Publisher: USGS
| Science Center: Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NRMSC, Bozeman)
| Format: .PDF
www.nrmsc.usgs.gov —
The ecology of hoofed big-game species in the
northern Rocky Mountains, known as ungulates,
is strongly influenced by climate. Climate
change impacts summer precipitation,
winter snow pack, and the timing of spring
green-up, all of which control animal physiology,
demography, diet, habitat selection, and
predator prey interactions. However, the
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The ecology of hoofed big-game species in the
northern Rocky Mountains, known as ungulates,
is strongly influenced by climate. Climate
change impacts summer precipitation,
winter snow pack, and the timing of spring
green-up, all of which control animal physiology,
demography, diet, habitat selection, and
predator prey interactions. However, the degree
of response to these impacts from animals
such as elk, moose, mule deer, and
pronghorn antelope is uncertain. In this project, scientists will study how global
climate change may impact ungulate species. Researchers will examine how climate change
induced events such as decreased snow pack,
early spring conditions, and increased drought
may alter species migration routes and population
numbers, influence disease prevalence
such as brucellosis in feed grounds, and impact
abundance of vegetation such as aspen.
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