Using n-alkane markers to estimate forage intake of mule deer

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (11) ◽  
pp. 1576-1583 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.W. Kuzyk ◽  
R.J. Hudson
Keyword(s):  
Mule Deer ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
East Central ◽  
Energy Demands ◽  
Carbon Chains ◽  
Aspen Parkland ◽  
Consumption Rates ◽  
Forage Intake ◽  
Free Ranging

Dry matter intake (DMI) of free-ranging mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus (Rafinesque, 1817)) in the aspen parkland of east-central Alberta was estimated using the double n-alkane ratio and bite count methods. Eleven female mule deer were given an intraruminal capsule containing synthetic n-alkanes and released into 4–8 ha paddocks. Known concentration of even-chained carbon (C32) was released from the capsules and recovered 7–10 days later from freshly voided faeces. Odd carbon chains of adjacent length (C31:C33) were extracted from vegetation samples gathered during behavioural observations of four tame deer. Calculations from the pairings (C31:C32; C33:C32) provided estimates of DMI that ranged from 1.29 to 2.73 kg/day. DMI was highest during autumn, possibly to prepare for increased energy demands for the upcoming winter. No differences were found in seasonal or annual comparisons of bite rates, but bite sizes differed in all comparisons, suggesting bite size was a critical factor affecting consumption rates for mule deer on northern ranges. Maximum bite sizes rose from 49 ± 5 mg/bite in July to 213 ± 58 mg/bite in October. Maximum consumption rates were in October of both years (3.6–4.4 g/min) and occasionally approached theoretical maxima (14.3–15.6 g/min).

Animal-unit equivalence of bison, wapiti, and mule deer in the aspen parkland of Alberta

2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (7) ◽  
pp. 767-773 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.W. Kuzyk ◽  
R.J. Hudson
Keyword(s):  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Slow Release ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Bison Bison ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
East Central ◽  
Aspen Parkland ◽  
Forage Intake

Animal-unit equivalences needed for joint-stocking calculations of ungulates are rarely studied because of difficulties deriving accurate estimates of forage intake. We used indigestible internal and external markers (double n-alkane ratio) to determine animal-unit equivalence of bison ( Bison bison (L., 1758)), wapiti ( Cervus elaphus canadensis L., 1758), and mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus (Rafinesque, 1817)) in the aspen parkland of east-central Alberta. We hypothesized that dry matter intake would differ among species in absolute terms (kg·day–1) but not when expressed as percent body mass (%BM) or when related to metabolic mass (g·kg–1·day–1 BM0.75). We administered slow-release n-alkane capsules to 12 bison, 3 wapiti, and 11 mule deer and released them into separate 3–7 ha paddocks during summer and fall. Intake of dry matter by bison, wapiti, and mule deer differed significantly among species when expressed as total intake (p = 0.009) and %BM (p = 0.014) but not when related to metabolic mass (p = 0.237). Dry matter intake related to metabolic mass did not differ between bison and mule deer in any comparison despite a 6.8-fold difference in body size, suggesting that intake scales to metabolic mass, and is the preferred expression of animal-unit equivalents.

INFECTIOUS KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS IN FREE-RANGING MULE DEER (ODOCOILEUS HEMIONUS) FROM ZION NATIONAL PARK, UTAH

1996 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 326-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon K. Taylor ◽  
Victor G. Vieira ◽  
Elizabeth S. Williams ◽  
Rupert Pilkington ◽  
Sharon L. Fedorchak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Zion National Park ◽  
Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis ◽  
Free Ranging

scholarly journals Bovine Tuberculosis in a Free-ranging Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) from Montana

1995 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 432-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Rhyan ◽  
Keith Aune ◽  
Brian Hood ◽  
Ryan Clarke ◽  
Janet Payeur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bovine Tuberculosis ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Free Ranging

SEROLOGIC, TRACE ELEMENT, AND FECAL PARASITE SURVEY OF FREE-RANGING, FEMALE MULE DEER (ODOCOILEUS HEMIONUS) IN EASTERN WASHINGTON, USA

2015 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Woodrow L. Myers ◽  
William J. Foreyt ◽  
Patricia A. Talcott ◽  
James F. Evermann ◽  
Wan-Ying Chang
Keyword(s):  
Trace Element ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Eastern Washington ◽  
Free Ranging

scholarly journals Low frequency of PrP genotype 225SF among free-ranging mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) with chronic wasting disease

