Large male territories in a low-density population of roe deer Capreolus capreolus with small female home ranges

In most previous studies of habitat selection, the use of a given habitat type is assumed to be directly proportional to its availability. However, the use and (or) the selection of a given habitat may be conditional on the availability of that habitat. We aim here to (i) identify the environmental variables involved in habitat selection, (ii) identify classes of individuals with similar patterns of habitat selection, and (iii) assess whether habitat use changes with changing availability of habitat types, within monthly home ranges of female western roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus (L., 1758)). We found that some females adjust their habitat use according to the distribution of resources within habitats. Females with similar home ranges in terms of resource quantity and quality showed similar patterns of habitat selection. Differences in habitat use between 2 years with contrasting resource availability showed that temporal changes of environmental conditions influenced the pattern of habitat selection by female roe deer. Habitat selection also differed between periods of the life cycle likely because of contrasted energy requirements. This study shows that the relationship between habitat use by herbivores and habitat availability is nonproportional, and that the availability of resources influences use mostly at intermediate values.

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Memory drives the formation of animal home ranges: evidence from a reintroduction

10.1101/2020.07.30.229880 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nathan Ranc ◽

Francesca Cagnacci ◽

Paul Moorcroft

Keyword(s):

Home Range ◽

Empirical Data ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Primary Process ◽

Movement Model ◽

Large Mammal ◽

Resource Preference

Most animals live in a characteristic home range, a space-use pattern thought to emerge from the benefits of memory-based movements; however, a general model for characterizing and predicting their formation in the absence of territoriality has been lacking. Here, we use a mechanistic movement model to quantify the role of memory in the movements of a large mammal reintroduced into a novel environment, and to predict observed patterns of home range emergence. We show that an interplay between memory and resource preferences is the primary process influencing the movements of reintroduced roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Our memory-based model fitted with empirical data successfully predicts the formation of home ranges, as well as emerging properties of movement and revisits observed in the reintroduced animals. These results provide a quantitative framework for combining memory-based movements, resource preference and the emergence of home ranges in nature.

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Seasonal home range size and philopatry in two northern white-tailed deer populations

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z00-117 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 78 (11) ◽

pp. 1930-1940 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Louis Lesage ◽

Michel Crête ◽

Jean Huot ◽

A Dumont ◽

Jean-Pierre Ouellet

Keyword(s):

Home Range Size ◽

High Density ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Low Density ◽

Adult Males ◽

High Density Population ◽

Wintering Areas ◽

N 93 ◽

Density Population ◽

Competition For Resources

From 1994 to 1997, we compared summer and winter space utilisation by two white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations wintering in adjacent areas in southeastern Quebec characterised by deep snow cover. One population lived at low density (10 deer/km2) with access to abundant forage in winter (127 000 twigs/ha), whereas for the other, high-density population (20 deer/km2), forage availability was reduced (68 000 twigs/ha). Because of intraspecific competition for resources, we predicted that deer in the high-density population would have smaller home ranges, would exhibit greater philopatry, and would be more likely to disperse. Deer from both populations occupied summer home ranges that were similar in size (1182 ha for adult males; 1102 ha for adult females; 6033 ha for yearling males; 2528 ha for yearling females) but much larger than home ranges observed elsewhere in North America. The high-density population showed a higher level of philopatry than the low-density population during winter but not during summer. Most deer remained migratory during the study (n = 93) but 4 of the 5 that dispersed were from the high-density population. We speculate on the ability of white-tailed deer populations facing severe winters to adapt to using large home ranges in summer. Our results shed light on how wintering areas appear and expand.

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Socio-spatial organization of Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) in a low-density population of central Europe

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z07-085 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 85 (9) ◽

pp. 973-984 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Emmanuel Do Linh San ◽

Nicola Ferrari ◽

Jean-Marc Weber

Keyword(s):

Spatial Organization ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Group Formation ◽

Meles Meles ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Low Density ◽

Habitat Productivity ◽

European Badgers ◽

Social Units ◽

Density Population

We studied the socio-spatial organization of Eurasian badgers (or European badgers), Meles meles (L., 1758), in a low-density population (estimate 1.8 badgers/km2) inhabiting a semi-rural area of western Switzerland. For this purpose, 8 badgers (5 males and 3 females) were caught at 5 different main setts and were radio-tracked between May 1994 and November 1996. The size of individual home ranges varied from 0.27 to 3.74 km2 (1.69 ± 1.33 km2 (mean ± SD), n = 8, 100% MCP), seemingly according to local variations in habitat productivity. Individual home ranges were spatially stable, but their size decreased significantly during winter (0.26 ± 0.42 km2, n = 7, 100% MCP). Badger social units consisted of 1–5 adults and (or) subadults (2.2 ± 1.5 animals, n = 9) and their yearly offspring. Group-range size varied from 0.57 to 3.74 km2 (2.12 ± 1.30 km2, n = 4) and seemed to be influenced by the spatial distribution pattern of food resources. Indeed, each group range encompassed approximately the same surface of agricultural land (about 0.60 km2). Territories were not well marked, some group ranges partly overlapped. Latrines, which were not numerous and principally located inside rather than along borders of group ranges, were only used irregularly or sporadically. This prompts us to encourage the reconsideration of the role of territorial behaviour in promoting group formation in Eurasian badgers.

