Comparisons and Trends in White-tailed Deer, &lt;em&gt;Odocoileus virginianus&lt;/em&gt;, Body Fat in Northeastern Minnesota, 1974-1990

Nicholson, Kerry L.; Peterson, William J.; Ballard, Warren B.

doi:10.22621/cfn.v122i3.608

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Hence, the nutritional status of individuals may have the potential to affect prey selection. In seasonally variable regions predator selection of prey may also be affected by weather-induced effects on prey vulnerability which may change as winter proceeds [12, 28, 29, 30, 31]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prey Selection of Scandinavian Wolves: Single Large or Several Small?

Sand

Eklund

Zimmermann³

et al. 2016

PLoS ONE

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Research on large predator-prey interactions are often limited to the predators’ primary prey, with the potential for prey switching in systems with multiple ungulate species rarely investigated. We evaluated wolf (Canis lupus) prey selection at two different spatial scales, i.e., inter- and intra-territorial, using data from 409 ungulate wolf-kills in an expanding wolf population in Scandinavia. This expansion includes a change from a one-prey into a two-prey system with variable densities of one large-sized ungulate; moose (Alces alces) and one small-sized ungulate; roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Among wolf territories, the proportion of roe deer in wolf kills was related to both pack size and roe deer density, but not to moose density. Pairs of wolves killed a higher proportion of roe deer than did packs, and wolves switched to kill more roe deer as their density increased above a 1:1 ratio in relation to the availability of the two species. At the intra-territorial level, wolves again responded to changes in roe deer density in their prey selection whereas we found no effect of snow depth, time during winter, or other predator-related factors on the wolves’ choice to kill moose or roe deer. Moose population density was only weakly related to intra-territorial prey selection. Our results show that the functional response of wolves on moose, the species hitherto considered as the main prey, was strongly dependent on the density of a smaller, alternative, ungulate prey. The impact of wolf predation on the prey species community is therefore likely to change with the composition of the multi-prey species community along with the geographical expansion of the wolf population.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prey Selection of Scandinavian Wolves: Single Large or Several Small?

Sand

Eklund

Zimmermann³

et al. 2016

PLoS ONE

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“…Several studies have indicated that wolf‐killed moose were not malnourished (Ballard et al , Hayes et al ) and no evidence of wolves selecting for individuals in poorer body condition compared to harvested individuals (moose; Sand et al ) or those hit by cars (mule deer and white‐tailed deer [ Odocoileus virginianus ], O’Gara and Harris ; roe deer [ Capreolus capreolus ], Gazzola et al ). On the contrary, Nicholson et al () reported white‐tailed deer killed by predators had lower bone marrow fat compared to those hit by cars. Body condition, and thus prey vulnerability, can also be affected by obvious factors such as injuries and arthritis (Peterson ) and by less obvious conditions such as malnutrition of parents or even grandparents (Mech et al , Côté and Festa‐Bianchet , Parker et al , Shallow et al ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Winter predation patterns of wolves in Northwestern Wyoming

