2004 UC Proceedings Abstract
 GIS Model for Reintroducing Bighorn Sheep in Northern Utah Track: Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management Author(s): Jericho Whiting, Gary Ogborn, Jerran Flinders Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) are native to northern Utah, but were extirpated by the 1930s due to anthropogenic influences. Since 1966, multiple organizations have exerted much effort and money to reintroduce Rocky Mountain bighorns to previously inhabited ranges throughout northern and central Utah. These re-establishments have had mixed success. One reason for failed reintroductions was inadequate quantities of one or more critical seasonal ranges (primarily winter and lambing); however, there are plans to continue translocations. Our objective was to create geographic information system (GIS) predictive-model maps illustrating north central Utah's suitable winter and lambing range habitat using ArcView's Spatial Analyst tool and Map Query function. We observed reintroduced bighorns on Mount Timpanogos and Rock Canyon in central Utah on 550 occasions (306 winter range locations and 244 lambing range locations). We then compiled an attribute table identifying slope, aspect, vegetation type, and elevation data for each location using digital elevation models (DEM) and 7.5´topographical maps in ArcView 3.2.Slope, aspect, and vegetation type categories that met or exceeded 5% frequency and two standard deviations from the mean elevation were used in the models. Our models revealed north central Utah's most auspicious reintroduction locations that contain suitable winter and lambing range habitat; thus, ensuring appropriate allocation of money for future reintroductions by increasing the probability of translocated bighorn survival. Jericho Whiting Brigham Young University Integrative Biology BYU 415 WIDB Provo , UT 84602 US Phone: (801) 422-3072 E-mail: jcw44@email.byu.edu Gary Ogborn Utah Division of Wildlife Resoures 1115 N. Main Springville , UT 84058 US Phone: 801-491-5678 E-mail: garyogborn@utah.gov Jerran Flinders Brigham Young University Integrated Biology 401 WIDB Provo , UT 84602 US Phone: 801-422-2322 E-mail: Jerran_Flinders@byu.edu |
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