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Preference and familiarity mediate spatial responses of a large herbivore to experimental manipulation of resource availability

10.1101/757757 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nathan Ranc ◽

Paul R. Moorcroft ◽

K. Whitney Hansen ◽

Federico Ossi ◽

Tobia Sforna ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Roe Deer ◽

Food Resource ◽

Individual Preference ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Experimental Manipulation ◽

Gps Tracking ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Large Herbivore ◽

Feeding Site ◽

Spatio Temporal

AbstractThe link between spatio-temporal resource patterns and movement behaviour is a key ecological process, however, limited experimental support has been produced at the home range scale. In this study, we analysed the spatial responses of a resident large herbivore (roe deer Capreolus capreolus) during an in situ manipulation of a concentrated food resource. Specifically, we experimentally altered feeding site accessibility to roe deer and recorded (for 25 animal-years) individual responses by GPS tracking. We found that, following the loss of their preferred resource, roe deer actively tracked resource dynamics leading to more exploratory movements, and larger, spatially-shifted home ranges. Then, we showed, for the first time experimentally, the importance of site fidelity in the maintenance of large mammal home ranges by demonstrating the return of individuals to their familiar, preferred resource despite the presence of alternate, equally-valuable food resources. This behaviour was modulated at the individual level, where roe deer characterised by a high preference for feeding sites exhibited more pronounced behavioural adjustments during the manipulation. Together, our results establish the connections between movement, space-use, individual preference, and the spatio-temporal pattern of resources in home ranging behaviour.

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

Polish Journal of Ecology ◽

10.3161/15052249pje2020.68.1.009 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 68 (1) ◽

pp. 100

Author(s):

Jan Demesko ◽

Marta Kurek ◽

Patrycja Podlaszczuk ◽

Janusz Markowski

Keyword(s):

Roe Deer ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Enamel Thickness

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

Frontiers in Zoology ◽

10.1186/s12983-018-0283-8 ◽

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

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

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11071874 ◽

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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Morphometric and Molecular Analyses of Ostertagia leptospicularis Assadov, 1953 from Ruminants: Species Diversity or Host Influence?

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11010182 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 182

Author(s):

Anna Wyrobisz-Papiewska ◽

Jerzy Kowal ◽

Elżbieta Łopieńska-Biernat ◽

Paweł Nosal ◽

Iwona Polak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Host Species ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Bos Taurus ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Nematode Species ◽

Molecular Techniques ◽

Systematic Classification ◽

Morphological Variations ◽

Wide Range ◽

Induced Changes

Ostertagia leptospicularis Assadov, 1953 was formally described in roe deer Capreolus capreolus and has been reported in a wide range of ruminants, including other Cervidae, as well as Bovidae. Nematode specimens derived from various host species exhibit morphological similarity; however, some differences can be observed. It is unclear if this is due to the differential reaction of one nematode species in different host species (i.e., host-induced changes) or because of distinct nematode species in these hosts (i.e., species complex). This paper focuses on specimens resembling O. leptospicularis f. leptospicularis and its closely related species (Ostertagia ostertagi f. ostertagi) collected from various hosts. Morphometric and molecular techniques were applied to assess host-induced changes in nematode morphology and to clarify its systematic classification. There was an overall effect of host species on measurements of nematodes resembling O. leptospicularis (both males and females), but the distinctiveness of the specimens from cattle Bos taurus were highlighted. The results obtained may suggest that the specimens of O. leptospicularis from cattle in Germany and cervids in central Europe belong to different strains. Furthermore, nematodes from the cervid strain appear to circulate within particular host species, which can be seen in the stated morphological variations.

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Ability of Spalangia endius (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to Parasitize Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) after Switching Hosts

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12070613 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 613

Author(s):

Yuan Zheng ◽

Zi-Wei Song ◽

Yu-Ping Zhang ◽

Dun-Song Li

Keyword(s):

Bactrocera Dorsalis ◽

Low Density ◽

Type Ii ◽

Emergence Time ◽

Functional Responses ◽

Parasitism Rate ◽

Spalangia Endius ◽

Pupal Parasite ◽

Density Population

We studied the parasitism capacity of Spalangia endius as a pupal parasite of Bactocera dorsalis after switching hosts. We used pupae of B. dorsalis and M. domestica as the hosts and studied parasitism by S. endius in the laboratory. The parasitism capacities were compared at different host densities and different parasitoid ages. The two functional responses of S. endius fitted a Holling Type II equation. More M. domestica were parasitized than B. dorsalis at all the densities. The ability of S. endius to control M. domestica was α/Th (parasitism capacity) = 32.1950, which was much stronger than that of control B. dorsalis, which was α/Th = 4.7380. The parasitism rate of wasps that had parasitized B. dorsalis had decreased by the emergence time of parasitoids. These results suggest that the parasitoid-pest ratio should be 1:25 to maintain a relatively stable parasitism rate for control of B. dorsalis. The S. endius colony reared on M. domestica successfully controlled a low-density population of B. dorsalis in the lab. We provide evidence suggesting that the parasitism capacity of S. endius needs to be improved.

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