vancower island roosnelt elk/intensive forestry …
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VANCOWER ISLAND ROOSNELT ELK/INTENSIVE FORESTRY INTERACTIONS
VANCOUVER ISLAND ROOSEVELT ELK/INTENSIVE FORESTRY INTERACTIONS
Working Plan 1981-1985
D. Janz Pro jec t Supe rv i so r
K. Brunt , L. Peterson and J. Youds P r o j e c t B i o l o g i s t s
December 1980
Province of British Columbia
This Publication i s IWIFR-12
Min is t ry o f Forests, Research Branch Ep 912 Min is t ry o f Environment, Fish and W i l d l i f e Bulletin 6-29
Copies of th is repor t may be obtained, depending on supply, from:
Research Branch Min is t ry of Forests 1450 Government S t r e e t V ic tor ia , B.C. V8W 3E7
or
Fish and W i l d l i f e Branch Min is t ry o f Environment Parliament Buildings Vic tor ia , B.C. vav 2x5
Ci ta t ion:
Janz, D., K. Brunt, L. Peterson and J. Youds. 1980. Vancouver Is land Roosevelt e lk l in tens ive forest ry in teract ions: working plan 1981-1985. Research, M in i s t r i es o f Environment and Forests. IWIFR-12. V ic tor ia , B.C. 71 p.
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Summary
Roosevelt elk ecology i n regenerating forests on Vancouver Island has no t been studied t o date. Of particular concern are elk-forestry interactions, specifically how forestry activit ies might be better managed t o maintain or enhance elk populations, and at the same time, reduce forest damage problems. Elk response t o specific forestry manipulations will be investigated by monitoring habitat utilization, animal condition, and population parameters. Habitat enhancement i n regenerating forests will also be evaluated t o determine its effect on the condition of t h e individual, t h e population and the reduction of damage t o commercially valuable tree species.
The emphz,sis of t h i s s tudy will be placed on determining the influences of various silvicultural practices (i.e. th inn ing , fer t i l izat ion) on e l k habitat utilization. Individuals i n areas differing i n si lvicultural treatment will be immobilized and neckfitted radio collars will be placed on the animals. Daily monitoring of movements and habitat utilization of radio collared elk will illustrate the influences of forestry activit ies on home range, migratory patterns and habitat selection.
The influence o f si lvicul tural act ivi t ies on the vegetation and physical environment will be assessed by monitoring e l k forage species and weather condi t ions i n areas differing only i n treatment, or i n the same area prior and subsequent t o treatment. The condition of individuals will be monitored using blood, fecal, and body fat indices. Population condition will be assessed by
determining survival and productivity through l a t e winter and f a l l a e r i a l survey counts.
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Estimations of predator density, distribution, food habits, and habitat use will be undertaken to elucidate the influence of s i l v i cu l tu ra l ac t iv i t i e s on predation i n regenerating forests.
The feas ib i l i ty o f various habitat enhancement techniques ( i n c l u d i n g forage propagation, f e r t i l i za t ion and high-site conversion) as means of increasing survival, productivity, individual conditions, and decreasing animal damage, will be examined.
The resul ts from t h i s s tudy will provide information on changes i n elk home ranges, habitat uti l ization, migratory patterns and individual animal condition that may occur as a resu l t o f si lvicul tural act ivi t ies . Par t icular land management practices can t h e n be recommended t o maintain or enhance Roosevelt elk populations i n Vancouver Island regenerating forests.
A tentative budget for work t o be carried out dur ing t h i s s t u d y is presented i n Table 1.
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Table 1. Tentative 5-year budget f o r the s tudy o f elk/intensive fores t ry interactions
(Jan- Apr 81- Mar 81) Mar 82 1980/81 1981/82 1982/83 1983/84 1984/85
Manpower - 2 f u l l time - 2 seasonal
Travel
Vehicle - Rental 1-4WD - Rental 1 snowmachine
F l y i n g Time
F i e l d Equipment - Radiocollars - Neckbands - Cap-Chur gun - Drugs - Syringes etc. - Clover traps - Corral traps - Snowshoes/skiis - Misc.
Transplant costs
Office costs paper, xeroxing mixc.
Services Blood analysis ($65/sample Fecal fragment analysis ($150/diet Fecal N ($5/sample Forage analysis ($3O/sample
Computing Services
40 000 20 000
6 000
3 000 500
25 000
2 500
300 1 000
100
-
- - 400 200
-
300 200
1 500
1 '800
2 of30
5 000
2 000
42 000 21 000
6 500
3 500 500
20 000
- 500
1 000 100
1 000 1 000
200
2 500
-
-
350 200
1 800
2 000
5 000
2 500
44 000 22 000
7 000
4 000 500
l5 000
3 000 - 1 000 - - - - -
200
-
350 200
1 500
1 800
2 000
5 000
3 000
46 000 23 000
7 500
4 500 500
15 000
- - - - - - - - 200
400 200
- - - -
3 500
TOTAL 7 300 111 800 111 650 115 050 105 300
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................... 1
2 DEFINITION OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ............................ 2
3 OBJECTIVES ....................................................... 5 3.1 S i l v i cu l tu re E f fec ts on Habitat Use. Food Habits.
Home Range Size and Migrat ion ................................. 5
3.1.1 Habi tat Use and Food Habits ................................ 5
3.1.2 Home Range Size ............................................ 6
3.1 .3 Migrat ion .................................................. 6 3.2 S i l v i c u l t u r e E f f e c t s on Vegetation and
Physical Environment .......................................... 6
3.2.1 Canopy Closure and Stand Density ........................... 7
3.2.2 Production o f Key Forage Species ........................... 7
3.2.3 S i l v i c u l t u r a l F e r t i l i z a t i o n ................................ 8
3.2.4 Debris ..................................................... 8 3.2.5 Snow Conditions ............................................ 8
3.2.6 Temperature ................................................ 8 3.3 S i l v i cu l tu re E f fec ts on Animal Condition ...................... 9
3.4 S i l v i cu l tu re E f fec ts on Population Status ..................... 9
3.4.1 Aer ia l Survey F e a s i b i l i t y Tests ............................ 9
3.4.2 Product iv i ty ............................................... 10 3.5 Predation ..................................................... 10 3.5.1 Estimations of Wolf Density ................................ 10 3.5.2 Food Habits of Wolves ...................................... 11 3.5.3 Movement and Habitat use o f Wolves ......................... 11
3.6 Habi ta t Enhancement ........................................... 11
3.6.1 Propagation ................................................ 11 3.6.2 Non-s i l v i cu l tu ra l Fe r t i l i za t i on ............................ 12
3.6.3 In te rp lan t ing and Underplanting ............................ 12 3.6.4 High-site Type Conversion .................................. 12
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4 METHODOLOGY ...................................................... 13 4.1 Habitat Util ization and Movements ............................. 13
4.1.1 Cal ibrat ion o f Equipment ................................... 14 4.1.2 Capture and Immobilization ................................. 14
4.1.3 Radio Tracking ............................................. 15 4.1.4 Track Counts ............................................... 19
4.1.5 Data Analysis .............................................. 19 4.1.5.1 Home Range and Migration Data ........................... 19
4.1.5.2 Habitat Selection ....................................... 19
4.2 Food Habits ................................................... 20 4.2.1 Fecal Fragment Analysis .................................... 20
4.2.2 Rumen Analysis ............................................. 21
4.3 Habitat Assessment ............................................ 21
4.3.1 Physical Character is t ics ................................... 21 4.3.1.1 Slope ................................................... 21
4.3.1.2 Aspect .................................................. 21 4.3.1.3 Elevation ............................................... 21 4.3.1.4 S o i l Features ........................................... 21
4.3.1.6 Snow Depth and Density .................................. 22 4.3.1.5 Weather ................................................. 21
4.3.2 Biological Charac t e r i s t i c s ................................. 22
4.3.2.1 General Vegetation Analysis ............................. 22 4.3.2.2 Understory Woody Stems .................................. 23
4.3.2.3 Herbaceous Layer ........................................ 23 4.3.2.4 Pellet-group Survey ..................................... 24
4.3.2.5 Browse Produc t iodUt i l i za t ion ........................... 24
4.3.2.6 Access/Debris ........................................... 24
4.3.2.7 V i s i b i l i t y .............................................. 26 4.3.2.8 Forage Qual i ty Analysis ................................. 26 4.3.2.9 Future Considerations ................................... 26
4.3.3 Analyses ................................................... 27
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4.4 Animal Condition ............................................... 27
4.4.1 Body Fat ................................................... 27 4.4.2 Blood Analysis ............................................. 28
4.4.3 Fecal Nitrogen ............................................. 29
4.5 Population Measures ........................................... 30 4.5.1 Sample Class i f ied Counts ................................... 32
4.5.2 Mark-Recapture Experiment .................................. 33 4.6 Predation ..................................................... 33
4.6.1 Density .................................................... 34
4.6.2 Predator Food Habits ....................................... 34 4.7 Habi tat Enhancement ........................................... 34
4.7.1 Propagation ................................................ 34
4.7.2 Non-S i l v i cu l tu ra l Fe r t i l i za t i on ............................ 37 4.7.3 S i t e Type Conversion ....................................... 37
4.8 Transplants ................................................... 37
4.8.1 Selection o f Transplant Herd and Transplant Site ........... 37 4.8.2 Capture .................................................... 38
4.8.3 Transport .................................................. 38
5 STUDY AREAS ...................................................... 38
5.1 Salmon River .................................................. 38
5.3 Nanaimo River/Lakes ........................................... 41
5.5 Elk River ..................................................... 41
5.2 M t . Washingtan/Constitution H i l l .............................. 40
5.4 Shaw Creek .................................................... 41
5.6 Adam River .................................................... 42
5.7 Trent River ................................................... 42
5.8 Alternate Transplant Sites .................................... 42
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6 SCHEDULING ...................................................... 42
7 COSTS ............................................................ 44
9 APPENDIX ......................................................... 52
9.1 . 9.5 Data forms .............................................. 53
9.6 Personnel contacted ........................................... 7 1
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List of Tables
1.
2.
3 .
4.
5.
6 .
7. 8.
Tentative 5-year budget f o r the s t u d y o f elk/intensive forestry interactions ........................................... iii Immobilizing drugs used on North American elk ................... 16
Recommended dosages for immobilizing drugs for use on Roosevelt elk ..................................................... 17
Approaches available for measuring population performance ...... 31 Summary of available methods for the propagation o f - 9 Salix Sambucus and Populus ............................................ 36 Study area - act ivi ty matrix of IWIFR and F & W involvement .. .. . 39
Tentative activity schedule ....................................... 43 Budget (IWIFR-ELK) 1981-1982 .................................... 45
List of Figures
1. P l o t design f o r habitat assessment. ............................. 25
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1 INTRODUCTION
Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) ecology i n second growth forests
on Vancouver Is land has not been studied to date. Major wi ld l i fe- forestry i n te rac t i ons and research needs associated with i n t e n s i v e w i l d l i f e and fo res t
management have been examined i n a problem a n a l y s i s i n i t i a t e d by the B.C. Min is t r y o f Fo res ts (E l l i s 1980). A subsequent problem analysis, dealing speci f ical ly wi th Roosevel t e lk/ intensive forestry interact ions, provides a
problem def in i t ion, rev iews the unknowns, and ou t l ines recommendations f o r research (Janz ” e t a l . 1980). An immediate and long term frame of re ference
was discussed i n the problem analysis, with the in tent o f estab l ish ing a tlbaseline’t dataset t o i d e n t i f y and design appropriate study sites and
treatments f o r t es t i ng spec i f i c hypotheses which will be the focus of the long
term reference frame. This working plan outl ines the research direct ion over
the f i v e year program, with emphasis on immediate research requirements over
the nex t year. The fo l lowing subjects , ident i f ied i n the problem analysis,
require immediate informat ion col lect ion:
Use o f present habitat types on a seasonal and d iurnal bas is .
Migratory status o f herds; and fac to rs i n i t i a t i ng m ig ra t i on .
Seasonal home range delineation.
Seasonal food habi ts.
Animal condi t ion by season. P l a n t species composition, forage quality and quant i ty and a v a i l a b i l i t y by habi ta t type and season.
Prel iminary populat ion character ist ics such as abundance, product iv i ty ,
recruitment and dispersal. Predatory influences.
This information, even i n prel iminary form, will be used t o def ine more
spec i f i c hypotheses on e lWin tens ive fo res t ry in te rac t ions . Working plans will be updated on an annual basis, incorporating the previous year’s progress and resul ts .
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2 DEFINITION OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
The following terms are defined i n the context of t h i s report: Animal condition - physical health and f i tness of an individual' (as indexed by
body f a t content etc. ) . Commercial t h i n n i n g - spacing activities w i t h subsequent removal of commercial
tree species for market. Dispersal - movement of individuals into or out of populations. High-site t y p e conversion - reclamation of a potentially valuable
under-stocked parcel of land by decreasing competition from non-commercial species and increasing stocking of commercial species.
Home range - that area traversed by an individual i n its normal ac t iv i t i e s of food gathering, mating, and caring for young, over a specified period of time ( d a i l y , seasonal, lifetime).
Interplanting - planting of forage species simultaneously w i t h planting of commercial tree seedlings.
Population - i n t h i s s tudy , a group of animals inhabiting a particular watershed i n which one or more discrete herds may exist .
Population condition or vigor - measure of the health and fitness of a population (as indexed by productivity, rate of increase, etc. ) .
Population response - the net resul ts of changes i n population parameters (population level, sex ratio, survival, productivity) from some perturbation(s1.
Predation - w i t h reference to elk i n regenerating forests, includes direct mortality attributed to wolves, bears, cougars, and humans.
