and XX., and Figure 14. - 26 - TABLE VI. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF 2,980 INDIVIDUAL ANTELOPE OBSERVATIONS BY FOUR SAGEBRUSH DENSITY CATAGORIES ON THE SAGEBRUSH-GRASSLAND VEGETATION TYPE DURING THE SUMMERS OF 1966 AND 1967. Year .Sagebrush Density!/ Total No. AntelopeRare Scattered Common Dense 1966 5 ■ 39 • 52 4 960 1967 3 52 44 I 2,020 TOTAL 2,980 I/ Sagebrush densities were visually estimated at each of 2,980 individual antelope observation sites. ' The basis for the estimates was provided by a 100-foot line intercept measurement of big sagebrush at each of 38 sites in the sagebrush-grassland type. Rare- Scattered- Common- Dense-- Shrub Intercept Less than 2% 2 - 5 % 6 - 2 5 % More Than 25% Average No. Plants/ Average Distance 100-Feet of Line Between Plants 6 20 41 11.8 Feet 5.1 Feet 1.5 Feet SUMMER FOOD HABITS I obtained antelope food habits, data primarily by feeding site ex­ aminations .and supplemented, -in 1967, by analysis of the contents of 12 rumens. I .examined.each feeding site and recorded instances of plant' use as soon as practicable-after the,antelope had vacated it. Use of a rooted, stem or bunch ,of stems for grasses, a leaf or twig for shrubs, and ■ leaves ,or a stem for forbs constituted one instance of use. Thirty-four feeding sites were'examined in 1966 and 28 in 1967 yielding a,total of 9,111 instances of use: Rumen■samples were analyzed according to the. method of Cole (p eft.) and others. Identifiable material was separated and measured volumet,rically. Each plant species used, was .expressed, as a percent of the ,diet for each feeding site or rumen sample. . These per­ centages were totaled and averaged for each vegetation type ,and/or for each time period using the aggregate.percentage method (Martin, et af. 1946). Results are shown in Tables VII, VIII, and IX.■, The difference between the,percent of the diet for each plant and its abundance in the plant community (expressed as percent canopy coverage) was determined•at each of 20 feeding, sites in 1966 and 28 in 1967. . The average of these differences,for each species was tested statistically where sample size permitted using a two-tailed t-testat the 5 percent level of significance. The hypothesis.tested was: there is- no signifi­ cant difference between.the percent of the diet constituted by.ah indi­ vidual species and its abundance in the plant community (Bayless, -op cfh.), TABLE VII. SUMMER FOOD HABITS OF ANTELOPE BY MONTH AND YEAR AS DETERMINED FROM 9,111 INSTANCES ; OF USE ON 62 FEEDING SITES IN THE SUMMERS OF 1966 AND 1967. ■ MONTH June July August _____ Summer Taxa 1966 (6)1/ (582)' 1967 (9) (773) ' 1966 (16). (1990) 1967 (8) (977) 1966 ' (12) (1567) ■ 1967 ( I D (3222) 1966 (34) (4139) 1967 (28) . (4972) SHRUBS F r / % - Z Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% tl/ Fr/% t A r te m S s ia o a n a - - - - 9/3 - — 3/1 - A v te m e s ia t v i d e n t a t a - - 13/6 - 8/8 - 7/5 2.06 - - C h v y s o th a m n o u s n a u s e o s u s' - - 6/6 - 25/12 18/3 10/6 3.05 6/1 - G u t ie v v e z ia s a v o th v a e ■ - - - 13/tr. - - - - 4/tr. - R o s a a v k a n s a n a - 13/8 - 17/2 27/2 10/3 2.11 9/1 3.03 S a v o o b a tu s v e v m ic u la t u s 1 7 / t r . - - - - 6/tr. - - Total Shrubs 17/tr. - 25/20 13/tr. 42/22 36/8 28/14 - 16/3 - FORBS A o h i t l e a m i l l e f o l i u m - 6 / t r , - 9/tr. ■ 2/tr. - 3 / t r . - A v e n a v ia h o o k e v i - 56/6 - 13/tr. - - - 23/2 0.59 Avnioa sovovia - 11/3 - - - - - 4/1 ■ - Avtemssia fvigida 17/17 33/10 6/1 - 17/17 - 13/12 2.23 ,,H/3 - zIOZlO 4 1.12 Avtemssia longifolia - 11/11 13/3 - 42/28 18/18 18/11 3.78s 1.88s Astev cormutatus - - 25/2 - 18/2 - - 14/1 - Astvagalus bisuloatus - 1 1 / t r . - - - - - 4/tr. - Astvagalus gilviflovus 33/29 33/13 13/12 63/37 - 9/9 15/14 - 35/20 4.81s Astvagalus missouviensisll/I - - - - - 6/tr, - - - Comandva umbellata - - - 13/1 - 9/tr. - 7/tr. - Cvepis oooidentalis. - 11/3 - - - - - 4/1 - Evigevon ochvoleuous - 11/5 - - - - - 4/2 - Evigevon pumilus 17/17 11/tr. - - - - 6/6 4/tr. - Eviogonum multiceps - - - 12/1 - . - - - 4/tr. - Gauva ooooinea ' - 1 1 / t r t 6/2 25/1 - - 2/1 - 12 /t r . 2.12 Glyoyvvhiza lepidota - - 6/tr - 18/1 2/t r . - 6/tr. - Gvindelia squavvose - 11/2 - 13/1 - - - - . 8/1 - TABLE VII. . (CONTINUED). MONTH: - June July August, Summer 1966 1967 1966 1967 1966 1967 1966 . . 1967 (6) (9) (16) (8) (12) (11) (34) (28) Taxa- ■ • (582) (773) (1990) (977) (1567) (3222) (4139) (4972) _ Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/'% Fr/% Fr/% t Fr/% . t Haplepappus nuttallia 22/6 - ' 13/1 - 9/tr. - - 15/2 1.86 Hymenepappus filifolius - - 13/1 - - - - 4/tr. - Hymenexys aoaulus ' - 11/5 ' - - - - - 4/2 Hymenexys viehavdsonii - - - 13/tr. - 9/tr. - - ' 7/t'r. - Medieage sativa - 11/4 19/12 50/19 8/3 45/29 9/5 - 35/17 . 4.21s Meliletus alba - - 13/1 - 8/4 9/4 7/2 - 3/1 - Meliletus efficinalis 33/33 50/35 38/20 25/18 ■ 36/15 36/29 5 .47 s 25/12 3.85s Mieresevis euspidata - - - 13/tr. - -• - 4/tr. - Musineen, divarication 11/2 - - - - 4/tr. - Opuntia pelyaantha - - 6/4 - - 2/1 . - - - Oxytrepis serieea - 11/3 ■ - - - - - 4/1 - Fenstemen nitidus - - - 13/tr. - - - - 4/tr. - Petalestemen oandidum - 11/6 - 13/5 - - - 8/4 - Fetalestemen purpureum 17/4 - - 13/5 ■ - 6/1 4/2 — ' Felygenum aviaulare - 6/5 - - - 2/2 - - Fseralea tenuiflera - 33/1 6/1 13/1 - 9/tr. 2/1 - 18/1. 