Food Habits of the Sharp-Tailed Grouse (Pedioecetes Phasianellus Jamesi) and The Greater Prairie Chicken (Tymphanuchus Cupido Pinnauts) In Western South Dakota

Summer food preferences were determined for 48 adult sharp-tailed grouse (Pedioecetes phasianellus jamesi) in a mixed grass habitat. Seasonal foods were determined for 659 sharptails and prairie chickens (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus). Vegetation analysis of four selected study areas indicated significant differences (P<.05) in grassland and brushy draw habitats. Of plant food items, cultivated crops were first in importance on the basis of crop analysis by volumetric comparison for summer, fall, and winter for prairie grouse. Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) ranked first (72.2 percent) in importance by volume for 63 sharptai8ls during spring. Short-horned grasshoppers (Acrididas) were the most important insect item by volume for summer, fall, and winter. Preference indices for food items taken by 48 adult sharp-tailed grouse during summer indicated selectivity for rose (Rosa arkansana) hips, wolfberry (Symmphoricarpos occidentalis) fruits, clovers (Trifolium spp.), and prickly lettuce (Lactuca Serriola) flower heads. Cultivated crop were fifth in important based on the food-preference index. Short-horned grasshoppers were consumed in approximate proportion to their availability.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - Open Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Wildlife Management

Year

1968

Author dc:creator

• Renhowe, Bruce A.

Statement dc:rights

• <p>No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only<br /><a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/</a></p>

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/202

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-1202