Second growth forests - immature forest ecosystem (secondary succession) result ing from logging activities; also referred to as regenerating forests or s imply regrowth.
Security ( h i d i n g ) cover - vegetative cover providing an animal protect.ion from view.
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S i l v i c u l t u r a l f e r t i l i z a t i o n - broadcast f e r t i l i z a t i o n o f an area t o enhance
production of commercial t ree species, usual ly carr ied out af ter spacing a c t i v i t i e s .
S l l v icu l tu ra l t rea tments - in tens ive fo res t ry ac t i v i t ies undertaken t o enhance production of commercially valuable tree species including spacing, f e r t i l i z a t i o n , s i t e conversion, underplanting, interplanting, commercial thinning, and s i te cont ro l (herb ic ides) .
Spacing - thinning - reduction i n the number of commercially valuable trees per u n i t area t o decrease in t raspeci f ic compet i t ion and increase growth
rates. Spaced stand density - the density i n t r e e s p e r u n i t area remaining a f t e r
spacing a c t i v i t i e s .
Species a v a i l a b i l i t y - i n c l u d e s f l o r i s t i c l i s t , abundance, and access ib i l i t y
i n the hab i ta t o f elk forage species.
Sui tab le habi ta t - an area that sat is f ies par t icu lar requi rements o f an animal
( i .e . hiding cover, thermal cover).
Thermal cover - vegetative cover enabling an animal to maintain body temperature under extreme weather conditions.
Thinning - spacing. Underplanting - planting forage species subsequent t o spacing a c t i v i t i e s .
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Abbreviation
ADF
A S
AOAC
BCFP
BUN CP
dbh DM0
FS
Fw
IW IFR
KFI MB MOF
N
N f f
NEFA
RAB
TSB
UBC
D e f i n i t i o n Acid detergent f iber
Air Studies Branch (Min is t ry of Environment)
A s s o c i a t i o n o f O f f i c i a l A n a l y t i c a l Chemists
B r i t i s h Columbia Forest Products Blood urea nitrogen
Crude p ro te in
Diameter a t breast he ight
D ry ma t te r d iges t i b i l i t y Forest Service
F ish and W i l d l i f e
Integrated Forestry- Intensive Wi ld l i fe Research
Kidney f a t index MacMillan Bloedel Min is t r y of Forests
Nitrogen
Neutral detergent f iber Non-ester i f ied fa t ty ac ids
Resource Analysis Branch (Min is t ry of Environment)
Terrest r ia l Studies Branch (Min is t ry o f Environment)
U n i v e r s i t y o f B r i t i s h Columbia
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3 OBJECTIVES 3.1 S i l v i c u l t u r e E f f e c t s on Habitat Use, Food Habits, Home Range Size and
Migration
To examine the e f fec ts of s i l v icu l tu ra l t rea tments on h a b i t a t u t i l i z a t i o n , food habits, home range size and migratory patterns o f elk.
As wi th any form o f h a b i t a t a l t e r a t i o n , s i l v i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s can be
expected t o i n f l u e n c e e l k u t i l i z a t i o n o f an area. The major forestry pract ises inc lud ing spac ing, fer t i l izat ion, commercial thinning, and s i t e
conversion may in f l uence hab i ta t u t i l i za t i on , food habits, home range s i ze and migratory patterns o f e lk. I n order t o document e l k response t o s i l v i c u l t u r a l
a c t i v i t i e s , the approach will e n t a i l t h e c o l l e c t i o n o f basel ine information on
e lk inhab i t ing second growth forests, with subsequent monitoring o f pre and post treatment and/or control vs. treatment comparisons. The fol lowing are
specif ic sub-objectives.
3.1.1 Habit Use and Food Habits
To examine the e f fec ts o f s i l v i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s on h a b i t a t u t i l i z a t i o n and food habits o f e lk .
It i s necessary t o document p resen t e l k hab i ta t u t i l i za t i on i n o rde r t o
assess the impacts that intensive forestry practices may have on e l k
populations. Study o f hab i ta t use i n t r e a t e d and untreated second growth fo res ts is a top p r i o r i t y , as these s t ra teg ies u l t imate ly d ic ta te an imal f i t ness and population vigour.
Changes i n the avai lab le forage resul t ing from s i l v i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s i n an area may a f f e c t food se lec t ion by elk. Food habi ts, data, and nutrient analysis o f forage species i n both treated and unmanaged second growth stands
will r e f l e c t the impacts o f s i l v i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s on the composition and
q u a l i t y o f e lk d ie ts . Presumably d ie ta ry in take charac ter is t i cs will be
r e f l e c t e d i n animal condition and u l t ima te l y i n populat ion product iv i ty.
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3 .l. 2 Home Range Size
To examine t h e e f f e c t s o f s i l v i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s on the home range s i ze o f e lk .
Seasonal home range size may be expected t o change i n response t o changes
i n forage avai labi l i ty brought about by s i l v i cu l tu ra l p rac t i ces . For example,
i f forage i s r e s t r i c t e d t h r o u g h spacing a c t i v i t i e s within an ex i s t i ng home
range, home range may expand; conversely if f e r t i l i z a t i o n enhances forage q u a l i t y and a v a i l a b i l i t y within an ex i s t i ng home range, then home range s i z e
may be expected t o decrease. Home range size can have important impl icat ions on s p a t i a l d i s t r i b u t i o n of e lk herds i n a watershed, inf luencing animal
density and re f lec t ing the car ry ing capac i ty o f the system.
3.1.3 Migrat ion
To examine t h e e f f e c t s o f s i l v i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s on the t im ing o f migration.
The i n i t i a t i o n o f m i g r a t i o n appears t o be i n response t o t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y
and qual i ty of forage, which can be inf luenced by snow condit ions and
temperature.
Commercial th inn ing and spacing a c t i v i t i e s will decrease canopy cover and
may inf luence the t iming of migrat ion through possible changes i n forage
a v a i l a b i l i t y and snow depth. These inf luences may be r e f l e c t e d i n changes i n
mima1 condi t ion and, u l t ima te l y , su rv i va l and produc t iv i t y .
3.2 S i l v i c u l t u r e E f f e c t s on Vegetation and Physical Environment To document t h e s p a t i a l d i s t r i b u t i o n and cha rac te r i s t i cs o f ava i l ab le
habi ta t types wi th in the s tudy area.
Baseline information on habi ta t se lect ion requi res knowledge o f t h e
u t i l i z a t i o n and the var ious environmental at t r ibutes of avai lable habi tat
types. Elk radio location information overlayed on habi ta t type maps
(manually or computerized) will indicate animal - hab i ta t re la t ionsh ips .
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To inves t iga te the in f luences o f s i l v icu l tu ra l t rea tments on vegetation
(succession, species composithon) and physical environmental parameters as
they re la te to e lk . S i l v icu l tu ra l t rea tments change the p lant community. The type, magnitude
and duration of vegetational changes will determine s u i t a b i l i t y f o r e l k . Specif ical ly, species composit ion, forage production, forage qual i ty, forage
a v a i l a b i l i t y , and cover a v a i l a b i l i t y will be the important character ist ics of
vegetat ion for e lk. The fol lowing are a set of sub-objectives for vegetation
inves t iga t ions as they re la te to e lk .
3.2.1 Canopy Closure and Stand Density To estimate canopy closure and stand density i n mature cover patches,
treated regeneration, and untreated regeneration.
Canopy closure and stem densi ty are important stand character ist ics that
will influence understory production (food), snow in te rcept ion (she l te r ) , and winter forage avai labi l i ty ( food-shel ter interact ion). The impact o f t h inn ing
on these parameters may seem obvious, however, understory response and ra tes o f canopy c losure a f ter th inn ing are poor ly documented. Also, f e r t i l i z a t i o n
may increase the rate of t r e e crown growth and canopy closure.
3.2.2 Production of Key Forage Species To measure and monitor production of key forage species in treated and
untreated stands. Produc t iv i t y of forage species will ult imately determine the level o f
u t i l i z a t i o n t h a t a hab i ta t may support. Measurement o f t he p roduc t i v i t y of
key forage species (as determined from diet analyses), their degree o f u t i l i z a t i o n (browse), and the i r ava i l ab i l i t y shou ld i nd i ca te whether a h a b i t a t
i s b e i n g u t i l i z e d above or below forage capabi l i t ies .
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3.2.3 S i l v i c Q l t u r a l F e r t i l i z a t i o n To m e a s u r e a n d m o n i t o r s p e c i e s c o m p o s i t i o n a n d f o r a g e q u a l i t y i n
f e r t i l i z e d a n d n o n - f e r t i l i z e d s t a n d s . S i l v i c u l t u r a l f e r t i l i z a t i o n may i n c r e a s e n i t r o g e n a v a i l a b i l i t y t o
u n d e r s t o r y v e g e t a t i o n , r e s u l t i n g i n h i g h e r g r o w t h rates ( i n c r e a s e d forage ava i l ab i l i t y ) , h i g h e r f o r a g e q u a l i t y a n d poss ib ly c h a n g e s i n s p e c i e s composi t ion. To de termine the magni tude and dura t ion of such effects, and t o assess the n e t impact on elk habi ta t , it will be n e c e s s a r y t o mon i to r fo rage q u a l i t y , a v a i l a b i l i t y a n d species c o m p o s i t i o n i n fertilized a n d n o n - f e r t i l i z e d s t a n d s .
3.2.4 Debris TO measure d e b r i s depth and decomposi t ion rates i n spaced s t a n d s d i f f e r i n g
i n age a t t h i n n i n g , age s i n c e t h i n n i n g , s t a n d d e n s i t y p r i o r t o t h i n n i n g a n d t h i n n e d s t a n d d e n s i t y .
\ 3.2.5 Snow C o n d i t i o n s
To monitor snow d e p t h a n d d e n s i t y i n treated a n d u n t r e a t e d s t a n d s . Snow depth a n d d e n s i t y w i t h i n s t a n d s will d e t e r m i n e w i n t e r f o r a g e
a v a i l a b i l i t y a n d elk mobili ty. Measurement o f snow depth a n d d e n s i t y i n p e r m a n e n t p l o t s i n t h i n n e d a n d u n t h i n n e d s t a n d s of d i f f e r e n t ages should i n d i c a t e the degree o f c h a n g e i n these parameters a t t r i b u t a b l e t o t h i n n i n g .
3.2.6 Temperature To m o n i t o r i n t e r n a l s t a n d t e m p e r a t u r e i n m a t u r e c o v e r patches and t h inned
second growth s tands. I n t e r n a l s t a n d t e m p e r a t u r e will b e a n i m p o r t a n t characteristic f o r u s e o f
a s t a n d as thermal cover. Spacing will be the p r imary s t and t r ea tmen t c o n s i d e r e d here. Temperatures will be m o n i t o r e d i n s t a n d s d i f f e r i n g i n a g e a t t h i n n i n g , a g e s i n c e t h i n n i n g , a n d t h i n n e d s t a n d d e n s i t y . T e m p e r a t u r e s i n mature cover patches may be monitored as c o n t r o l s .
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3.3 Si l v i cu l tu re E f fec ts on Animal Condition
To examine the inf luence o f s i l v i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s on animal condition. S i l v i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s can be expected to in f luence the qua l i t y and
quant i ty o f available forage which i n t u r n a f f e c t s the cond i t i on o f i nd i v idua l animals inhabiting the area.
Animal condi t ion indices can be used t o compare t h e r e l a t i v e v i g o r o f
i nd i v idua ls (and assumably populations) occuring i n in tens ive ly managed and
r e l a t i v e l y unmanaged second growth forests.
3.4 S i l v i c u l t u r e E f f e c t s on Population Status
To invest igate the inf luences of second growth hab i ta ts and s i l v i c u l t u r a l
treatments on elk populat ion status. Changes i n h a b i t a t due t o secondary succession and s i l v i c u l t u r a l
treatments may have p o s i t i v e or negative impacts on elk populat ions. Posi t ive impacts may r e s u l t where increases i n su rv i va l and/or p roduc t iv i t y occur,
while negative impacts may r e s u l t with decreases i n one or both of these
parameters. Dispersal may also be important i n determining population trends. Survival and product iv i ty are inf luenced proximately by animal condi t ion, and u l t ima te l y by habi tat qual i ty. Populat ion condi t ion can thus
be used as an i nd i ca to r o f range q u a l i t y or condit ion. The fol lowing are
sub-objectives f o r populat ion invest igat ions.
3.4.1 Aer ia l Survey F e a s i b i l i t y Tests
To i nves t iga te the e f fec ts o f s i l v i cu l tu ra l t r ea tmen ts and second growth
hab i ta ts on 'populat ion praduct iv i ty and survival rates.
I nd i ces o f p roduc t i v i t y and recruitment will indicate populat ion trends. Herd composition counts from ground and a i r , conducted i n l a t e summer and l a t e
winter, will provide such indices. These may be supplemented by pregnancy
rate est imates from hun te r k i l l ed females.
10
3.4.2 Productivity To investigate the feasibility of a mark-recapture experiment to estimate
population size, changes i n population size, and the rate of dispersal from herds i n managed and unmanaged second growth forests.
3.5 Predation To investigate the influence of predation on elk habitat utilization,
condition and population status. Potential predators include black bear, cougar, humans, and wolf. Legal
harvest of elk is under a limited entry system and can be manipulated t o satisfy specific objectives. The influence of wolves appears to have the greatest potential predator impact (refer t o problem analys is ) , and will be
the target species f o r most predation discussion i n t h i s working plan. Predation may influence elk responses t o silvicultural treatments, making
it d i f f icu l t t o interpret certain changes on a habitat level. For example, wolf pack size may increase i n response t o elk population growth; such a response may negate positive elk population changes. It is possible that elk avoid certain habitat types i n which vulnerability t o wolf predation is increased; t h i s may occur independently of other habitat considerations such as forage and cover. The following set of sub-objectives are proposed t o assess the type and magnitude of wolf impacts on elk; a similar approach will be applied t o bear and cougar populations.