1.22 Ratibida aelumnifera - - - 8/tr. - 3/tr. - - Sphaeralcea.eeeeinea■ - 22/1 - - ' - - 7/tr. - Taraxaeum effieinale - - 6/tr - - 9/9 2/tr. - 3/3 - Thalasperma marginatum - 11/1 - - - - - 4/tr. - Thermepsis rhembifelia - 11/tr. - - 17/tr. 9/tr. 6/tr. - 7/tr. - Tragepegen dubius — " 22/4 6/1 4/4 8/8 46/4 5/3 - 24/4 3.10 Vieia, amerieana - 44/14 6/tr,.25/1 - 9/tr. 2/tr. 26/5 2.27 Unidentifiable Forbs 11/tr. 6/tr. - 9/tr. 2/tr. 7/tr. - Total Forbs 100/100 100/100 94/80 100/100 92/79 100/91 95/Q6 - 100/97 TABLE VII.. (CONTINUED) . ' 'MONTH June. ‘ July August Summer 1966 1967 1966 1967 1966 1967 1966 1967 Taxa . (6) (9) (16) (8) (582) (773)'(1990) (977) (12) (1567). (H) (3222) - (34) (4139) (28) . . (4972) ■ Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% t Fr/% t Grasses 17/tr.ll/tr. 13/1 13/tr. - - 10/tr. 8/tr. I/ Numbers in parenthesis indicate number of feeding sites (top figure) and total instances of use (bottom figure). 2/ Frequency of use among.feeding sites/Aggregate percent of diet. . Tr. indicates less .than 0.5 percent of the diet. . _3/ Indicates the calculated t-value. 4/ S indicates a significant t-value. TABLE VIII. SUMMER FOOD HABITS OF ANTELOPE BY VEGETATION TYPE AS DETERMINED FROM 9,111 INSTANCES OF USE ON 62 FEEDING SITES IN THE SUMMERS OF 1966 AND 1967. t t hefelwlng, lamrns Sagebrush- Greasewood-, Grassland Grassland . Greasewood. Sagebrush Shale Slone Taxa ' 1966 (2)2/ (108) 1967 1966 (14) (1538). 1967 1966 (13) (8) (1419)(1396) 1967 (8) (1838), 1966 (3) (415) 1967 (3) (1149) 1966 (7) (682) 1967 (4) (566) SHRUBS Fr/%1/ Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Artemksia.aana . - - - - - - 33/11 - - Avtemesia tvidentata - - 21/14 - - - -■ - - - Chvysethamnus nauseosus - - 7/7 - 13/1 ■ - . 33/6 43/20 - Gutievvezia sccvotkvae - - 8/tr. - . - - - - Rosa avkansana - - - - 13/2 — ' 33/1 57/22 25/2 Saveobatus vevmiaulatus - - - 13/tr. - • - - - Total Shrubs - - 14/21 ■ 8/tr.l3/tr. 13/3 - 33/18 86/42 25/2 FORBS AehilZea millefolium - - 1/tr. — ■ 13/tr. - - - Avenavia heokevi - - 38/2 - - - - - 25/8 A v n ic a s o v o v ia - - - 8/2 - - - - - A v te m s s ia f v i g i d a ] 50/50 - 21/15 23/7 - - - - A v te m s s ia l e n g i f o l i a , - - - - LOO/55 75/73 A s .te v e o m m u ta tu s - ■ - - 8/tr. 38/5 — ' - - - A s t v a g a lu s b i s u l e a t u s - . - — 8/tr. - - - - A s t v a g a lu s g i l v i f l e v u s - 29/26 69/39 - ' - - - - A s t v a g a lu s m is s o u v ie n s is . - - ,7/tr. - ■ - - - — ... - - C em andva u m b e l la t a - . - - 8/tr. - - 33/tr - C v e f i s e e e i d e n t a l i s - - - 8/2 - - - - E v ig e v o n e e h v o le u e u s - - - 8/4 - - - E v ig e v e n f u m i l u s ' ■ — 7/7 8/tr. - - - - E v ig e n u m m u l t i c e . f s . - - 8/tr. - - - - - . - G a u va e e e e in e a - 7/2 23/tr. - - - . - - TABLE VIII. (CONTINUED). VEGETATION TYPE Grassland. Sagebrush- Grassland - Greasewood Greasewood- Sagebrush Shale Slope 1966 1967 1966 1967 1966 1967 1966 1967 1966 1967 . . Taxa-:.'. ■ ■ (2) (108): K - (14) (1538). (13) (8) (1419)(1396) (8) (1838) (3) (3) (415) (1149) (7) (682) (4) (566) Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Glycyvrhiza teipideta - 7/tr. - - 13/2 33/tr. - - Gvindella squavvose - - - 8/1 - 13/1 — — . - Haplepappus nuttallia - - - 31/5 - - — - — - Hympnepappus filifelius - - - 8/1 - - - - - Hymenexys aeaulus - - - 8/4 - - - — “ Hymenexys viehavdsenii - - 15/tr, - - — — - . Uedieage saliva - - - 15/3 50/30 88/53. - 33/11 - Meliletus alba - - 7/tr - 25/7 13/6 - — — Melilotus effieinalis - - 21/13 15/5 88/61 25/8 100/99 100/65 - Mievesevis euspidata - - - - — ■ • 13/1 - — — - Musineen divavieatum - - - 8/tr,, - ■ - - — — . - Opuntia pelyeantha - - 7/5 - - - - — — - Qxytvepis sevieea - - - 8/tr,. — - - — — - Fenstemen nitidus - - - 8/tr,» — - - — - — - Petalestemen eandidum - - - 15/7 - - — — - Petalestemen puvpuveum - - 7/2 8/3 - - - — — - Pelygenum aviculave - - 7/6 “ - - . - - - Psevalea tenuifleva - - - 31/1 - - - - — — - Ratibida eelimnifeva - - - - - - 33/1 — — Sphaevaleea eeecinea - - - 8/1 - . - - — — . 25/tr. Tavaxaeum officinale - - 7/tr. - - 13/3 - — “ - Thalaspevma mavginatum - - - 8/tr • “ - - — “ - Thevmepsis vhembifelia - - - - - - - 33/tr. 29/1 25/1 Tvagepegen dubius 50/50 - 7/2 15/3 - 75/9 67/2 - Vieia amevieana - - 7/tr. 38/6 - - 33/1 25/16 TABLE VIII. (CONTINUED). Taxa- VEGETATION TYPE Grassland . Sagebrush- ' Grassland .. Greasewood ._ Greasewood- Sagebrush Shale ,Slope 1966 ‘ (2) (108)' '■ 1967 1966 1967 1966 (14) (13) (8) (1538) (1419)(1396) 1967 (8) (1838) 19-66 (3) (415) 1967 (3> (1149) 1966 (7) (682). 1967 (4) (566) Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Unidentifiable Forbs - - 7/1 8/tr. 13/tr. - - - - Total Forbs 100/100 - 86/79 100/96 100/99 100/98 100/100 100/80 10.0/56- 100/98 Grasses - - 7/tr., 8/tr. 13/tr. - - 14/2 . .25/1 I/ Feeding sites were obtained only from five of the eight vegetation types.. 7J Numbers in parenthesis .indicate number of feeding sites (top figure) and total instances.of use (bottom figure). 3/ Frequency.of use among feeding sites/Aggregate percent of diet,. Tr. indicates less than 0.5 percent of the diet. TABLE IX. FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE AND VOLUME PERCENTAGES OF PLANT TAXA AND FORAGE CLASSES AMONG 12 RUMEN SAMPLES .COLLECTED IN OCTOBER, 1966 AND 13 RUMMEN SAMPLES COLLECTED OVER A 5-MONTH .PERIODPIN',SUMMER,' ..19.67 . ________MONTH .1967 Taxa ' ' . . 'May ’ 6 ' = (I) I/ June (2) . July (4). August (3) September . ' (3) October 16, 1966 (12) ' Fr/% 2/ Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/Z SHRUBS Artemssia.cana 33/ I Artemisia.tridentata 100/99 50/ I 67/ I 33/tr. ■ 58/ 6 Chrysothamnus nauseosus 50/ 2 50/ 7 33/ 4 67/ 3 100/22 Rosa arkansana 50/ I 50/ 9 100/ 5 67/11 50/ I Satix spp. 25/tr. 8/tr. Sarcobatus vermiculatus 25/tr. 33/tr. Symphoriearpos s p p . 33/10 17/tr. Unidentified Browse 42/. I TOTAL BROWSE 100/99 100/ 3 75/17 100/10 67/25 100/30 FORBS Aehillea millefolium 50/ I ' 25/tr. Antennaria rosea 16/tr. Artemisia frigida 100/ 2 50/ 6 67/tr. 100/ 8 100/33 Artemisia longifolia 50/ I 75/ 2 67/17 33/tr. 50/12 Arnica sororia 33/tr. Aster eommutatus 67/13 33/ 3 Astragalus gilviflonis 50/ 2 33/ 3 67/ 6 Aster hesperius 33/ I Aster spp. 50/tr. 25/tr. Astragalus spp. 25/tr. Camelina s p p . 