Home range and habitat use of male ruffed grouse in managed mixed oak and aspen forests.

摘要

Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) occupy many areas of the eastern and southeastern USA where oak (Quercus sp.) is the dominant forest type. However, most research on grouse habitat requirements and populations has taken place in Lake States aspen (Populus sp.) forests. Male grouse were captured and radiotagged to determine spring and summer home range sizes and habitat use on a 1120-ha experimental forest management area in central Pennsylvania, in 1990-91. The dominant forest types were aspen-blackcherry [Populus/Prunus serotina] and mixed oak. The management area was divided into two sections, one of which was managed with a short-rotation clear felling scheme and one that was left unmanaged. Breeding season and summer home ranges (5.0-9.4 ha) of male ruffed grouse were similar to those observed in the Midwest, and did not appear to differ between managed and unmanaged habitats. However, habitats used differed between the managed and unmanaged areas. Male grouse on the managed area used aspen-black cherry and mixed oak sapling stands more than expected during both the breeding season and summer. Pole-sized and sawtimber aspen stands in the unmanaged area were used more than expected during breeding and summer seasons. Male ruffed grouse avoided mixed oak sawtimber stands, which comprised 62 and 47% of the available habitat in the unmanaged area and managed area, respectively. The results demonstrated that southern mixed oak stands can be managed effectively for ruffed grouse with small (1 ha)clearcuts.