Aspects of Variation in Cranial Characters of Plains Bison (Bison bison bison Linnaeus) from Elk Island National Park, Alberta

1975 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 871-887 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Shackleton ◽  
L. V. Hills ◽  
D. A. Hutton
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Bison Bison ◽  
Elk Island National Park

Reproductive success in wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) established using molecular techniques

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (9) ◽  
pp. 1537-1548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory A Wilson ◽  
Wes Olson ◽  
Curtis Strobeck
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
National Park ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Bison Bison ◽  
Male Reproductive Success ◽  
Female Reproductive Success ◽  
Wood Bison ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Elk Island National Park ◽  
Linear Regressions

In this study, we used 21 microsatellite loci to establish the reproductive success of the wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) population at Elk Island National Park, Alberta, Canada. Wood bison are considered threatened in Canada, and this population is currently used to found new populations. Despite the low levels of genetic variation in this population, we were able to establish paternity in 253 and maternity in 295 of the 317 calves born in Elk Island National Park over the 4-year study period. Roughly 40% of the mature males were reproductively successful each year. Mature males produced a mean of 3.8 offspring over the study period, with a range of 0–24. Each year, approximately 50–70% of the cows produced calves, with a mean of 2.7 over the study period. Multiple linear regressions were performed to determine the effects of age, mass, heterozygosity, prior success, and the year of conception on male and female reproductive success. Only mass and prior success were useful in predicting male reproductive success. Female reproductive success depended on age, mass, and prior success and was also affected by environmental differences between years. No evidence was found for inbreeding avoidance in wood bison.

scholarly journals Coyote, Canis latrans, Predation on a Bison, Bison bison, Calf in Yellowstone National Park

2009 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 260 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Sheldon ◽  
Gregory Reed ◽  
A. Cheyenne Burnett ◽  
Kevin Li ◽  
Robert L. Crabtree
Keyword(s):  
Adult Male ◽  
Yellowstone National Park ◽  
National Park ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Bison Bison ◽  
Alpha Male ◽  
Complete Observation

We observed a single adult male Coyote (Canis latrans) kill a Bison (Bison bison) calf in Yellowstone National Park. The predation is, to our knowledge, the only direct and complete observation of a lone Coyote capturing and killing a Bison calf. The bison calf had unsuccessfully attempted to ford a river with a group and subsequently become stranded alone in the territory of a six-year-old alpha male Coyote.

scholarly journals Chronic stress and body condition of wolf-killed prey in Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin R Shave ◽  
Andrew E Derocher ◽  
Seth G Cherry ◽  
Gregory W Thiemann
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Lipid Content ◽  
National Park ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Bison Bison ◽  
Predator Population ◽  
Hair Cortisol ◽  
Prince Albert National Park ◽  
Historical Range

Abstract Chronic stress and poor body condition can cause adverse physiological and behavioural responses and may make animals more vulnerable to predation. We examined hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and marrow lipid content, as bioindicators of chronic stress and body condition, respectively, of bison (Bison bison bison), moose (Alces alces) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) killed by wolves (Canis lupus) in Prince Albert National Park (PANP), Saskatchewan, Canada. The Sturgeon River plains bison population in PANP is one of only a few wild populations of plains bison in their historical range in Canada and has experienced a decline of around 50% since 2005. We expected wolf-killed bison to have elevated HCC compared to human-harvested bison and that there would be a negative relationship between HCC and marrow lipids among wolf-killed animals. We compared HCC between different mortality sources for bison (wolf-killed n = 20 or human-harvested n = 23) and found that HCC was significantly elevated in wolf-killed bison (̄ = 7.56 ± 1.35 pg/mg). We found that HCC, species, sex and snow depth were all significant predictor variables of marrow lipid content of bison (n = 14), moose (n = 11) and deer (n = 27). Bison displayed the strongest negative correlation between HCC and marrow lipid content (r2 = 0.31). Our results suggest that chronic stress and poor body condition make prey more vulnerable to predation by wolves. HCC and marrow lipid content can provide reliable indicators of the physiological response of animals to stressors and may provide information on expected predator success that can be used to predict predator population dynamics.

