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The
Starkey Project "Long-term studies of elk, deer, and cattle - examining the effects of ungulates on ecosystems" |
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Introduction
The Starkey Project...is a joint wildlife research project conducted by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the USDA Forest Service at the Starkey Experimental Forest and Range, 28 miles southwest of La Grande, Oregon. The project is designed to measure the population response of deer and elk to the intensively managed forests and rangelands of the future. Research began in 1989 and continues for 10 years. The Starkey Project involves four major studies that document deer, elk and cattle response to intensively managed National Forests. Research animal numbers within the Starkey enclosure include 550 cow-calf pairs, 450 elk and 250 deer.
THE PRIMARY STUDIES
TIME AND MONEYResearch began in 1989 and continues for ten years. Total cost exceeds six million dollars, with funding provided by USDA Forest Service and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Additional support is provided by Oregon State University, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Boise Cascade Corporation, and The National Council for Air and Stream Improvement.
THE SETTINGThe largest research enclosure ever built to study wildlife -- about 40 square miles -- is enclosed by 27 miles of eight-foot-high fence. An additional 11 miles of the deer- and- elk-proof fence divides the study area into three parts: a main study area of 20,673 acres; an intensive timber management area of 3,587 acres; and a winter feeding and handling area of 805 acres.
FUNCTIONS OF THE ENCLOSUREThe Starkey facility creates a research environment that:
SUMMER ACTIVITIESAll studies measure animal response to habitat change during spring, summer, and fall; winter range and migration are not part of the research. Deer and elk are kept at a low-elevation feed site each winter as a control factor. Spring, summer and fall activities within the enclosure include:
WINTER ACTIVITIESA winter feeding and handling area allows biologists to maintain consistent, high quality condition of deer and elk during winter, and to collect reproductive, population and physiological information about animal response to summer range conditions. Activities within the winter feed site include:
NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN USEAn automated Loran-C tracking system generates an animal location every 15 seconds with an accuracy to within 50 meters. Hardware, consists of a base station tower about 200 feet high, two base station computers linked to the Loran-C system, seven relay towers each about 150 feet high, and radio collars for 180 animals. During the 10 year study, more than four million locations will be generated-over 100 times the capability of conventional tracking systems. The cost per location is less than $ 1, compared to about $75 per location for previous systems.
DATA COLLECTION AND MANAGEMENTThe study area is divided into a grid of square cells as small as 30 by 30 meters. Data for up to 80 habitat features is collected for each cell using hand-held microcomputers, aerial photographs and satellite imagery. Base station computers store and analyze field data, then generate computer habitat maps using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). These maps display animal locations in relation to habitat features in any cell for any time period.
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"Long-term
studies of elk, deer, and cattle in managed forests."