The effects of forest thinning on the food-based carrying capacity of a mixed oak forest for white-tailed deer in the ridge and valley province of Virginia

The ability of a mixed oak forest in the Ridge and Valley Province of Virginia to provide the seasonal digestible protein and energy requirements of a white-tailed doe following a commercial thinning operation was evaluated. The element of time elapsed since thinning was emphasized and was represented by three contiguous forested parcels thinned over 3 consecutive years and an unthinned parcel. Digestible protein and energy requirements of a doe, whitetailed deer in four different physiological conditions associated with four seasons were obtained directly from the literature or calculated from data in the literature. Availability of dietary digestible energy and protein coincident with the requirement periods were determined by clipping, weighing and analyzing for digestible protein and energy content food items commonly used by white-tailed deer. Calculation of carrying capacity was based on the ability of a white-tailed doe to obtain sufficient energy and protein from the daily diet. When the ratio, energy or protein density of the daily diet: daily energy or protein requirements of the doe was less than 1, the doe was unable to meet her requirements. Thus, carrying capacity was determined to be 0 ha/deer. When this ratio equalled or exceeded 1, carrying capacity was calculated by dividing the daily standing crop of protein or energy by the daily protein or energy requirements of the doe. Summer, winter and mast-supplemented fall diets were deficient in energy. Thus, potential carrying capacity, based on immediately available dietary digestible energy, was estimated as 0 ha/deer during these periods. Spring and mast-supplemental fall diets provided adequate digestible energy for maintenance of the doe. Diets from all parcels and seasons provided sufficient protein for maintenance. For those periods when dietary protein and energy were sufficient, carrying capacity exceeded 0 ha/deer and was greater with increased standing crop of the seasonal diets. Standing crop of seasonal diets tended to be larger with increased time since thinning, although this pattern was confounded by the drier nature of one parcel. The role of seasonal energy and protein excesses and deficiencies in the annual nutrition of white-tailed deer are discussed. The necessity of considering dietary quality as well as quantity and the year-round nutritional plans of deer are emphasized for forage-based evaluations of deer habitat. calculations suggest that dietary energy is a more important limiting factor than protein on the abundance of white-tailed deer in this forest stand.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences (Wildlife Science Option)

Department dc:contributor.department

Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences (Wildlife Science Option)

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1978

Author dc:creator

• Carlile, David W.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/75991

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/75991