Relative Effect of Food Supplementation and Natural Resources on Female Red Deer Distribution in a Mediterranean Ecosystem

Pérez‐González, Javier; Barbosa, A. Márcia; Carranza, Juan; Torres-Porras, Jerónimo

doi:10.2193/2009-130

Cited by 29 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Calf growth rate responded to animal variables in the same fashion that THI index did, that is, male growth rate was higher than female growth rate, calf growth rate increased with mother age, and decreased with mother weight and with calf age (Table 3). Tables 2 and 3 for three values of THI heat stress index (60,67,72) corresponding to its quantiles 0.1, 0.5 and 0.9; and three values of THIWS (96, 115, 126) corresponding to quantiles 0.1, 0.5 and 0.9; f: female calf (magenta); m: male calf (black).…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

“…A large number of Iberian red deer of the southern Spain populations live in fenced hunting estates [66] that precludes long distance and altitudinal movements. Besides, most of these populations are under unsustainable management that relies on food supplementation during mid and late summer, when plants quality and availability is insufficient to maintain high densities of deer [67,68]. Over-crowded deer populations aimed to hunting eco-tourism have a negative impact on forest renewal, which reduces natural shade availability in these populations.…”

Section: Behaviour As Mitigation Mechanism Of Heat Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Heat stress reduces growth rate of red deer calf: Climate warming implications

et al. 2020

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Climate models agree in predicting scenarios of global warming. In endothermic species heat stress takes place when they are upper their thermal neutral zone. Any physiological or behavioural mechanism to mitigate heat stress is at the cost of diverting energy from other physiological functions, with negative repercussions for individual fitness. Tolerance to heat stress differs between species, age classes and sexes, those with the highest metabolic rates being the most sensitive to stressing thermal environments. This is especially important during the first months of life, when most growth takes place. Red deer (Cervus elaphus) is supposedly well adapted to a wide range of thermal environments, based on its worldwide distribution range, but little is known about the direct effect that heat stress may have on calf growth. We assessed the effect that heat stress, measured by heat stress indices and physical environment variables (air temperature, relative air humidity, wind speed and solar radiation), have on calf and mother body weights from calf´s birth to weaning. We used 9265 longitudinal weekly body weight records of calf and mother across 19 years in captive Iberian red deer. We hypothesised that (i) heat stress in hot environments has a negative effect on calf growth, especially in males, as they are more energetically demanding to produce than females; and that (ii) the body weight of the mother through lactation should be negatively affected by heat stress. Our results supported hypothesis (i) but not so clearly hypothesis (ii). By weaning (day 143) calves growing under low heat stress environment grew up to 1.2 kg heavier than those growing in high heat stress environment, and males were more affected by heat stress than females. The results have implications in animal welfare, geographical clines in body size and adaptation to climate change.

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Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Behaviour As Mitigation Mechanism Of Heat Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heat stress reduces growth rate of red deer calf: Climate warming implications

et al. 2020

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“…Such aggregation has consequences for social behavior, as well as inter-and intra-specific interactions and stress levels. Aggression (Donohue et al 2013) and stress (Forristal et al 2012) both increase with ungulate density, and 4/5 studies observed higher levels of aggression associated with feeding (e.g., Pérez-González et al 2010).…”

Section: Evidence Of Unintended Effects Of Feedingmentioning

confidence: 99%

To feed or not to feed? Evidence of the intended and unintended effects of feeding wild ungulates

Milner

Beest

Schmidt³

et al. 2014

Jour. Wild. Mgmt.

