Progress 09/01/06 to 07/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This study is designed to investigate the effects of provision of water to the population in Mojave National Preserve. We are examining the effects of permanent sources of water on survival and productivity of mule deer. We are comparing areas with permanently available water to those where permanent sources of water are not available. We captured 15 mule deer this year and equipped them with GPS radio collars. In general we capture deer in January during cold times of the year and we collect data on pregnancy and body condition, in addition to application of radio collars. This year, because of a helicopter accident in January which claimed the lives of 3 biologists we were unable to capture deer until late April. Because of the nearness to partuirition we did not collect data on body condition or pregnancy, we simply applied radio collars and released the animals. We did not want the stress of capture to affect reproductive status of those animals. We did collect movement data on those animals. We collected vegetation data in the field and located females to determine if they had young at heel. We analyzed 2 years worth of data to compare survival among our study areas. We began to disseminate information by presenting at poster presentation at the Annual Wildlife Society meeting in the 'work in progress' poster session. The student won the best poster award for that session. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Kelley Stewart and Dr. Jim Sedinger are a co-principal investigators on the project. Cody McKee is the Master's level graduate student on the project and has spent the last 2 summers in Mojave Preserve collecting vegetation and observation data on mule deer. Dr. Becky Pierce and Dr. Vern Bleich are investigators and serve as liason's with California Department of Fish and Game. Dr. Debra Hughson and Neal Darby of National Park Service serve as liasons with NPS. Several undergraduate technicians have worked on the project. During 2010, Ian Knight and Jow Zwiefel, were the summer technicians that aided in data collection in the field. TARGET AUDIENCES: Water developments are used throughout the west as a management strategy for aiding populations of willdife. Information obtained from this project will be provided to management agencies and biologists. In addition this project will provide information to range managers and producers that use provision of water to aid wildlife populations or provision livestock on rangelands throughout the west. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
We analyzed data for survival and determined that our control area 'Cima dome' had higher survival than the other 2 study areas, where we turned water on (midhills) or where water was not provided (New York Mountains). Although survival was high overall in all study areas survival was > 85%. We are in the process of analyzing data on physical condition and productivity, and we suspect that the effects of provision of water will have a stronger effect on physical condition and reproduction in these mule deer.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This year we continue our study of the effects of permanently available water on demographics of mule deer in Mojave Preserve. We captured and attached GPS radio collars to 27 female mule deer during January 2009. Those radio collars were distributed among 3 study areas, control (9 collars), water provided where wells were activated (10 collars), and no artificial water sources available (7 collars). Those deer were equipped with GPS store-on-board radio transmitters that also contained a separate VHF signal for location of individual mule deer. Data were collected on body condition, pregnancy and fetal rates of those adult female mule deer that we captured. Movements of those mule deer were monitored throughout the year and we have just begun to obtain the data from GPS collars. Twelve collars dropped off deer during November 2009, the remainder of the collars are scheduled to drop during February 2009. Data analysis of movements of mule deer will begin when all collars have been retrieved. In addition, a graduate student was hired on the project during January 2009 that student and 3 technicians were in Mojave Preserve collecting data on vegetation characteristics at water sites and random sites for comparison and to document habitat selection by mule deer. The student and technicians also located each female with a radio collar to determine if she had produced a fawn and if it survived > 2 weeks post parturition. They also collected pellets of mule deer to determine dietary quality and selection by mule deer in Mojave National Preserve. PARTICIPANTS: This project is a collaborative effort between Kelley M. Stewart and James S. Sedinger from Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science at University of Nevada Reno with Safari Club International and National Park Service. Vernon C. Bleich, adjunct faculty in NRES at UNR, has been working on this project as well as Debra Hughson and Neal Darby from the National Park Service. Matt Eckert and Anna Seidman from Safari Club International also are collaborating on this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: This project resulted from an Environmental Assessment for a science-based research project to determine if providing water for mule deer and other wildlife is an appropriate management action on Mojave National Preserve. The National Park Service was interested in the effect of provision of permanently available water on population demographics of mule deer in Mojave National Preserve and if this management action should occur. Our research is designed to address this question. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
NOne to date.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This year we began our study of the effects of permanently available water on demographics of mule deer in Mojave Preserve. We captured and attached radio collars to 18 mule deer during January 2008. Those deer were equipped with either GPS store-on-board radio transmitters or standard VHF transmitters. Data were collected on body condition, pregnancy and fetal rates of those adult female mule deer that we captured. Movements of those mule deer were monitored throughout the year and we have just begun to obtain the data from GPS collars. No analyses have been run at this time. In addition, 6 sources of water were activated in the park in our experimental treatment that provides permanently available water for mule deer and other wildlife; those water sources were livestock watering tanks that had been decommissioned with the retirement of grazing allotments in Mojave National Preserve. I gave several presentations about the project. I gave a presentation at the National Safari Club International convention about the project goals and methods. I also presented information to several other conservation organizations including board meeting of Nevada Bighorns Unlimited, Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn, Mule Deer Foundation Nevada Chapter, and the Nevada Chapter of Safari Club International. PARTICIPANTS: This project is a collaborative effort between Kelley M. Stewart and James S. Sedinger from Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science at University of Nevada Reno with Safari Club International and National Park Service. Vernon C. Bleich, adjunct faculty in NRES at UNR, has been working on this project as well as Debra Hughson and Neal Darby from the National Park Service. Matt Eckert and Anna Seidman from Safari Club International also are collaborating on this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: This project resulted from an Environmental Assessment for a science-based research project to determine if providing water for mule deer and other wildlife is an appropriate management action on Mojave National Preserve. The National Park Service was interested in the effect of provision of permanently available water on population demographics of mule deer in Mojave National Preserve and if this management action should occur. Our research is designed to address this question. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
This project is in the beginning stages, no data has been analyzed and we have not yet begun to report findings.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: None
PARTICIPANTS: Kelley Stewart James S. Sedinger Vern Bleich
TARGET AUDIENCES: National Park Service Californai Department of Fish and Game Safari Club International
PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Proposal developed which calls for water sources to be turned on in one portion of the Preserve during spring 2008. Water sources wil remain off in another portion of the Preserve for the next five years and an additional area will remain asa control area. After five areas all water sources will be turned on.
Impacts
National Park Service issued a research permit for conducting the research in Mohave national Preserve. Kelley Stewart conducted a field reconnaissance in December and in associations with California Dept. Fish and Game and natioanl Park Service captured and radio-collared 18 mule deer during january 2008. Kelley made a presentation to Safari Club International durin their annual convention i Reno during January.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
This contract represents the first phase of what is expected to be a five-year project. Funds are to cover: analysis of existing data, planning, and capture of a small sample of deer. This initial sample will be fitted with traditional radio collars to enhance location and capture of future samples. The PI attended a two day meeting in mid December with the Preserve staff, and staff from the California Department of Fish and Game and Nevada Department of Wildlife. We spent one day viewing potential study sites within the preserve and a day discussing priorities, objectives, and study design. The PI also attended an informational seminar at the Safari Club International (SCI) Convention in late January in Reno. SCI is expected to be an important sponsor of the project and the seminar was intended to provide information to their members with a special interest in the project. Deer captures are expected to begin during late winter-spring 2007.
Impacts
California Department of Fish and Game, the National Park Service and sportsmen are interested in the importance of human provided water sources to mule deer in Mohave national Preserve. There is also interest in whether providing such water sources might impact adjacent habitat or other wildlife. This study will address the effects of artificial water sources on spatial patterns of habitat use and demography of mule deer. The study will, therefore, inform management of water sources and mule deer within the Preserve.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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