Post‐release acclimation of translocated low‐elevation, non‐migratory bighorn sheep

ABSTRACT Use of global positioning system (GPS) transmitters provides opportunities to evaluate ecological questions associated with fine‐scale animal movements. One important application is to evaluate how animals acclimate to new surroundings after translocation. Our objective was to quantify temp...

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Main Authors: Justin G. Clapp, Jeffrey L. Beck, Kenneth G. Gerow
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-09-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.441
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author Justin G. Clapp
Jeffrey L. Beck
Kenneth G. Gerow
author_facet Justin G. Clapp
Jeffrey L. Beck
Kenneth G. Gerow
author_sort Justin G. Clapp
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Use of global positioning system (GPS) transmitters provides opportunities to evaluate ecological questions associated with fine‐scale animal movements. One important application is to evaluate how animals acclimate to new surroundings after translocation. Our objective was to quantify temporal acclimation for low‐elevation, non‐migratory bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) from 3 translocations to the Seminoe Mountains in south‐central Wyoming, USA, from 2009 to 2010 (n = 38) as well as for bighorns captured and released on‐site in 2011 (n = 24). We used number of days for movements from individual bighorn to stabilize as a measure of acclimation. Mean acclimation for translocated bighorns after release was 29.3 days (SE = 2.5, range = 0–70). Mean acclimation for bighorns captured and released on‐site was 5.0 days (SE = 2.4, range = 0–52). Paired comparisons indicated acclimation for 16 previously translocated bighorns that were captured and released on‐site was reduced by 30.8 days (SE = 5.0) or 86%. Within translocation efforts, bighorn females in supplemental releases acclimated an average of 19.5 days sooner (or in 57% of the time) than animals from the first translocation. Because acclimation periods after translocation releases are associated with increased mortality risk, managers should consider supplemental releases to minimize acclimation periods. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
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spelling doaj-art-93c15dcb6de54e009a988bd3e71d2a282025-08-20T01:56:34ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402014-09-0138365766310.1002/wsb.441Post‐release acclimation of translocated low‐elevation, non‐migratory bighorn sheepJustin G. Clapp0Jeffrey L. Beck1Kenneth G. Gerow2Department of Ecosystem Science and ManagementUniversity of WyomingDepartment 33541000 E University AvenueLaramieWY82071USADepartment of Ecosystem Science and ManagementUniversity of WyomingDepartment 33541000 E University AvenueLaramieWY82071USADepartment of StatisticsUniversity of WyomingDepartment 33321000 E University AvenueLaramieWY82071USAABSTRACT Use of global positioning system (GPS) transmitters provides opportunities to evaluate ecological questions associated with fine‐scale animal movements. One important application is to evaluate how animals acclimate to new surroundings after translocation. Our objective was to quantify temporal acclimation for low‐elevation, non‐migratory bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) from 3 translocations to the Seminoe Mountains in south‐central Wyoming, USA, from 2009 to 2010 (n = 38) as well as for bighorns captured and released on‐site in 2011 (n = 24). We used number of days for movements from individual bighorn to stabilize as a measure of acclimation. Mean acclimation for translocated bighorns after release was 29.3 days (SE = 2.5, range = 0–70). Mean acclimation for bighorns captured and released on‐site was 5.0 days (SE = 2.4, range = 0–52). Paired comparisons indicated acclimation for 16 previously translocated bighorns that were captured and released on‐site was reduced by 30.8 days (SE = 5.0) or 86%. Within translocation efforts, bighorn females in supplemental releases acclimated an average of 19.5 days sooner (or in 57% of the time) than animals from the first translocation. Because acclimation periods after translocation releases are associated with increased mortality risk, managers should consider supplemental releases to minimize acclimation periods. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.441acclimationbighorn sheepdata‐censoringfunctional data analysisglobal positioning systemGPS
spellingShingle Justin G. Clapp
Jeffrey L. Beck
Kenneth G. Gerow
Post‐release acclimation of translocated low‐elevation, non‐migratory bighorn sheep
Wildlife Society Bulletin
acclimation
bighorn sheep
data‐censoring
functional data analysis
global positioning system
GPS
title Post‐release acclimation of translocated low‐elevation, non‐migratory bighorn sheep
title_full Post‐release acclimation of translocated low‐elevation, non‐migratory bighorn sheep
title_fullStr Post‐release acclimation of translocated low‐elevation, non‐migratory bighorn sheep
title_full_unstemmed Post‐release acclimation of translocated low‐elevation, non‐migratory bighorn sheep
title_short Post‐release acclimation of translocated low‐elevation, non‐migratory bighorn sheep
title_sort post release acclimation of translocated low elevation non migratory bighorn sheep
topic acclimation
bighorn sheep
data‐censoring
functional data analysis
global positioning system
GPS
url https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.441
work_keys_str_mv AT justingclapp postreleaseacclimationoftranslocatedlowelevationnonmigratorybighornsheep
AT jeffreylbeck postreleaseacclimationoftranslocatedlowelevationnonmigratorybighornsheep
AT kennethggerow postreleaseacclimationoftranslocatedlowelevationnonmigratorybighornsheep