3.5.1 Estimations of Wolf Density To estimate relative wolf densities w i t h i n s t u d y area. Estimates of wolf density through track counts and incidental s i g h t i n g s
will in i t i a l ly be employed t o assess potential wolf impacts.
11
3.5.2 Food Hab i ts o f Wolves
To monitor wolf food habits within study areas.
Wolf food habi ts will indicate percent occurence o f e l k i n the d ie t , and
elucidate impacts suggested by re la t ive wol f densi t ies.
3.5.3 Movements and Habitat Use o f Wolves
To determine movements and h a b i t a t u t i l i z a t i o n o f wolves within managed
and unmanaged second growth if high wol f densi t ies are indicated.
Radio c o l l a r i n g and monitoring of wolf movements will be done i f the two
previous procedures indicate heavy predation on e l k by wolves. Radio locations analyzed i n conjunction with e l k movements should indicate the
degree t o which e l k h a b i t a t u t i l i z a t i o n i s inf luenced by wolves.
3.6 Habi ta t Enhancement To examine t h e f e a s i b i l i t y o f h a b i t a t enhancement as a means o f inc reas ing
e lk surv iva l , populat ion product iv i ty , and indiv idual animal condi t ion, and
decreasing animal damage. The feas ib i l i t y o f inc reas ing ava i lab le fo rage fo r e lk by various
techniques can be assessed by sat isfy ing the fo l lowing sub-object ives.
3.6.1 Propagation To inves t iga te the long term costs and benef i t s o f propagating forage
species for elk. The feas ib i l i t y o f ex tens ive p lan ta t ions o f browse species f o r e l k depends
on the t ime and money involved i n the establishment of plantat ions, and the resul t ing benef i ts inc lud ing long- term surv iva l of planted species, elk use o f
p lantat ions, and the reduct ion i n damage t o nearby commercially valuable
coni fers.
12
3 ,6 .2 Non-silvicultural Fertilization To investigate the costs and benefits of non-silvicultural fertilization
as a means of increasing forage quality and quantity on elk foraging areas. Increases i n forage nutrient content, forage utilization by elk and
related costs, will determine the feasibi l i ty of non-silvicultural fert i l ization as a means of habitat enhancement.
3.6 .3 Interplanting and Underplanting. To examine the feasibi l i ty of interplanting and underplanting of forage
species as a means of providing alternate browse for elk. Monitoring plant survival and ut i l izat ion of interplanted and underplanted
stands under various planted or thinned stand densities will determine the f eas ib i l i t y of these methods of h a b i t a t enhancement. Monitoring growth and elk browsing i n t e n s i t y of conifers i n underplanted, interplanted, and control plantations will determine the detrimental or positive influences of these techniques on competition and changes i n the degree of conifer browsing.
3.6.4 High-site t y p e conversion. To examine the effects of high-site type conversion on elk untilization o f
an area. Reclamation of high-site index land presently occupied by non-commercial
tree species often involves cutting existing deciduous t rees to open the canopy and increase survival of commercially valuable conifers. The resul t is oi’ten sprouting, which provides sources of forage from species such as willow (Salix spp. >, black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) and maple (Acer spp. >. Ttie impacts of such browse rejuvenation which occurs as a by-product of s i t e conversion practices will be .assessed by monitoring the increase i n available forage and subsequent ut i l izat ion by elk.
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4 METHODOLOGY
The fol lowing proposed methodologies are subject t o a l t e r a t i o n and
refinement as the project proceeds. F i e l d work for the current year (81/82)
will be di rected a t an imal movement and h a b i t a t u t i l i z a t i o n a c t i v i t i e s , and
these methodologies receive greater detail. Estimates of sample s i ze requirements f o r many a c t i v i t i e s will be dependent on analysis o f prel iminary
da ta co l l ec ted t h i s year. I n addit ion, a proposed Habitat Component of the
IWIFR program will be i n i t i a t e d t o invest igate vegetat ion and cl imate
responses t o s i l v i c u l t u r a l p r a c t i c e s . The hab i ta t assessment section of the
e l k p ro jec t will be concerned, i n the short term, w i th a detailed cover type
descr ip t ion of the study area, and will not undertake intensive monitoring of vegeta t iodc l imate response u n t i l t h e h a b i t a t program i s operational and
objectives, methodologies, study areas, etc. are known.
4.1 H a b i t a t U t i l i z a t i o n and Movements Direct observation of marked ind iv idua ls (Harper 1971; Craighead e t a1 .
1972; Frank l in ” e t a l . 1975; Severson ” e t a l . 1978; Shoesmith 1979,) and rad io telemetry (Rongstad and Tester 1969; Alexander 1973b; Craighead ” e t a l . 1973;
Moir 1976; G lad fe l te r 1978; Rodgers ” e t a l . 1978; Harestad 1979; I n g l i s e t a l .
1979) have been extensively used t o determine home range and hab i ta t
u t i l i z a t i o n o f large mammals. Radioactive materials, dyes fo r u r i ne and feces, and photographic devices have also been used with varying degrees o f
success (Sanderson 1966).
Several methodologies have been examined f o r use i n th is proposal . Direct observation i s d i f f i c u l t if not impossible i n t h i c k cover and a t
n ight, and the problems o f observer influence confound the s i tuat ion. Therefore, radio telemetry will be used t o de termine hab i ta t u t i l i za t ion by
elk, with inc iden ta l s i gh t i ngs o f bo th co l l a red and uncollared animals used as
supplementary information.
14
I n i t i a l reconnaissance by aircraf t , examinat ion of forest cover and
treatment maps, and consul tat ion with d i v i s iona l f o res te rs will allow select ion o f areas where co l lar ing a t tempts will be concentrated, based on the
presence o f e l k i n the area and the amount o f t y p e s o f s i l v i c u l t u r a l
ac t i v i t ies be ing car r ied ou t .
Twenty neck - f i t t ed rad io co l l a rs a re ava i l ab le f o r t he f i r s t year of
study. Under the assumption that calves remain with cows d u r i n g t h e i r f i r s t
year, c a l f movements will be assumed s i m i l a r t o those of mature cows with calves. Attempt will be made t o r a d i o collar cows, year l ings o f both sexes,
and mature bu l l s . Expandable r a d i o c o l l a r s or solar ear tag rad io
t ransmi t te rs will be necessary f o r use on mature bu l ls .
4.1.1 Cal ibra t ion o f Equipment
Error polygons (Springer 1979) will be constructed f rom t r iangulat ion of a
var iab le number o f f i x e s (minimum o f 3 on a known locat ion t ransmi t ter ) under
numerous environmental conditions.
4.1.2 Capture and Immobil izat ion The large s ize o f e lk requi res that immobi l izat ion o f an imals be ca r r i ed
out t o f i t r a d i o c o l l a r s and obtain blood samples. This will be accomplished
by using an immobilizing drug i n a Cap-chur gun and syr inge dar t system and
wili occur dur ing late winter when animals are concentrated on the winter
range.
Approach on f o o t t o a distance close enough t o be effect ive with a d a r t gun (50-150 ft.) has been successfully accomplished on a la rge number o f e l k
i n Yellowstone National Park (Craighead e t a l . 19731, 33 i n Oregon (Schoen 1977) and 4 e l k on Vancouver Island (Smith 1976; Janz, pers. comm. 1. This
method i s qui te t ime consuming (Janz, pers. comm. 1, but will be attempted i f
condi t ions ar ise where animals can be stalked from the ground. Another
possible method of immobi l izat ion would be t o use a hel icopter to herd animals near one or more ind i v idua ls on the ground with immobi l iz ing dart guns.
Darting animals from a h e l i c o p t e r i s the preferred method o f capture, but
other methods ( inc lud ing t rapping wi th corra l or clover t raps) will be
attempted when suitable condit ions arise.
Results from past studies employing immobilizing drugs and the recommended
dosages f o r Roosevelt elk are presented i n Tables 2 and 3 respectively. The
large muscle masses o f the shoulder and rump will be sho t a t t o reduce induc t ion t ime (Haigh ” e t al. 1977).
With each immobilization, information will be co l lec ted on: induct ion
time, recovery time, dosage, and sex, chest g i r t h and shoulder height o f the ind iv idual . I n addit ion, a 20 - 30 ml. blood sample will be co l lec ted and a
s ing le upper canine extracted f o r subsequent sectioning and age
determination. Animals will be ear-tagged and rad io co l la red and then observed f rom a distance t o ensure complete recovery. Antagonist (reversal)
drugs will be employed t o ensure a more rapid recovery.
4.1.3 Radio Tracking
Radio locat ions o f animals will be obtained by t r i angu la t i on o f three or more rad io f i xes o f strongest signal readings from hand held antennae.
Topographic and forest cover type maps will be consulted t o determine where
successive bearings will be taken and the inf luences o f topography and
vegetation will be assessed. Ground f i xes will mainly be used, taken from road intersect ions and other landmarks easily i d e n t i f i a b l e on forest cover
maps or a i r photos. Pos i t ion and bearing will be recorded f o r subsequent
mapping. A subjective appraisal o f p rec is ion of t he l oca t i on s im i l a r t o t ha t
used by Harestad (1979) will be made. Dai ly radio monitor ing will be carr ied out t o obtain locat ions for as many
ind i v idua ls as possible. A l l co l l a red i nd i v idua ls will be loca ted a t leas t
once every 3 days by ground. I f by t h e t h i r d day, a p a r t i c u l a r i n d i v i d u a l
16
Table 2. Imnobilizing drugs used on North h r i c a n elk
Drugs Dosage Induction time Period of Imnobilization
Reference Comments
Succinylcholine chloride
Jan. -9 n y Aug.-Sept 16-17 Q
6 min. 14-22 min. Harper 1965 - respiratory assist. may be reauired.
dictates requlred dosage. - condition of anlmal
46 mins. Flook 9 g. - sex and age determines (range = 7-178 1962
mins. ) requlred dosage.
Succinylcholine calves (4-11 mas)
cows ( -12 mol
bulls ( - 12 mo)
15-20
20-25 mg
25-35 mg.
10.5 mins (range = 3-25 min)
Alexander 1973 - used ln conjunctloo wltb
- possibly USinp Wf?akelYO hyaluronld~se
solutfons.
Davies Hehert & McFetridge 1979
Baldwin & Williams - 2 of 4 animals 1971 immhilized d i m
Schlegel 1974 - 2-3 mg M99 used to malntain
M50-50 in 2 times dosage of Immobility reversPd with
M99.
Janz unpubl. - 2-3 mg M99 used to maintain innnobllity.
Pederson h Thomas - used powdered form of drug. 1975
Succinylcholine 33-35 mg. 7-8 min. (raxe = 3-18 mln)
7.2 min
13.4 mins. (3-45 mln)
10-27 mins Succinylcholine 0.0345 mq/lb (range 5 0.03-0.04) (range = 2-23 min)
0.086 mg/lb 10 mlns. Succinylcholine 1-2 hrs.
Succinylcholine chloride
\'rlings: 15-18 mg 5 - 15 mins. Adults: 22-25 mg
20-29 mins.
Succinylcnoline chloride
Succinylcholine chloride
15 - 20 mg. "
bulls 12-14 mos. -26.03 mg.
6 mins.
COWS 12-14 mos. -22.33 mg. cows 2-10 yrs. -27.72 nlg.
1 mg/45 lbs. "
25 mins.
Succinylcholine chloride
Craighead &. - anlmals were more sensitive 1973 during winter, less in
spring and least in fall.
Magonlgle 81. - Rrlse to standing 1.4 - 16.7 1977 mlns. after injectlcn of
M50-50. - Aceprmazine used also (5 - 10 mg)
- Adn1nistert-d wlth ttv tranmillzer Vesperin to recrUce excitement .
M 9 9 (etorphine nydrochloride)
5 - l m g 4 - 11.4 mins. 10-80 mins.
M95 Yrling hull 1.7-4.5 12.6 - 21 mins. Yrllng cow 1.9-4.5 m(1/100 kg
mg/100 kg
mg/lOU kg Advlt COW 2.2-3.0
0.008 mg/lb (range 29 mins. = O.oo8-o.010) (range = 18-50)
10 - 25 mlns. Coggins 1975
H50-50) (then given
M99
H99
- -
18 mins.
Barrett 1973 2 - Administered With Hebert & McFetrldge acepraazine In ratio o f 1979 10: 1
0.015 mg/lb 6 mins. Lynch 1972 Hebert & McFetridge - lmnoblized. 6 mins. to 1979
- only 1 a&At male
Of M50-50. recovery after InJection
1/2 - 6 mins. Thorne 1974 2 - used with aceprmzine. Hebert & Mcr'etridge 1979
0.011 mg/lb (range 3 - 10.5 nins. = 0.005 - 0.015)
H99 .009 mg/lb 2.5 mins. Wolf h Stuart 1970 - one captive female
EFetridge 1979 In Hebert and immobilized.
u99 0.009 - 0.010 mg/lb - - M99 + k,mwn 4 mg. M99; 60-85 mg. - .-
Rompun
Immbilon (2.45 mg. M99/CC)
0.017 - 0.023 mg/lb - - Fentanyl & R o w n
Fentanyl: Females 0.07 rng/lb Males 0.09 mg/lb Ranpun: 0.09 mg/lb
"
" Janz unpubl. - ineffective. " Janz vnpvbl. - ineffectlve. " Janz unpubl. - effectlve. " Heigh 1976 - Excellent imnohillzatlon
17
Table 3. Recommended dosages of immobilizing drugs for use on Roosevelt e l k
Drug Recommended Dosage Reference Comments
M 9 9 0.011-0.015 mg/lb Lynch 1972;
Thorne 1974 In Hebert and
McFetridge 1979.
