Influence of the Hayden-Rhodes aqueduct on use of habitat by desert mule deer

Abstract

I studied 1,472 locations of desert mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus crooki) (1M, 6F) before completion of the Hayden-Rhodes Aqueduct (HRA) (pre-HRA, 1981-1984), and 2,300 locations (6M, 10F) after completion of the Hayden-Rhodes Aqueduct (post-HRA, 1989-1991) to examine habitat use. I used a Geographic Information System to measure and analyze deer locations by season, sex, and year. I compared home-range size, distance to water catchments, distance to washes, vegetation use versus availability and deer interactions ≤1 km from the canal between the periods. Home-range sizes did not change significantly (P≤0.05) as a result of completion and operation of the HRA. Deer were closer to water catchments in the warmer seasons before completion of the HRA, but farther from water in the warmer seasons after completion of the HRA. Deer locations ≤1 km from the HRA increased after completion and operation of the HRA. Deer were probably relying on areas ≤1 km from the canal for forage and thermal cover.