2005 ◽  
Vol 86 (8) ◽  
pp. 2127-2134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean E. Jewell ◽  
Mary M. Conner ◽  
Lisa L. Wolfe ◽  
Michael W. Miller ◽  
Elizabeth S. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Chronic Wasting Disease ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Infection Status ◽  
Wasting Disease ◽  
Incubation Periods ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Prp Gene

The prion protein (PrP) gene was characterized in 1482 free-ranging mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) from Wyoming and Colorado. Using DNA sequences from 363 deer, dimorphisms at codons 20 (aspartate/glycine) and 225 [serine (S)/phenylalanine (F)] were found; silent changes occurred at codons 131 (tyrosine) and 247 (isoleucine). The remaining samples were surveyed for codon 225 genotype and all were characterized for chronic wasting disease (CWD) infection status. A total of 112 deer with the genotype 225SF or FF were found, of which one was CWD-positive; 1370 were 225SS, with 289 positive for CWD. Among CWD-negative deer, the frequency of 225SF/FF genotypes was 9·3 % but among CWD-positive deer it was only 0·3 %. For all samples combined, CWD status was not independent of codon 225 genotype (P<0·0001). The odds that a deer of the 225SS genotype was CWD-infected were 30 times greater (95 % confidence intervals=4–213) than for a 225SF deer. The proportion of 225SF animals in sampled subpopulations varied from 0 to 18 %; the CWD prevalence varied from 0 to 25 %. However, no relationship was observed between genotype frequency and CWD prevalence in different areas. The PrP sequences of experimentally infected mule deer were analysed from pre-existing projects and 10 animals were found with 225SF genotypes, all of which were positive for CWD. Data available from some of these animals suggest that the 225SF genotype could be associated with longer incubation periods in CWD infection compared with the 225SS genotype.

scholarly journals Comparative health assessment of urban and non-urban free-ranging mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in southeastern British Columbia, Canada

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4968 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amélie Mathieu ◽  
Mark Flint ◽  
Patrick M. Stent ◽  
Helen M. Schwantje ◽  
Thomas E. Wittum
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Pregnancy Rates ◽  
Hemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Pathogen Exposure ◽  
Body Condition Scores

Background The provincial wildlife management agency, British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, performed a translocation to control the urban mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus; uMD) overpopulation and supplement the declining non-urban mule deer (nuMD) population in the Kootenay region, British Columbia, Canada. The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to evaluate the health of the urban and nuMD populations by comparing pathogen exposure, body condition scores (BCS) and pregnancy rates, to characterize the health risks associated with the translocation and to investigate the role of infectious diseases in the decline of the nuMD deer population. Methods Two hundred free-ranging mule deer were captured in urban and non-urban environments in the Kootenay region from 2014 to 2017. BCS and morphometric examinations were performed for each deer. Blood samples collected from each deer were tested for exposure to selected pathogens and pregnancy status. Results Body condition scores averaged 3.4 on a five-point scale, was greater in nuMD, and significantly differed between years. Antibodies were detected for adenovirus hemorrhagic disease virus (38.4% (uMD 43.7%, nuMD 33.3%)), bluetongue virus (0.6% (uMD 1.2%, nuMD 0%)), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (8.4% (uMD 4.6%, nuMD 12.1%)), bovine viral diarrhea virus (1.1% (uMD 0%, nuMD 2.2%)), bovine parainfluenza-3 virus (27.0% (uMD 27.6%, nuMD 26.4%)), Neospora caninum (22.1% (uMD 24.4%, nuMD 19.7%)) and Toxoplasma gondii (8.2% (uMD 12.3%, nuMD 3.9%)). No antibodies against epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus were detected. Pregnancy rates did not differ between the two deer populations (90.7% (uMD 90.6%, nuMD 90.9%)). Exposure to N. caninum was associated with a reduced probability of being pregnant. uMD were more likely to be exposed to T. gondii than nuMD. Discussion Comparison of BCS, pregnancy rates and pathogen exposure of uMD and nuMD showed that the health of the two populations did not significantly differ, suggesting uMD translocations do not pose a severe risk of pathogen transmission between mule deer populations and that these selected pathogens do not factor in the decline of the nuMD population. However, inclusion of additional health indicators and creation of a robust predictive disease model are warranted to further characterize the health of mule deer and the health risks associated with uMD translocations. These results should be considered as part of a formal risk assessment for future uMD translocations in southeastern British Columbia.