Immobilon (M99 0.017-0.023 mg/lb Janz unpubl.
+ acepromazine 1
Fentany l c i t ra te female-0.07 mg/lb Haigh 1976
male-0.09 mg/lb
Rompun.
Succinylchol ine 15-20 mg. Janz unpubl.
ch lor ide
Succinylcholine 9 mg. i n Jan. Harper 1965
ch lor ide 16-17 mg. i n Aug.-
Sept
M50-50 used f o r
recovery administered
i n 2 times the dose
o f M99.
E f fec t i ve l y used on
Roosevelt elk.
Used i n conjunction
with 0.09 mg/lb
2-3 mg. M99 used t o
maintain immobil i ty; (reversed by M50-50)
Condition o f animal
( t ime of year)
determines dosage.
18
cannot be located, a f l i g h t will be made over the ent i re area to locate the
animal. During migratory periods, individuals of dif ferent areas, sex and age
groups will be located a minimum o f once d a i l y i n order to determine migratory
routes and dates of departure and a r r i v a l on seasonal ranges. D i rec t observation will be used to gather supplementary data and t o t e s t t h e
assumption t h a t movements and hab i ta t use of radio col lared animals are
representative of the populat ion. Data recorded from observed animals will
include act iv i ty , cover type use, adjacent cover types, response t o observer,
sex and age c lass i f i ca t ion , e tc , (Sec. 9 ) .
A c t i v i t y budgets will be estimated by record ing s ignal response a t each f i x (active/steady). Instantaneous samples from the twenty collared animals
will provide informat ion on seasonal d iurnal act iv i ty pat terns, and general ac t i v i t y assoc ia ted with cover type (Janz 1980b). More detai led informat ion on t ime /ac t i v i t y budgets and act iv i ty /cover type re la t ionships will requi re
intensive monitor ing of selected indiv iduals for twenty-four hour cycles ( i .e.
ten minute per iods at one hour intervals). Rustrack recorders can a l so be employed to automat ical ly record act iv i ty pat terns, a l though sample s izes a re
d i f f i c u l t t o estimate. For example, Schoen (1977) used a Rustrack recorder t o
obtain 43 samples of 24 hour per iods for n ine indiv iduals. Other than general ac t i ve peaks a t crepuscular periods, there was very l i t t l e s i m i l a r i t y i n
a c t i v i t y p a t t e r n s between ind iv idua ls or f o r t he same i n d i v i d u a l between
consecutive days. The grouped data was adequate for estimating percentage
a c t i v i t y on a seasonal basis, s t r a t i f i e d by crepuscular, diurnal, and
nocturnal periods. The use of telemetered heart rates for est imating energy expenditure i s a
relat ively recent technology that may have a p p l i c a t i o n t o our research.
Proposed study of t h i s technique by t h e f o r e s t r y - w i l d l i f e group a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f B.C. on b l a c k t a i l deer will indica te the po ten t ia l fo r use on e lk . Recent studies on white-tai led deer indicate that fur ther research i s
require0 on the hear t ra te - energy expendi ture re lat ionship, as only 36% of
the va r ia t i on i n energy expenditure was accounted f o r by h e a r t r a t e ( Mautz and F a i r 1980).
19
Fortran coding of locat ion data will be carr ied out as the study proceeds t o prevent an excessive backlog of o f f i c e work.
4.1.4 Track Counts
Supplementary track counts i n snow du r ing ae r ia l censuses will serve t o
i d e n t i f y presence or absence o f e lk , par t i cu la r ly i n open habitat types.
4.1.5 Data Analysis 4.1.5.1 Home Range and Migration Data
De l ineat ion o f home range will be accomplished using Harestad's (1979) ana lys is o f loo%, 90% and 50% home range using radio locations and the minimum
area method (Mohr 1947). Analysis of variance will be used t o t e s t f o r s ign i f i can t d i f f e rences i n seasonal home range size; t-tests will be used t o
tes t f o r s ign i f i can t d i f f e rences between mean centres of a c t i v i t y ( a r i t h m e t i c mean of location coordinates) to determine the migratory status of the animals
and monitor u t i l i z a t i o n changes i n response t o treatment effects within the
home range. ' Migratory routes as determined by radio telemetry will be mapped and
subsequently assessed by habi tat type to evaluate the importance of corr idors
o f spec i f i c hab i ta t types.
4.1.5.2 Habitat Selection
Habi ta t se lect ion can be determined by t e s t i n g f o r s t a t i s t i c a l l y
s ign i f i can t d i f f e rences between use o f various habitat types and the
a v a i l a b i l i t y o f those habitat types within the study area, using the standard chi-square technique (Marcum and Loftsgaarden 1980). Various mult ivariate
procedures (multiple regression, factor and discriminant analyses, etc. ) may prov ide fu r ther ins igh t in to the importance of various environmental
a t t r i bu tes on habi ta t se lect ion (Janz 1980a). Use o f these analyt ical
techniques will be explored a t l a te r da ta ana lys i s stages.
20
4.2 Food Habits.
Three major methodologies for the analys is of food habi ts of f ree-ranging
ungulates are available: rumen analysis, fecal analysis and d i r e c t observat ions of wi ld or captive animals. A l l three methodologies have
l i m i t a t i o n s which must be considered i n i n t e r p r e t i n g r e s u l t s ( M i t c h e l l ” e t a l . 1977). I n rumen ana lys is , d i f fe ren t ia l d iges t ion o f d i f fe ren t spec ies , the
d i f f e r e n t r a t e s o f passage o f food from the rumen, the short time per iod t o which the sample relates (previous 48 hours), and the non-repeatabi l i ty o f
samples (animals need t o be k i l l ed ) a re t he ma jo r i n te rp re t i ve l im i ta t i ons .
I n feca l ana lys i s , t he l im i ta t i ons i nc lude d i f f e ren t i a l d iges t i on o f t he
c u t i c l e i n d i f ferent spec ies and d i f f e r e n t r a t e s o f passsage through the gut
f o r d i f f e r e n t species. Direct observations do no t a l low quant i ta t i ve estimates of different species eaten and are also logistically limited by the
t ime involved i n making adequate observations. However, d i r e c t f i e l d observation will provide supplemental information on feeding behavior, which
may have important management impl icat ions ( i .e . c rater ing, t ree- l in ing, use o f l i t t e r f a l l , etc.).
Proposed methodology:
The major methodology which will be employed for food habi ts studies will
be feca l fragment analysis, due t o t h e advantage o f n o t r e q u i r i n g d i r e c t animal contact. Rumen analysis will be employed where rumen samples become
available.
4.2.1 Fecal Fragment Analysis
This technique as described by Sparks and Malechek (1968) will be u t i l i z e d f o r analyses o f food habits . The use o f t h i s technique requires the compi la t ion o f a re fe rence s l ide co l lec t ion and preparation of fresh or frozen
feca l samples. A p lan t voucher s l i d e c o l l e c t i o n and key ex i s t s f o r many p o t e n t i a l e l k forage species (Janz i n prep.). Prepared f e c a l samples are
sub-sampled microscopically for frequency of occurrence and area coverage o f
plant species.
21
Regular collections of fresh fecal pellets will be made from specific herds chosen on the basis of habitat types and seasonal ranges uti l ized such that differences between habitat availability and diet may be assessed (chi-square). Pellets will be collected as a random sub-sample from a pellet group. Each sub-sample collected should be 1 or 2 handfuls so that enough material is available for both fecal fragment and fecal nitrogen analysis. Sample size for each herd for each month should consist of a t l eas t 8 sub-samples. Fresh fecal samples will be frozen i n air-tight containers u n t i l analyzed.
4.2.2 Rumen Analysis Specimens for rumen analysis will be collected from hunter k i l l s and
poss ib ly selective k i l l s . Analysis of samples will follow techniques as described by Puglisi et a l . (1978).
4.3 Habitat assessment Assessment of available habitat types will be made for the following
physical and biological attributes:
4.3.1 Physical Characteristics (RAB[1980] data sheet) 4.3.1.1 Slope - from an average of several clinometer readings. 4.3.1.2 Aspect - from hand held compass readings. 4.3.1.3 Elevation - from 1:50,000 topographic maps of the s tudy area. 4.3.1.4 Soil Features - TSB 1:50,000 soils and landform maps. 4.3.1.5 Weather
Nine weather stations from ASB are available and will be established i n stands representative of various silvicultural treatments for comparative purposes (various stages of canopy closure, stem dens i ty , age, etc. 1. Each station will consist of:
- Stevenson screen - max. and min. thermometers - thermograph - rain gauge - 5 snow stakes
22
I n addit ion, AS8 have a number o f so la r imeters tha t will be avai lab le dur ing
winter months. Measures of radiation reaching ground or bedding l e v e l will be co l lec ted f rom s tands represent ing the s t ructura l e f fects o f canopy closure
and stem density and physical effects of aspect and slope.
4.3.1.6 Snow Depth and Density
Snow depth and density will be measured on a weekly basis (if l o g i s t i c a l l y possible) during winter months a t weather s ta t i ons and other permanent
vegetation plots. Depth will be assessed by tak ing an average o f snow height on 5 permanently marked s takes a t each plot . Densi ty will be evaluated by
averaging several weight to volume r a t i o s of snow i n the area, although
specific methodologies may change pending resul ts from the work on snow-ungulate in te rac t ions by the fores t ry-wi ld l i fe group a t U.B.C.
Snow density will be r e l a t e d t o e l k m o b i l i t y by determining snow hardness
when the s inking depth or track depth can a lso be measured. It i s e s s e n t i a l
t o co l l ec t i n fo rma t ion on sinking depth and snow dens i ty shor t l y a f te r the
t rack has been made to avo id changes i n e i t h e r or both o f these measurements
due t o weathering. Therefore, radio te lemetry will be used to locate animals,
and then immediate measurements (track depth and adjacent snow density) will be taken. It will be important t o monitor animal locations immediately
fo l lowing per iods of heavy snowfa l l to document use o f thermal cover.
4.3.2 B io log ica l Character is t ics
4.3.2.1 General Vegetation Analysis The f i r s t procedure required to describe the vegetative components o f t h e
study area will be the co l lect ion o f recent ly publ ished in format ion. Forest
cover maps, s i l v i cu l tu ra l t r ea tmen t maps, a i r photos, and ecosystem uni t maps (TSB, MOF) wi.l.1 be used t o s t r a t i f y t h e s t u d y area. F i r s t p r i o r i t y f o r
s t r a t i f i c a t i o n will be based on s e r a l stage, especial ly stands exhibit ing
e x i s t i n g and proposed s i l v i c u l t u r a l p r a c t i c e s , within a biogeocl imatic subzone
or ecosystem unit.
23
The hab i ta t assessment sampling design i s s i m i l a r t o t h a t of Nyberg
(1980). The RAB (1980) format will be used f o r describing the cover types on
permanently established 20 m square p l o t s (dimensions may be modi f ied to sample spec i f i c ecosystems such as r i p a r i a n zones, wet meadows, etc.). P l o t s
will be tentat ive ly located on a i r photos, followed by a ground record to conf i rm tha t the loca t ion i s representa t ive o f the stand. A t o t a l f l o r i s t i c
l i s t , percent cover (ocular estimate), distribution, and vigor will be co l lec ted by he igh t s t ra ta (RAB 1980). Overhead canopy closure will be
estimated by ocular estimate and an appropriate quantative method (densiometer, etc. - pending resu l t s o f a t e s t o f 7 methods by the
f o r e s t r y - w i l d l i f e group a t UBC [Bunnell, pers. comm.]).
4.3.2.2 Understory Woody Stems (20 cm - 2 m) Four 1x20 m transects (20% o f p l o t ) will be established as i l l u s t r a t e d i n
Figure 1. Stem counts, basal stem diameters, height, and percentage browse by
species will be recorded. A "species-area curve" will be used as a check on sampling intensity; some p l o t s may exhibit very sparse understory abundance and d i ve rs i t y , requ i r i ng less than 20% sampling, while others may ind icate the
need t o establish another 20 m square p l o t . A tree species count ( 5 10 cm
dbh, > 10 cm dbh) and average dbh by bo th s t ra ta will also be recorded.
4.3.2.3 Herbaceous Layer
E i g h t 1 m square mini-plots (2% sampling i n t e n s i t y ) will be establ ished
within the p lo t as i l l u s t r a t e d i n Figure 1. Stem counts, height, diameter o f
'clumps' (ferns), and percentage browse by species will be t a l l i e d . Stem
counts of woody stems < 20 cm i n height will also be recorded. Addit ional herbaceous p l o t s will be establ ished if the species-area curve indicates the
ssmpl ing intensi ty i s inadequate i n comparison t o t h e f l o r i s t i c l i s t (4.3.2.1).
24
4.3.2.4 Pellet-Group Survey.
Selected plots (treatment vs. con t ro l or pre and post-treatment comparisons) will incorporate intensive sampling of animal use as ind icated by
pellet-group counts and browse p roduc t i on /u t i l i za t i on measurements (4.3.2.5). Sixteen 10 m c i rcu la r pe l le t -g roups p lo ts (40% sampl ing intensi ty) will be establ ished as i l l u s t r a t e d i n Fig. 1. I n i t i a l work will entai l count ing and
c l e a r i n g a l l deer and elk pellet-groups. Subsequent counts and c lear ing will depend on speci f ic ob ject ives and l o g i s t i c s , but should be conducted a t l e a s t
semi-annually to obtain informat ion on time of use.
