scholarly journals Population density and plant availability interplay to shape browsing intensity by roe deer in a deciduous forest

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Gaudry ◽  
Jean-Michel Gaillard ◽  
Sonia Saïd ◽  
Anders Mårell ◽  
Christophe Baltzinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus ◽  
Forest Understory ◽  
Functional Responses ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Large Herbivores ◽  
Plant Availability ◽  
Understory Composition

Browsing damage in forests relies on a complex interaction between herbivore density and both forest understory composition and relative availability. Although variation in the amount of browsed twigs is sometimes used to assess abundance of large herbivores, the potential confounding effect of resource availability on this relationship has not yet been investigated. To fill the gap, we measured how browsing intensity of the woody plants varied in response to changes in both roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) abundance and vegetation availability from an intensive long-term monitoring. We estimated plant availability and consumption by roe deer from a modified Aldous method throughout a 14 yearlong period during which we experimentally manipulated population density. The functional response was strongly non-linear and density-dependent. When plant availability was low (< 12.5%), browsing intensity strongly increased with plant availability with an increasing rate with roe deer density, whereas beyond this threshold, browsing intensity slightly increased with both plant availability and population density in an additive way. Thus, forest susceptibility to browsing increases with increasing competition for food, especially when plant availability is low. Moreover, the interplay between browsing intensity and population density at low plant availability prevents the use of browsing intensity to monitor roe deer abundance when plant availability is low. Our findings provide clear evidence that relying on key ecological concepts such as functional responses improves the accuracy of management tools when monitoring changes of the herbivore-plant system over time.

scholarly journals Population Density and Plant Availability Interplay to Shape Browsing Intensity by Roe Deer in a Deciduous Forest

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Gaudry ◽  
Jean-Michel Gaillard ◽  
Sonia Saïd ◽  
Anders Mårell ◽  
Christophe Baltzinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Plant Availability

scholarly journals Caching Behavior of Large Prey by Eurasian Lynx: Quantifying the Anti-Scavenging Benefits

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 350
Author(s):  
Ivonne J. M. Teurlings ◽  
John Odden ◽  
John D. C. Linnell ◽  
Claudia Melis
Keyword(s):  
Observational Data ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus ◽  
Lynx Lynx ◽  
Large Prey ◽  
Functional Responses ◽  
Eurasian Lynx ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Prey System ◽  
Prey Items

Large solitary felids often kill large prey items that can provide multiple meals. However, being able to utilize these multiple meals requires that they can cache the meat in a manner that delays its discovery by vertebrate and invertebrate scavengers. Covering the kill with vegetation and snow is a commonly observed strategy among felids. This study investigates the utility of this strategy using observational data from Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx)-killed roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) carcasses, and a set of two experiments focused on vertebrate and invertebrate scavengers, respectively. Lynx-killed roe deer that were covered by snow or vegetation were less likely to have been visited by scavengers. Experimentally-deployed video-monitored roe deer carcasses had significantly longer time prior to discovery by avian scavengers when covered with vegetation. Carcass parts placed in cages that excluded vertebrate scavengers had delayed invertebrate activity when covered with vegetation. All three datasets indicated that covering a kill was a successful caching/anti-scavenger strategy. These results can help explain why lynx functional responses reach plateaus at relatively low kill rates. The success of this anti-scavenging behavior therefore has clear effects on the dynamics of a predator–prey system.

Ecological correlates of roe deer fawn survival in a sub-Mediterranean population

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (10) ◽  
pp. 1505-1512 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Raganella-Pelliccioni ◽  
L. Boitani ◽  
S. Toso
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Mediterranean Population ◽  
Vital Rates ◽  
Threshold Time

We investigated the effect of body mass, spring and summer total rainfall, birth period, and local population density on the survival of 130 roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus (L., 1758)) fawns captured over seven fawning seasons (1997–2003) and radio-monitored daily. We modelled survival using the program MARK, incorporating biological questions into different models, following a priori hypotheses. The best model was selected using Akaike’s information criterion. The population was surveyed by counts and estimates were obtained using mark–resight methods. Weekly survival of roe deer fawns exhibits a pseudo-threshold time trend. Probability of survival is low (0.33 ± 0.0046) in summer, increases (0.79 ± 0.0021) in fall, and approaches the highest value typical of adult survival (0.90 ± 0.00091 and 0.96 ± 0.00021 by the end of March and May, respectively) during early spring following birth. The final model predicts that survival of roe deer fawns is positively affected by total precipitation in spring and body mass under a pseudo-threshold time variation pattern. In contrast with other studies, we did not detect any effect of population density on survival of fawns. This study contributes to the scarce knowledge about the performance of roe deer populations in Mediterranean ecosystems, providing evidence that climate variables and individual characteristics shape the vital rates of roe deer populations.

Predation has a greater impact in less productive environments: variation in roe deer,Capreolus capreolus, population density across Europe

2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 724-734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Melis ◽  
Bogumiła Jędrzejewska ◽  
Marco Apollonio ◽  
Kamil A. Bartoń ◽  
Włodzimierz Jędrzejewski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus

Changes in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) population density in response to forest habitat succession

1996 ◽  
Vol 88 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 31-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.M.A. Gill ◽  
A.L. Johnson ◽  
A. Francis ◽  
K. Hiscocks ◽  
A.J. Peace
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus ◽  
Forest Habitat ◽  
Habitat Succession

scholarly journals HIGH DENSITIES OF CERVIDAE EFFECT TO FOREST REGENERATION IN MIXED BROADLEAF FOREST IN SOUTH PART OF LITHUANIA