25/ 2 Comandra umbellata- 25/ I 67/tr. Erigeron pvmilus 50/46 Eriogonum multieeps 50/ 4 33/ 4 TABLE IX. (CONTINUED.) Taxa ' MONTH May 6 • • . CD - June (2) 1967 July (4) , August (3)- September . "(3) October 16, 1966 .. . (12) • • ■" Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Fr/% Gaura ceccinea 25/tr. . HapZepappus nuttallii 33/14 100/ 9 Mediaago sativa 50/ I 25/tr. 33/ 5 100/45 58/21 MeZiZetus officinalis 25/12 33/30 Opuntia peZycantha 33/tr. - PetaZestemen oandidum 25/ 6 PeiaZestemen purpurevm 50/ I 75/ 5 33/tr. PseraZea spp. 50/10 67/tr. 100/ I Taraxacum efficinaZe 50/ I 75/ 2 . Thermopsis rhembifeZia 33/tr. Tragepegen dubius 100/ 2 25/18 33/tr. 33/ I Vicia americana 50/38 75/13 33/ I Unidentified Forbs 25/ I 33/ I TOTAL FORBS 100/97 100/80 100/89 100/74 100/71 Grass. 100/ I 100/ I 75/ 100/ I 67/tr. 50/tr. Lichens -----rf-- 50/ I 17/tr. I/ Number of rumen samples in. parenthesis. ■ 2/ Frequency of occurrence/Aggregate percent of total volume of identifiable material. Tr. indicates values less than 0.5 percent. Forbs were the most important forage class during summer (June-August) constituting 86 and 97 percent of the total use at feeding sites in 1966 and 1967, respectively (Table VII). This class averaged 85 percent by volume of identifiable material in rumen samples for June through Septem­ ber in 1967. Five forbs constituted 62 percent or more of the total use at feeding sites both years and averaged 35 percent by volume of identi­ fiable material in rumen samples (Table IX). These included fringed sage- wort, longleaf-sagebrush, three-leafed milkvetch {Astragalus gilviflovus), alfalfa and yellow sweetclover. . The latter four were thdjpnly species to yield a significant positive t-value one. or both years, indicating a significantly higher proportion in the diet than in the plant community. Shrubs were the next most important forage class constituting 14 and 3 percent of the total use at feeding sites -in 1966 and 1967, respectively, and averaged 14 percent by volume of identifiable material in rumen sam­ ples. Important shrubs included rubber rabbitbrush and prairie rose. There was a slight increase in use of shrubs and a corresponding decrease in use of forbs as the summer progressed both years. Grasses were unimportant comprising less than 2 percent of the diet both summers. Other workers including Cole {op oit.), Cole and Wilkins {op oit.), and Dirschl {op oit.) have reported similar findings. There was a change in use of individual plant species from month to - 36 month. Comparison of Tables VII and VIII generally indicates declining use of plants characteristic of the antelope diet on the sagebrush- — • 37 ~ — grassland vegetation type and increasing use of those characteristic of the diet on the greasewood, greasewood-sagebrush and shale slope vege­ tation types. This was. apparently due to desiccation of certain species on the former, persistence on the latter three, and a corresponding shift in intensity of use by the antelope (Table V). There was also a differ­ ence between years in numbers of species utilized (80 percent more in 1967 than 1966) and in the intensity of use of the same species'. . This may have been a result of differences in moisture conditions between years (see previous section). It may be of interest to note that Artem&sia species, including silver sagebrush (Artem&s-ia oana), big sagebrush, fringed sagewo’rt and long-leaf sagebrush constituted 28 and 14 percent of the total use at feeding sites in 1966 and 1967, respectively, and averaged 10 percent by volume of identifiable material in rumen samples. The results of analysis of 12 rumen samples from hunter kills of October 16, 1966 and one road kill of May 6, 1967 are also given in Table IX. SUMMER HOME RANGES. I determined characteristics of summer home'ranges by successive ob­ servations of 19 individually marked or otherwise recognizable antelope from June 17 to .September 11, 1967 (Table X). .Ten of these were trapped and marked with neckbands on December 9, .1966 as part of the study.con-. ducted by Bayless (op oi-t.). „ Nine animals were recognizable by horn characteristics. Observations of these antelope were recorded by l/10th mile intervals on a Jg-inch scale map. The distance between successive locations and the distance between the geometric center of the home range and each location was determined for each antelope. A line was drawn around the outside points of.observations.of each individual antelope designating the perimeter of its home range. The area of.each home range was.calculated with the aid of a Polar Planimeter.. Territorial males occurring alone or with females and fawns moved the shortest distance between successive observations and had the small­ est home ranges. Males associated with male herds' moved the greatest distances between successive observations and had the largest home ranges.. Females associated with other.females and fawns or with females, fawns and a single male were intermediate with regard to these measurements. Distances were 59 percent greater between successive observations for females when not accompanied by a territorial male. The average size of home ranges of territorial males was 121 percent larger on the sagebrush-grassland vegetation type than on the greasewood vegetation type (sample size three and two, respectively). The home range of one male located primarily on the greasewood-sagebrush vegetation type was 219 percent larger than the latter. TABLE X. CHARACTERISTICS OF HOME RANGES OF ANTELOPE AS. DETERMINED BY SUCCESSIVE OBSERVATIONS OF EACH OF IO BANDED AND 9 OTHERWISE RECOGNIZABLE INDIVIDUALS. Territorial Males Observed Alone o r . With Females and Fawns " ' Males Associated With Male Herds - Females Associated With other Females . and Fawns or With Females, Fawns and' a Single- Male (7)1/'. ' (8) (4) Average .Number of ..Observations/ 10.9 7.4 14.0 Animal Average Number of Days Between■. 