Overabundance of Black‐Tailed Deer in Urbanized Coastal California

Furnas, Brett J.; Landers, Russ H.; Paiste, Rhonda G.; Sacks, Benjamin N.

doi:10.1002/jwmg.21849

Cited by 9 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Second, recent advances in statistical methods allow deer abundance and density to be estimated using motion‐sensitive camera images using either spatial CR (Parsons et al 2017, Macaulay et al 2020, Bengsen et al 2022) or point‐based DS (Bessone et al 2020) methods. Third, methods that identify individuals using multiple techniques, such as fecal DNA and motion‐sensitive cameras, and perform analyses using spatial CR methods (Borchers and Efford 2008, Royle and Young 2008, Royle et al 2013) are promising for providing relatively precise deer abundance estimates (Furnas et al 2020), at least for small‐ to medium‐sized study areas. Fourth, recent rapid advances in sensor technology and the automated processing of images mean that RGB, thermal infrared, and satellite imagery from aerial platforms (sometimes in combination; Franke et al 2012, Chrétien et al 2016) are providing increasingly more accurate, precise and cheaper estimates of deer abundance (Hollings et al 2018, Kellenberger et al 2018, Eikelboom et al 2019, Beaver et al 2020, Corcoran et al 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methodology matters when estimating deer abundance: a global systematic review and recommendations for improvements

et al. 2022

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Deer (Cervidae) are key components of many ecosystems and estimating deer abundance or density is important to understanding these roles. Many field methods have been used to estimate deer abundance and density, but the factors determining where, when, and why a method was used, and its usefulness, have not been investigated. We systematically reviewed journal articles published during 2004–2018 to evaluate spatio‐temporal trends in study objectives, methodologies, and deer abundance and density estimates, and determine how they varied with biophysical and anthropogenic attributes. We also reviewed the precision and bias of deer abundance estimation methods. We found 3,870 deer abundance and density estimates. Most estimates (58%) were for white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). The 6 key methods used to estimate abundance and density were pedestrian sign (track or fecal) counts, pedestrian direct counts, vehicular direct counts, aerial direct counts, motion‐sensitive cameras, and harvest data. There were regional differences in the use of these methods, but a general pattern was a temporal shift from using harvest data, pedestrian direct counts, and aerial direct counts to using pedestrian sign counts and motion‐sensitive cameras. Only 32% of estimates were accompanied by a measure of precision. The most precise estimates were from vehicular spotlight counts and from capture–recapture analysis of images from motion‐sensitive cameras. For aerial direct counts, capture–recapture methods provided the most precise estimates. Bias was robustly assessed in only 16 studies. Most abundance estimates were negatively biased, but capture–recapture methods were the least biased. The usefulness of deer abundance and density estimates would be substantially improved by 1) reporting key methodological details, 2) robustly assessing bias, 3) reporting the precision of estimates, 4) using methods that increase and estimate detection probability, and 5) staying up to date on new methods. The automation of image analysis using machine learning should increase the accuracy and precision of abundance estimates from direct aerial counts (visible and thermal infrared, including from unmanned aerial vehicles [drones]) and motion‐sensitive cameras, and substantially reduce the time and cost burdens of manual image analysis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methodology matters when estimating deer abundance: a global systematic review and recommendations for improvements

et al. 2022

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“…The combination of non-invasive genetic sampling and SCR methods are increasingly used to estimate abundance and density of mule deer populations in Western North America (e.g., Brinkman et al 2011, Lounsberry et al 2014, Brazeal et al 2017) and most recently have been employed at multiregional scales conducive to coordinated state or provincial-scale wildlife management (Furnas et al 2018(Furnas et al , 2020. In addition, open and robust-design SCR models have recently become available (Gardner et al 2010, Ergon and Gardner 2014, Royle et al 2016, Gardner et al 2018 and future studies might benefit from employing a fully integrated spatial approach to estimate density and other demographic parameters.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We used flagging tape to periodically mark the transect, as well as GPS points at 100 m intervals. We followed deer trails when present, to optimize capture and recapture rates (Brinkman et al 2011, Lounsberry et al 2015, Brazeal et al 2017Furnas et al 2020), and followed the original random compass bearing when the trail was lost, until we established a transect 1-1.2 km in length.…”

