The social organization and diurnal activity patterns of captive California bighorn ewes were investigated from May 1977 to December 1978. Social interactions between ewes were brief in duration and infrequent, relative to bighorn rams. Aggressive interactions (butts) were more common than horn displays. Although a dominance hierarchy was evident in the herd, it was not strongly linear. Age, horn length, and body weight were not shown to be strongly correlated to dominance. The most dominant animals proved to be the most aggressive, initiating more interactions than subordinate animals. The presence of a lamb appeared to improve the social status of some ewes. Dominant status could not be shown to positively affect an animal's diet, activity budget or productivity. The herd's diurnal activity pattern changed considerably on a seasonal basis. The activity pattern was characterized by successive feeding and bedding periods in spring and summer. Activity peaks generally declined in number and increased in duration during the fall and winter periods. The herd's diurnal activity budget also varied seasonally. The proportion of the day devoted to feeding increased with decreasing daylength, although actual daylight grazing times were poorly correlated to daylength. The proportion of the day devoted to bedding was highest in spring and summer, and to a lesser extent, in mid-winter. Actual bedding times were significantly correlated (r = 0.92) to daylength. Both the actual time and proportion of the day devoted to standing, travelling and "other" activities showed only minor seasonal fluctuations. It was shown that poor health in herd members affected activity budgets significantly. Late stages of pregnancy could not be shown to significantly affect activity budgets. Average basal metabolic rates (BMR) and diurnal activity costs were estimated for the herd. Both BMR's and activity costs were higher in spring and early summer than at other times of the year. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

No description available.

Thesis submitted to the graduate faculty of Chadron State College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Education. / "June, 2008". Includes bibliographical references. Also available in PDF via the World Wide Web.

No description available.

No description available.

I examined habitat use by desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis medicana) in the Little Harquahala Mountains, Arizona from 1989 to 1992. I compared microsites used by male, female, and mixed-sex groups. I also compared use of microsites by sheep to random sites during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. There were no differences in use of microsites between the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. However, microsites used by sheep had steeper slopes, more barrel cactus (Ferocactus wislizenii), higher topographic position, and more foothills palo verde (Cercidium microphyllum) than random sites. I examined seasonal diets. There were no seasonal differences between the diets of males and females. Brittle bush (Encelia farinosa), desert ironwood (Olneya tesota), fairy duster (Calliandra eriophylla), foothills palo verde, janusia (Janusia gracilis), Mormon tea (Ephedra torreyana), ratany (Krameria parvifolia), wild buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), grama grass (Bouteloua spp.), bedstraw (Galium spp.), borage (Borage spp.), and barrel cacti were present in diets all seasons. Barrel cactus is a seasonally important part of the diet, providing moisture during hot, dry periods. Forage selection is not a factor in the sexual segregation of desert bighorn sheep in the Little Harquahala Mountains. I examined habitat use by female sheep relative to the timing of parturition from 1989 to 1991. I compared range size and microsite habitat components of female sheep prior to and following parturition to random sites. Nineteen lambs were born to 10 females and 6 lambs survived $\ge$6 months. Lambs that died lived an average of 34 days. Five females did not raise any lambs that lived $\ge$6 months in any year. No female raised a lamb that lived $\ge$6 months 2 years consecutively. Females reduced their range sizes as lambing approached. Individual females used the same lambing areas repeatedly. Microsites used by female sheep were steeper and more rugged than random sites. Microsites used by females for 8 weeks after parturition had significantly less barrel cactus than was found at random sites. The traditional use of parturition sites in rugged terrain may outweigh the increased need for water by lactating females.

In April, 1967, this study was begun in a 211 -square-mile area, in the rugged, arid, Red Canyon area in San Juan County, southeastern Utah. Sixteen months were spent in the field to determine the population trend, migration, distribution, and the affect of water on distribution of the bighorn sheep. No migration was documented,but seasonal shifts did occur . The shifts were due to the availability of water in the free state and in plants . Dry periods forced sheep to remain close to seeps and springs. Lambing peaked in May and was over by June . Lou lamb mortality and high numbers of yearlings indicated a growing population which is re - covering from severe mortality during the uranium boom in the 1950's. Sheep preferred browse but seasonal shifts occurred, grasses and forbs being preferred. Plants analyzed for protein proved adequate for gravid and lactating domestic ewes, and this is believed adequate for wi ld sheep. However, plants were found to be deficient in phosphorus. Parasites, disease and poisonous plants were not found to be limiting factors during the study. A 50-50 sex ratio, expec t ed in a wi ld, relatively unhunted population, was found during this study . Spermatogenesis t o some degree was evident in all trophy rams examined taken during the hunt. No biological reason to remove rams could be ascertained. Recommendations for management of the des ert bighorn sheep in s outheastern Utah include removing cattle from she e p ranges, water development and maintenance, continued ewe -lamb surveys , hunting of trophy animals, and studying a ll wild sheep populations in the state .

Graduation date: 1993

This collection is not meant to be a history book, but instead a creative work highlighting four participants in the battle of the Little Bighorn. Included, are actual events and people of the famous 1876 war between the American Indians and the U.S. 7"' Cavalry. Historical fiction is entwined within each piece to give readers a clear picture of what occurred on that June day. For instance, the author creates dialogue between the characters, while not knowing what each person actually said. Years of research has provided the author with insight into the characters, while assisting the National Park Service as a summer trail guide at the Little Bighorn helped the author to set each scene for readers. The authors repeated experiences at the battlefield has helped to form the choices made in these stories. Evidence found since the historic battle ended, and items discovered now, stress the importance that the search must go on. The stories of Custer, Reno, Wooden Leg and Edgerly deserve to be told in a contemporary way while remaining historically accurate. Educating others about the significant battle and how it shaped the American West is essential. / Department of English

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Wyoming, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on July 2, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 94-105).