7.3 11.4 6.-7 - Successive Observations' Distance.Between Successive Locations — Maximum 2.30-^ 5.30 3.90 - Mean 0.75 ■ 2.12 • 1.34 - Distance Between Geometric Center of Home Range and Successive Locations’ Maximum 1.70 4.20 3.95 Mean .0.-72 1.49 ■ 1.06 ■ Average Size of Home Range 1.54-/ 6.43 4.46 Average■Group Size 12.7-/ 7.8 13.0 I/ Number in parenthesis indicates number of.banded o r •otherwise recognizable antelope. Tj All distances in miles. 3/ Size of Home range in square miles. 4_/ Average■ group size excluding singles. APPENDIX - 41 Figure 13. Study area showing land ownership. TABLE XI. MONTHLY CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE WEATHER ' STATION AT FLATWILLOW ON THE EAST EDGE OF THE STUDY AREA. Temperature, in Degrees Fahrenheit - - . . Precipitation in Inches Ygar Month' Average Maximum Average ■ Minimum- ■-!".--■•Average- '\ High Low • Total Departure' From Normal Normal 1966 June 77.0 46.3 61.7 100 35 0.47 -2.70 3.17 July 89.0 56.4 73.0 105 46 ' 1.14 -0.26 1.40 August 83.6 48.5 86.1 99 37 0.62 -0.57 1.19 Total 2.23 -3.53 5.76 1967 June 72.0 47.9 60.0 87 38 4.79 1.62 3.17 July , 86.2 52.3 69.3 94 39 1.70 0.30 1.40 August. 88.2 50.4 69.3 98 40 trace -1.19 1.19 6.49 0.73 5.76Total TABLE XII. TAXA WITH LESS THAN I PERCENT CANOPY•COVERAGE AND 5 PERCENT FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE- IN VEGETATION TYPES AS DETERMINED BY EXAMINATION OF 2 X 5 DECIMETER PLOTS.' ■ ■____________ _ ‘ ' Vv Vegetation Type Taxa Sagebrush- Grassland 46 Stands .920.Plots • Grassland 5 Stands ..-IQO- Plots Greasewbod.. 7 Stands. •140 Plots ■ Greasewood- Sagebrush 8 Stands 160 Plots Shale Slope' 13 Stands 260 Plots SHRUBS, ‘ ArtemSsiar eana - Atriflex nuttaltii X Juni-iperus horizentalis X X FORBS Allium textile X Antennaria rosea X Arabis- nuttaltii X Amioa sororia X . Astragalus agrestis X Astragalus bisulcatus x Astragalus graeitis X Astragalus missouriensis X Astragalus purshii X Aster- oanescens ■ X Bahia oppositifolia , X Cametina miorocarpa X Cirsium undutatum Collomia spp.' Comandra umbellata Erigeron spp. X Erigeron canadensis X Erigeron oohroleucus . X Erigeron pumitus X Eriogonum flavum X X i X .43 TABLE XII. (CONTINUED). Vegetation Type Sagebtush- . Grassland Grassland Greasewood Greasewood- Sagebrush. Shale Slope 46 Stands 5 Stands . 7 Stands■ 8 Stands 13 Stands Taxa .v 920 Plots 100 Plots 140 Plots, 160 Plots 260 • Plots G a v ra o e o c in e a G ty o y v v h -L z a Z e p td e ta H a p le p a p p u s s p ln u lo s u s H ym e n o xys . a c a u lu s H y m e n e p a p p u s f - L Z i f o l l u s I v a a x i l l a v i s 'L e p id iu m s p p . L e p id iu m d e n s i f lo v u m i ■ L in u m Z e w i s i i M e l i l e t u s a lb a M u s in e e n d iv a v ic a tu m . O v o b a n o h e f a . s o io y Z a ta O x y t v o p is . s e v io e a P e n s te m o n - n i t i d u s P e ta lo s te m o n p u v p u v e u m P o ly g o n u m o o e c in e u m . P o t e n t i l l a spp. P s o v a le a spp. P s e v a le a a v g o p h y l la P s e v a le a e s o u le n t a R a t ib id a . o o l u m n i f e v a .. S a g i t t a v i a o a n e a ta S is y m b v iu m l o e s e l i i T h e la s p e v m a m a rg in a tu m X X X X X X X X X x- X X X X X X X. X X X- X X X X TABLE XII. (CONTINUED). i, Vegetation. Type - i Sagebrush- Grassland . Grassland Greasewood Greasewood- Sagebrnsh Shale Slope '46 Stands 5 Stands. 7 Stands 8 Stands 13 Stands Taxa '■ ■ 920— Plots 100 Plots. 140 Plots 160 -Plots 260 Plots GRASSES Andvovogon scopavius X Danthonia unispioata X Muhiemhevgia- spp. X Unknown Grasses- X - '46 - TABLE XIII. CONSTANCY, CANOPY COVERAGE AND FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE OF TAXA ON THE DIFFERENT!.ERQPOSED TREATMENT SITES ON THE WINNETT SAGE­ BRUSH CONTROL STUDY PLOT. I / Treatment Sites Taxa ' Complete Spray 14 Stands 280 Plots Strip Spray 13 Stands 260 Plots Defer Control 17 Stands 340 Plots Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr SHRUBS Artemisia tridentata 100/18/63 100/14/65 100/22/60 Atriplex nuttallii Gut^ errezia. sarothrae 14/tr/ 3 53/ 2/ 9 43/ 1/10 46/tr/ 5 76/ 2/21 Total Shrubs GRASS & GRASS-LIKE PLANTS Agropyron desertorum 100/19/69 14/ 2/10 . 100/14/66 100/23/66 Agropyron smithii 100/24/85 100/16/69 100/24/84 Agropyron spioatum Agropyron traohyeaulum 50/ 7/26 77/10/40 8/tr/ I 35/ 6/21 Bouteloua graeilis 50/ 3/11 92/ 7/30 12/ I/ 5 Bromus teetorum Calamagrostis montarisnsis 29/tr/ 5 38/tr/ 4 ■ 15/tr/ I 29/ 1/11 Carex spp. 8/ 1 / 4 Carex eieocharis 64/ 1/11 69/ 2/27 41/tr/ 5 Carex filifolia IItrl 3 . 12/tr/ I Festuea oetoflora Eordeum gubatum Htrl I 38/ 1/13 ■ 8/tr/tr Koeleria eristata Muhlenbergid euspidata 79/ 5/44 14/tr/ 2 92/ 6/59 53/ 2/16 Poa spp. 21/ I/ 8 38/ 3/22 18/tr/ 5 Poa eanbyi Poa compressa 64/ 3/29 31/tr/ 3 18/tr/ 6 Poa seaunda 36/ 1/10 46/ 1/22 18/tr/ I Sehedonnardus panieulatus 7/tr/tr 46/tr/ 4 Stipa eomata ■. 14/tr/ 3 23/ I/ 6 35/ I/ 7 Stipa viridula 86/ 5/29 62/ 4/19 53/ 2/10 Unknown Grass Htrl 2 8/tr/tr Total Grasses 100/51/99 100/45/99 100/37/98 FORBS Achillea millefolium 21/ I/ 4 15/tr/ 3 Allium textile ■ 79/ 1/14 77/tr/15 53/tr/ 3 Androsaee septentrionalis 7/tr/ 2 ' 15/tr/ 2 6/tr/ I Antennaria rosea Arabis glabra 38/ 1/12 6/tr/ 3 6/tr/ I - 47 TABLE XIII. ■ (CONTINUED)' .■ Treatment Sites , Taxa: „ Complete Spray • 14 -Stands ■ 280 Plots .. Strip Spray 13 Stands 260 Plots.'. Defer Control 17 Stands . 340 Plots' Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Arenaria hookeri 29/tr/ 3 18/tr/ 2 Artemksia frigida 79/ '2/18 77/ .2/21 71/ 2/24 Aster eanesoens 8/tr/ I 24/tr/ 2 Astragalus foisulcatus 8/tr/ 2 6/tr/tr Astragalus gilviflorus Astragalus gracilis. Astragalus misseuriensis 7/tr/ I 15/tr/ 3 ■ 12/tr/ 3 6/tr/tr - 12/tr/ 2 Astragalus ' s'triatus 6/ I/ 5 Atriip lex spp. . Atriplex argentea 7/tr/tr 8/tr/tr 6/tr/tr Bahia eppesitifolia. 