Home range and migration patterns of male red deer Cervus elaphus in Western Carpathians

Abstract

This study provides for the first time in the Carpathians analysis of spatial behaviour of 20 male red deer monitored during 2005-2013 using radio-telemetry. Two distinct spatial patterns were displayed in the same local population, i.e. residential and migratory. Residential annual home ranges were significantly smaller compared to migratory ones using both Minimum Convex Polygon and Kernel Home Range, due to periodic movement of migrants between distinct seasonal ranges. Residents remained in the same area throughout the year and showed a positive age effect on the home range size. While seasonal ranges of migrants were comparable in size, residents surprisingly expanded their space use in winter compared to other seasons. Fidelity to seasonal ranges over the years, especially winter, was striking and comparable in both migrants and residents with increasing tendency throughout the year (37-68 %). Vertical differences in home range altitudes were most obvious in migrants, although in both migrant types, significant descent was recorded during the winter. The longest horizontal movements were recorded in three young stags emigrating to neighbouring mountain ranges (30, 47 and 65 km). Because 45 % of the population seems to be migratory, the data support importance of large-scale hunting management established in Slovakia in 2009.

Seasonal dynamics of forage for red deer in temperate forests: importance of the habitat properties, stand development stage and overstorey dynamics

“…The area (ca 600 km 2 ) is characteristic by a mountainous terrain within the altitudinal range of 400-1318 m determining two major climate zones used by red deer (Fig. 1; Kropil et al 2015). First, the moderately warm and humid climate in lower parts of the area ( 700 m a.s.l.)…”

“…Within a geographic information system (GIS), locations of sample plots were selected randomly within the five habitats types in roadaccessible areas (i.e. within 500 m) known to be used by red deer (Kropil et al 2015). Crop fields were not sampled because they were known to have comparable amounts of biomass as pastures (Borowik et al 2013), comprised only 2.4% of the study area, and were considered unimportant as habitat for red deer in this area (Kropil et al 2015).…”

“…In temperate closed-forest ecosystems, the amount of forage at a fine scale is the result of the joint effects of several environmental factors driving vegetation structure at several spatial and temporal scales (Owen-Smith et al 2010). For example at the deer's seasonal home-range scale (5-10 km 2 ; Kropil et al 2015), the climate forms several forest vegetation belts along the altitudinal gradient. Further, at the scale of the daily range (0.9-1.3 km 2 ; Kamler et al 2007), a combination of forest vegetation belts with different soil types drive formation of the FVAs.…”

Does winter supplementary feeding affect deer damage in a forest ecosystem? A field test in areas with different levels of deer pressure

“…Partial confirmation of this assumption is that the results from our previous study showed that in the eastern Sudety Mountain region the proportion of area damaged by deer was the lowest at <600 m ASL and damage increased considerably with altitude. If we assume, based on other studies, that red deer density below and above 600 m ASL was similar, the variability in natural forage availability or quality, snow depth and energetic constrains may explain the altitudinal differences in deer pressure exerted on forest stands. It is also possible that at low elevation deer were stressed due to high pressure from settlements, agriculture and hunters, which limited their activity and pressure …”

Functionality of the Ecological Network Elements from the Point of View of Mammal Migrations in the Contact Zone of the Forest and Agricultural Landscape

“…Migrating individuals overcome the transition from winter to summer (and vice versa) significant distances. Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), fallow deer (Dama dama), wild boar (Sus scrofa), and red deer (Cervus elaphus) are the flagship game species in Slovakia (Kropil et al, 2015).…”