Codistribution of Cattle and Exotic Oryx on Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland, South-Central New Mexico

Abstract

We investigated factors influencing codistribution of cattle and exotic oryx on the Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center (CDRRC), south-central New Mexico. We established a camera-trapping grid on the CDRRC, 2019–2022, and modeled occupancy of cattle (Bos indicus) and oryx (Oryx gazella gazella) as a function of habitat attributes and presence of the other species. Species interaction factors were > 3.9 for oryx and cattle, and presence of either ungulate never negatively influenced occupancy of either except at water sites. Similarly, occupancy of the CDRRC landscape was positively correlated (≥ 0.77) between oryx and cattle. Occupancy of oryx was weakly negatively influenced by total edge and terrain ruggedness. Cattle occupancy was weakly associated with areas away from roads, nearer water, and with greater number of habitat patches in the landscape (i.e., within a 1-km radius). Presence of oryx and cattle at water sites was negatively correlated (r = –0.20); patterns of use indicated that oryx avoided using water sites when cattle were present. Rather than segregation driven by interference competition or despotism, our results appeared to reflect common preferences and distribution of oryx and cattle for much of the CDRRC landscape. The exception to this was apparent subdominance of oryx to cattle at water sites.