Document Type
Thesis - Open Access
Award Date
2024
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department / School
Natural Resource Management
First Advisor
Jeff Martin
Abstract
Every year, one-eighth of all North American bison (Bison bison) are translocated, often across large climatic gradients. Over the last 16 years bison have been translocated from Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota to establish six herds across the United States central grasslands in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Kansas. Influence of climatic gradients on herd-level thermoregulation, body size, and helmintic infection were evaluated. Overall, 1174 thermal images and 1050 fecal samples were collected between 2021 and 2023. Physiological heat flux was used to measure thermoregulation, asymptotic body mass (ABM) was used for body size, and helminth genera abundance was used for helmintic infection. Climatic gradients affected both bison heat flux and ABM. Climatic gradients and herd management strategies affected helminth genera abundance. Bison translocation is common in conservation efforts to improve ecosystem function through their action as a keystone species. Thermoregulation, body size, and helmintic infection affect bison life history and their function as a keystone species. Therefore, bison translocation plans should consider ecoregion and helminth exposure risk at both the source and destination.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
American bison -- Geographical distribution.
American bison -- Climatic factors.
American bison -- Size.
Body temperature -- Regulation.
Helminthiasis.
Animal introduction.
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Recommended Citation
Wolfe, Hayden, "Translocations of North American Bison Across Large Climatic Gradients: Impacts on Thermoregulation, Body Size, and Helmintic Infection" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1361.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd2/1361
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