8/tr/tr - 24/ I/ 8 Camelina microcarpa . 43/tr/ 6 65/tr/12 Comandra imbellata 7/tr/ I 18/tr/ 5 Conringia orientalis 7/tr/tr 18/tr/ 2 Crepis .■ occidentalis Crepis runcingta ■ ■ Draba brgchycarpa 29/tr/ 3 8/tr/tr 12/tr/ 2 Erigeron ochroleucus - - ■ 7/tr/ I .23/tr/ 5 - 6/tr/ I Erigeron pumilus 21/tr/ 2, 77/tr/12 : ■ 12/tr/ 3Eriogonum multiceps Euphorbia esula Euphorbia glyptesperma Gaura coccinea 8/tr/ 3 15/tr/ 2 6/tr/tr 35/tr/ 2 Grindeltia squarrose 29/tr/ 4 8/tr/ I 29/tr/ 4 Eaqplopappus nuttallii 8/tr/tr 12/tr/ I Hymenoxys acaulus 23/tr/ 2 18/tr/ I Hymenoxys richardsonii 21/tr/ 2 • 23/tr/ I 6/tr/ I Iva axillaris 43/ 1/10 31/ I/ 7 ■ 18/tr/ 5 Lactuca serriola 14/tr/ I 8/tr/tr Lappula echinata 31/tr/ 5 6/tr/tr Lappula reflowskii 36/tr/ 4 8/tr/ 2 35/tr/ 5Lepidiium SiOnsi florwi ' 21/tr/ 2 46/tr/l4 Linum lewisii Lomatium orientate Lomdtium pgrryi 7/tr/tr 7/tr/ I 23/tr/ 3 6/tr/ 2 Lotus 'eofhieutatus 29/tr/ 8 23/tr/ 5 48. — TABLE XIII. (CONTINUED). Treatment Sites , Taxa Complete Spray 14 Stands 280 Plots Strip Spray 13 Stands 260 Plots ■ Defer Contrbl 17 Stands 340 Plots Mentzetia dispersa Qftvf tv Musineon divavioatum Oenothera albieautis Vtvf I Qftvf I 18/tr/ 2 Opuntia polyoantha 29/tr/ I 62/ I/ 9 24/tr/ I Orobanohe fasoioulata Vtvftv 8/tr/tr 6/tr/tr Penstemon albidus Qftvf 2 6/tr/tr Penstemon nitidus Petatostemon purpureum 36/tr/ 4 8/tr/ 2 6/tr/ I 12/ I/ 6 Phtox hoodii 93/ 4/48 92/ 2/32 82/ 3/46 Ptantago purshii 43/tr/ 6 77/ 1/37 12/tr/ I Potygonum ramosissimum 7/tr/tr Psoratea argophytta 21/ 2/13 8/tr/tr Psoratea tenuiftora Iftvftr 8/tr/tr • 6/tr/ 2 Eorippa ourvisitiqua 7/tr/tr 8/tr/ 3 24/tr/ 5 Eorippa istandioa 43/ 1/12 8/tr/ I Ihftvf 5 Sisymbrium toesetii 21/tr/ 3 29/tr/ 5 Sphaeratcea ooooinea 79/tr/16 85/tr/12 • 88/ 2/38 Taraxacum offioinate 57/ I/ 8 31/tr/ 5 35/tr/ 2 Thetaspemea marginatum 8/tr/ 5 29/tr/ 5 Thtaspi arvense 14/tr/ 5 15/tr/l 6/tr/ I Tragopogon dubius 36/tr/ 2 47/tr/ 4 Vioia ■ americqna 100/ 4/50 100/ 5/49 82/ 4/46 Viota nuttattii 36/tr/ 5 23/tr/ 2 ' 18/tr/ 4 Unknown Forbs 57/ 1/13 38/tr/ 3 47/ I/ 8 Total Forbs OTHERS ' 100/17/96 100/13/93 100/19/96 Rock 57/ 2/26 77/ 2/20 82/ 4/35 Setaginetta densa 14/tr/ I 54/ 5/19 6/tr/tr Lichens 88/ 2/36 92/ 4/68 41/ 1/14 Litter I 100/24/89 100/24/91 100/33/98 Litter II . : 86/ 4/23 100/ 5/55 71/ 6/32 I/ Location and extent of proposed treatment sites are shown in the Appendix,:Figure 1.4. TABLE XIV. CONSTANCY, CANOPY COVERAGE, AND FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE OF TAXA ON THE DIFFERENT PROPOSED TREATMENT SITES ON THE KING SAGEBRUSH CONTROL STUDY PLOT. If Treatment Sites Complete Contour Defer Open Spray Furrow Interseed Control . Control 5 Stands 15 Stands 10.Stands 2 Stands 10 Stands' . Taxa . 100'. Plots .300 Plots .200.Plots 40 Plots 200 Plots. Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr . SHRUBS Artemssia tvidentata 100/15/57 93/13/55 100/13/54 100/16/68 100/13/56 Atriplex nuttallii Chrysothmnus nauseosus .13/tr/ I 10/tr/ I Gut^ errezia sarothrae . 60/ I/ 6 47/ 1/10 30/tr/ 4 • ■ 50/ 2/18 40/ I/ I Rosa arkansana 7/tr/tr Total Shrubs 100/15/60 100/14/57 100/11/50 100/17/70 • 100/14/60 GRASSES AND GRASS-LIKE PLANTS Agropyron desertorum 10/ 2/ 7 Agropyron smithii 100/13/82 100/16/83 100/17/88 100/16/95 ■ 100/14/76 Agropyron spicatim 40/ 3/14 93/ 4/21 60/ 2/ 9 50/ 5/27 Bouteloua gracilis 100/ 9/39 93/12/59 100/28/82 100/12/75 80/ 6/35 Bromus tectorum, 40/tr/ 2 . 13/tr/ I 1-b/tr/ 2 Calamayrostis montanensis 20/tr/ 4 13/ 2/ 7 20/tr/ 2 20/1/ 5 Calamovilfa longifolia 7/ 2/ 6 Carex eleocharis 100/ 3/25 80/ 3/27 90/ 3/32 100/ 3/40 90/ 6/36 Carex - fi Iifo Iia 13/tr/ 4. Distichlis stricta 13/tr/ 2 ■ 20/tr/ I Festuca octiflora 20/tr/ 5 53/tr/ 9 60/tr/ 7 20/tr/ 8 Koeleria eristata 100/ 5/45 93/ 4/50 100/ 5/49 100/ 5/53 90/ 4/37. Muhlenbergia euspidata .. Poa spp. 10/tr/ I 50/ I/ 5 ' Poa eanbyi 13/tr/ 4 60/ I/ 8 20/tr/ I Poa eompressa 40/tr/ 2 53/ 1/16 20/ 1/10 70/ 2/19 Poa seeunda 100/ 2/39 80/ 1/18 70/ 1/15 100/ 1/18 80/ 2/31 TABLE XIV. (CONTINUED). Treatment Sites Complete Contour Defer Onen Spray Furrow Interseed Control Control 5 Stands 15 Stands 10 Stands 2 Stands 10 Stands Taxa 100 Plots 300 Plots 200 Plots 40 Plots 200 Plots Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Schedonnavdus panicutatus 40/tr/10 53/tr/ 5 40/tr/ 4 50/tr/ 3 30/tr/ 2 St.-ipa eomata 20/ 4/18 67/ 3/28 100/ 5/53 100/ 9/65 50/ 2/16 Stipa vividula 60/ 1/15 53/ 2/11 20/tr/ I 50/ I/ 3 90/12/48 Total Grasses 100/41/100 100/44/98 - 100/52/99 100/32/100 100/49/100 FORBS Achillea millefolium 27/tr/ 7 20/tr/ 2 10/tr/ 2 Allium textile 40/tr/ 4 ■ 73/tr/ 6 50/tr/ 5 100/tr/ 5 • 40/tr/ 5 Andvosace septentvionalis 40/tr/ 2 27/tr/ 3 40/tr/ 6 30/tr/ 5 Antennavia vosea 60/ I/ 4 47/ I/ 9 20/tr/ 4 20/tr/ 2 Avenavia hookevi Avtemesia fvigida 20/tr/ 4 33/tr/ 9 50/ 2/40 20/tr/ I . 100/ 5/41 87/ 5/39 100/ 6/50 100/ 5/43 80/ 4/25 Avtemhsia longifolia Astvagalus gilviflovus 7/tr/ 3 . 50/ 1/13 10/tr/ I Astvagalus gvacilis 20/tr/ 2 13/tr/ I 50/ I/ 3 Astvagalus missouviensis 20/tr/ I 7/tr/tr 10/tr/ I Astvagalus puvshii 7/tr/tr 30/tr/ 3 20/tr/ I Camelina mievocavpa 13/tr/ I 10/tr/ I Chenopodium album 20/tr/ I 10/tr/ I CoVlomia lineavis 7/tr/tr 20/tr/ 6 Cvepis oceidentalis Dvaba bvaehycavpa 13/tr/.I 50/tr/ 3 10/tr/ I Evigevon oehvoleueus 7/tr/ 2 Evigevon pwnilus 20/tr/ 3 33/tr/ 7 80/tr/ 6 50/ 1/13 20/tr/ 2 Fvitillavia pudica 7/tr/tr Gauva coecinea 7/tr/ I 20/tr/ I Gvindellia .squavvose 13/tr/ I TABLE XIV. (CONTINUED). Treatment Sites Complete Contour Defer Open Spray Furrow Interseed Control Control ■ - 5 Stands 15 Stands 10 Stands 2 Stands 10 Stands Taxa 100 Plots 300 Plots 200 Plots 40 Plots 200 Plots Gy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr ‘ Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Haplopappus nuttallii Haplopappus spinulosus 50/ 1/18 10/tr/ I Hedeoma hispida Hymenoxys ■aoaulus Hymenoxys richardsonii 40/tr/ 8 20/tr/ I - 20/tr/ 2 50/ 2/28 10/tr/ I Lappula vedowsk-Li 7/tr/tr 20/tr/ 4 Lepid-Lwn densiflovum 80/ 1/22 60/tr/10 20/tr/ 4 30/tr/ 6 Liatvis punctata . Iltvl I Lomatium ovientale Lomatium pavvyi 20/tr/ 2 20/tr/ I 20/tr/ 2 . 