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2 May 2019 SELECTION OF ECOLOGICAL SITES BY PRONGHORN IN TRANS-PECOS REGION OF TEXAS
Justin T. French, Ryan O'Shaughnessy, Louis A. Harveson, Bonnie J. Warnock, Taylor O. Garrison, Shawn S. Gray
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Abstract

Rangeland managers use the ecological site concept to segment rangelands into discrete areas capable of supporting a particular suite of vegetation. Ecological site data are easily accessible and standardized in the Soil Survey Geographic Database published by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. While widely used in range management, wildlife managers have only recently explored the usefulness of ecological site data in delineating wildlife habitat. We undertook this study to assess pronghorn selection of ecological sites across two seasons (warm-dry and warm-wet) following translocation to the Trans-Pecos region of Texas in 2013. We observed seasonal shifts in selection with selection of draws and limestone hills in the warm-wet season and selection of clay flats in both seasons. Pronghorn avoided other sites or used them in proportion to their availability. Our results suggest that ecological sites provide a valid means of segmenting wildlife habitats and identifying important sites for management of pronghorn.

Justin T. French, Ryan O'Shaughnessy, Louis A. Harveson, Bonnie J. Warnock, Taylor O. Garrison, and Shawn S. Gray "SELECTION OF ECOLOGICAL SITES BY PRONGHORN IN TRANS-PECOS REGION OF TEXAS," The Southwestern Naturalist 63(2), 96-101, (2 May 2019). https://doi.org/10.1894/0038-4909-63-2-96
Received: 26 October 2017; Accepted: 30 October 2018; Published: 2 May 2019
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