2
4.3.2.5 Browse Produc t ion /Ut i l i za t ion Four permanent sample centers will be es tabl ished diagonal ly across the
p l o t (Fig. 1). Key forage species (as determined by evidence o f browsing and
d i e t analyses) within 1 m of the sample center will be tagged (5 closest ind iv iduals) ; basal stem diameter, height, crown volume measurements, number
and average diameter o f annual twigs and number of browsed twigs and average
browse diameter, by 50 cm height in terva ls , will be recorded for each
specimen. Average browse diameter and browse i n t e n s i t y by he ight s t ra ta,
combined with the pellet-group data, should indicate the species (deer or e lk )
u t i l i z i n g t h e s i t e . I
4.3.2.6 Access/Debris A t each 1 m in te rva l a long the per imeter o f the 20 m square p l o t ,
informat ion on t t a c c e s s i b i l i t y t ' i n t o t h e p l o t will be assessed. This will
enta i l cha rac te r i s t i cs o f ground cover (spacing' debr is, fa l len logs, t ra i l ,
w&ter, understory development, etc. ) and height measurement o f features
impeding movement.
25
! q
! '
1
i i
I I
1 i I !
j I
'.. I 1 understory woody stem transect ( 1 X 20m ) I \<
herb layer ( 1 X lm )
e pellet group plot center ( r = 1.8m = 10m 2 )
(3 production/utilization center
c center with sighting board
Figure 1. Plot design for habitat assessment.
26
4.3.2.7 V i s i b i l i t y A s igh t ing boa rd or tube , g radua ted i n 50 cm h e i g h t i n t e r v a l s t o 2 m , will
be. l o c a t e d a t the p l o t c e n t e r , a n d p e r c e n t v i s i b i l i t y by h e i g h t i n t e r v a l s will be estimated a t 10 - 20 m i n t e r v a l s u n t i l t o t a l o b s c u r i t y (or 200 m ) a long 4 t r ansec t s runn ing from p l o t c e n t e r p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o the p lo t boundar ies . Restricted v i s i b i l i t y due t o t opograph ic features will a l s o be recorded. T h i s information will be used t o i n d i c a t e su i tab i l i ty of the stand fo r p rov id ing escape or hiding cover .
4.3.2.8 Forage Qual i ty Analys is Analysis of the n u t r i t i o n a l q u a l i t y o f selected fo rage spec ie s , as
determined by diet ana lyses , will be conducted on a seasona l and habi ta t t ype basis. C l i p p i n g s o f current annual growth twigs will be collected from a number of randomly chosen individuals to be air-dried, ground, and sub-sampled fo r l abo ra to ry ana lys i s o f :
- n i t rogen (N) (AOAC 1975) - energy (bomb ca lo r ime t ry - Robbins 1980)
- dry matter d i g e s t i b i l i t y (DMD) (Tilley and Terry 1963) - Ca, Mg (Chr is t ian and Feldman 1970; Perkin-Elmer Corp. 1973)
- phosphorus ( P I (Jackson 1958) - acid de te rgen t f iber (ADF), n e u t r a l d e t e r g e n t fiber (NDF), a n d l i g n i n
content (Georing and Van Soes t 1970).
4.3.2.9 Future Cons idera t ions Addi t iona l habi ta t assessment activit ies will be repor t ed i n subsequen t
wcrking plans, pending progress and results from the 81/82 f ie ld season, and coord ina t ion o f act ivi t ies wi th the habitat component of the research program. Poss ib l e act ivi t ies inc lude :
- c l ipp ing o f fo rage spec ie s for b iomass and product iv i ty f igures , and e s t ab l i shmen t o f r eg res s ions fo r e s t ima t ing these parameters from v a r i o u s p r e d i c t o r v a r i a b l e s (stem diameter, he igh t , crown volume, twig diameter - weight; (see Rutherford [1979] f o r review).
- e x c l o s u r e p l o t s t o e x a m i n e v e g e t a t i o n r e s p o n s e t o v a r i o u s s i l v i c u l t u r a l p r a c t i c e s (or browsing pressure) by excluding ungulate use
- plo ts to de te rmine decomposi t ion rates o f t h inn ing debris.
27
4.3.3 Analyses
Analysis of the hab i ta t assessment data will include: - s i te descr ip t ions and f l o r i s t i c l i s t summaries which will provide the
basis f o r a de ta i led hab i ta t t ype c lass i f i ca t ion map of the selected
study area (using FS and/or TSB computer programs).
- re la t ionsh ips between the more detai led understory measurements (i.e. density, height, stem' diameter, etc.) and percent cover which will be
analyzed (regression analysis) to explore the val id i ty of using percent
cover t o estimate browse biomass. Comparisons o f p lant densi ty, weather
variables, and v i s i b i l i t y between d i f fe ren t hab i ta t t ypes will be made by
analysis of variance and t- tests. Correlat ion and regression analysis
will be used t o determine the relat ionships of canopy closure on understory p lant d iversi ty and d e n s i t y , v i s i b i l i t y , and snow
characterist ics. Pel let-group and browse in tens i ty da ta will supplement hab i ta t use data obtained by telemetry and provide comparisons of future
treatment monitoring experiments. Correlation analysis will also be used
to explore the re la t ionships and l inkage between:
- avai lable forage (habitat use) to food habits (4.2) (=diet select ion)
- d ie t se lec t ion to fo rage qua l i t y (4.3.2.8) (=d ie t qua l i t y )
- d ie t qua l i t y to an ima l cond i t ion (4.4.3) (=habi ta t qual i ty )
- a l l the environmental attributes (independent variables) which will be used t o develop a model of habi tat use/select ion (dependent var iable) as
out l ined i n Section 4.1.5.2.
4.4 Animal Condition
4.4.1 Body Fat I n d i c e s o f t o t a l body fat reserves are the most widely reported measurements
of body condition (Janz 1979). The kidney fa t index (GI) i s computed by d i v i d i n g
the weight of the perinephric (perirenal) fat by the kidney weight and mu l t i p l y ing
by 100 (Janz 1979).
28
The t o t a l kidney f a t method which includes a l l p e r i r e n a l f a t i s r e p o r t e d l y
more sensi t ive to fa t deposi t ion than the Riney (1955) technique, which involves
cutt ing the fat perpendicular t o the long axis of the kidney i n an attempt t o standardize the measurement (Manson et g. 1974).
KFI has been used to i nd i ca te t he re la t i onsh ip between body.condition and
pregnancy rates of adul t female Roosevelt e lk (Trainer 1971) and increased mor ta l i t y o f male Rocky Mountain elk greater than 7 years o f age (Flook 1970). V a r i a b i l i t y as a resu l t of age, sex, and season make values obtained from adu l t
females most desirable f o r inter-herd comparisons (Caughley 1970; Anderson and Medin 1972).
Proposed methodology Kidney f a t i n d e x will be determined f rom the to ta l fa t method for hunter
col lectea samples from animals k i l l e d i n the study area. Samples will also be obtained from any animals col lected for other reasons or from accidental
fa ta l i t ies dur ing capture act iv i t ies . In ter -herd comparisons will be made on the basis o f samples co l lected from adu l t females. Problems associated with t h i s
index will be the l im i ted number o f samples and t h e d i f f i c u l t y i n g e t t i n g t o t a l
kidney f a t from hunter samples.
4.4.2 Blood Analysis
Serum non-ester i f ied fat ty acids (NEFA) increase with reduced d iges t i b le
energy intake (Bowden 1971). Thus, NEFA is a po ten t i a l i nd i ca to r o f energy balance. However, the ef fects of handl ing stress on t h i s parameter must be
considered when dealing with w i l d animals (Slee and Hal l iday 1968). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) has been reported by numerous i nves t i ga to rs t o
i l l u s t r a t e trends i n p r o t e i n i n t a k e (Franzmann 1972; Seal e t a l . 1972; Skeen 1974;
LeResche ” e t a l . 1974; Robbins ” e t a l . 1974; Hyvarinen e t a l . 1975; K i r p a t r i c ” et a l . 1975; Seal and Hoskinson 1978; Hebert 1978) and t o be re la t i ve l y i nsens i t i ve t o
handling stress (Seal ” e t a l . 1972; LeResche e t a l . 1974; Karns and Crichton 1978). The major drawback t o BUN analysis i s t h a t increases i n BUN may ind icate
29
h igh prote in in take or very low protein intake associated with muscle
catabolism. As w i t h a l l blood parameters, establishment
o f normal values within boundary classes of age, sex, season, reproductive status, and handling methods are required before management-related i n te rp re ta t i ons can be applied (LeResche e t a l . 1974).
The use o f blood parameters f o r assessing animal conditon will be
r e s t r i c t e d due t o l i m i t e d sample s ize co l lect ion, and therefore will only contr ibute supplemental information to fecal nitrogen values (4.4.3).
Proposed methodology: a) Approx. 20-30 m l . blood samples will be co l lec ted from a l l
immobilized animals and frozen for subsequent lab analysis o f NEFA
and BUN.
b) I f s u f f i c i e n t t ime i s available, baseline values should be obtained
from captive Roosevelt elk (poss ib ly a t Vancouver Game Farm) from various sex and age classes and nu t r i t i ona l p lanes t o assess the
inf luence o f immobilizing drugs and hand l i ng exc i tab i l i t y on the
values obtained i n free-ranging animals.
4.4.3 Fecal Nitrogen
A s t rong re la t ionship between seasonal changes i n feca l crude p ro te in and ra tes o f weight gain have been reported for Rocky Mountain elk (Gates 1979)
with weight stasis occurr ing at protein levels of about 10%. Jorgenson and
Wishart (1979) have found a s ign i f i can t re la t i onsh ip (r = -.97; p < .05) between feca l crude protein values during May - June and ear ly lamb m o r t a l i t y
i n bighorn sheep over 4 years of study. Neonatal mortality has been
n e g l i g i b l e a t p r o t e i n l e v e l s of 23+%, while a 33% m o r t a l i t y was r e l a t e d t o p ro te in l eve l s o f 17%. Current invest igat ions are us ing feca l prote in leve ls
to monitor the n u t r i t i o n a l s t a t u s o f Vancouver Is land e lk (Janz, i n prep.;
r e f e r t o problem analysis).
30
When comined w i t h BUN, fecal N values can be used t o indicate whether an animal is above or below protein maintenance levels (Hebert 1978). The simplicity of collecting fecal samples and determining nitrogen content through Kjeldahl analysis (AOAC 1975) makes t h i s technique especially attractive for assessing the condition of free ranging ungulate populations.
Proposed methodology: a ) Fecal pellets will be collected, concurrent w i t h fecal collections for
food habits analyses, on a monthly and habitat type basis. Only fresh samples will be collected t o establish temporal estimates of animal condition. Locating herds containing radio collared individuals will allow collection of fresh pellet groups.
b) A fecal sub-sample will be randomly s e l ec ted , and after drying and
gr ind ing , subjected t o nitrogen content analysis us ing macro-Kjeldahl techniques (AOAC 1975). Percent crude protein (CP) will be calculated assuming an average nitrogen content of 16% for protein, and no nitrogen sources other than protein i n the fecal sample (CP = 6.25 x %N,
Robbins [ 19801 1.
4.5 Populations Measures Populat ion information is of importance i n understanding population
dynamics and assessing long term population responses t o habitat change and o%her potential influences. Numerous approaches t o measuring population performance are available (Mitchell ” e t a l . 1977) and these are outlined i n Table 4. Each methodology has certain levels of cost and information attached t o it. The primary objective of the present research project is t o investigate elk use and response to intensively managed forests, no t document elk population dynamics per se. For t h i s reason the following methodologies are proposed:
a) sample classified counts (ground, a i r ) t o estimate seasonal herd composition (calves: yearlings: adults).
31
Table 4. Approaches avai lable fo r measuring population performance
Population Assessment
Procedure Information
~~
Relat ive Cost
Aer ia l count ing
Ground counting
Mark - recapture
Mark saturat ion
Mortal i ty data
Sign counts
( i .e . feces,
t racks, etc .
estimates of numbers; var iable (dependent
c lass i f i ca t i on and upon desired accuracy) d i s t r i bu t i on low - high
relat ive est imates of moderate - high
numbers; c lass i f i ca t ion
and d i s t r i b u t i o n ; d i f f i c u l t
over large land areas or i n dense vegetation
estimates of numbers;
requires large (50% or greater) sample size; non- viable for large mammals except when used i n '
conjunction with a e r i a l
surveys
estimates of numbers;
f e a s i b i l i t y unknown
estimates of numbers and
age structure; however,
high percentage non-biased
removal i s required.
d i s t r i bu t i on and r e l a t i v e density estimates
high
moderate
low
1 ow
32
b ) a mark-recapture experiment, utilizing colour coded ear tags on radio-collared animals and a cooperative observer recording system w i t h B.C. Ministry of Forests (MOF) and MacMillan Bloedel (MB) employees (40 - 50 observers [vehicles], t o estimate population size, changes i n population size, and dispersal rates.
c) collection of predator scats w i t h i n the s tudy area i n order t o assess predator abundance, d i s t r i b u t i o n , and food habits on a preliminary basis.
4.5.1 Sample Classified Counts Classification counts w i t h adequate sample sizes, can provide population
age structure data which can be interpreted t o yield indices of productivity and recruitment.
Classification will be conducted from the ground on an annual basis when groups or individuals are sighted (dur ing radio location or travel). Animals will be classified i n t o one of four categories:
(1) calves (2) yearling b u l l s (spikes) (3 ) adult b u l l s (incl. antler conformation) (4) cows (yearlings and adults)
Areas may la ter be s t ra t i f ied on the basis of radio telemetry home range information such that data on separate herds can be distinguished.