50/tr/ 3 30/tr/ 3 Lupinus avgenteus _ 7/tr/tr Memillavia vivipava 7/tr/tr Melilotus officinalis 7/tr/tr Micvosevis cuspida 7/tr/tr Micvosevis nutans 20/tr/ I 7/tr/ I Musineon divavicatum 27/tr/ 4 30/tr/ 4 Opuntia polycantha 40/ I/ 4 53/ I/ 6 70/ I/ 6 100/ 3/15 40/tr/ 6 Oxytvopis sevicea 10/tr/.I Henstemon aWidus 20/tr/ 2 • 7/tr/tr 10/tr/ I Fetalostemon puvpuvevm Fhacelia lineavis 7/tr/■2 10/tr/ I Fhlox hoodii 20/ I/ 6 47/tr/13 70/ 1/10 50/ 2/38 70/ 3/28 Plantago elongata 7/tr/ I 10/tr/ I Plantago puvshii ■ 100/ 1/43 93/ 1/31. 100/ 2/60 100/ 1/35 70/ 1/29 Polygonum avieulave 40/tr/ 3 7/tr/ I 10/tr/ I TABLE XIV. (CONTINUED). Treatment Sites Taxa Complete Spray 5. Stands 100 Plots Contour Furrow 15 Stands 300 Plots, Interseed 10 Stands 200 Plots Defer Control 2 Stands 40 Plots Open Control 10 Stands 200 Plots Cy/ Cv/Fr . Cy / Cv/Fr Cy / Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr - 'Potent-IVla gvaeilis 10/tr/ I Potentilla pennsyIvaniea 7/tr/ I 10/tr/ I 50/tr/ 3 • Psovalea avgo-phyll 13/tr/ 2 . Psovalea esculenta 20/tr/ 2 Psovalea tenuiflova 13/tr/ 2 100/ 1/13 40/tr/ 3 Rovippa euvvisiliqua 10/tr/ 6 Rovippa islandica 20/tr/ 5 13/tr/ I 20/tr/ 4 60/tr/14 Sitanion hystvix- 20/tr/ 3 Sphaevalcea eoeeinea 60/ 1/21 67/tr/10 80/ 1/17 100/tr/10 90/ 1/21 Tavaxaeim officinale 40/tr/ 5 53/ 1/15. 70/tr/ 8 70/ 1/10 Thevmopsis vhombifolia 7/tr/ 3 Thlaspi avvense . 7/tr/ I 40/tr/ 8 Tvagopogon dubius 20/tr/ I 20/tr/ I 40/tr/ 4 Viola adunea 10/tr/ 3 Vieia amevicana 80/ 1/16 87/ 3/34 60/ 2/21 ' 100/ 5/58 90/ 5/45 Viola nuttallii 20/tr/ I 20/tr/ 3 20/tr/ I Unknown Forbs 60/tr/10 40/tr/ 7 50/tr/ 3 30/tr/ 3 Total Forbs 100/10/88 100/14/86 100/12/92 100/17/95 100/13/94 OTHERS Rock 100/ 6/53 73/ 2/22 90/ 2/20 100/ 4/43 100/ 3/35 Selaginella densa 100/16/48 80/15/48 90/30/59 50/14/48 70/ 9/28 Lichens " 100/ 4/89 100/ 4/74 100/ 6/88 100/ 7/88 80/ 3/58 Litter I 100/37/99 100/26/93 100/23/87 . 100/26/100 100/38/96 Litter II 80/ 9/64 100/ 4/52 100/ 5/49 100/ 5/70 100/10/73 I/ Location and extent of proposed treatment sites are shown in Appendix, Figure 14. -y- . TABLE XV. CONSTANCY, CANOPY COVERAGE AND FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE OF TAXA ON THE DIFFERENT.PROPOSED TREATMENT SITES ON THE SIBBERT SAGE­ BRUSH CONTROL"STUDY PLOT;'. I/ . _____. ____ A''. ______________■________ . - . . . J i . , - , Treatment Sites Taxa. Partial Spra^ 10 Stands . . 200;Plots Open Control 9 Stands 180 Plots SHRUBS Cf/ Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Artemisia tridentata 100/16/57 • 78/11/41 Atriplex nuttallia 11/tr/ I Gutterrezia- secrothrae 90/ 1/18 56/tr/ 3 Total Shrubs GRASS AND GRASS-LIKE PLANTS 100/17/64 100/12/44 Agrepyron smithii 100/24/97 100/19/92 - Agrepyron spicatum 10/tr/ I Beuteloua gracilis 90/10/58 100/16/67 Bremus tecterum 40/ 1/11 44/ I/ 8 Carex eleechdris 60/ 2/26 67/ 3/37 Carex fHi folia 20/tr/ 6 22/ I/ 7 Festuca.ectiflera .50/tr/ 5 67/tr/17 • Koeleria cristata • 100/ 9/72 89/ 8/64 Poa spp. 10/tr/ I Poa canbyi 20/tr/ 3 11/ I/ 5 Pea compressa 40/ 1/10 44/ 2/19 Poa secunda 100/ 3/47 89/ 1/29 Schedonnardus panieulatus 10/tr/ I 22/tr/ I Stipa comata 60/ 3/23 67/ 2/24 Stipa viridula 80/ 2/18 56/ 3/29 Total Grasses 100/50/1-00 100/51/99 Desehampsia eaespitosa. FORBS 11/tr/ I Achillea millefolium 50/ I/ 7 44/tr/ 7 Allium textile 80/tr/ll 56/tr/ • 3' - Androsaae septentrionalis 60/tr/12 67/tr/13 Antennaria rosea 50/tr/ 4 33/tr/ 3 Arenaria hookeri 10/tr/ I Artemssia frigida 70/ 1/17 100/ 3/29 Astragalus gracilis 10/tr/ I 11/tr/ IAstragalus purshii Cameling mieroearpa 50/tr/ 6 56/tr/ 3 Chenopodium album 10/tr/ I Draba braehyearpa 11/tr/ I Draba crassa 11/tr/ I - 54 - TABLE XV. (CONTINUED)V' Taxa Treatment Sites Partial Spray 10 Stands 200 Plots Open Control 9 Stands .180 Plots Cy/Cv/.Fr CyV Cv/Fr Erigeron 'pymilus 70/tr/ 6 56/tr/ 7 Grindeilia squarrose 11/tr/ I Hymenoxys aoaulus 11/tr/ I Lepidinm densiflorum 80/ 1/20 67/tr/13 Lomatium orientate 30/tr/ ■ 2 22/tr/ 2 Mamillaria vivipara 10/tr/ I Medioago sativa 10/tr/ I Melilotus officinalis 40/tr/ 4 44/tr/ 4 Oenothera oaespitosa 10/tr/ I Opuntia polyoantha 90/ 1/18 78/ I/ 9 Penstemon albidus > 11/tr/ I Phlox hoodii 70/ I/ 8 44/tr/ 7 Plantago purshii 100/ 2/42 100/ 1/35 Polygonum avioulare 10/tr/ I , Potentilla pennsyIvanioa 11/tr/ I Psoralea argophyl 10/tr/ I Psoralea tenuiflora 22/tr/ 2 Rorippa islandioa 40/tr/ 3 33/tr/ 3 Rorippa sinuate ■ 20/tr/ 3 Sphaeraloea ooocinea 70/ 1/18 ; 56/tr/ 7 Taraxacum officinale 90/1/15 89/ 1/21 Tragopogon dubius 80/ I/ 9 78/tr/ 5 Vioia amerioana 100/10/67 100/ 5/54 Viola nuttallii 30/tr/ 2 22/tr/ 2 Unknown Forbs ■ 80/ 1/15 78/tr/ 9 Total Forbs 100/17/97 100/12/94 OTHERS Bareground 100/16/88 100/20/96 Rock 60/ 1/12 67/tr/ 8 Selaginella densa 90/12/38 100/15/49 Lichens 100/ 5/84 100/ 5/87 Litter I 100/41/95 100/37/96 ■ Litter II 100/ 3/47 100/ 2/43 I/ Location and extent of proposed treatment types are shown in Appendix, Figure 1.4. - '55. - TABLE XVI. ■ CONSTANCY, CANOPY COVERAGE AND FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE OF TAXA ON THE DIFFERENT PROPOSED TREATMENT SITES ON THE IVERSON SAGE­ BRUSH CONTROL STUDY-PLOT. I/ Treatment Sites Taxa Partial Spray 17 Stands 340 Plots Defer Control . 12 Stands 240 Plots Open Control 12 Stands 240 Plots SHRUBS CyyfCv/Fr ' Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Fr Artemisia tridentata 100/25/66 92/22/68 100/21/69 Guterresia sarothrae 29/tr/ 3 42/tr/ 4 8/tr/ I Total Shrubs GRASS AND GRASS-LIKE PLANTS 100/25/68 92/23/68 100/22/72 Agropyron desertorum 18/ I/ 5 25/ 6/24 Agropyron smithii- 100/12/88 92/16/71 100/13/82 Agropyron spioatum 18/tr/ I 42/ 5/18 Boute Ioua grad Hs 88/17/46 . 