TY - JOUR
T1 - Food habits of reintroduced elk in southeastern Kentucky
AU - Schneider, Jennifer
AU - Maehr, David S.
AU - Alexy, Karen J.
AU - Cox, John J.
AU - Larkin, Jeffery L.
AU - Reeder, Brian C.
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - Based on microhistological examinations of feces, Cervus elaphus (elk) from a reintroduced herd on the Cumberland Plateau in southeastern Kentucky exhibited an annual diet of grasses (24%), forbs (27%), and browse (32%). Diets shifted seasonally, possibly in response to availability and palatability. Forbs dominated the summer diet (34%), whereas grasses, forbs, and woody browse accounted for approximately equal portions of the fall diet. Grasses (40%), and browse (46%) dominated the diet during winter and spring, respectively. Grasses were eaten less during spring (10%) than during any other month. Nutritional quality does not appear to be limiting in this growing population.
AB - Based on microhistological examinations of feces, Cervus elaphus (elk) from a reintroduced herd on the Cumberland Plateau in southeastern Kentucky exhibited an annual diet of grasses (24%), forbs (27%), and browse (32%). Diets shifted seasonally, possibly in response to availability and palatability. Forbs dominated the summer diet (34%), whereas grasses, forbs, and woody browse accounted for approximately equal portions of the fall diet. Grasses (40%), and browse (46%) dominated the diet during winter and spring, respectively. Grasses were eaten less during spring (10%) than during any other month. Nutritional quality does not appear to be limiting in this growing population.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33750340206&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1656/1528-7092(2006)5[535:FHOREI]2.0.CO;2
DO - 10.1656/1528-7092(2006)5[535:FHOREI]2.0.CO;2
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:33750340206
SN - 1528-7092
VL - 5
SP - 535
EP - 546
JO - Southeastern Naturalist
JF - Southeastern Naturalist
IS - 3
ER -