Food Habits of Bison at Wind Cave National Park

1978 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 161-165
Author(s):  
Robert Dahlgren ◽  
Jewel Popp
Keyword(s):  
South Dakota ◽  
Food Habits ◽  
National Park ◽  
Bison Bison ◽  
Range Use ◽  
Forage Species ◽  
Considerable Impact ◽  
Prairie Ecosystem

Wind Cave National Park (WCNP) in southwestern South Dakota represents a vestige of the prairie ecosystem. American bison (Bison bison) are the most numerous ungulates in the Park and the largest herbivore. Thus bison have potential for considerable impact on the rangelands. Relatively few studies (Meagher 1973, Peden et al. 1974, Peden 1976, Reynolds 1978) were conducted on bison food habits. None was conducted on mid-grass prairies typical of WCNP. Dietary information is important for determining the value of the range to bison as well as management of bison in relation to other herbivores. The objectives of this study are to determine seasonal food habits of bison, key forage species, and how the bison interact with other major herbivores in range use.

The fall and rise of bison populations in Wood Buffalo National Park: 1971 to 2003

2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (9) ◽  
pp. 1195-1205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Bradley ◽  
John Wilmshurst
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Bison Bison ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Risk Of Predation ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Wood Buffalo National Park

Two hypotheses have been proposed to explain the decline of bison (Bison bison (L., 1758)) abundance in Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP). The "disease–predation" hypothesis proposes that tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis (Karlson and Lessel 1970)) and brucellosis (Brucella abortus (Schmidt 1901)) reduce bison survival and reproduction, resulting in a low-density, predator-regulated equilibrium. The "habitat dispersion hypothesis" proposes that bison in one area of WBNP, the Peace–Athabasca Delta (Delta), have an increased risk of predation because they are concentrated in large meadows with high temporal and spatial predictability. We incorporate bison census data, calf and yearling segregation counts, reproductive rates, adult survival rates, and adult disease incidence in a stochastic population model to show that the historical decline of bison in WBNP would have occurred regardless of disease prevalence. Our model shows that survival of juveniles, the age class that is least susceptible to disease effects, was likely an important determinant of historical changes in population size. We also demonstrate that the population decline was most pronounced in the Delta and that juvenile survival was lower in the Delta, despite evidence that disease incidence was lower in the Delta than in the rest of WBNP. Lastly, the current population trend in WBNP is one of rapid increase, even in the presence of disease.

POLYMORPHUS PARADOXUS SP. NOV. (ACANTHOCEPHALA) PARASITIZING BEAVERS AND MUSKRATS IN ALBERTA, CANADA

1957 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Connell ◽  
A. H. Corner
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
National Park ◽  
Castor Canadensis ◽  
Avian Host ◽  
Elk Island National Park ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
A New Species

A new species of Acanthocephala, Polymorphus paradoxus, is described from beavers (Castor canadensis) and muskrats (Ondatra zibethica) from a lake in Elk Island National Park, Alberta. A species of amphipod in the lake was heavily infected with larval Acanthocephala, although the possible relationship of this infection to that in the beaver and muskrat has not yet been determined. While all other species of Polymorphus have been described from birds, a possible avian host of P. paradoxus has not yet been found.

Relating changes in duff moisture to the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System in Populus tremuloides stands in Elk Island National Park

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 1987-1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Otway ◽  
E. W. Bork ◽  
K. R. Anderson ◽  
M. E. Alexander
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fire ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Index System ◽  
National Park ◽  
National Standard ◽  
Fire Weather ◽  
Weather Index ◽  
Fire Weather Index ◽  
Elk Island National Park ◽  
Topographic Positions

The manner in which trembling aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.) forest duff moisture changes during the growing season was investigated in Elk Island National Park, Alberta, Canada. A calibration–validation procedure incorporating one calibration site with moisture sampling across three topographic positions was used to develop predictive models, which were subsequently compared with 12 validation sites across three vegetation types throughout the Park. Duff moisture was modelled against the Duff Moisture Code and Drought Code components of the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System. Spring, summer, and fall rates of duff moisture change differed (P < 0.050) during calibration, with moisture loss greatest in spring. Additionally, while moisture changes on the south-facing and crest topographic positions were similar during spring, moisture losses were greater (P < 0.050) at these locations compared with the north-facing landscape position. Correlation analysis indicated that duff inorganic content and bulk density were both related to duff moisture but were limited in importance compared with weather-based influences. When compared with predicted values obtained from calibrated models, moderate predictability of duff moisture was found (mean absolute error = 20.7%–54.2%). Relative to the national standard equations, unique but very different empirical relationships were developed between the Duff Moisture Code and Drought Code and the moisture content of the duff layer in aspen forest stands found in Elk Island National Park.

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