AGROFOR ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gintare SABALINKIENE ◽  
Kastytis SIMKEVICIUS ◽  
Kestutis PETELIS ◽  
Jolanta STANKEVICIUTE ◽  
Dovydas TALIJUNAS
Keyword(s):  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Forest Regeneration ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Fallow Deer ◽  
Forest Understory ◽  
European Bison ◽  
Intensive Silviculture

The abundance of Cervidae species is increasing in Lithuania as well as in thewhole Baltic region. High densities of forest ruminants: Moose (Alces alces), Reddeer (Cervus elaphus), Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), Fallow deer (Dama dama)and European bison (Bison bonasus) cause a significant damage both to naturalforest regeneration and afforestation. Strong negative impact on forest regenerationlead to increased costs of forest regeneration, formation and maintenance. Thus, thebalance among intensive silviculture and big game management must be found forsustainable use of environment recourses. In our study, we observed the influenceof cervids density increment to natural forest regeneration in mixed broadleafforest, which is located near the Zuvintas strict reserve, and in landscape point ofview connected with other forest arrays by natural migration corridors. We foundthat natural regenerated forest understory is hardly damaged as well as culturalforest plantations. Thus, hunting pressure in our research area is obviously too lowand the current abundance of wild ruminants will not allow the economicallyeffective intensive silviculture. After investigation we found a steady Cervidaeabundance, not exceeding the highest optimal densities. Cervid winter pasturequality is relatively good – economically and browsing very intensively did noteffect ecologically important tree species regeneration in forest understory.However, damage degree to forest regeneration in our observed stands was veryhigh. Natural as well as artificial forest regeneration is rather difficult, thus cerviddensities should be reduced of expensive protection tools should be implemented inforest regeneration stands.

scholarly journals The Effect of Fencing the Forest Regeneration Stages upon the Level of Damage Caused by Deer in the Lowland Forests of South-Western Poland

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogusław Bobek ◽  
Jakub Furtek ◽  
Dorota Merta ◽  
Marta Wojciuch-Płoskonka
Keyword(s):  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Forest Regeneration ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus ◽  
Fallow Deer ◽  
Young Forest ◽  
Lowland Forests ◽  
Potential Food ◽  
Forest District

In the lowland forests of south-western Poland, the effect of the fencing of forest regeneration stages, aged up to 20 years, upon the level of damage inflicted by red deer (Cervus elaphus), fallow deer (Dama dama), and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in non-fenced patches of this age class of forest was studied. In the studied forest districts (n=4), there was the highest proportion of the mixed coniferous‑deciduous forest types, where the main forest‑forming tree species were pine (Pinus sylvertris), birch (Betula sp.), oak (Quercus sp.), beech (Fagus sylvatica), and spruce (Picea abies). At the forest district level, the percentage of fenced areas in young forest plantations (1‑10‑year old) ranged, on average, from 9.1-30.9%, and that in tickets (11-20‑year old) ranged from 0.0%-10.2%. The percentage of areas of severely damaged young plantations fluctuated between 5.7 and 14.2%, and that of tickets fluctuated between 0.3-12.9%. For young plantations, a statistically significant correlation (&ldquo;r&rdquo; ranged from 0.51-0.75) was obtained between percentage of area in fenced plots and the level of damage caused by deer. For thickets, this correlation was obtained solely in Pieńsk Forest District (r = 0.646). In the studied forest districts, the fencing of young plantations and thickets resulted in the reduction of average potential food base for cervids, from 2.9 to 10.0 %. An attempt was made to interpret the level of deer damage on the basis of an index, taking into account the standing crop of deciduous browse and forbs, and the population density of cervids.

Enamel Thickness Differs between Field and Forest European Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus

2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
Jan Demesko ◽  
Marta Kurek ◽  
Patrycja Podlaszczuk ◽  
Janusz Markowski
Keyword(s):  
Roe Deer ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus ◽  
Enamel Thickness

scholarly journals The modular organization of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) body during ontogeny: the effects of sex and habitat

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Svetlana Milošević-Zlatanović ◽  
Tanja Vukov ◽  
Srđan Stamenković ◽  
Marija Jovanović ◽  
Nataša Tomašević Kolarov
Keyword(s):  
Roe Deer ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus ◽  
Modular Organization

scholarly journals Testicular Melatonin and Its Pathway in Roe Deer Bucks (Capreolus capreolus) during Pre- and Post-Rut Periods: Correlation with Testicular Involution

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1874
Author(s):  
Alberto Elmi ◽  
Nadia Govoni ◽  
Augusta Zannoni ◽  
Martina Bertocchi ◽  
Chiara Bernardini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Correlation Analysis ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Melatonin Receptors ◽  
Local Synthesis ◽  
Testicular Weight ◽  
And Function ◽  
Gene Expression Levels

Roe deer are seasonal breeders with a complete yearly testicular cycle. The peak in reproductive activity is recorded during summer, the rutting period, with the highest levels of androgens and testicular weight. Melatonin plays a pivotal role in seasonal breeders by stimulating the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonads axis and acting locally; in different species, its synthesis within testes has been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological melatonin pattern within roe deer testes by comparing data obtained from animals sampled during pre- and post-rut periods. Melatonin was quantified in testicular parenchyma, along with the genetic expression of enzymes involved in its local synthesis (AANAT and ASMT) and function (UCP1). Melatonin receptors, MT1-2, were quantified both at protein and gene expression levels. Finally, to assess changes in reproductive hormonal profiles, testicular dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) was quantified and used for a correlation analysis. Melatonin and AANAT were detected in all samples, without significant differences between pre- and post-rut periods. Despite DHEA levels confirming testicular involution during the post-rut period, no correlations appeared between such involution and melatonin pathways. This study represents the first report regarding melatonin synthesis in roe deer testes, opening the way for future prospective studies in the physiology of this species.

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