1Jan KAŁUZIlŚrSKI Kałuziński J., 1982: Dynamics and structure of a field roe deer population. Acta theriol., 27, 27: 385-408 [With 9 Tables & 10 Figs.l The purpose of these studies was to obtain data on variations in numbers, reproduction, mortality, survival and age and sex structure. The data were collected over a period of 14 years, and using them as a basis a quantitative balance was drawn up for a population living in an agrocenosis. Average density of roe deer was 7 individuals/100 ha, and the number born was 1.9 young per female. Natural mortality among young roe deer was high (56% of the number born) and distinctly influences effective production, the average value for which is 0.8 juv/female. Mortality among adult animals was on an average 21%, varying from 7-51% of the spring numbers from the precedingyear. In years which prove catastrophic for the population about 50°/o of the roe deer die during the first year of life. Average length of life of an individual was 3.5 years. Females predominated over males throughout the whole study period (56:44). Game shooting refered first of all to animals from 0-7 years old from the population, and applies to 89% of males and 84% of females. Population numbers were determined by mortality among young and adult animals and by constant game shooting of about 8.1%, and apart from catastrophic years exhibits a tendency to increase. Losses due to game shooting and average natural losses were effectively replenished in the study population.

1Jan KAŁUZIŃSKI Kałuziński J., 1982: Composition of the food of roe deer living in fields and the effects of their feeding on plant production. Acta theriol., 27, 31: 457-470 [With 1 Table & Figs.] A botanical analysis was made of food contents taken from the rumen of 125 roe deer Capreolus capreolus (Linnaeus, 1758), obtained during the hunting season in an experimental field area. The roe deer's food over the annual cycle is formed by 85 plant species, but six species of cultivated plants are of basic importance. On an average over the course of a year the proportion of these six plants in food biomass is approximately 66%, being highest in summer (approx. 97°/o) and winter (approx. 74%). The plant most intensively consumed by roe deer is rye (22% of food consumed). Frequency of occurrence of different plant in the roe deer's food is directly connected with the season of the year. It was calculated that the whole population inhabiting an area of 15,000 ha by its consumption reduces the biomass supply of basic cultivated plants (rye, rape and lucerne) during the vegetation resting period of plants by 1%.[Polish Hunting Association, Research Station, 62-055 Czempiń, Poland] INTRODUCTIONThe occurrence of roe deer in large numbers in some regions of Poland, in the shaped and intensively cultivated environment formed by cultivated fields (Kałuziński, 1974), may constitute an important ecological problem (Kałuziński & Bresiński, 1976). The roe deer as a constant component of agrocenoses must, depending on population density, exert a certain influence on cultivated plants, and therefore studies on the composition of the roe deer's food depending on the habitat conditions under which they live, and on population density, may also be of practical importance, in addition to increasing our knowledge. There are two main problems of particular importance here: the effect of these mammals on the habitat, and especially on the biomass of cultivated plants, and the significance of roe deer as an object of game management. In this connection a source of conflict may arise, such as that present in a forest habitat (Dzięciołowski, 1971;Fruziński et al., 1978).The purpose of the present study was to ascertain the composition 1 Praca wykonana w ramach problemu MR-II/15 koordynowanego przez Instytut Ekologii PAN.[457]

., 1982: Weight and body measurements of forest and field roe deer. Acta theriol., 27, Comparison was made of biométrie parameters (body weight, body length, height at shoulder and length of hind food) in 546 roe deer, Capreolus capreolus (Linnaeus, 1758) from a forest population, and 789 roe deer from a field population, using variance analysis for cross classification by means of Bock's method. Statistically significant differences occurred only in respect of body weight and length. Body weight was found to exhibit greatest dynamics of growth between the 1st and 3rd year of life of the individuals in the case of both forest and field roe deer. Particularly great increase in body weight during this period (4.2 kg in bucks and 4.5 kg in does) was found in forest roe deer. In individuals from the field population this increase is smaller (2.5 kg in bucks and only 1,2 kg in does). Differences in body weight between forest and field roe deer are greatest in the youngest age classes, but are minimal in old individuals. Differences in body length between females and males are minimal in both populations, but field roe deer are significantly longer in the body than those living in the forest. There is a significant correlation between body weight and body length (r=0.70; a=0.01). Body weight is also correlated, but to a lesser degree, with length of the hind foot (r=0.51) and height at the shoulder (r=0.33). All these correlations are far greater in forest than in field roe deer, and in does than in bucks.

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The relative selectivity by moose of twigs from 26 browse species was tested in a small enclosure from