Disentangling demographic effects of red deer on chamois population dynamics

Abstract

Investigating the impact of ecological factors on sex‐ and age‐specific vital rates is essential to understand animal population dynamics and detect the potential for interactions between sympatric species. We used block count data and autoregressive linear models to investigate variation in birth rate, kid survival, female survival, and male survival in a population of Alpine chamois Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra monitored over 27 years within the Stelvio National Park, Central Italian Alps, as function of climatic variables, density dependence, and interspecific competition with red deer Cervus elaphus. We also used path analysis to assess the indirect effect of deer abundance on chamois growth rate mediated by each demographic parameter. Based on previous findings, we predicted that birth rate at [t] would negatively relate to red deer abundance at year [t − 1]; survival rates between [t] and [t + 1] would negatively relate to red deer abundance at year [t − 1] and to the interactive effect of winter precipitation at [t + 1] and chamois density at [t]. Our results showed that birth rate was positively related to spring–summer precipitation in the previous year, but this effect was hampered by increasing red deer abundance. Kid and female survival rates were negatively related to the combined effect of chamois abundance and winter precipitation. Male and female survival rates were negatively related to lagged red deer abundance. The path analysis supported a negative indirect effect of red deer abundance on chamois growth rate mediated by birth rate and female survival. Our results suggest that chamois population dynamics was largely explained by the synergistic effect of density dependence and winter harshness, as well as by interspecific competition with red deer, whose effects were seemingly stronger on the kid–female segment of the population.

Description of a Sarcoptic Mange Outbreak in Alpine Chamois Using an Enhanced Surveillance Approach

“…As a consequence, it is difficult to compare areas in which chamois populations are differently distributed. Consequently, implementing more efforts in the identification of chamois’ distributional range is essential, particularly in reference to the census period, since this aspect is likely to become increasingly important in the near future in light of the extensive changes in chamois’ ecology; in particular, factors such as climate change [ 29 ] and interspecific competition with red deer [ 30 ] should be considered.…”

Monitoring of Alarm Reactions of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) in a Captive Population in Paneveggio Pale di San Martino Natural Park

“…Due to deforestation and hunting activities, the alpine red deer (Cervus elaphus) population dramatically dropped at the beginning of the year 1800 and the species was considered extinct in the southern part of the Alps [5,6]. The species population has been experiencing a stable recovery since the 1950s as a result of spontaneous recolonization and reintroductions, with a peak of circa 3000 individuals estimated in 2008 [5].…”

Changes in foraging behaviour suggest competition between wild and domestic ungulates: Guanaco and domestic sheep in southern Patagonia

“…Indirect interference happens when one species alters habitat conditions by removing food resources, through consumption or destruction, rendering it unavailable for another species. For example, red deer ( Cervus elaphus ) herbivory indirectly affects chamois ( Rupicapra rupicapra ) growth rates in the central Italian Alps (Donini et al., 2021).…”