CAPTURE OF FREE-RANGING MULE DEER (ODOCOILEUS HEMIONUS) WITH A COMBINATION OF MEDETOMIDINE, AZAPERONE, AND ALFAXALONE

2017 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 296-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amélie Mathieu ◽  
Nigel Caulkett ◽  
Patrick M. Stent ◽  
Helen M. Schwantje
Keyword(s):  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Free Ranging

scholarly journals Transmission of Elk and Deer Prions to Transgenic Mice

2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (18) ◽  
pp. 9104-9114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gültekin Tamgüney ◽  
Kurt Giles ◽  
Essia Bouzamondo-Bernstein ◽  
Patrick J. Bosque ◽  
Michael W. Miller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prion Disease ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Prion Diseases ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Transmitted Disease ◽  
Wild Type Mouse ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Cervus Elaphus Nelsoni ◽  
Free Ranging

ABSTRACT Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal prion disease in deer and elk. Unique among the prion diseases, it is transmitted among captive and free-ranging animals. To facilitate studies of the biology of CWD prions, we generated five lines of transgenic (Tg) mice expressing prion protein (PrP) from Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni), denoted Tg(ElkPrP), and two lines of Tg mice expressing PrP common to white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), denoted Tg(DePrP). None of the Tg(ElkPrP) or Tg(DePrP) mice exhibited spontaneous neurologic dysfunction at more than 600 days of age. Brain samples from CWD-positive elk, white-tailed deer, and mule deer produced disease in Tg(ElkPrP) mice between 180 and 200 days after inoculation and in Tg(DePrP) mice between 300 and 400 days. One of eight cervid brain inocula transmitted disease to Tg(MoPrP)4053 mice overexpressing wild-type mouse PrP-A in ∼540 days. Neuropathologic analysis revealed abundant PrP amyloid plaques in the brains of ill mice. Brain homogenates from symptomatic Tg(ElkPrP) mice produced disease in 120 to 190 days in Tg(ElkPrP) mice. In contrast to the Tg(ElkPrP) and Tg(DePrP) mice, Tg mice overexpressing human, bovine, or ovine PrP did not develop prion disease after inoculation with CWD prions from among nine different isolates after >500 days. These findings suggest that CWD prions from elk, mule deer, and white-tailed deer can be readily transmitted among these three cervid species.

scholarly journals Rumen Papillae Morphology of Mule Deer, Odocoileus hemionus, and White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, from East-central Alberta

2008 ◽  
Vol 122 (2) ◽  
pp. 179
Author(s):  
Gerald W. Kuzyk ◽  
Robert J. Hudson
Keyword(s):  
Odocoileus Virginianus ◽  
Species Differences ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Forage Quality ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Cell Diameter ◽  
Reticular Cell ◽  
East Central ◽  
Late Fall ◽  
Length Width

Using hunter-harvested deer in the fall of 2003, we compared ruminal papillae density, length, width, surface enlargement factor (SEF) and reticular cell diameter between sympatric Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and White-tailed Deer (O. virginianus), and between age-gender classes within each species. There was no difference in papillae morphology or reticular cell diameter between Mule Deer and White-tailed does or bucks or between any age-gender comparisons within species. Female Mule Deer fawns had larger reticular cell diameters than White-tailed Deer fawns, and male Mule Deer fawns had higher papillae density and larger reticular cell diameters than male White-tailed Deer fawns. Papillae widths of male White-tailed Deer fawns were greater than those of male Mule Deer fawns. Comparisons of papillae morphology between Mule Deer and White-tailed Deer sampled during late fall suggests adults of these species may respond similarly to forage quality, but species differences may be evident in fawns.

scholarly journals Twenty-Four-Hour Activity Budgets of Mule Deer, Odocoileus hemionus, in the Aspen Parkland of Eastcentral Alberta

2007 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald W. Kuzyk ◽  
Robert J. Hudson
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Feeding Activity ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Activity Budgets ◽  
Aspen Parkland ◽  
June July

We documented seven 24-h activity budgets of two adult Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) does without fawns in the Aspen Parkland of Alberta when the vegetation was green (June, July), maturing (September) and cured (October). They spent about 40% (mean = 42.3%) of each day foraging, somewhat more when vegetation was green (40-47%) and maturing (45%), and less time in October, when the vegetation was cured (38-39%). The percentage of time Mule Deer were bedded each day generally equaled or slightly exceeded (33-53%) that of foraging. Walking was a prevalent activity (3-24%), especially in autumn and little time was invested in other activities such as social interactions and grooming (1-4%). There were generally more feeding bouts (10-16/day) than bedding bouts (4-10/day) per day, and feeding bouts were shorter (37-68 minutes) than bedding bouts (69-133 minutes). Mule Deer displayed polycyclic feeding cycles with slight increases in feeding activity near dawn and dusk.

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