Foods of Primary Consumers on Cold Desert Shrub-Steppe of Southcentral Idaho

Abstract

Trophic relationships of rabbits, black-tailed jack rabbits, pronghorn, sheep, and cattle were examined on the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory Site in southcentral Idaho. Grasses were the most important foods of lagomorphs and livestock. Pronghorn depended mostly on basin big sagebrush, common winterfat, and saltbushes. If jack rabbits increase in the future, severe competition for forage with livestock may result.