Fallow deer tactic to compete over food with red deer

Abstract

Small ungulates may compete with larger species through higher mobility, greater aggressiveness, and/or by larger group sizes. We observed a herd of approximately 100 red deer (Cervus elaphus) and 130 fallow deer (Dama dama) at the Žehušice Deer Park during supplemental feeding to determine whether fallow deer can displace red deer at feeding sites and to describe strategies used for displacement. Data were analyzed during the antlered period (AP) when males of both species had hard antlers and the cast period (CP) when all red deer stags had cast antlers, but fallow bucks were still in a hard antler. We conducted 41 observation sessions, 29 during the AP and 12 during the CP. In both periods red deer were more numerous than fallow deer at the feeding sites. Fallow bucks initially waited until red deer arrived at the feeding site, after which they attacked any red deer. Fallow bucks were more aggressive than red deer stags or hinds. When stags retaliated, the bucks turned their attacks toward hinds. During feeding sessions, attacks against hinds intensified, while bucks avoided encounters with stags. As a result, in most cases (90%), red deer vacated the feeding site before the supplementary food was depleted. In contrast, fallow does not compete with the larger red deer and selected other sources of food in the park. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Interactions between ungulates, forests, and supplementary feeding: the role of nutritional balancing in determining outcomes

“…Although the effects of supplementary feeding on the community ecology of ungulates is poorly understood, increased fallow deer densities are likely to increase competitive pressures on other ungulate species, including the moose, particularly during spring and summer when species overlap in their resource use. Moreover, from studies elsewhere in Europe, fallow deer is known to displace other species from feeding sites, such as roe deer (Ferretti et al 2008) and red deer (Bartoš et al 1996).…”

Ecosystem and competition impacts of introduced deer

“…Fallow bucks at feeding stations in a deer park in Germany were observed to be aggressive to red stags and hinds (Bartos et al 1996) and aggression has been reported between calving red deer and mule deer in Colorado (Stephens et al 2003). However, in a behavioural study considering interactions between introduced white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), long-established fallow deer and native red and roe deer in the Czech Republic (Bartos et al 2002), interspecific agonistic interactions were rarely observed.…”

Roe and fallow deer: are they compatible neighbours?

“…In captivity, the fallow deer has been reported to be intolerant of the red deer (Bartoš et al 1996) and of the spotted deer Axis axis (McGhee and Baccus 2006).…”