Antler size and morphology is the resultant combination of deer age, nutrition, and genetics. Additionally, extreme environmental conditions can affect deer health, which may influence current and future antler metrics. Throughout the antler development season of 2012, the Nebraska, USA, white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) herd experienced a combination of extreme environmental conditions including extreme drought and disease, which we hypothesized would negatively affect antler size and morphology. Our objectives were to evaluate whether 1) age‐specific antler metrics differed between deer stressed by an extreme environmental condition year compared with nonextreme condition years, and 2) subsequent age‐specific antler metrics of a cohort born during an extreme environmental condition year differed from those born during nonextreme condition years. We measured antler metrics on harvested white‐tailed deer from central Nebraska for an 8‐year period (2009–2016) that spanned the extreme environmental condition year. Over this same time period, we measured pedicle seal depth on naturally cast antlers. Some trends were apparent for specific antler metrics in particular age groups; but, overall, antler metrics measured from harvested deer were not consistently affected during the extreme environmental condition year. Conversely, pedicle seal depths responded to environmental stressors and were smaller during the extreme environmental condition year compared with nonextreme condition years. We found effects to persist for years following extreme environmental stress—antler metrics of the extreme environmental condition cohort were smaller compared with nonextreme years. These results suggest that stressors caused by extreme environmental conditions can affect deer health and be indexed using sensitive metrics taken on cast antlers. Furthermore, effects on antler metrics can persist, affecting subsequent antler expression for cohorts that experience extreme environmental conditions during their first year of life. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.
Larval crappies (Pomoxis spp.) were sampled with surface pushnets once per week from spawning coves during the spring of 2005 and 2006 to compare the abundance and size distribution in day and night collections from a Nebraska irrigation reservoir. Night collections netted 3 16% more larval crappie than day samples in similar locations. Timing of peak larval abundance varied slightly between years, and patterns of abundance varied between day and night samples in 2005. Night pushnet sampling was also more successfU1 at capturing larger larval crappie. The results suggest that accurate determination of year-class strength requires multiple night sampling throughout the spawning season.
Understanding the habitat use of wildlife species is important for effective management. Nebraska has a variety of habitat types, with the majority being covered by rangeland and cropland. These habitat types likely influence the harvest of mule deer (MD; Odocoileus hemionus) in Nebraska, but their specific effects are unknown, and moreover, harvest may also be influenced by the accessibility of deer habitats for hunters. We modeled which environmental and anthropogenic landscape features influenced harvest densities. Spatial analysis in a Geographic Information System was used to determine the mean values of environmental and anthropogenic landscape features at the county level. We then used a generalized linear model to determine which of those factors influenced MD harvest from 2014–2016. We found that NDVI amplitude, hunter effort, road density, terrain roughness, and canopy cover influence MD harvest in Nebraska. According to our model, MD harvest densities are significantly greater areas with NDVI amplitude ∼38, increasing hunter effort, road densities near 1,750 m/km2, increasing terrain roughness, and decreasing canopy cover. Understanding increased harvest densities of MD can be beneficial for wildlife managers, allowing for more efficient allocation of efforts and expenses by managers for population management.
Understanding the habitat use of wildlife species is important for effective management.Nebraska has a variety of habitat types, with the majority being covered by rangeland and cropland. These habitat types likely influence the harvest of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in Nebraska, but their specific effects are unknown. We modeled which environmental and anthropogenic landscape features influenced harvest densities. Spatial analysis in a Geographic Information System was used to determine the mean values of environmental and anthropogenic landscape features at the county level. We then used a generalized linear model to determine which of those factors influenced mule deer harvest from 2014-2016. We found that forest habitat, riparian habitat, road density, time integrated NDVI, and terrain roughness influence mule deer harvest in Nebraska. According to our model, mule deer show a significant preference for less forested, more rugged terrain (often rangelands), that are less fragmented and developed, based on harvest density. Understanding increased harvest densities of mule deer in rangeland habitats with increased roughness, decreased road density, and decreased urbanization can be beneficial for wildlife managers, allowing for more efficient allocation of efforts and expenses by managers for population management. Understanding the habitat use of wildlife species is important for effective management.21 Nebraska has a variety of habitat types, with the majority being covered by rangeland and 22 cropland. These habitat types likely influence the harvest of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in 23 Nebraska, but their specific effects are unknown. We modeled which environmental and 24 anthropogenic landscape features influenced harvest densities. Spatial analysis in a Geographic 25 Information System was used to determine the mean values of environmental and anthropogenic 26 landscape features at the county level. We then used a generalized linear model to determine 27 which of those factors influenced mule deer harvest from 2014-2016. We found that forest 28 habitat, riparian habitat, road density, time integrated NDVI, and terrain roughness influence 29 mule deer harvest in Nebraska. According to our model, mule deer show a significant preference 30 for less forested, more rugged terrain (often rangelands), that are less fragmented and developed, 31 based on harvest density. Understanding increased harvest densities of mule deer in rangeland 32 habitats with increased roughness, decreased road density, and decreased urbanization can be 33 beneficial for wildlife managers, allowing for more efficient allocation of efforts and expenses 34 by managers for population management.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.