Publication Type: | Journal Article |
Year of Publication: | 1974 |
Authors: | Evans, KE, Dietz, DR |
Journal: | The Journal of Wildlife Management |
Volume: | 38 |
Issue: | 4 |
Date Published: | 1974 |
ISBN Number: | 0022541X |
Keywords: | Pedioecetes, Pedioecetes phasianellus, Phasianidae, Tympanuchus, Tympanuchus phasianellus |
Abstract: | Sharp-tailed grouse (Pedioecetes phasianellus) depend to a large extent upon the berries and buds of native shrubs for winter sustenance. A key to intensive management of winter habitat for this species is the propagation and/or encouragement of high energy-providing plants. Twenty-one feeding trials were conducted during two winters on seven diet materials fed ad libitum to adult grouse: grain from corn (Zea mays); buds from plains cottonwood (Populus sargentii); and berries from fleshy hawthorn (Crataegus succulenta), Russian-olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), silver buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea), western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis), and Wood's rose (Rosa woodsii). Average nitrogen-corrected metabolizable energy ( $\text{ME}_{n}$ ) values (kcal/gram dry matter intake) ranged from a high of 3.91 for corn to a low of 1.39 for Wood's rose. Fleshy hawthorn berries were ingested in greater quantity than other air-dried foods, while plains cottonwood buds were ingested in the smallest quantity. Females consumed an average of 31.5 percent less dry matter than males, but $\text{ME}_{n}$ values were not different between sexes. Food consumed in large enough quantity to provide metabolizable energy in excess of 1.5 times basal metabolic rate also provided sufficient protein for maintenance. The fruit of silver buffaloberry was the best native winter food item tested. These fruits were high in energy (3.13 kcal/gram $\text{DM}_{1}$ of ME), were readily eaten, and persisted on the shrubs throughout the winter. |
URL: | http://www.jstor.org/stable/3800028 |
Short Title: | The Journal of Wildlife Management |
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