Body measurements from selective hunting: biometric features of red deer (Cervus elaphus) from Northern Apennine, Italy

Abstract

Morphometric studies on European red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) living in sub-Mediterranean areas are rare. In this paper, we provide the first morphometric description of red deer from Apennine living in Prato Province, as well as a description of its skeletal growth pattern. We analysed 18 body, cranial and antler measurements from 905 deer carcasses, collected during 12 hunting seasons (2000-2012). The body size of red deer from Prato appeared comparable to that of other populations from Northern Apennine and Central Alps. A significant variation in weight during the hunting season was detected only in adult stags: they were estimated to lose 23% of their eviscerated body weight from the beginning of the rutting season until the end of winter. The relationship between eviscerated body weight (EW) and whole body weight (WW) was highly significant in both sexes within every age class (R 2 always higher than 0.75), thus linear regressions were assessed in order to estimate EW from WW, allowing to complete datasets when such information is missing. Growth equations were utilised to describe the development of a subset of skeletal measures (height at shoulder, hind foot length, mandible length, head-trunk length) commonly collected on hunted cervids. Hind foot length was the measure which first ceased to grow and with the highest growth constant; although the relationship between cohort hind foot length and environmental, climatic and demographic variables has to be tested for red deer from Apennine, these bones appeared a suitable biological indicator for long-term monitoring of the species.

Stable body size of Alpine ungulates

“…In agreement with Becciolini et al . [ 60 ], the HFL and LJL of GR's red deer population mainly increase during the juvenile phase. Unexpectedly and in contrast to Pettorelli et al .…”

Relation between biometric parameters and autumn-winter food availability in a roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) population in central Italy

“…The collaboration of hunters in the measurement of the body parameters of their catch, and the use of these data for biometric analysis are useful tools to evaluate population features (Hewison et al 1996;Morellet et al 2007;Becciolini et al 2016). To formulate better wildlife management practices, it is very important to incorporate biometrics in structured databases and to analyze the collected information related to the autumn-winter food availability.…”

A Novel Method for Increasing the Numerousness of Biometrical Parameters Useful for Wildlife Management: Roe Deer Mandible as Bone Model

“…Over the last few decades, the dimensions and shapes of structures in wildlife populations have been extensively investigated [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Biometric surveys and analysis of the resulting cranial and body data are now crucial in wildlife management decisions.…”

“…The expansion of wildlife populations [7] has, therefore, caused a general development in hunting activities, together with the necessity of using biometry (size analysis) and geometric morphometry (shape analysis) as methods to monitor the status of wildlife populations and suitable environments for different wildlife species [9][10][11][12]. The morphometric data analysis provides information on skeletal development and allows the identification of body measures useful as ecological indicators, permitting the formulation of better management strategies for wildlife [2]. Previous research demonstrated a relationship between biometric parameters (e.g., body mass, cranial and skeletal measures) and environmental features (e.g., climate, habitat quality, autumn-winter food availability) [2,5,12,13].…”

“…The morphometric data analysis provides information on skeletal development and allows the identification of body measures useful as ecological indicators, permitting the formulation of better management strategies for wildlife [2]. Previous research demonstrated a relationship between biometric parameters (e.g., body mass, cranial and skeletal measures) and environmental features (e.g., climate, habitat quality, autumn-winter food availability) [2,5,12,13]. The monitoring of morphometric parameters can also be helpful for long-term studies on populations [2]; for example, the body mass of young roe deer is a good indicator of population productivity, while the body mass of adult animals responds to regional differences and to variations in population density and food availability [5,13].…”