WHAT IS THE UTILITY of vegetation measurements for wildlife managers? In the prairie, savanna, tundra, forest, steppe, and wetland regions of the world, mixtures of plant species provide wildlife with food, cover, and in some circumstances, water; the 3 essential habitat elements necessary to sustain viable wildlife populations. Habitat refers to use of a vegetation type by an animal (e.g., deer habitat), and vegetation type refers to differences in

vegetation stands (e.g., marsh vegetation type versus tall grass prairie vegetation type; Hall et al. 1997). The variety of wildlife using plants ranges from snails and voles to bison (Bison bison) and elephants (Loxodonta spp.) in uplands and from mosquitoes and ducks to muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) and manatees (Trichechus manatus)

in wetlands. Through evolutionary processes, some wildlife species are totally dependent on vegetation for all annual life requirements, whereas other species use vegetation only for cover or food. Regardless of the role of vegetation in the sustenance of wildlife, any management or research project that requires evaluation of wildlife and vegetation type relationships on a unit of land will necessitate some form of vegetation measurement.