Fecal pellets were taken from black-tailed jackrabbits and desert cottontail rabbits for studies of rates of natural degradation. Microscopic analyses of fecal samples showed a significant difference in the proportion of grasses, forbs, and woody plants ingested by the two leporid species sampled. Jackrabbits had ingested greater proportions of grasses and woody plants while cottontails had ingested greater proportions of forb material. Degradation of fecal pellets was observed at regular intervals from 1972 to 1974. Time required for complete disappearance of pellets was estimated at 4.4 years for jackrabbits and 9.5 years for cottontails. Relative humidity and precipitation were strongly correlated (r = -0.98 and -0.95 for jackrabbits and cottontails, respectively) with disappearance of pellets. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020
Scholarly peer-reviewed articles published by the Society for Range Management. Access articles on a rolling-window basis from vol. 1, 1948 up to 5 years from the current year. Formerly Journal of Range Management (JRM). More recent content is available by subscription from SRM.