NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Ecology of the Carmen Mountains White-Tailed Deer
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CONTENTS

COVER

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

SUMMARY

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION

Study Area
Physiography
History of Land Use
Flora
Mammals

Chapter 2: METHODS

Climate
Deer Description and Distribution
Population Estimates
Sex and Age Classification
Group Size and Activity
Reproductive Activity and the Fawning Season
Mortality
Parasites, Disease, and Deer Condition
Predator Scat Analysis
Food Habits
Competitive Interactions
Vegetation

Chapter 3: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Description of Carmen Mountains White-tailed Deer
Distribution and Status
Deer Numbers
Whitetail Habitat
Habitat Use
Food Habits
Sex and Age Ratios
Group Size
Home Range
Composition
Activity Patterns
Reproductive Activity and the Fawning Season
Competition
Mortality
Parasites, Disease, and Deer Condition
Predators and Deer
Effects of Predators on Deer

Chapter 4: CONCLUDING COMMENTS AND MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

APPENDIXES

1. Relative frequency of grass and forbs in selected whitetail habitat, Big Bend National Park, Texas
2. Relative cover of woody and succulent plants in selected whitetail habitat, Big Bend National Park, Texas
3. Relative tree cover in whitetail habitat, Big Bend National Park, Texas
4. Relative frequency of grass and forbs, and relative cover of woody and succculent plants on the northeast side of the Christmas Mountains, Brewster County, Texas
5. Relative frequency of grass and forbs, and relative cover of woody and succulent plants and trees on north slopes of the Chinati Mountains, Presidio County, Texas
6. Relative frequency of grass and forbs, and relative cover of woody and succulent plants on the north slope of the Rosillos Mountains, Brewster County, Texas

REFERENCES

INDEX (omitted from the online edition)


As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural resources. This includes fostering the wisest use of our land and water resources, protecting our fish and wildlife, preserving the environmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical places, and providing for the enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation. The Department assesses our energy and mineral resources and works to assure that their development is in the best interests of all our people. The Department also has a major responsibility for American Indian reservation communities and for people who live in Island Territories under U.S. administration.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Krausman, Paul R 1946—
Ecology of the Carmen Mountains white-tailed deer.

(National Park Service scientific monograph series no. 15)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. White-tailed deer—Ecology. 2. Mammals— Ecology. 3. Mammals—Carmen Mountains, Mexico and Tex. —Ecology. 4. Mammals—Texas——Chisos Mountains— Ecology. 5. Mammals—Texas—Big Bend National Park— Ecology. 6. Big Bend National Park. I. Ables, Ernest D., joint author. II. Title. III. Series: United States. National Park Service. Scientific monograph; no. 15.
QL737.U55K72 599.73'57 80—607910

To Carol, Curtis, and Julie



FIGURES
1 Location of Big Bend National Park, Texas.
2 Area locations in and around the Chisos Mountains.
3 Characteristic rock outcrops, vertical cliffs, deep canyons, and talus slopes of the Chisos Mountains.
4 High, mean, and low temperatures at Panther Junction.
5 High, mean, and low temperatures at the Chisos Mountains.
6 Annual rainfall and mean annual temperature for the Basin and Panther Junction.
7 Population fluctuations of mule deer, white-tailed deer, and mountain lions.
8 Distribution of the Carmen Mountains white-tailed deer.
9 The Christmas Mountains.
10 The Chinati Mountains.
11 Sotol-Grassland Formation.
12 Dense pines, oaks, and juniper common on the South Rim, and Stipa spp. common in Chisos Mountains meadows.
13 Moss Well.
14 Panther Canyon.
l5 The Basin as seen from the top of Boot Spring trail, and the Window.
16 Typical whitetail habitat in the lower areas of the Chinati Mountains.
17 Typical, commonly used deer bed.
18 Agave lecheguilla and Opuntia engelmannii.
19 Mountain lion scat.
20 Mountain lion scrape.
21 Mountain lion cache.
22 Two species comprising over 85% of the diet of mountain lions.
23 Four species accounting for over 88% of the bobcat's diet.

TABLES
1 Status of javelina and large predators from 1944 to 1973.
2 Sex, age, and numbers of Carmen deer.
3 The mean skull size of adult males.
4 Mean comparisons of eight antler measurements from O. v. carminis and O. v. couesi.
5 Comparative measurements between O. v. carminis, O. v. couesi, and O. v. texanus.
6 Body measurements of whitetails.
7 Range, mean, standard deviation, and standard error of mean of body measurements.
8 Mean comparisons of eight antler measurements from whitetails.
9 Pellet plot locations.
10 Estimates of white-tailed deer.
11 Estimates of mule deer.
12 Slope of bedding sites of Carmen deer.
13 Volumetric percentages of forage in rumens.
14 Food items observed to be eaten by white-tailed deer.
15 Sex and age classification of whitetails.
16 Group associations of whitetails.
17 Numbers of whitetails observed in activities.
18 Dual species interactions between whitetails and mule deer.
19 Dual species interactions observed between whitetails and javelinas.
20 Measures of association between whitetails and mule deer.
21 Sex and age of deer killed by cars, undetermined causes, and fences.
22 Omental, kidney, heart fat, and marrow condition.
23 Sex and age of whitetails, mule deer, and javelinas killed by mountain lions.
24 Major food items of mountain lions in five studies.
25 Food items in 161 mountain lion scats.
26 Food items in 128 bobcat scats.
27 Food items in 245 coyote scats.


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Last Updated: 08-Oct-2008