50/ 4/20 92/10/60 Bromus teotorurn 29/tr/ 2 42/ 2/14 8/tr/tr Carex eteocharis 88/ 2/32 25/tr/ 5 67/ 2/30 Carex filifolia 8/tr/ 3 33/ 1/13 Festuoa .ootiflora 25/tr/ 3 17/tr/ I Hordeum Jubatim 8/tr/tr Koeleria oristata Poa spp. ■ 100/ 2/28 75/ 1/18 8/tr/tr 100/ 3/59 Poa canbyi 53/tr/10 50/ 1/18 17/tr/ 4 Poa oompressa 6/tr/ I 33/ 2/12 50/ 1/13 Poa secunda . 6/ 1/27 83/. 2/25 75/ 1/28 • Sohedonnardus panioulatus , 41/tr/ 6 50/tr/ 7 Stipa comata■ 94/ 4/35 50/ 1/7 100/ 6/55 Stipa viridula. 59/ 1/11 58/ 2/11 17/tr/ 2 Total Grasses FORBS 100/38/99 100/36/99 100/42/99 - Aohillea millefolium , 47/ I/ 4 25/tr/ I 17/tr/ I Allivm textile 18/tr/ I 33/tr/ 5 Androsaoe septentrionalis Antennaria rosea Arenaria hooheri 12/tr/ I 12/tr/ I 8/tr/tr . 58/tr/ 5 17/tr/ I Artemisia frigida Astragalus gilvifiorus 100/ 2/33 58/ 1/10 67/ 1/20 17/tr/ 2 Astragalus gracilis 6/tr/ I 8/tr/ I Astragalus missouriensis Camelina miorooarpa 12/tr/ I 33/tr/ 3 42/tr/ 3 - .56. - TABLE XVI. (CONTINUED)V" ' Treatment Sites Taxa Partial Spray. 17 Stands .340 Plots Defer Control 12 Stands 240 Plots Open Control 12 Stands ..,240 Plots Cy/Cv/Fr Cy/Cv/Rr , Cy/Cv/Fr' C h e n e p o d iv m g la u e v m 33/tr/2 C iv s iv m u n d u la tv m 8/tr/tr C o l le m ia l i n e a v i s 8/tr/ I E v ig e v e n p v m i lu s 6/tr/tr 33/tr/ 2 G a w a e o o o in e a 12/tr/ I 8/tr/tr 17/tr/ 2 G v i n d e i l i a ,s q u a v v o s e 6/tr/tr ; L a p p u lq e o h in a t a 6/tr/ I 17/tr/ 3 17/tr/ 3 L a p p u la v e d o w s k i i 29/tr/ 2 17/tr/ I 17/tr/ 2 L e p id iv m d e n s i f lo v y m 47/tr/ 5 42/tr/ ,8 75/1/22 . L o m a t iv m . p v ie n t a l e 25/tr/ I M e l i l o t u s o f f i c i n a l i s 17/tr/ 4 M ic v o s e v is n u t a n s 6/tr/tr M o n o le p is n u t t a l l i a n a 25/tr/ 4 O p u n t i a , p o ly c a n t h a 71/ I/ 8 25/tr/ 3 67/ I/ 7 P e n s te m o n a lb id u s . 25/tr/ 3. P h lo x h o o d i i 76/ 2/28 33/ I/ 8 100/ 2/34 . P l a n t a g o . I a n c e o la t a 8/tr/ 2 P la n t a g o p u v s h i i 100/ 1/39 83/ 1/23 75/ 1/21 P o ly g o n u m a v i e u l a v e ■ 8/tr/tr P o t e n t i l l a p e n n s y I v a n ie a 18/tr/ I P s o v a le a t e n u i f l o v a . 6/tr/tr S p h a e v a le e a . e o e e in e a 65/tr/ 9 67/tr/ 7 75/tr/ll T a v a x a e u m o f f i e i n a l e 29/tr/ 2 25/ I/ 7 75/tr/ 7 T h l a s p i a v v e n s e 18/tr/ 2 8/tr/ I T v a g 'o p o g o n d u b iu s . 18/tr/ 2 8/tr/tr 42/tr/ 3 V i e i a a m e v ie a n a 88/ 1/19 75/ 1/18 . 100/ 6/59 V io l a n u t t a I l i i 6/tr/tr Unknown Fdrb 24/tr/ 3 17/tr/ 2 50/tr/ 5 Total Forbs , 100/6/84 100/ 6/75 - 100/11/94 OTHERS Bareground 100/35/98 100/44/99 100/22/97 Rock 94/ 1/23 92/.2/32 75/ 1/13 S e l a g i n e l l a .d e n s a 18/tr/ 3 17/tr/ 2 58/tr/ 3 Lichens 100/ 3/56 67/ 1/29 100/5/58 Litter I 100/21/90 . 100/25/89 100/34/97 Litter II 65/ 1/14 92/ 2/31 75/ 3/42 JL/ Location and extent of proposed treatment sites are shown in Appendix, Table Ilfi TABLE XVII. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF OBSERVATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL ANTELOPE IN EACH OF FIVE GROUP TYPES'BY VEGETATION. TYPE DURING THE SUMMERS OF 1966 AND 19&7. ' Group Type I/ . . Vegetation Type’.' Femaler- Fawn " ■. Female-. Fawn-Male Female- . Male... Female Male Sagebrush-Grassland 1966 • 54(6.3)-^ 37(10.1) 78(4.6) 75(2.9) - 64(5.5) 1967 70(5.9) 65(13.8) 44(4.1), 82(2.8) 45(4.9) Grassland . 1966 2(4.5) 6(2.5) ..4(2.0),. 3(3.0) 1967 ■ 2(7.3) 1(7.3) 3(3:0)' . 2(2.0) 5(6,8) Greasewood 1966 11(8.6) 10(11,0) — — — 1967 2(8.5) 10 (12.: 9) 1(2.0) 2(2.0) 4(6.3) Greasewood-Sagebrush 1966 26(10.3) 25(15.3) 7(6.0), 15(4.0) 24(4;2) 1967 13(5.8) 12(10.8) 19(4.6) 7(2.3) 13(6.5) Shale Slope ‘1966 6(8.0) 11(20.3) 8(3.5) 4(2.0) 8(3.5) 1967 7(6.0) 6(10.8) 24(6.3). 5(2.3) 31(6.8) Cropland (alfalfa) 1966 1(1.7) 17(18.2) 4(2.0) 1967 /6(6»%).. 7(14.7) 9(3.8) 2(3.0) 2(9.0) TABLE XVIIi (CONTINUED). Group' Type Vegetation ■ Type- - ' • - Female-’ ■ Fawniif -■ " •’ ■ Female- Fawn-Male.. Female- . Male Female Male • Total Nb. Antelope 1966 ■ 397 547 83 55 86 1967 ■ 948 2^232 212 131 578 Total No. Groups 1966 " " 57(7.0) 42(13.0) 19(4.4) 19(2.9) 18(4.8) 1967 158(6.0) 172(13.0) 48(4.4) 49(2.7) 100(5.8) I/ Includes group types commonly seen during both summers. Each, group included two or more animals. 2/ Numbers in parenthesis indicate average group size. - 59 - TABLE XVIII. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF 5,874 OBSERVATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL ANTELOPE BY SEX AND AGE ON SIX VEGETATION TYPES DURING-THE SUMMERS/OFV1966 AND 1967. . Vegetation _____ Adults____ ' Total ■ Type Females Males Young pUnclassified Antelope. Sagebrush-Grassland 1966 54 67 43 45 728 1967 66 ■ 50 68 16 2,751 Grassland 1966 2 3 I 8 35 1967 • 2 3 I 80 Greasewood. 1966 8 3 10 21 138 1967 7 5 7 . 34 308 Greasewood-Sagebrush 1966 21 16 27 2 288 1967 12 • 15 12 3 548 Shale Slope 1966 8 ■ 8 8 2 107 1967 7 25 6 - 471 Cropland (alfalfa) 1966 8 3 10 23 138 1967 ■ 6 -2 6 47 . 282 Total Antelope 1966 564 215 487 168 1,434 1967 2,031 976 1,322 111 4,440 — 60 — TABLE XIX. NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUAL ANTELOPE OBSERVED DURING TEN GROUND AND FIVE AERIAL COUNTS'FROM JUNE 16 TO SEPTEMBER 15, 1967, LISTED BY SQUARE.MILES. . , Adults Location— F M;. Fawns ' TotalJ=/ Antelope Location Adults F . ..M Fawns. Total Antelope 19-K 13 2 9 24 22-P 21 9 23 53 2 O-K 33 27 20 80 23.-P 8 2 I 11 21-K 3 3 2 8 24-P 29 4 19 52 17-L 23 ■ 2 10 35 25-P 33 3 13 49 19-L 6 I 7 14 26-P 3 - I 4 20-L 6 97 2 105 27-P - I - I 21-L 5 4 - 9 28-P 9 - 6 15 ' 17-M 16 I 7 24 29-P • 50 7 54 111 18-M I - - I. 30-P 14 7 9 30 20-M 27 26 16 ■ 69 19-0 5 I - 6 21-M 8 17 4 29 20-Q 23 12 15 50 22-M ■ 5 I I 7 21-0 37 6 29 92 28-M - . 