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<br />Long-term monitoring of the responses of vegetation to incremental <br />7,- i). ~~, -. -, <br />precipitation increases will be requfred~whether species composition <br />" <br /> <br />and productivity will be significantly affected. <br /> <br />Studies of the effects of precipitation increases on large and small <br />mammals were undertaken in the Medicine Bow Ecology Project [14], the <br />Sierra Ecology Project [15], and the San Juan Ecology Project [10]. In <br /> <br />addition, Montana State University surveyed previous research on the <br />effects of weather components on big game. IISection 2, Ecological, <br /> <br />Wildlife, and Biocommunities,1I of this report series states: <br /> <br />IIVarious weather components seem to infl uence the act iv it ies <br /> <br />of many big game species: 1. game species move to areas of <br /> <br />the most available forage; 2. game species move to areas of <br />the most nutritious forage; 3. relative humidity affects the <br />length of rest periods which are longer on more humid days <br /> <br />and shorter on less humid days; 4. animals rest in areas <br /> <br />away from wind; 5. precipitation, unless accompanied by <br /> <br />wind, does not affect the activity of game species; 6. game <br />species use higher elevation ranges during dry summers; <br /> <br />7. game species are more observable during dry summers <br /> <br />because of lack of cover and search for preferred food <br /> <br />species; 8. winter snows decrease the availability of total <br /> <br />range, cover, and food; 9. low temperatures decrease activi- <br /> <br />ties of game species; 10. winds of 15-25 mph and low tempera- <br /> <br />tures cause game species to feed later in the morning; <br />11. low temperatures and snow depth force the congregation <br />of animals which increases their susceptibility to predation; <br /> <br />31 <br />