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Modeling winter habitat for white-tailed deer in southwestern Virginia

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dc.contributor.authorGaudette, Mary Theresaen
dc.contributor.departmentFisheries and Wildlife Sciencesen
dc.date.accessioned2017-06-05T19:26:54Zen
dc.date.available2017-06-05T19:26:54Zen
dc.date.issued1986en
dc.description.abstractPellet group surveys were conducted on 21 transects in February-March, 1985, and January-March, 1986, to estimate relative deer densities on eleven study areas on the Jefferson National Forest, southwestern Virginia. Habitat data were collected on the same transects in July-September, 1985. Additional habitat information was measured from aerial photographs and USDA Forest Service compartment maps. These data were used to develop eleven multiple linear regression models and one pattern recognition (PATREC) model for predicting deer winter habitat quality, based on the assumption that relative density of deer is a good indicator of habitat quality. The densities of evergreen broad-leaved shrubs and"Nonforage" shrubs, basal area, mean distance to a field, and percent slope were among the most important variables selected in the regression model building process. Six variables were selected for use in the PATREC model: mean tree diameter, oak basal area, basal area of"Other Winter Forage" tree species, density of"Nonforage" shrubs, mean distance to a gated gravel road, and mean canopy closure. Spearman's rank correlations were used to compare the model outputs with estimated pellet group densities. All of the models had correlation coefficients ≥ 0.60, four had correlation coefficients > 0.80. The models need to be validated, i.e. tested with independent data from areas outside the study sites. These tests will help refine the models and assess their effectiveness in other regions of the southern Appalachian Mountains.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.extentviii, 68 leavesen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/77898en
dc.language.isoen_USen
dc.publisherVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
dc.relation.isformatofOCLC# 15178983en
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subject.lccLD5655.V855 1986.G384en
dc.subject.lcshWhite-tailed deeren
dc.subject.lcshHabitat (Ecology)en
dc.titleModeling winter habitat for white-tailed deer in southwestern Virginiaen
dc.typeThesisen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplineFisheries and Wildlife Sciencesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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