Influences of habitat composition, plant phenology, and population density on autumn indices of body condition in a northern white-tailed deer population

Simard, Anouk; Huot, Jean; Bellefeuille, Sonia de; Côté, Steeve D.

doi:10.1002/wmon.1010

Cited by 34 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 151 publications

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“…Another factor potentially influencing fawn survival is population density. Among K‐selected (i.e., density‐dependent and slow‐paced life histories) and iteroparous species, high population density can adversely affect body condition and reduce recruitment and survival via increased intraspecific competition (Clutton‐Brock et al , Simard et al ). Intraspecific competition limits forage availability and results in density‐related responses via social stress, disease transmission, or behavioral modification (Ozoga and Verme , Putman et al ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape‐level patterns in fawn survival across North America

Gingery

Diefenbach

Wallingford³

et al. 2018

J Wildl Manag

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A landscape‐level meta‐analysis approach to examining early survival of ungulates may elucidate patterns in survival not evident from individual studies. Despite numerous efforts, the relationship between fawn survival and habitat characteristics remains unclear and there has been no attempt to examine trends in survival across landscape types with adequate replication. In 2015–2016, we radiomarked 98 white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns in 2 study areas in Pennsylvania. By using a meta‐analysis approach, we compared fawn survival estimates from across North America using published data from 29 populations in 16 states to identify patterns in survival and cause‐specific mortality related to landscape characteristics, predator communities, and deer population density. We modeled fawn survival relative to percentage of agricultural land cover and deer density. Estimated average survival to 3–6 months of age was 0.414 ± 0.062 (SE) in contiguous forest landscapes (no agriculture) and for every 10% increase in land area in agriculture, fawn survival increased 0.049 ± 0.014. We classified cause‐specific mortality as human‐caused, natural (excluding predation), and predation according to agriculturally dominated, forested, and mixed (i.e., both agricultural and forest cover) landscapes. Predation was the greatest source of mortality in all landscapes. Landscapes with mixed forest and agricultural cover had greater proportions and rates of human‐caused mortalities, and lower proportions and rates of mortality due to predators, when compared to forested landscapes. Proportion and rate of natural deaths did not differ among landscapes. We failed to detect any relationship between fawn survival and deer density. The results highlight the need to consider multiple spatial scales when accounting for factors that influence fawn survival. Furthermore, variation in mortality sources and rates among landscapes indicate the potential for altered landscape mosaics to influence fawn survival rates. Wildlife managers can use the meta‐analysis to identify factors that will facilitate comparisons of results among studies and advance a better understanding of patterns in fawn survival. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape‐level patterns in fawn survival across North America

Gingery

Diefenbach

Wallingford³

et al. 2018

J Wildl Manag

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“…Others recently reported strong support for the gastrocentric hypothesis as a cause of sexual segregation in white‐tailed deer (Simard et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Both hypotheses were necessary to explain the differential patterns of resource selection we observed by the sexes. Others recently reported strong support for the gastrocentric hypothesis as a cause of sexual segregation in white-tailed deer (Simard et al 2014). Changes in timing of segregation and aggregation may have population-level consequences, because individuals that provision offspring later in the year than others are reported to begin winter in poorer nutritional condition, and are more likely to pause in reproduction (Gaillard et al 2000;Bowyer et al 2005Bowyer et al , 2013Morano et al 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual segregation in North American elk: the role of density dependence

Stewart

Walsh

Kie

et al. 2015

Ecology and Evolution

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We investigated how density-dependent processes and subsequent variation in nutritional condition of individuals influenced both timing and duration of sexual segregation and selection of resources. During 1999–2001, we experimentally created two population densities of North American elk (Cervus elaphus), a high-density population at 20 elk/km2, and a low-density population at 4 elk/km2 to test hypotheses relative to timing and duration of sexual segregation and variation in selection of resources. We used multi-response permutation procedures to investigate patterns of sexual segregation, and resource selection functions to document differences in selection of resources by individuals in high- and low-density populations during sexual segregation and aggregation. The duration of sexual segregation was 2 months longer in the high-density population and likely was influenced by individuals in poorer nutritional condition, which corresponded with later conception and parturition, than at low density. Males and females in the high-density population overlapped in selection of resources to a greater extent than in the low-density population, probably resulting from density-dependent effects of increased intraspecific competition and lower availability of resources.

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“…), in addition to vegetation productivity (Simard et al. ). These variables might reduce the contribution of residuals, with one possibly representing a “key factor” in phase 2.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several other factors that might influence the population dynamics of ungulates through changes in body condition have previously been suggested. Examples of climatic variables other than snow include precipitation and temperature (Coulson et al 2001), in addition to vegetation productivity (Simard et al 2014). These variables might reduce the contribution of residuals, with one possibly representing a "key factor" in phase 2.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demographic analysis of the irruptive dynamics of an introduced sika deer population

et al. 2018

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Irruptions of large herbivores, with a rapid population increase to peak abundance, are widely observed. Occasionally, there is a population crash following such peaks in abundance, after which the population recovers to form another peak typically lower than the initial. There are mathematical models describing this full cycle of irruptive dynamics. The insight for further improvement of such mathematical models will be obtained from demographic analyses of irruptive dynamics incorporating density‐dependent and density‐independent resource limitations. Using a 35‐yr dataset on the irruptive dynamics of an introduced sika deer (Cervus nippon) population on Nakanoshima Island, Japan, we evaluated the factors and stages determining irruptive dynamics (phase 1: the initial irruption and population crash; phase 2: subsequent dynamics) through key‐factor/key‐stage analysis of the population structure, estimated using age‐at‐death data of naturally dead deer. We set two factors (i.e., deer density and snow accumulation) and three life stages (i.e., immature individuals, adult female, and adult male). The estimated population structure showed two population crashes and a density peak higher than the initial peak during population regrowth subsequent to the initial population crash. The most influential factor and stage for determining the population dynamics differed between phases 1 and 2. The contribution of deer density to the variability in population change was the largest in phase 1 (62.30%) and decreased to 24.10% in phase 2. The contribution of snow accumulation was small in both phase 1 (11.74%) and phase 2 (0.64%). The male stage had the largest contribution in phase 1 (39.23%), while the immature stage had the largest contribution in phase 2 (63.31%). The female stage had the smallest contribution in both phase 1 (24.19%) and phase 2 (17.67%). Population growth rate decreased, while carrying capacity increased, in phase 2 compared to phase 1. We suggest that the small contributions of density‐dependent and density‐independent resource limitations on population dynamics in phase 2 were related to the characteristics of alternative foods (fallen leaves and woody plants) that were newly utilized by deer in phase 2. We conclude that alternative resources potentially generate various irruptive dynamics, including unstable dynamics not expected in the classic paradigm.

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Influences of habitat composition, plant phenology, and population density on autumn indices of body condition in a northern white-tailed deer population

Cited by 34 publications

References 151 publications

Landscape‐level patterns in fawn survival across North America

Landscape‐level patterns in fawn survival across North America

Sexual segregation in North American elk: the role of density dependence

Demographic analysis of the irruptive dynamics of an introduced sika deer population

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