Classification will also be conducted from the air (helicopter) during two periods of the year, late winter and l a t e summer, i n order t o supplement ground counts i n assessing recruitment and productivity, respectively. Aerial counts will consist of 1 - 3 hour f l i g h t s i n which the s tudy area, or a selected portion of the s tudy area, is covered. Group sizes will also be recorded. Sample sizes will be dependent upon results of mark-recapture experiments and population size estimates.
33
Possible relationships between animal condition values (4.4) and population productivity will be explored by regression analysis (Jorgenson and Wishart 1979).
4.5.2 Mark-recapture Experiment E l k captured for radio collaring will also be given colour coded ear tags
so that individuals may be recoghized on the basis of these tags alone. Individual recognition of marked elk, independent of radio telemetry, will enable a mark-recapture experiment t o be carried out following the Jolly-Seber method (Seber 1973). In t h i s method, a series of samples of varying sizes are made over an extended period and each sample captured is examined for marked members. In t h i s way a capture-recapture h i s to ry of individual animals is compiled. A stochastic analysis of these capture-recapture histories (see Caughley 1977:148) allows estimation o f the parameters of an open population i n which there is death, recruitment, immigration and emigration. Radio telemetry information will ass i s t i n defining population (or herd) boundaries.
I n order t o perform t h i s experiment, both a marking and a recapture system are required. In the first year of s tudy , marking will be done i n conjunction w i t h radio collaring activities. I n future years more intensive marking may be done u t i l i z i n g baited corral and/or clover traps s e t when there is snow on the ground, usually i n l a t e winter. Marking will be done wi th h igh ly visible ny lon c o l l a r s and colour coded ear tags. It is necessary that the recapture
system function independently of radio telemetry I n order t o avoid radio collar biases. For this reason, 8 cooperative observer recording system will be established w i t h MOF and MB employees utilizing the s t u d y area. S igh t ings i n which collared vs. uncollared animals are distinguished will be recorded i n s i g h t i n g form books placed i n cooperating vehicles (approx. 40 - 50).
4.6 Predation Predation on elk by wolves, couoars and bears has the potential t o be a
major influence on elk population status. I n order to assess the potential impacts of these predators it is necessary t o estimate species density and food habits w i t h i n t h e study area.
34
4.6.1 Density Predator density estimate methodologies which require the least number o f
man hours t o conduct will be considered i n i t i a l l y . Winter track counts and
scat locations will be the primary methodologies used t o assess predator d i s t r i b u t i o n w i t h i n the study area. Track counts will be conducted when snow condit ions permit, while scat locations will be p l o t t e d on a map o f the study
area whenever co l lect ions are made. Scat densities (scats/km of road) and
number o f tracks counted per area may give estimates of re la t ive predator
densit ies. If a relat ively h igh densi ty of a predator species i s i n d i c a t e d within the study area, more intensive study methods such as rad io co l l a r i ng
will be considered i n f u t u r e years.
4 . 6 . 2 Predator Food Habits Predator food habits will be assessed through scat col lect ions made during
routine road use and analyzed on the basis of microscopic ha i r ident i f icat ion.
Mapping o f scat locat ions will allow for the separation of predator food
habi ts on the basis of e l k d i s t r i b u t i o n i n space and time.
4.7 Habi tat Enhancement Enhancement o f the required components of e l k hab i ta t i n regenera t i ng
forests can be accomplished through d i r e c t enhancement ef for ts ( forage p roduc t i on ; non -s i l v i cu l tu ra l f e r t i l i za t i on ) or modifications i n s i l v i c u l t u r a l
practices. Both avenues o f enhancement should be examined with forage q u a l i t y
and quanti ty, and e l k response (determined by s i t e u t i l i z a t i o n [ r a d i o
telemetry]) as ind icators of t h e s u i t a b i l i t y of the a l tered habi ta t .
Enhancement a c t i v i t i e s a r e a low pr io r i t y w i th in the research program a t
present; speci f ic projects will be conducted on an opportunist ic basis.
4.7.1 Propagation Supplemental feeding programs, pa r t i cu la r l y du r ing winter, have been
pract ised i n an e f f o r t t o sustain elk through winter condit ions. However, the
p o s s i b i l i t y of providing sustained forage through propagation o f perennial species, par t i cu la r ly in regenera t ing fo res ts , has not been i n v e s t i g a t e d i n
coastal forest ecosystems.
35
I n order t o successfully propagate alternate forage for elk, plants should
be chosen that are not only preferred browse species, but are also easily propagated and do not ser iously compete wi th coni fer regenerat ion. Sal ix spp.
and Sambucus spp. have been indicated (pers. comm. ) t o be h e a v i l y u t i l i z e d
by Vancouver Is land e lk dur ing winter months.
1
Proposed methodology: a) Experimental plantations of Sal ix and Sambucus have already been
establ ished at Elk River and Shaw Creek, respectively. Plant
su rv i va l i n these locations will be monitored t o indicate the f e a s i b i l i t y o f establ ishing more extensive plantat ions using the s i t e
type and propagation methods u t i l i z e d i n these areas.
b) Addit ional experimental plantat ions will be established using a va r ie t y o f s i t e types and methodologies. Recording environmental condit ions such as drainage, elevation, slope, aspect, and s o i l t y p e
will indicate under which circumstances su rv i va l may be increased.
Table 5 i s a summary of the methods by which Salix, Sambucus, and
Populus (a p o t e n t i a l browse species) may be successful ly propagated. Exact techniques of each o f these methods are w e l l documented i n the
l i t e r a t u r e .
c ) Experimental plantations should be established adjacent to areas recently replanted with conifers. Monitoring browse in t ens i ty p r io r
and subsequent to the forage plantat ions' establ ishment.wi l1 a l low
quan t i f i ca t i on o f changes i n the amount o f browse on commercially
valuable conifer stands with the in t roduc t ion of adjacent alternate forage. Interplanting of forage species (simultaneous with
replant ing o f coni fers) and underplanting i n thinned stands o f d i f fer ing densi ty, should also be undertaken, monitoring resulting
su rv i va l and associated costs.
Personal f i l e avai lable from D. Janz, M in i s t r y of Environment,
Campbell River , B.C.
36
Table 5. Summary o f avai lable methods for the propagation of Sal ix, Sambucus
and Populus
Species Technique Reference
Sal ix spp.
(wi l low)
Sambucus spp.
(elderberry)
Populus spp.
(cottonwood)
Softwood Cuttings Tobey 1975
Hardwood Cuttings Oldale & Oldale 1975
Seeds
Softwood Cutt ings Tobey 1975
Div is ion Hartmann & Kester
Root Cuttings 1968 Ripe Hardy Cutt ings Oldale & Oldale 1975
Softwood Cutt ings
Hardwood Cuttings
Root Cuttings Graft ing
Tobey 1975
37
4.7.2 N o n - s i l v i c u l t u r a l F e r t i l i z a t i o n
The app l ica t ion o f f e r t i l i z e r s s p e c i f i c a l l y t o enhance forage qual i ty i n regenerating forests has not been documented. Experimental exclosures will be
established i n s i tes vary ing i n environmental conditions (aspect, elevation, slope, s o i l type) and age o f stand. Since forage q u a l i t y and quant i ty i s presumably most c r i t i c a l i n the winter, known winter ing areas will be examined
f i r s t . Manual app l i ca t ion o f d i f f e r e n t f e r t i l i z e r s i n d i f f e ren t app l i ca t i on
densi t ies will be car r ied ou t in the spr ing or f a l l of the year. Monitoring o f elk forage species quantity ( R A E format ), vegetat ion c l ipp ing (dur ing fa l l , mid-winter, and spring) for subsequent nut r ient analys is ( for prote in , energy
and mineral content), and semi-annual measurements o f twig length and diameter
o f selected key browse species (for productivi ty est imates) i n t r e a t e d and adjacent control areas will determine the short and long term impacts o f
n o n - s i l v i c u l t u r a l f e r t i l i z a t i o n .
4.7.3 S i t e Type Conversion
Reclamation o f understocked areas of h igh po ten t ia l p roduc t iv i t y has
become increasingly common i n Vancouver Island regenerating forests. The impacts o f these practices on e l k will be assessed by determining forage
q u a l i t y and quant i ty, and e l k u t i l i z a t i o n (from radio telemetry data) o f areas d i f f e r i n g i n environmental Conditions prior and subsequent t o conversion
ac t iv i t ies .
4.8 Transplants
Transplants may be u t i l i z e d i n order t o t e s t h a b i t a t u t i l i z a t i o n o f
part icular t reated stands i n areas where e l k do not present ly ex is t . If
transplants do become necessary these procedures will be followed:
4.8.1 Selection of Transplant Herd and Transplant S i t e
Selection of a transplant herd and t ransp lan t s i t e will be dependent on a
number of c r i t e r i a i nc lud ing t he number o f animals present, the logist ics o f capture and release, the influence of the t ransplant on other study herds, and
the forest ry act iv i t ies present wi th in the t ransplant s i te . Speci f ic decisions about these c r i t e r i a will be s i t u a t i o n dependent and, therefore, are
presently not defined. Several candidate transplant herds are presently known (Janz, pers. comm.). !
38
4.8.2 Capture
Capture techniques need t o be adapt ive to par t icu lar sets o f f ie ld
conditions. Techniques t o choose from include bai ted corral t raps, bai ted
clover traps, or hel icopter dr ives into corra l t raps. The one t ransplant that
has been done on Vancouver Is land u t i l i zed ba i ted cor ra l t raps . Squeeze
chutes will be employed t o mark or rad io co l l a r animals and obtain blood
samples.
4.8.3 Transport
Captured animals will be transferred t o the re lease s i te i n a c a t t l e
transport truck.
5 STUDY AREAS
The relat ively short t ime-hor izon of the IWIFR program, i n addi t ion t o the l i m i t e d a v a i l a b i l i t y and l o g i s t i c s associated with co l lect ing basel ine information i n an unlogged watershed, d ic ta te that the major i ty o f research be
conducted i n areas o f second growth tha t o f fe r a mix o f unmanaged stands, past
s i l v i c u l t u r a l treatments, and opportunity fo r future habi tat manipulat ion once p r e s e n t h a b i t a t u t i l i z a t i o n i s documented. The areas outl ined below o f f e r
potent ia l for invest igat ing var ious components o f the proposed research.
Various management a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e F i s h and W i l d l i f e Branch ( F W ) (Region 1) are i n progress on many of these areas and may supplement some o f the IWIFR
research (Table 6 ) .
5.1 Salmon River The Salmon River watershed i s under 2 major forest tenures - the Sayward
Provincial Forest (SPF) and t ree farm l icence (TFL). A l a rge por t ion (65%) o f the SPF contains immature forest stands, which over the past 5 years have
received intensive s i lv icul tural t reatment, consist ing of juven i le and
back-log spacing and f e r t i l i z a t i o n ( M i n i s t r y of Forests 1980). Some untreated
stands and stands proposed f o r near-future treatment (spacing and thinning) exist that of fer opportuni ty for monitor ing animal and p lan t response.
ACTIVITY
Radio collaring
Habitat utilization
Habitat assessment
Survey/composition counts
Fecal Nitrogen
Weather monitoring
Predators - density/ food habits
Transplants
Marking
Habitat enhancement
IWIFR: X
F & W : *
c, v) w L 0 L
U
fa L
3
L 3
X
X
X
X *
X
X
X
( X>
(X)
"
i
40
Adjacent t o the S F are several stands of second growth forest w i t h i n TFL 7 (Menzies Bay Division of MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. ). T h i s d iv i s ion is largely untreated silviculturally, only 200 - 300 ha have been juvenile spaced over the las t 5 years (M. Broren [Div. For.], pers. corn.), and therefore offers the opportuni ty t o gather baseline information regarding elk uti l ization of largely unmanaged regenerating forests. M. Broren (pers. comm.) intimated that no further spacing ac t iv i t ies will be conducted i n t h i s area u n t i l the long term effects of t h i s practise on tree production are better known. A small amount of commercial t h i n n i n g is planned for the area i n one or two years which will allow the collection of habitat utilization information pr ior and subsequent t o t h i s treatment. As viable elk populations exist i n the Salmon River watershed, many of the research topics discussed i n t h i s working plan will be conducted, a t l ea s t i n i t i a l ly , i n t h i s s tudy area.
5.2 M t . Washington/Constitution Hill i n March 1979, a group of U elk were released near Cons t i tu t ion Hill i n
the M t . Washington area west of Courtenay. Several individuals were radio collared and their movements followed, but the collars no longer function. Most o f the area utilized by the elk is managed by the Courtenay Division of Crown Zellerbach Ltd.
The transplanted herd offers an excellent opportunity t o examine habitat uti l ization i n intensively managed second growth forests without the ciffects of tradit ional movement behavior. However, recapture of the transplanted animals will be necessary i n order t o attach new radio collars which will allow monitoring of movements and habitat utilization. Population status should also be monitored t o determine i f t h i s group is expanding i n numbers to occupy t h i s habitat previously unexploited by elk.
41
5.3 Nanaimo RiverJLakes The Nanaimo River/Lakes area sustains a subs tan t ia l number of elk.
However, i t i s unknown i f animals i n these two areas are independent groups,
or i f they are actual ly the same, highly mobile, herd. Therefore, an e f f o r t
should be made t o determine the degree of movement, or herd interchange, between these areas. Depending on the avai lable manpower ( l o c a l sportsman groups may provide volunteer assistance) several individuals should be rad io
co l la red i n both areas and their movements monitored or , i f condit ions permit, as many animals as possible should be trapped and marked wi th neckbands.
Future sightings of animals with indiv idual ly recognizable neckbands would serve t o document the degree of d ispersa l and herd interchange that occurs.
These watersheds consist a lmost ent i re ly of immature forest.
