Sandoval et al. studied the dietary similarities between elk and mule deer on the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. Dietary overlap between elk and mule deer, over the life of the study, was 70%, with the two species sharing 3 of the 5 major forage species. The authors have seen a 10 year increase in both elk and mule deer numbers because of the conservative to moderate grazing done by these ungulates. Sandoval et al. are concerned that a large increase in elk numbers, or the introduction of cattle, could have adverse effects on mule deer, as they have the smallest dietary preference of these three grazers.
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