Desert bighorn movements and habitat use in relation to the proposed Black Canyon Bridge Project, Nevada

In this study, I used information on topography and the distribution of resources in the Eldorado Mountains, Nevada, to characterize bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) habitat quality, and information on movements of radio-collared bighorn to estimate home range size and patterns of movement. Study results were used to evaluate potential impacts of three proposed highway alignments (Gold Strike Canyon, GSA; Sugarloaf Mountain, SLA; and Promontory Point, PPA) on bighorn sheep; Seasonal preferences for aspect, slope, elevation, distance to water, distance to escape terrain, and land surface ruggedness (LSR) were studied for male and female bighorn sheep. Distinct differences in habitat selection existed between the sexes throughout most of the year; Due to the close proximity of the highway alignments to each other, little difference exists in their potential impacts to bighorn sheep. Analyses using geographic information systems, however, indicates SLA intrudes the least on high use areas, high quality habitat, and areas identified as lambing habitat of the three. Habitat loss due to potential habitat fragmentation will be greatest for GSA. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biological Science

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Year

1993

Author dc:creator

• Ebert, Donald William

Contributors dc:contributor

• Charles L. Douglas

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/rtds/286

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:oasis.library.unlv.edu:rtds-1285