5.4 Shaw Creek The west f o rk o f the Shaw Creek Valley i s p r i v a t e l y owned by B r i t i s h
Columbia Forest Products (BCFP). BCFP has extensive, high site type conversion
a c t i v i t i e s planned fo r the next 5 years invo lv ing mechanical ( sca r i f i ca t i on )
and chemical (hack and squir t ) techniques to remove competit ive non-commercial
tree species (mostly Alnus and - Acer) and increase survival o f commercially
valuable conifers. The company also has 4 rad io co l l a rs and a c o r r a l t r a p
ava i l ab le f o r use i n the winter-spring of 1981. Therefore an i d e a l s i t u a t i o n exists for monitoring pre and post treatment u t i l i z a t i o n o f converted lands.
Prel iminary experimental propagation plots of elderberry (Sambucus) have
already been established i n the Shaw Creek Val ley. Monitor ing survival and
e l k use o f these plots will determine the feasibi l i ty of at tempt ing more extensive propagation endeavours using the techniques and s i t e types chosen.
5.5 Elk River
I n t h e f a l l of 1979, control of a lder (Alnus rubra) by harvesting and by
chemical treatment (hack and s q u i r t ) was undertaken by F ish and W i l d l i f e s t a f f
i n 2 s tudy p lo t s i n the Elk River Valley. Populus sp. and Sal ix sp. were experimentally propagated i n the chemical ly treated plot. Periodic monitoring
o f su rv i va l and e l k use o f the propagated plants, as w e l l as e l k use of the
c leared p lo t , will provide information on the f e a s i b i l i t y o f more extensive
hab i ta t enhancement programs using these techniques.
42
5.6 Adam River The Adam River watershed i s a mature forest - early regeneration ecosystem
i n which e l k h a b i t a t u t i l i z a t i o n and movements are current ly under study
(Janz, i n prep. ). This i s the only quant i tat ive ecological research of
Vancouver Island Roosevelt elk conducted t o date, but the appl icabi l i ty of the
resu l t s as a basel ine s i tuat ion for comparison with e l k i n second growth
forests i s unclear, and therefore d i rect comparisons cannot be made.
5.7 Trent River Permission has been obtained from most land managers i n the Trent River
watershed by Fish and W i l d l i f e personnel fo r the transplant o f e l k i n to t he
area. The region consists mostly of second growth forests and land tenure is div ided among numerous fo res t companies and p r i va te owners. A major land
holder i n the area is Crown Zellerbach Ltd., who have recent ly begun extensive th inn ing ac t i v i t i es i n the area (H. Langin, pers. comm. 1. Radio c o l l a r i n g and
monitoring o f transplanted animals will provide supplementary informat ion on h a b i t a t u t i l i z a t i o n by e lk i n in tens ive ly managed second growth forests.
5.8 Alternate Transplant Sites
It may be necessary t o conduct t ransplants o f e lk i n order t o t es t hab i ta t
u t i l i z a t i o n o f certain treated stands i n areas where e l k do not presently
e x i s t .
6 SCHEDULING
The f i r s t f u l l year o f f i e l d work will be 1981-1982. Radio monitoring o f co l lared e lk will be the major time consuming a c t i v i t y . Other a c t i v i t i e s will include Lerial composit ion counts, vegetation sampling, weather monitoring,
p e l l e t sampling, predator and elk track counts and possibly some marking. The
t iming of these a c t i v i t i e s i s summarized on a monthly basis i n t h e a c t i v i t y schedule (Table 7) presented below. Schedules f o r the years a f t e r 1981-82
will fol low a similar pattern, although i n t h e f i n a l year (1984-85) more t ime
will be devoted to analys is and write-up.
43
I I I I' I' I
I
I
"
I I I I I I I I 7
-
I I I I 1 1
I I I I I I I I I I I 1 I I I I I I I I I
I I'
I
I: I
II
I
11
11
I 1
I
44
Habitat enhancement f e a s i b i l i t y t e s t s , not indicated in t h e a c t i v i t y
schedule summary, will be a low p r i o r i t y i n t h e f i r s t 1 - 2 years o f study. These tes ts will be carr ied out i f manpower can be made avai lable (i.e. cooperation with w i l d l i f e or forest agencies).
7 COSTS
Table 8 is an estimate of the 81/82 budget by cost code and a c t i v i t y . Annual budget submissions will be included i n future annual working plans. The 2 aux i l i a ry pos i t i ons ( 0 4 ) i n t h i s years budget represent the proportion
o f the habi ta t component a l l o t t e d t o the e lk pro ject . These pos i t ions may be
transferred t o the hab i ta t component when t h i s program becomes operational.
45
Table 8 . Budget (IWIFR-ELK) 1981-1982
Code Description
01 2 Bio 1/1 4 ms..@ 1598 8 ms. @ 1726
04 1 Bio l/l (8 m s ) 1 nm 1/1 (4 m s )
10 (01) !kavel-gas-450/rro x 12 expenses-l50/m
lO(O4) Rental- 750/m0 X 4 (assuming FS vehicle avail. sept - dec. )
20 Services : - Blood: 6 5 C / q l e x 2O+ D i e t : 4 seas. x 5 herds
' x $lSO/sample FN: 12 ms. x 5 herds
x 8/mllection x $5 Forage quality: 4 seas.
x 3 cover types x = '
10 spp. x $30/spp. mter Services
30 Office - paper,xerox,etc. 60 Rental:
Flu' = 3 hrs x 26 wks x 130/hr
- 14 hrs HC - 16 hrS @ 350+/hr
- 13 hrs - recollar I
75 Equiprent cOllars-lOx$250 (replc.
Gpture-darts,tags,etc. f.bc-snowshoes, skiis,
Wgs-Fatanyl & M50-50
etc.
'Ibtal ($)
24M"4Ot4l6
12"-20 , 34 0
' 7,200
1500
3000
24 00
3600 2000
500
25,000
LO I 150
14 , 850
4,100 2,500 750 250
600
113,0S6
(Man
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
46
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"
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Sparks, D., and J. Malecheck. 1968. Estimating percentage dry weight i n diets using a microscopic technique. J. Range Manage. 21:264-265.
Springer, J.T. 1979. Some sources of b ias and sampling error i n rad io t r iangulat ion. J. Wildl. Manage. 43(4) :926-935.
T i l l e y , J.M.A., and R.A. Terry. 1963. A two stage technique for the i n v i t r o digestion of forage crops. 3. B r i t . Grasslands SOC. 18:104-111.
"
Tobey, P. 1975. P i ra t ing p lants . Tobey Publ. Co. Inc., New Canaan, CT. 143 p.
Trainer, C.E. 1971. The re la t ionship of physical condi t ion and f e r t i l i t y o f female Roosevelt e lk (Cervus canadensis roosevel t i ) i n Oregon. M.%. Thesis. Oregon State Univ. 93 p.
52
9 APPENDIX
Recording forms for data co l lect ion (F ig . 2-6) have been prepared for the
following:
9.1 Aer ia l Census ................................................ 53 (Form, Form Codes, Fortran Codes)
9 .2 Elk Sighting ................................................. 57
9.3 Elk Immobil izat ion ........................................... 61
(Form, Form Codes)
9.4 E l k Radio loca t ion ........................................... 64
(Form, Form Codes [for s igh t ing also], Fortram Data Codes)
9.5 Vegetation Description ....................................... 68
(Form, Form Codes, Fortran Data Codes)
9.6 Personnel Contacted .......................................... 7 1
53
Weather: . . . 1 I 2 i 3 f L 5 1 . 6 . _
. . ..- I I O-oud( code) . 1' 1 ??ind(mh) I , I 1 I , I ..
Precio! code} I I I .
. _
Temp( c ode ) . .
ho;r cover(code) I I I 1 I . .
3 = lb=
' 5 " 6 = 7 = 8 =
54
1 = -15 t o 4 0 PreciDitation: 1 P no precip. 2 n - 9 t o - 5 2 = l i g h t rain 3 = - J + t o 0 3 = h'eavy rain 4 = 1 - 5 4 = l i g h t snow 5 e 6-10 5 = heavy s n o ~ 6 = 1 1 - 1 5 ' 6 = hau/sleet 7 = 16 - 20 8 = 21 - 25 9 = 2 6 +
c l e a r sky scattered overcast ((25% cover) broken overcast (25% < cover < '75%) fev breaks i n overcast (7?$ cover < 10$) light overcast heavy overcast
snoke f 06
b
HaSitat: 1 = road ...
2 = recent c learcut 3 P recent c learcu t - 4 = recent clezrcut 5 E regenerat- conifers 21 + yrs. 6 = nature c o a e r
8 1 mixed conifer/deciduous 9 = r i p a r i a
' 7 decizuous
IO = river/ldte fiats
12 = slidt 13 = r i g X of trzy l& = cul t lva ted l i e l d 1 5 = r z s i3ue /a+en te? rsgen FOCMS 16 = Eher (qeci i 'y in c o x x n t s )
11 = L?eado:r/bog
55
A E R I A L C E N S U S FORTRAN DATA CODE
DATA
DATE
FLIGHT TINE
AXRCRAFT TYPE
. .
(5) CLOUD COVER
( 6) WIND
(7) PRECIPITATION
(8) SNOI.? COVER
( 9 ) . GROUP XUEISER
(10) LOCATION '
2OLUMLvS
1-6
7-9
10
11.
12
13-14
15
i6 . .
17-18
1.9 -2 7
COMMENTS ~ ~~ ~~
YR/MO/DAY
Total.flight time in minutes
1 = helicopter; 2 = fixed wing.
0 = no'data 5 = 6 to 10 1 = -15+ to -10 6 = 11 to 15 2 = -9 to -5 7 = 16 'to 20
. 3 . = -4 to 0 . , 8.; = 21. to 2 5 . 4 = 1 t 0 5 9 = 26+
0 = no d a t a 1 = clear sky 2 = scattered overcast ( 4 25% cover) 3 = broken overcast (25%<cover475%) 4 = few breaks i n overcast (75% < cover C r l i 5 = light overcast 6 = heavy overcast 7 = fog 8. = smoke
I n ' m.p.h.; -99 = no : d a t a .
0 = no data 1 = no "precipitation 5. = hezvy snov 2 = light r a i n 6 = hai l /s leet 3 = heavy rain
0 = no data 6 = 25"-36" snow
2 = trace 8 = 1"-6" patchy 3 = 1"-4" snow . 9 = 7" -24" patchy
5 = 13?-24" s n o w
. . . .
. :. .# t
, . _ . .
4 . =. l i g h t snow . ,
, . .
'*. 1 = no snow 7 = '> 36" snow
r . 4 = 5"=12" snow
.- 19-21 = Yap Sheet (L=l; .K=2) 22-24 = h o r i z o n t a l . . , 25-27 = vertical
( Cont ' d )
56
DATA
(11) HABITAT TYPE
(12) HERD C W S - SIFICATION
(13) FLIGKT TOTAL CLP.SSIFICATIO\
(14) FLIGkiT TOTAL
- :oLuMNs
28-29
30-43
44-57
58-€0
COMMENTS
00 = no data 01 = road 02 = recent clearcut (0-3 yrs) 03 = recent clearcut (4-10 yrs) 04 = recent clearcut (11-20 yrs) 05 = regenerating conifers (21" yrs) 06 = mature' conifers 07 = deciduous 08 = mixed conifer/deciduous 09 = riparian 10 = river/lake flats I1 = rneadow/bog 12 = s l ide 13 = right of way 14 = cul t iva ted field 15 = residual/advanced. regen. pockets 16 = other
.. .
30-31 - mature bulls 32-33 - s p i k e s U
34-35 - other yrlings.
38-39 - calves 4 0 - 4 1 - unclassified adults 42-43 - unclassified
36-37 - COWS
4 4 - 4 5 - mature bulls 46-47 - spikes 48-49 - other yrlings.
52-53 - calves 54-55 - unclassified a d u l t s 56-57 - unclassified
50-51 - COWS
Total $ of a n i n d s for entire f l i g h t
9.2 ELK SIGHTING FOP.!
DATE : TPE: OBSERVER( S) :
LOCATI @?-I :
?LAP SHEET i! WEATHER: TEIIP. (code) , HABITAT TYPE (code) DISTANCE TO FIRST
STAY0 #
SIGHTISG #
X4TrJF2 BULLS
SPIKES
CTKEP, Y?&Ih’GS
CLOUD ( ” ) EDGE YdS FIPST EDGE
WZND (mph) HABITAT TYPE DISTANCE TO SECOND
‘ PRECIP. (code) EDGE YdS SECOND EDGE
SNaJ ( I’ ) W I T A T TYPE
h’UXl3 ER com?kTs ACTIVITY (code)
CO?!E~TS : ” Observation period - total time - by a c t i v i t y .
- by cover type
Observation distance - f l igh t distance - f l igh t response into cover, etc.
58
ELK SIGHTING FORTRAN DATA CODE
- DATA
(1). DATE . . .
(2). .TIME . . - . . , . .
. , .. . . .- ~.
( 3 ) LOCATION. . . ..... . . .
( 4 ) TEMPERATURE
(5) CLOUD COVER
( 6 ) PIIND
(7) PRECIPITATION . .
(8) SNOW COVER
. .
. ..
. .
1-6
7-10
11-19
20 '
21 . .
I . . . , , ,.-7 ,
22-23
' 2 4 ' . .
25
.... ,"
I
COLUMNS COMMENTS
I
YR/MO/DAY . . .
2400 hr. system
11-13 map sheet (>I, K=2) 14-16 horizontal 17-18 vertical ' ' .
