Distribution and range expansion of deer in Ireland

Abstract

1. Throughout Europe, the range of many deer species is expanding. We provide current distribution maps for red deer Cervus elaphus, sika Cervus nippon, fallow deer Dama dama and muntjac deer Muntiacus sp. in Ireland, and estimates of range expansion rates for red deer, sika and fallow deer. 2.There was a considerable expansion in the ranges of red deer, sika and fallow deer between 1978 and 2008. The compound annual rate of expansion was 7% for red deer, 5% for sika and 3% for fallow deer. The total range increase was 565% for red deer, 353% for sika and 174% for fallow deer. The potential implications of these expansions are discussed. 3. There are unknown numbers of red-sika hybrid deer in some parts of Ireland. Range expansion is likely to lead to further hybridizations with implications for the genetic integrity of deer stocks. 4. Sightings of free-roaming muntjac deer were first recorded in 2007. The distribution of confirmed sightings of single and multiple animals in the eastern region of Ireland suggests multiple releases. 5. Deer are already impacting on both the economic and biodiversity values of habitats in Ireland, where, at present, no sustainable deer management policy exists.

A survey of the hybridisation status of Cervus deer species on the island of Ireland

“…From Powerscourt, sika were translocated elsewhere, including a very early translocation to Co. Kerry in 1864 (McDevitt et al 2009) and to various other sites in Ireland and the UK (Ratcliffe 1987). Over the last 30 years, this invasive species has expanded its range at around 5 % per annum from populations in the East, South West and North West of Ireland (Carden et al 2011). The extent of hybridisation in the North West has not been well studied, and the presence of red-sika hybrids in this region is suspected (Harrington 1973;Pérez-Espona et al 2009a;Carden et al 2011) but there is no definitive evidence of it to date.…”

“…The other populations are descended from more recent introductions from Britain and continental Europe, in several cases indirectly through deer parks, primarily Powerscourt Park, Co. Wicklow, where they may have interacted with other Cervus species (McDevitt et al 2009;Carden et al 2012). The Co. Kerry red deer population has also been involved in more recent documented translocations as both donor and recipient (Whitehead 1960(Whitehead , 1964Carden et al 2011).…”

“…Currently, there are around 4,000 phenotypically red deer in Ireland (Pérez-Espona et al 2009a). They are primarily present in the East (Co. Wicklow), the South West (Co. Kerry) and the North West (Co. Galway north to Co. Donegal) and have shown a 6.5 % range expansion from these sites over the last 30 years (Whitehead 1964;Carden et al 2011). Recent work has established that the red deer centred on Killarney, Co. Kerry, are descended from a human introduction from Britain during the Neolithic period (Carden et al 2012).…”

Realising the ecosystem-service value of native woodland in Ireland

“…Numbers of semi-native red deer (Cervis elaphus) and introduced sika (Cervus nippon) and fallow deer (Dama dama) increased by 565%, 353% and 174% respectively between 1978 and 2008 (Carden et al 2011). According to Purser et al (2009), deer browsing is now having a serious impact on forest productivity, and planting of broadleaf forest in areas with large deer populations has become almost untenable.…”

Evolución histórica de los bosques en Sierra Madrona y Valle de Alcudia (Ciudad Real) y dinámica del pinar relicto de Navalmanzano

“…Gill 1990;Mattioli et al 2001;Gordon et al 2004;Milner et al 2006, Apollonio et al 2010San Miguel et al 2010). En Irlanda, por ejemplo, la expansión del ciervo entre 1978 y 2008 fue de un 565% (Carden et al 2011). En España las poblaciones de ciervo (que llegaron al borde de la extinción a mediados del siglo XX) aumentan sin cesar desde hace unos 50 años y, de unos pocos cientos de ejemplares cazados hacia 1950, se pasó a cazar unos 45.000 ciervos/año a principios de los años 90 (Soriguer et al 1994), en torno a los 100.000 en 2007 y 130.000 en 2011 (Garrido 2012 (Anderson & Katz 1993;Stockton et al 2005;Perea et al 2014).…”