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The topographic distribution of symptric populations of Barbary sheep and mule deer was studied in the Dry Creek branch (65 km*) of Palo Duro Canyon in the central Texas Panhandle from February 1977 through January 1979. Each of 529 Barbary sheep sightings and 337 mule deer sightings were recorded by topographic level and nonparmetric tests were used to evaluate the null hypothesis of no significant difference in distribution between Barbary sheep and mule deer in topographic level or habitat type. There was no significant difference between species in spatial usage on a monthly basis when sightings on Bluff Sites were compared with those on Level Sites. When sightings on High Sites were compared with those on Low Sites, distributional patterns were significantly different only for February and November. There were significant seasonal differences between species in distrlbution by habitat type during the autumn and spring, but the aggregate distribution of sightings suggested that overall usage of space was not significantly different. These findings, when considered with the results of comparative diet studies, indicate the possibility of competition for mutally preferred forage plants. Other implications are also discussed. Big game was scarce in Palo Duro Canyon during the first half of this century. This situation probably resulted from subsistence hunting by early settlers (Simpson and Leftwich 1978,198 I), habitat deterioration (Leftwich and Simpson 1978), the screwworm (Cephenemyia hominivorax) problem, and poor range condition and poaching during the drought years of the 1930’s and 1950’s (T.T. Christianpers. comm. 1979). In response to this situation, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department released 268 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in Palo Duro Canyon from 1949 through 1951 (DeArment 1971) and 85 more in 1964 (Evans l%4) to augment the small remnant population. Forty-four Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia), an exotic ungulate from North Africa, were introduced into the canyon in 1957-58. Because the Barbary sheep population appears to be increasing (Simpson et al. l978), this study was conducted to determine the topographic distribution and habitat utilization of both species in Palo Duro Canyon as one component of the ecological relationship between these two sympatric ungulates. When this research was conducted the authors were, respectively, associate profesSOT and graduate research assistant, Department of Range and Wildlife Management, )9. C.D. Simpson’s present address is 8: 2lst Texas T;ch University, Lubbock 794 Avenue, Famona, Bulawayo,Zimbabwe, Africa. ti.ti. ti~y~spowasslstant prOIeSSOr in the Department ofBiological Sciences, Northern lllinms Umversity, DeKalb60115. Send reprint requests to Dr. Gray. mm Christian and Kenneth Matthews of Claude, Texas, for access to the study area on their propcrties,and Drs. Henry A. Wright, J. Knox Jones, _ _ _ n.. ,_ . mm___ ,, _CT__“_ I ^L I,_:..__^:*., g .r,.n_m.n+r on the manuscript: This is Technical Paper No. T-9-258 of the College of Agricultural Sciences, Texas Tech University, which provided financial support for this study. Manuscript received June 4, 1981. Study Area Palo Duro Canyon, a winding and irregular gorge approximately 97 km by 32 km, located in the central Texas Panhandle at an elevation of 1048 m, was formed by the erosive action of the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. The steep bluffs of the Caprock escarpment form canyon walls up to 244 m in vertical height. Erosion-resistant formations have been preserved as mesas, ledges, benches, or ridge fingers. Five range sites were delineated on the study area corresponding to belts on a vertical rim-to-floor transect (Jacquot et al. 1965). Each site is characterized by a distinctive combination of geological strata, soil type, and topography. These 5 range sitesconstitute 4 topographic levels (Fig. I), defined as follows: (1) the Deep Hardland of the High Plain above the canyon combined with the Mixed Land Slope abutting the rim comprises an upper level called the “Canyon Rim”; (2) high ledges on the Rough Breaks of the canyon walls, 30-45 m below the rim, were termed “High Benches”; (3) lower ledges on the canyon walls, generally 30-45 m above the canyon floor were designated “LOW Benches”; and (4) the gently rolling Shallow Redland and Bottomland of the floor collectively called the “Canyon Floor.” The 5 range sites and 4 topographic levels described represent 3 major big game habitat types-the Canyon Rim, the Rough Breaks(Bluff Faces) that form the canyon walls, and the Canyon Floor. The vegetation reflects this diversity and includes such mesic species as bottlebrush sedge (Carex hystricina), smooth horsetail DRY CREEK STUDY AREA PALO DURO CANYON, TEXAS

Topographic and Habitat Use by Sympatric Barbary Sheep and Mule Deer in Palo Duro Canyon, Texas