62 research outputs found
Managing landscapes for multiple objectives : alternative forage can reduce the conflict between deer and forestry
No full textThe study was financed by The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and The Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry through Stiftelsen Carl-Fredrik von Horns fond.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.Peer reviewe
The impacts of landscape structure on the winter movements and habitat selection of female red deer
No full textAn area of research that has recently gained more attention is to understand how species respond to environmental change such as the landscape structure and fragmentation. Movement is crucial to select habitats but the landscape structure influences the movement patterns of animals. Characterising the movement characteristics, utilisation distribution (UD) and habitat selection of a single species in different landscapes can provide important insights into species response to changes in the landscape. We investigate these three fields in female red deer (Cervus elaphus) in southern Sweden, in order to understand how landscape structure influences their movement and feeding patterns. Movements are compared between two regions, one dominated by a fragmented agriculture-forest mosaic and the other by managed homogenous forest. Red deer in the agriculture-dominated landscape had larger UDs compared to those in the forest-dominated area, moved larger distances between feeding and resting and left cover later in the day but used a similar duration for their movements, suggesting faster travelling speeds between resting and feeding locations. The habitat selection patterns of red deer indicate a trade-off between forage and cover, selecting for habitats that provide shelter during the day and forage by night. However, the level of trade-off, mediated through movement and space use patterns, is influenced by the landscape structure. Our approach provides further understanding of the link between individual animal space use and changing landscapes and can be applied to many species able to carry tracking devices
Neonatal mortality in roe deer
No full textUsing radiotelemetry I investigated magnitude and main causes of neonatal mortality of the European roe deer Capreolus capreolus in two long-term studies (Ekenäs 1986-1999, Bogesund 1997-2003) in central Sweden. Summer mortality was 51 and 52% in the two areas, respectively, and predation by red fox Vulpes vulpes accounted for 88% of the mortality in both areas. Other causes of death were starvation/hypothermia/disease and mowing machines. Potential mowing mortality was, however, estimated to 25-44% during a three-year period, but it was also shown that the use of scaring devices was an effective countermeasure. Fox abundance was the only factor with significant effect on between-year variation in fawn survival in the 14-year study at Ekenäs. Predation and fawn survival was strongly correlated to fox abundance. High survival during years of low fox abundance suggested that predation mortality was additive during summer. Fawns born just after the birth peak had the lowest predation risk. Predation rate was highest for fawns born very early or very late. Predation thereby seems to strengthen the birth synchrony in roe deer. Contrary to earlier roe deer findings, there was no difference in vulnerability to predation between the sexes. Also differing from earlier findings was that predation rate was highest during the first week of life and declined thereafter almost linearly. Eighty-five percent were killed before 30 days of age and 98% before 40 days. Different types of landscapes may explain the discrepancies between our study and earlier findings. Maternal age or size of maternal home range did not affect fawn survival whereas type of habitat did. Female reproductive success decreased as area open habitat in home range increased, but only during years of high fox abundance. In years when foxes were scarce, females in open habitats had a higher reproductive success, suggesting a trade-off between using habitats of high-quality forage and habitats of low neonatal predation risk. Analyses of fox and roe deer female behaviour supported the hypothesis that it is easier for the fox to find fawns in open habitats. Roe deer females were, however, quite capable to defend fawns attacked by fox, which may affect the fox’s hunting strategy
Roe deer <i>Capreolus capreolus</i> fawns and mowing ‐ mortality rates and countermeasures
No full text
Skön, skygg och kontroversiell
No full textSkånska Dagbladet, bilaga Skånska Jakt- och Fiskemässan, nr 22 augusti 2010. C4
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