How to translate text using browser tools
1 February 2011 Effects of Sagebrush Treatments on Multi-Scale Resource Selection by Pygmy Rabbits
Tammy L. Wilson, Frank P. Howe, Thomas C. Edwards
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

The effects of widespread sagebrush removal treatments on pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) are not well understood. Due to reliance on sagebrush, pygmy rabbits are among the species for which these treatments may be detrimental. Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of experimental sagebrush treatment on 8 radio-collared pygmy rabbits between and within home range habitat selection using Monte Carlo simulation from null models. Pygmy rabbits were not extirpated from plots containing habitat treatments, and we found no evidence that treatments affected home range placement. The mean treatment distance of observed home range centers did not differ from repeated trials of random points. However, we found evidence of within home range selection against treatments from 2 of 8 rabbits located close to the treatments. The mean treatment distance of all observed locations for these 2 rabbits was greater than expected based on a null model. We also used snow tracking to show that pygmy rabbits entered treatments in 4 out of 21 trials, which was less often than expected by chance (G2 = 8.662, P = 0.003). Conservatively, sagebrush removal treatments should not be conducted on active or recently active pygmy rabbit burrows. Elsewhere near known pygmy rabbit sites, treated patches should be small and connected by untreated corridors to prevent potentially limiting movement of rabbits among the untreated habitat.

© 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Tammy L. Wilson, Frank P. Howe, and Thomas C. Edwards "Effects of Sagebrush Treatments on Multi-Scale Resource Selection by Pygmy Rabbits," Journal of Wildlife Management 75(2), 393-398, (1 February 2011). https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.51
Received: 7 December 2009; Accepted: 1 July 2010; Published: 1 February 2011
JOURNAL ARTICLE
6 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

KEYWORDS
Brachylagus idahoensis
central-place forager
habitat selection
home range
pygmy rabbit
sagebrush management
sagebrush restoration
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top