136

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Storaas, T. (2014). To feed or not to feed? Evidence of the intended and unintended effects of feeding wild ungulates.Journal of Wildlife Management, 78(8) Large ungulates are keystone species in many ecosystems and are a highly valued natural 47 resource for social, cultural, and economic reasons (Gordon et al. 2004). Many populations have grown over recent decades, causing environmental and socio-economic 49 impacts on wider communities and conservation concerns, as well as density-dependent 50 changes in performance (Côté et al. 2004, Putman et al. 2011. Consequently, conflicts 51 arise between stakeholders who benefit economically from high ungulate numbers (e.g., 52hunters, outfitters, tourism operators) and those faced with the costs of their presence 53(e.g., land managers, conservationists, transport users and operators; Austin et al. 2010). 54Manipulating forage availability through the provision of additional food could 60Wildlife can be fed by humans in many different ways, intentionally (e.g., at 61 feeding stations) and unintentionally (e.g., unprotected agricultural crops and rubbish 62 dumps; Oro et al. 2013, Sorensen et al. 2014. In this review, we focus on the effects of 63 intentional feeding of ungulates, specifically considering supplementary feeding (often 64 called winter feeding) and diversionary, or intercept, feeding used to attract animals away 65 from vulnerable vegetation, livestock, or major traffic arteries (defined fully in 66 Supplemental Material). However, many of the issues raised also apply across a broad 67 range of unintentional but predictable anthropogenic food subsidies (Oro et al. 2013). 68Earlier reviews of the consequences of feeding large herbivores, published a decade or 77 METHODS 78We reviewed articles in the peer-reviewed and, to a lesser extent, grey literature that our search terms resulted in 232 articles. 86We identified 5 major management goals of supplementary and diversionary 87 feeding and considered the intended effects of feeding that would allow these goals to be 88 achieved (Table 1). We also identified commonly perceived unintended or secondary 89 consequences of feeding ( Table S1). 152Among adult females, an effect of feeding is complicated by the strong impact of 153 reproductive status on autumn mass (Cook et al. 2013 and higher neonatal growth rates (Jacobsen et al. 1981, Smith et al. 1997). 160The reproductive rate (number of offspring per adult female in summer or 161 autumn) of supplementally fed herbivores increased in 5/7 studies ( were used (Gundersen et al. 2004, Sahlsten et al. 2010 feeding site users and non-users (van Beest et al. 2010b). 282Of 16 controlled studies, 6 showed diversionary feeding to be effective in 283 reducing damage in the targeted areas, whereas 4 showed a significantly increased 284 impact, opposing the management goal ( we found no studies that formally addressed this ( 379In studies addressing the increased probability of browsing or grazing impacts in 380 response to feeding (4/4 studies; Table 2 and Supplem...

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“…Mixed stands and stands of varying age generate a more heterogeneous habitat which results in more preferable light conditions for field layer vegetation compared to mono-specific and even age stands (Atlegrim and Sjö berg 1996, Lieffers et al 1999, Parlane et al 2006. The effect of forestry on field layer vegetation and damage level needs high priority in research, but silvicultural practices Gossow 1996, Vö lk 1999), establishment of preferred forage, and supplemental feeding have been shown to divert deer browsing from valuable trees (Campbell and Evans 1978, Nolte 1999, Gundersen et al 2004 and to affect deer distribution (Pérez-González et al 2010). Forageincreasing measures may thus also be used to attract ('pull') deer to sites where their presence is acceptable.…”

Section: Recommendations For Management and Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Managing landscapes for multiple objectives: alternative forage can reduce the conflict between deer and forestry

Jarnemo¹,

Minderman²,

Zidar³

et al. 2014

Ecosphere

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Abstract. Deer (Cervidae) cause considerable damage to forest plantations, crops, and protected habitats.The most common response to this damage is to implement strategies to lower population densities. However, lowering deer density may not always be desirable from hunting, recreational, or conservation perspectives. Therefore, knowledge is needed about additional factors beyond deer density that affect damage levels, and management actions that consider competing management goals. We studied the relationships between levels of bark-stripping by red deer (Cervus elaphus) on Norway spruce (Picea abies) and (1) relative deer density indices (pellet group count and deer harvest data), (2) availability of alternative natural forage (cover of forage species) and (3) proportion forest in the landscape, both at a forest stand scale and at a landscape scale. Extensive variation in damage level was evident between the six study areas. On a stand scale, the proportion of spruce damaged was positively related to pellet group density, indicating the importance of local deer usage of stands. In addition, available alternative forage in the field layer within spruce stands and proportion forest surrounding stands was negatively related to damage level. On the landscape scale, damage level was negatively related to availability of forage in the field and shrub layers and proportion forest, but was not related to any of the relative deer density indices. Increasing alternative forage may thus decrease damage and thereby reduce conflicts. Additionally, the proportion of forest in the landscape affects damage levels and should thus be considered in landscape planning and when forecasting damage risk. The relationship between local deer usage of stands and damage level suggests that future studies should try to separate the effects of local deer usage and deer density.

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Relative Effect of Food Supplementation and Natural Resources on Female Red Deer Distribution in a Mediterranean Ecosystem

Cited by 29 publications

References 51 publications

Heat stress reduces growth rate of red deer calf: Climate warming implications

Heat stress reduces growth rate of red deer calf: Climate warming implications

To feed or not to feed? Evidence of the intended and unintended effects of feeding wild ungulates

Managing landscapes for multiple objectives: alternative forage can reduce the conflict between deer and forestry

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