O=no data' .. ' " 5=6 to 10 ,. . ,
t
1=-15+ to -10 6=11 to 15 2=-9 to -5 j 7=>6 to 20 3=-4 to 0 . 8=21 to 25 4= 1 to 5 9=2 6t
O=no data l=clear sky 2=scattered::.owercast ( 4 ' 2 5 % covey 3=broken, overcast ( 2 5 ~ cover < 75% cover)
4=f e w breaks:.r.in overcast (75%< cover< 1008)
5=light overcast 6=heavj! overcast 7=f Og 8=smoke . I
in mph; 99=no data
O=no data 4=light snow 1=no precip. ' 5=heavy snow '
2 = l i g h t r a i n 6=hail/slcet. 3=heavy r a i n
O=no data 6=25"-36" S ~ O W 1=no snow 7=>36" snow 2=trzce ~. 8=1"-6" patchy 3=1"-4 I' Snow 9=7 "-24 81 patchy ~
4=5"-12" snow 5=13"-24" snow
. .
. , . ' .
(Cont'd)
59
DATA
(9) HABITAT TYPE
(10) DISTANCE TO NEAREST EDGE
(11) HABITAT TYPE OF NEAREST EDGE
(12) DISTANCE TO SECOND EDGE
(13) HABITAT TYPE OF SECOND EDGE
(14) CLWSIFICATION AND ACTIVITY
26-27
28-31
32-33
34-37
38-39
C O W N T S
. OO=no data Ol=road 02=recent clearcut (0-3 yrs) 03=recent clearcut (4-10 yrs) 04=recent clearcut (11-20 yrs) OS=regenerating conifers (21+ yr: 06=mature conifers 07=deciduous 08=~ixed conifer/deciduous 09=riparian lO=river/lake f l a t s ll=meadow/bog 12=slide 13=right of way 14=*cultivated field lS=residual/advanced regen pocke! 16=other
In yards (9999 = no data)
See habitat codes above
In yards (9999 = no data
See habitat type codes above
Activity OO=no data Ol=crossed road 02=standing watch ing obs, pmer 03=took flight b/c of observer 04=standing resting 05=rnilling around O6=bedded r e s t i n g 07=bedded ruminating 08=feeding 09=travelling lO=fighting insects ll=nursing 12=seeking shelter 13=playing l4=aggression 15=f led fron unknown causes 16=gradually novcd out of s i g h "
.. . . . . .
(Cont ' d )
\I . .
(15) TOTAL # OF . ._ m 1 l l 4 a s OBSERVED .
DATA
) . . .
. I
. . . .
\I . .
(15) TOTAL # OF . ._ m 1 l l 4 a s OBSERVED .
COLUMNS I . .. .. I . COMMENTS '
4 0-4 1 42-43 44-45 46-47 48-49 50-51 52-53 54-55 ' ' I
56-57 .
58-59 60-61 62-63 .. - 64-65 W-67:
68-69
t of mature b u l l s . Activity + of spikes. Activity (see above) . 8 of other yrlings Act iv i ty (see above) * of cows
, " Activity (see above) ~. f of calves
Activ i ty ( see above) ! E O?''U/C adults
. Activity (see above)
~ Activity (see above) ~ e of u/c. I I
. .-..
"
..
. . . . . ..
i . . - ~
. . Y. . . .
9 . 3 ELK X1MOI:ILIZATIOY PXPORT
DATE : UTESTIGATORS :
LOCATIOX : . .
, . . . .
. , . ~.
IEATEER: T C Z ~ (code) EXIlITAT TYPE (Code)
Cloud (code) S EK . .
Wind (mph) AGE ESTIMTE . .
Snow cover (code) '"' '
* . . \
, . .
.. ' . ... .
P ~ ? : 0 3 T L I Z A T I O S DATA
DRL'G DOSE '
ng/lb SITE O F INJECTIOX
EFF?CTS OF D3UG . . .-. . ,. . . . .. . - .
Respiratory (rate am? depth)
_.- Reflexes : ~k~uscIe Kef'zkation
, ..
Xuscle -.Trer,or ". . . .
Other : Sveat in2 . ' Sal ivt t ion
S u p i l D i l a t i o n Other Cor-ents
Condi t ion
Pelage
Chest G i r t h Ear LengtS,. . . . .
. ..
Yeigh t Totzl Length
!;e::< Girth Shoul2er Kcis5 t
H h d Leg Lena th Aqtler Points: L R ." .
62
(Cont ‘ d ) TPEA’I?.IEhTS
Radio Collar (channel no., frequency, co lo r , etc.)
Xeck Tag (color 2nd nmber) . ”
Ear Tag : Right
Left
Blooc! Smple Yes/?Io f
Rectal Palpation Yes/!lo
Fecal S m p l e s Yes/Yo fl
Number Color - . .
Location
Resul ts
.. Comnents :
7
63
ELK IMMOBILIZATION REPORT CODES
. / Temperature ("C): 1 = -15+ to -10 . .I I
2 = -9 to -3 3 =. -4 to 0 4.. 1 t o 5 5 s ' 6 t o 10 6 11 to 15 7 = 16 to 20 8 = 21 to 25 9 = 26 +
..... ', .
, , . . I
Cloud Cover: 1 = clear sky . . 2 = scattered' overcast ( cover)
3 J. broken overcast ( 25% .C cover < 75%) 4 = few b r e a k in overcast ( 757; < cover < 1 O O X ) 5 = light overcast 6 = heavy overcast
8 =- spoke . . . .
7 = fog
Precipitat ion:
. .
P.abitat :
1 = no precip. 2 = l i ght ra in 3 = heavy rain 4 = l i g h t snow 5 = heavy snow 6 = h i l / s l e e t
, . ..a .) .
.. .
,:..Snow cover :
. . .
1 = no snow 2 = trace 3. = l'"4" snow cover 4 = 5"-12:' snow cover 5 . =' 13"-24" snow cover 6 = 25"-36" snow cover 7- = > 36" suow cover
9 = 7 6'' pr?:chy 8 = 1"-6" patchy
. *. 1 = road . . ,
2 = recent clearcut (0-3"$rs) 3 = recent clearcut:. (4-10 yrs) 4 = recent clearcut (11-20 yrs) 5 = regecerating conifers 21-1- yrs) . .
6 = rature conifer 7 = deciduous 8 = nixed coniferjdeciduous .
9 = r i p a r i a n
I ,.
. . I . . . . .
I. .,
10 = r iver / lake flats 11 = neadow/bog.,. ,
12 = s l ide 13 = r i g h t . of way 14 = cult ivzted f i e l d 15 = residual/advanced regen. pockets 16 = other (specify in coxents )
. ,
.. . ..
..
64
9.4 ELK RADIOLOCATT02.: FOXY
DATE : - INVESTICATOR(S) :
1 I
. .
. .
I I I . .
' I I I .. .
I
1
65
ELK. SLQITING/RADIOLOCATIO~ FOk!
CODES
- Temperature ("C) : 1 - 2 - 3.1 4 - 5 = 6 = 7 = 8 . 1 9 =
Cloud Cover : . 1 - 2.. 3 = 4 = S = 6 = 7 = 8 s
PreciDitztion 1 - 2 s 3 = 4.. 5 = 6 s
I?? b i t 2 t
1 = 2 = 3 = 4.. S = 6 = 7 = 3 =' 9 = 10 = 11 12 = 13 = 14 = 15 = 16 =
-IS+ t o -10 -9 to -5 4 to 0 1 t o 5 6 t o 10
11 to 1 5 16 t o 20 21 to 25 26 +
clear sky scattered overcast ( < 25% cover) broken overcast ( 252 4 cover (75%) few breaks in overcast (755:< cover < 100%) light overcast heavy overcast
snoke fog
no precip. l i g h t rain heavy rain 1 igh t snow heavy snow hai l / s leet
road recent clearcut (0-3 yrs) recent c l e a r c u t (4-10 yrs) recent clearcut (11-10 yrs) regenerating conifers 21 + y r s nature conifer 62c iduous nhed coniferldeciduous riparian r i v e r l l r k e f l a t s r?eadou/Sog slid e right of vay cult iva:e6 f ielc? r e s i d m l / s d v t n c e d reecn. pockets other/s?ecify kt coments .
. .
Snow cover: 1 = 2.. 3 = 4.. 5 ' s 6 = 7 = 8 = 9 =
Anbal Activity
1 = 2=7
4=3 5 - 6 = 7 = e = 9 =
10 = 11 = 12 = 13 = 14 = 1s = 16 = 17 =
3 =
no snow trace l"4" snowcover 5"-12" snowcover 13"-24" snowcover 25"-36" snowcover > 36" snorcover
> 6" pztchy 1 "-6 " t chy
crossed rozd s t a n d i q uatc5b.g oSserver took f l i g h t b j c of observer standing rest in3 n i l l i n g around beddec! rest ing b e&! ed NJ ira t ing f ced ins trzvel1ir .g f i g h t i n g insects nursink seekin;: shelter
egsression f l ed f ro2 cn'lL?o;.x czuses zraduzlly zovec! out of sig5t other (see c o z m t s )
plz ping
ELK RADIOLOCATION FORTRAN DATA CODES \
DATA
(1) DATE
(2) TEMPERATURE
(3) CLOUD COVER
( 4 ) WIND
(5) PRECIPITATIO?
(6) S N O K COVER
(7) LOCATION
(8) FREQUENCY
(9) TINE
COLUMNS
1-6
7
8
9-10
11
12
13-21
22-25
1 26-29
I .
COMMENTS
0 = no data -5 6 to 10 1 = -1s”to -10 6 = 11 to 15 2 = -9 to -5 7 = 16 to 20 3 = -4 to 0 a = 21 to 25 4 = 1 t o 5 9 = 261- s
O = 1 = 2 = 3 - 4 = 5 = 6 = 7 = 8 -
no data clear sky scattered overcast (< 25% cover) broken overcast (25%< cover 4758) few breaks i n overcast (75%<cover<lOO! l i g h t overcast heavy overcast
snoke f o g
In mph (99=no data)
0 = no data 4 = l i g h t snow 1 = no precipitation 5 = heavy snow 2 = light r a i n 6 = hail/sleet 3, = heavy rain
s
0 = no data 6 = 25”-36“ snow 1 =.no snow 7 = > 36” 2 = trace 8 = 1”-6” 9atchy 3 = 1”-4” snow 9 = 7”-24” patchy 4 = 5”-12” snow 5 = 13”-24 I’ snow
13-15 = &p Sheet (GI; K = 2 ) 16-18 = horizontal 19-21 = ver t i ca l
LAST 4 DIGITS OF RWIO F E Q U E N C Y RECORDED 5
(ex. 151.081; 1081 recorded)
2400 hr. time systen 4
(Cont' d ) ..
COMMENTS
Td' nearest degree
COLUMNS DATA . .
' " 30-32 BEARING
ACCURACY no data exact (observed location) 20 acre accuracy 40-acre accuracy > 40-acre accuracy , . .. .
. . . -
0 1 2 3 4
0 1 2.
. : ACTIVE/ INACTIVE no data
Active Inactive
34
. - .. . .
I .. . ..
68
. .
9.5 VEGETATION 'DESCRIPTION FORM
CODES
. SPECIES COVERAGE:
1 = < 1 % 2 = 1 - 1.9% 3 = :2 - 5 % 4 = 6 - 10% 5 = 11 - 2 5 % 6 = 26 - 33% 7 = 34 - 50% 8 = 51 - 75% 9 = > 7 6 %
VIGOR:
0 = species dead 1 = vigor poor 2 = vigor f a i r 3 = vigor good 4 = vigor excellent.
DISTRIBUTION :
1 = 2 = 3 = 4 = 5 = 6 = 7 = 8 -
9 -
rare i n d i v i d u a l , a s i n g l e occur rence a f e w s p o r a d i c a l l y o c c u r r i n g i n d i v i d u a l s a s i n g l e p a t c h or clump of a ' s p e c i e s * several s p o r a d i c a l l y o c c u r r i n g individuals a f e w patches or clumps of z s p e c i e s several well spaced patches or clumps con t inuous uniform occurrence of well spaced indiv iduals cont inuous occur rence of a s p e c i e s w i t h a few gaps i n t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n con t inuous dense occur rence of a s p e c i e s
n .
.
I
6!
70
VEGETATION DESCRIPTION FORTRAN DATA CODES
-
DATA -
PLOT IDENTIFICATION
i
W-TA
;r)ECIES
SPECIES COVERAGE
t
"
"
COLUMN
1-6
7*
8-11
12-13
14 15-21
22-28
C O b m N T S . . . . . . . . . . . .
1-2 = 2- le t ter area code (ex. SA = Sayward) 3-4 = transect # . 5-6 = plo t
1=(A1) = dominant and codominant treks 2 = ( A 2 ) = intermediate trees 3= ( A 3 ) . = supressed trees C 10m. in ht. 4 = ( B 1 ) = sapplings add shrubs 2-lOn. in ht. 5=(B2)- = shrubs>lScm.- Zm, in ht. 6 = ( C ) = shrubs 15cm. and all herbs' 7=(DH) = bryophytes, lichens and seedlings
8=(DW) = bryophytes, l k h e n s and seedlings
9=(DB) = bryophytes, lichens and seet?ling:s
on humus
on dead wood
on rock
species code P 8 cover code: 00 = no information
01 = < 1% 02 = 1-1.9% 03 = 2-5%2 .- 04 = 6-10% 05 = 11-25% 06 = 26-33% ,:
08 = 51-75% 07 = 34-50% - 09 = 76%"
DATA FRON COLULWS '8-14 repeated f o r next species.
n n
* New l i n e started fo r new stratum *
71
9.6 Personnel Contacted
F. &Innell - Department of Forestry, U.B.C. Vancouver, 8.C.
M. Broren - MacMillan & Bloedel Ltd. Menzies Bay Division, Menzies Bay,
B.C.
H. Langin - Min is t ry o f Environment, 2569 Kenworth Rd., Nanaimo, B.C.