Bison and bighorns: Assessing the potential impacts of reintroducing a large herbivore to a mountainous landscape.

ABSTRACT: The reintroduction of wildlife can have significant ecological impacts by altering the flow of energy in food webs. Recently, plains bison were reintroduced to part of Banff National Park after a 150-year absence. The large herbivore's reintroduction was expected to have far-reaching effects on the ecosystem due to its significant energy requirements and interactions with habitat and other sympatric species. This study explores the impacts of bison reintroduction on the movement and resource use of another large-bodied grazer, the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Between 2018 and 2021, we collected data from GPS collars fit on 39 bighorn sheep and 11 bison. We analyzed home range patterns, resource selection, and interactions to investigate the potential for interspecific competition, facilit

SUBMITTER: Whyte PJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10897061 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature