The Game Types of Oklahoma
8. THE STABILIZED-DUNE GAME TYPE
Definition
This type includes the heavily vegetated sand-dunes which occur on the north sides of the Cimarron and North Canadian rivers in northwestern Oklahoma. The total area of the Stabilized - Dune Game Type is small, being around 368 square miles. Some workers have not recorded their findings in sufficient detail to consider this condition separately from other sandy land types in western Oklahoma. However, it is recognized by most ecologists as constituting a separate animal environment.
The Stabilized - Dune Game Type is characterized by a distinct dune-like relief covered with an excellent variation of trees, shrubs, grasses and weedy annuals. Such species as American elm (Ulmus americana), hackberry (Celtis spp.), chittamwood (Bumelia lanuginosa), post oak (Quercus stellata), blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica), form most of the overstory. Associated with this group are the wild grape (Vitis aestivalis), sand plum (Prunus angustifolia), dogwood (Cornus drummondii), fragrant sumac (Rhus trilobata), smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) and such tall grasses as are typical of the deep western sandy soils.
Climatic Characteristics
Climatic conditions here are those previously discussed for the northern part of western Oklahoma. Severe weather is not so detrimental here as on the hard land types since the cover is good, food abundant and since the sand soil readily absorbs the rainfall.
Physical Characteristics
The Stabilized - Dune Game Type has a distinct dune-like relief throughout, usually forming a pattern of alternating rows of dunes and valleys parallel with the course of the associated south lying rivers. Game takes advantage of this feature, particularly during prolonged cold and wet periods. Soils of this type are, for the most part, of a deep loose sandy nature and subject to blowing where vegetational protection is removed. Agriculturally they are of very little value.
Land Use Characteristics
What little cultivation is found here is confined to very small fields of grain sorghum between the dunes on tighter soils. The greatest use is for grazing. In recent years goats and sheep have been introduced here, resulting in extreme local overgrazing, particularly in the case of goats. When the brushy vegetation is destroyed the sand is allowed to blow and eventually results in sizeable areas of worthless land.
Wildlife Characteristics
This is the best game type of western Oklahoma. It consistently supports some extremely high bobwhite populations. Cottontail rabbit and fox squirrel are generally abundant. Furbearers are well represented and white-tailed deer are found in very small numbers throughout the type.
Bobwhite quail often concentrate here coming from surrounding types during severe weather and late winter. It appears that much of the winter population of this type is produced on the adjoining uplands.
About the plates
Plate XXI - Blowout being stabilized by invading vegetation after denudation by overgrazing. Result of fencing in quail management experiment.
Plate XXII - Typical vegetation composition of the Stabilized Dune Game Type. Note excellent variety of species.
Plate XXIII - One of a few excellent natural lakes within the Stabilized Dune Game Type.
Comment: bhoagland@ou.edu
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This document is a product of the Oklahoma
Biological Survey
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