Mountain sheep (Ovis canadensis mexicana) in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness (PRW), Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona have abandoned historic habitat and now occupy 44 km². I used univariate analyses to quantify differences of physiographic and vegetational variables between abandoned habitat and habitat that is still used by mountain sheep. A discriminant function model characterized the magnitude of the differences between the 2 habitats. Habitat that supports mountain sheep has less human disturbance and is more open with more side oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), red brome (Bromus rubens), brittle bush (Encelia farinosa), and forb cover, but less ground cover, bush muhly (Muhlenbergia porteri), and turpentine bush (Haplopappus laricifolius) than habitat that was abandoned by mountain sheep. Fire is important in still used habitat because it reduces tall plants that obstruct mountain sheep vision. Human disturbances should be minimized in mountain sheep habitat.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/276839 |
| Date | January 1988 |
| Creators | Etchberger, Richard Carl, 1957- |
| 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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