6 - 6 22-Q 46 25 37 108 16-N I - I 2 23-Q - 2 - 2 17-N . 25 5 . 9 39 25-Q 2 7 - 9 18-N • 31 15 ■ 14 60 26-0 6 - - 6 19-N 7 - 7 14 27-Q I 2 I 4 2 O-N 68 10 58 136 • 28-Q 4 I 3 8 21-N ' 9 3 2 14 29-Q 54 6 48 108 22-N 4 6 3 13 30-0 21 4 25 50 23-N 3 5 2 10 18-R I - - I 27-N 3 I — 4 19-R 10 4 9 23 29-N 20 . 2 17 39 20-R 47 17 25 89 30-N 9 I . 6 . 16 21-R 7 13 4 24 17-0 18 ' 2 13 33 22-R 30 21 23 74 18-0 10 2 8 20 23-R - 3 - 3 19-0 11 2 9 22 25-R - 7 3 2 12 20-0 26 5 19 50 26-R 8 20 2 30 21-0 16 10 9 35 27-R 4 12 2 18 22-0 ' 17 8 5 30 28-R 44 12 21 77 23-0 10 3 2 15 29-R 23 3 13 39 24-0 58 11 17 86 3 O-R 22 4 17 43 25-0 48 3 15 66 14-S - 7 - 7 26-0 17 I 9 27 15-S 7 - 7 14 27-0 13 2 2 17 18-S 3 - - 35 28-0 I . I - 2 19-S 8 7 6 21 . 29-0 12 3 15 30 20-S 40 . 41 22 103 61 - TABLE XIX1 (CONTINUED) .:' Location Adults F . M , Fawns Total Antelope Location Adults F , M Fawns Total Antelope. 30-0 6 3 4 ■ 13 21-S 43 45 21 109 31-0 4 4 2 10 22-S 14 63 5 82 17-P 12 6 11 29 23-S 4 10 - 14 18-P ■ 16 6 9 31 25-S 64 10 42 116 19-P 9 3 3 23 26-S - 24 9 27 60 20-P 67 8 48 146 2 7-S 25 4 16 45 21-P 23 3 19 45 28-S 25 3 15 ■ 43 ■ 29-S 7 I 4 12 18-U . 40 5 ■ 26 71 . 14-T. 2 3 - 5 19-U 3 I 3 . 11 16-T I - - I 20-U 24 39 9 72 17-T 2 — I 3 21-U 59 6 49 114 18-T 7 I - 8 22-U 19 2 17 . 38 19-T 14 19 11 44 25-U - I I 20-T 34 82 16 132 • 26-U ■ 22 8 38. 84 21-T 13 31 7 51 15-V - I ■ - I 22-T 23 6 6 35 18-V 36 6 20 ' 62 23-T 15 7 5 27 19-V 33 4 21 58 24-T 3 - 3 20-V 76 16 44 136 25-T 3 I 6 10 21-V 10 9 11 30 28-T ' 5 I 6 12 22-V 4 3 7 14-U I 3 — 4 25-V 6 I 11 18 15-U 2 2 4 26-V 6 3 12 23 I/. See Figure 14 for. locations. Sample size within study area boundaries was 4,416. (This includes.multiple .observations of individual antelope.) _2/ The total figure includes unclassified antelope.. TABLE XX. NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUAL ANTELOPE OBSERVATIONS MADE ON THE DIFFERENT PROPOSED TREATMENT SITES OF EACH OF THE SAGEBRUSH CONTROL STUDY PLOTS DURING TEN GROUND AND FIVE AERIAL COUNTS IN THE SUMMER OF 1967-.- . Proposed Treatment Types' " . Sagebrush.Control Study Plots I/ Winnett 3 Treatifient Sites ; King ■ 5 Treatmfent■ Sites Sibbert 2 Treatment Site's Iverson 3 Treatment Sites F/M/Fawns F/M/Fawns F/M/Fawns F/M/Fawns Complete Spray (i)^' -/6/- 6/1/- Partial Spray (2) -/-/-. -/-/- I Strip Spray (3) -/2/- Contour Furrow (5) 4/-/3 . Interseed (6) 15/14/6 Defer Control (7) 15/3/5 -/-/- Open Control (8) 148/194/84 4/1/4 6/3/4 TOTAL -/8/- 188/212/98 - 4/1/4 6/3/4 .1/ Sagebrush control study plots are shown o n .Figure Tb. Tj Numbers in parenthesis ■.identify the proposed treatment sites and their locations on each sagebrush control study plot on Figure 14. • 63 - Winne S t u d y S t u d y Spring Cr. '' W a t e S i b b c r t S t u d ; P l o t ■ V e h i c l e R o u t e & I Im i l e sS t u d y » l o t Figure 14. Grid map of study area for use with Tables XIX and XX in showing locations of antelope observations and locations of sagebrush control study plots and treatment sites. 64 LITERATURE CITED Andrews, B. A., G. S . Lambert, and G. W. Stose.' 1944. Geologic map of . Montana. U. -S. Dept. of Interior,.Geological Survey. Baker, T. C. 1952. . Experimental investigation in determining antelope distribution and movements. Wyoming Wild!. Research Quart. Progr. Rept. 7:60-70. Bayless, S . R. 1967. ' Winter range use of pronghorn antelope in central Montana. Unpubl. M.S. thesis, Montana State University. 65 pp. Blaisdell, J. P . and W. F. Mueggler. 1956. Effect.of 2,4-D on forbs and shrubs associated with big sagebrush. Jour, of Range Mgmt. 9:38-40. Booth, W. E. 1950. Flora of Montana, Part I. ■ Conifers and Monocots. Research Foundation at Montana State College, Bozeman, Montana 232 pp _____ and J. C . Wright. 1959. Flora of Montana,Part II. Dicotyledons. Montana State College, Bozeman, Montana. 280 pp. Buechner, H. K. 1950. Life history, ecology, and range-use of the pronghorn antelope in Trans-Pecos Texas.. Amer. Midland Naturalist. 43(2):257-354. Cole, G. -F. 1956. The pronghorn antelope - Its range use and food habits in central Montana with special reference to alfalfa. Mont. Fish and Game Dept., and Mont. Agr. Expt. Sta. Tech. Bull. 516. 63 pp. _____ and B . T. Wilkins. 1958. The pronghorn antelope - Its range use and food habits in central Montana with special reference to wheat. Mont. Fish and Game.Dept. Tech. 'Bull. No. 2. 39 pp. Daubenmire, R. 1959, , A canopy-coverage method of vegetational analysis. Northwest' Sci. 33:4.3-64. Dirschl, H. J. 1963. . Food-habits of - the pronghorn,in Saskatchewan. ^ J. Wildl. Mgmt. 27(1):81-93. Einerson, A. S . 1948. ' The pronghorn antelope and its management. 1st. ed. Wildlife Mgmt. Inst., Washington, D. C. 238 pp. Ferrell, C . M.-^and H. R. Leach. 1952. . The pronghorn, antelope of Cali­ fornia with special reference.to food h a b i t s C a l i f . Fish and Game. - 38(3) :285-293. — 65 ~ Gieseker, L. F . - 1938. Soils of Petroleum County. Mont. Agr. Expt.Sta. Bull. 363. 46 pp. Hayne, D . W. _ 1949; Calculation of the size of home range. Jour, of Mammology. 30(1):1-18. Headrick, D. W.,- D. N. Hyder, F. A. Sneva, and C. E. Poltdn., 1966. Ecological response of sagebrush-grass range in central Oregon to mechapical and chemical removal of Artemisia. Ecology. 47(3): 432-439... Hurd, R. M. ■ 1955. Effect of 2,4-D -on some herbaceous.range plants. ' f Jour, Range Mgmt. 8 (.3) : 126-127. Martin, A. C.,R. H. Gensch and C. P. Brovmn 1946. . Alternative methods in ..upland game bird food analysis. J. Wildl. Mgmt.., 10 ( I ) 8-12. Martin, N. S. ■ 1965. Effects of.sagebrush manipulation on sage grouse. UnpubI. M.S. thesis, Montana State.College, .Bozeman, Montana 38 pp. Wright, P. L. and S. A. Dow, Jr. 1962. - Minimum, breeding age.in prong-, horn antelope. J. Wildl. Mgmt.- 26(I) ; 100-101. ■ ' .,un ieoerrv LIBRARIES 1762 10020929 <1 O p> Vl I .IiHwi; -Z