Woodruff

Jimenez

2019

J Wildl Manag

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Wolf (Canis lupus) diets and potential effects on prey have been a prominent subject of interest to wildlife researchers and managers since reintroduction into Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA, in 1995 and 1996. Post‐reintroduction, wolves expanded south and recolonized areas in the southern Yellowstone ecosystem. Elk (Cervus elaphus) in this area are supplementally fed during winter (Dec–Mar) at state‐managed feedgrounds, resulting in high‐density congregations of elk. From December to March 2000–2007, we determined the winter predation patterns of wolves by examining the remains of 289 wolf kills on 3 state‐managed feedgrounds and adjacent winter range near Jackson, Wyoming. During winters 2002–2005, we also monitored the movements of radio‐collared elk on feedgrounds to describe the response of elk to the presence of wolf kills. Thirty‐seven percent (n = 106) of kills were located on elk feedgrounds where elk composition included 49% calves, 42% adult females, 5% adult males, and 5% unknown. Sixty‐three percent (n = 183) of kills were located on winter range adjacent to feedgrounds and prey species consisted of 90% elk (38% calves, 35% adult females, 24% adult males, 2% unknown), 9% moose (Alces alces; 13% calves, 69% adult females, 6% adult males, 1% unknown), 1% mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus; 1 fawn, 1 adult female), and 0.5% adult female bison (Bison bison). Mean age of elk killed on feedgrounds was 4.2 years (range = 0–20) and 4.6 years (range = 0–23) on winter range. Calves were selected more than available in most years with female elk killed less than expected. Adult males were killed more than expected in 2005–2007. Eighty‐eight percent (n = 198) of the time elk remained on the feedground even when wolves made a kill. Less commonly, elk left the feedground, gathered in larger herds on adjacent feedgrounds absent of wolves, and returned within a few days (6%, n = 13) or left the feedground for another feedground and did not return for the rest of the winter (6%; n = 14). Elk were less likely to leave feedgrounds in the presence of a wolf kill when there were more elk on that feedground. Elk left feedgrounds with greater topography and tree cover (Alkali and Fish Creek) and gathered on the flat, open feedgrounds (Patrol Cabin) more frequently than they left flat, open feedgrounds for feedgrounds with greater topography and tree cover. Our results indicate wolves in our study area primarily preyed on elk and exhibited a strong preference for elk calves. High‐density concentrations of elk on feedgrounds will continue to be an attractant for wolves. Although elk leave feedgrounds for reasons other than wolf presence, any displacement of elk from feedgrounds due to wolves will be temporary. State managers have the ability to alter management strategies (e.g., increasing wolf harvest, phasing out elk feeding, increasing the intensity of elk feeding) in an effort to affect predator‐prey relationships. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.

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“…We note a few considerations and limitations of the visual index of nutritional condition. Deposition and mobilization of fat in the major reserves occurs simultaneously to some degree, but in general increments with disappearance of subcutaneous reserves occurring first (Kistner et al 1980, Nicholson et al 2008). Based on the general order of deposition and mobilization, an index of nutritional condition based on coverage of subcutaneous fat alone may not be indicative of extremely low or high nutritional condition (Cook et al 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Nutritional Condition of Mule Deer Using a Photographic Index

et al. 2020

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Understanding nutritional condition of animals can provide insight into underlying drivers of population dynamics. To estimate nutritional condition, indices require capture or mortality of animals to obtain measurements of body fat. Advances in technology provide an opportunity to acquire estimates of nutritional condition in a noninvasive way if ocular estimates can be validated. We developed and evaluated a noninvasive, visual index of nutritional condition for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) intended to be applied to camera‐trap images or videos. Our index was based on the visibility of 4 skeletal regions that are covered in varying amounts of subcutaneous fat depending upon the nutritional condition of the animal. We compared the visual index of nutritional condition to estimates of percent ingesta‐free body fat (IFBFat) obtained from ultrasonography and physical palpation of captured mule deer (n = 89) in western Wyoming, USA, in December 2015, March 2016, and November 2018. Our visual index of nutritional condition related positively to IFBFat (r2 = 0.41). Although further refinement may be warranted to increase predictive power of visual estimates, use of visual approaches to estimate nutritional condition can enhance knowledge that can be gained with a minimal budget, or where more invasive approaches are not possible. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.

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Comparisons and Trends in White-tailed Deer, <em>Odocoileus virginianus</em>, Body Fat in Northeastern Minnesota, 1974-1990

Cited by 7 publications

References 24 publications

Prey Selection of Scandinavian Wolves: Single Large or Several Small?

Prey Selection of Scandinavian Wolves: Single Large or Several Small?

Winter predation patterns of wolves in Northwestern Wyoming

Assessing Nutritional Condition of Mule Deer Using a Photographic Index

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