Section: Field Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Noninvasive genetic surveys before and after a megafire detect displacement of migratory mule deer

Brazeal

Sollmann

Sacks

2021

Preprint

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Due to climate change and past logging and fire suppression, the western US are experiencing increasingly large and frequent wildfires. Understanding how wildlife respond to these mega-fires is becoming increasingly relevant to protect and manage these populations. However, the lack of predictability inherent in such events makes studies difficult to plan. We took advantage of a large high-severity wildfire that burned adjacent to an ongoing study of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) on their summer range upslope of the fire to investigate their displacement onto our study area both immediately and upon their return to summer range the following year. We used spatial capture-recapture models in conjunction with noninvasive fecal DNA sampling to estimate density and non-spatial Pradel robust-design models to estimate apparent survival and recruitment rates. Compared to density before the fire, we observed an increase in deer density and an increase in per-capita recruitment rates one month after the fire. These findings suggest that the immediate response of at least some deer was to flee the fire upslope onto the study area rather than to downslope toward their winter range. These changes did not carry over into the following year, however, suggesting that deer formerly using the burned area as summer range may have returned there despite the high severity of the fire, or may have chosen new areas for their summer range. This suggests that, at least in the short term, the fire did not negatively affect the deer population.

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“…Black‐tailed deer exhibit strong site fidelity, which may constrain responses to extreme wildfire at the scale of home range selection (second‐order habitat selection, sensu Johnson, 1980 ). However, deer have also exhibited fine‐scale behavioral plasticity and flexible habitat use (third‐order habitat selection, sensu Johnson, 1980 ) in response to many types of large‐scale natural and human disturbances and have thrived in heavily altered environments (e.g., urban settings; Furnas et al, 2020 ). Deer behavior in the immediate wake of a megafire may therefore provide insights into mechanisms that facilitate animal survival during this period of rapid environmental change and climate volatility (Cherry et al, 2018 ; Honda et al, 2018 ; MacDonald‐Beyers & Labisky, 2005 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Site fidelity and behavioral plasticity regulate an ungulate’s response to extreme disturbance

Kreling

Gaynor

McInturff

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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With rapid global change, the frequency and severity of extreme disturbance events are increasing worldwide. The ability of animal populations to survive these stochastic events depends on how individual animals respond to their altered environments, yet our understanding of the immediate and short‐term behavioral responses of animals to acute disturbances remains poor. We focused on animal behavioral responses to the environmental disturbance created by megafire. Specifically, we explored the effects of the 2018 Mendocino Complex Fire in northern California, USA, on the behavior and body condition of black‐tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus). We predicted that deer would be displaced by the disturbance or experience high mortality post‐fire if they stayed in the burn area. We used data from GPS collars on 18 individual deer to quantify patterns of home range use, movement, and habitat selection before and after the fire. We assessed changes in body condition using images from a camera trap grid. The fire burned through half of the study area, facilitating a comparison between deer in burned and unburned areas. Despite a dramatic reduction in vegetation in burned areas, deer showed high site fidelity to pre‐fire home ranges, returning within hours of the fire. However, mean home range size doubled after the fire and corresponded to increased daily activity in a severely resource‐depleted environment. Within their home ranges, deer also selected strongly for patches of surviving vegetation and woodland habitat, as these areas provided forage and cover in an otherwise desolate landscape. Deer body condition significantly decreased after the fire, likely as a result of a reduction in forage within their home ranges, but all collared deer survived for the duration of the study. Understanding the ways in which large mammals respond to disturbances such as wildfire is increasingly important as the extent and severity of such events increases across the world. While many animals are adapted to disturbance regimes, species that exhibit high site fidelity or otherwise fixed behavioral strategies may struggle to cope with increased climate instability and associated extreme disturbance events.

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Overabundance of Black‐Tailed Deer in Urbanized Coastal California

Cited by 9 publications

References 58 publications

Methodology matters when estimating deer abundance: a global systematic review and recommendations for improvements

Methodology matters when estimating deer abundance: a global systematic review and recommendations for improvements

Noninvasive genetic surveys before and after a megafire detect displacement of migratory mule deer

Site fidelity and behavioral plasticity regulate an ungulate’s response to extreme disturbance

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