I examined the efficacy of a mitigation project in Avra Valley, Arizona that was established to provide wildlife access across the barrier created by the Central Arizona Project aqueduct. I monitored movements of 17 radiocollared desert mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus crooki) to determine if deer were using the corridor for access across the aqueduct and the 26 km wide valley. I also examined deer use of vegetation associations and proximity to landscape features. Four deer crossed the canal but stayed within 500 m of the crossing site. One deer traversed the valley via the corridor. Overall, 22.4% of deer locations were in the corridor land system. Female mule deer generally used the mesquite (Prosopis velutina)-burroweed (Isocoma tenuisecta) vegetation association more than it was available and the palo verde (Cercidium spp.)-mixed cacti association less than it was available. Female deer were generally closer to the CAP, housing developments, roads, and permanent water than random points.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/278636 |
| Date | January 1997 |
| Creators | Tull, John Christopher, 1970- |
| Contributors | Krausman, Paul R. |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
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