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here to read the Bison Study, Population Ecology and Ecological
Effects of Bison on Santa Catalina Island, California.
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ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF BISON ON
SANTA CATALINA ISLAND
Principal Investigators:
Rick Sweitzer, Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
University of North Dakota
Dirk Van Vuren, Professor
Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology University of California
Davis
Field Project Coordinator:
Juanita Constible, M.S. Biology |
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Around 1924 a small number of bison were released on Santa Catalina Island, one of four relatively large islands of the Channel Islands Archipelago located about 20 miles offshore of Los Angeles, California. Bison are not native to any part of California and are therefore an introduced exotic species on Santa Catalina Island.
Although bison are considered a keystone species in their native range, on this isolated offshore Island they play a different role. This study revealed more about the population ecology and health of bison on Santa Catalina Island and how their activities effect Island plants and animals. |
Bison bull with seeds of weedy plants in shedding winter
coat |
Bison & deer exclosure to protect island endemic shrubs |
Bison present area of Santa Catalina Island |
Bison free area of Santa Catalina Island |
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