Sites, mowing, 2,4-D, and seasons affect bitter-brush twig morphology

Abstract

Effects of site factors, mowing, 2,4-D, and seasons on antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata Pursh.) twig length, basal and tip diameters, and weight were evaluated in southcentral Wyoming. Linear regression coefficients for twig length regressed on basal diameter were greater on productive sites than on less productive sites, greater on mowed areas than on sprayed or untreated areas, and greater in late fall because of leaves than in late winter. Twig elongation continued after data collection in early November. Twig length was more variable and more sensitive to different environmental conditions than twig basal diameter, tip diameter, or weight. Twig length accounted for 80-86% of the variation in twig weight. Sites, shrub management practices, and seasons do affect bitterbrush twig morphology, but habitat managers can use twig length-diameter-weight relations in this vegetation type to estimate utilization if the sampling is stratified along environmental gradients.