Response of Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) to wind-power development
American Midland Naturalist
By: W. David Walter, David M. Leslie Jr., and J.A. Jenks
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Abstract
Wind-power development is occurring throughout North America, but its effects on mammals are largely unexplored. Our objective was to determine response (i.e., home-range, diet quality) of Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) to wind-power development in southwestern Oklahoma. Ten elk were radiocollared in an area of wind-power development on 31 March 2003 and were relocated bi-weekly through March 2005. Wind-power construction was initiated on 1 June 2003 and was completed by December 2003 with 45 active turbines. The largest composite home range sizes (>80 km2) occurred April-June and September, regardless of the status of wind-power facility development. The smallest home range sizes (<50 km2) typically occurred in October-February when elk aggregated to forage on winter wheat. No elk left the study site during the study and elk freely crossed the gravel roads used to access the wind-power facility. Carbon and nitrogen isotopes and percent nitrogen in feces suggested that wind-power development did not affect nutrition of elk during construction. Although disturbance and loss of some grassland habitat was apparent, elk were not adversely affected by wind-power development as determined by home range and dietary quality.
Suggested Citation
Walter, W.D., Leslie, D., Jenks, J., 2006, Response of Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) to wind-power development: American Midland Naturalist, v. 156, no. 2, p. 363-375, https://doi.org/10.1674/0003-0031(2006)156[363:RORMEC]2.0.CO;2.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Response of Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) to wind-power development |
| Series title | American Midland Naturalist |
| DOI | 10.1674/0003-0031(2006)156[363:RORMEC]2.0.CO;2 |
| Volume | 156 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Year Published | 2006 |
| Language | English |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | American Midland Naturalist |
| First page | 363 |
| Last page | 375 |