Density‐Dependent Growth, Body Condition, and Demography in Feral Donkeys: Testing the Food Hypothesis

Choquenot, David

doi:10.2307/1940583

Cited by 127 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Resource availability, often limited by high population density, has been shown to be the major driver behind body size variation in several extant mammal species, such as reindeer (Skogland, 1983), feral donkeys (Choquenot, 1991) and roe deer (Toïgo et al, 2006). Wolverton et al (2009) were able to show that there is a negative correlation between individual body size and population density in the extant white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in North America, and that body size variation in that species is better explained by geographic differences in food availability than by thermoregulatory benefits suggested by "Bergmann's Rule".…”

Section: Body Size and Synthesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns of diet and body mass of large ungulates from the Pleistocene of Western Europe, and their relation to vegetation

Saarinen

Eronen

Seppä

et al. 2016

Palaeontologia Electronica

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Ungulate diets may vary following differences in vegetation, and their body size is affected by a complex set of ecological and physiological variables. Here we analyse Middle and Late Pleistocene British and German ungulate palaeocommunities to test whether there are significant correlations of diet and body size of ungulate species with vegetation openness. We also evaluate the role of interspecific interactions on the diet and body mass of the ungulate species. We use mesowear for dietary analyses and regression equations for estimating body mass from skeletal measures. The results show a correlation between ungulate mesowear and non-arboreal pollen percentages of the localities, but there are marked differences between species. Body masses of rhinoceroses (Rhinocerotidae) and deer (Cervidae) are on average higher in open environments, whereas aurochs (Bos primigenius) does not show clear connection of body size with vegetational conditions, and bison (Bison spp.) and wild horses (Equus ferus) have on average smaller mean size in more open ecosystems, possibly because of high population densities and resulting resource limitations. It is evident that the correlation of body size and vegetation openness is not straightforward and is likely to reflect the varying effects of population density, ecological adaptations and environmental conditions on body size in different species.

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Section: Body Size and Synthesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns of diet and body mass of large ungulates from the Pleistocene of Western Europe, and their relation to vegetation

Saarinen

Eronen

Seppä

et al. 2016

Palaeontologia Electronica

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“…Convincing evidence has already emerged in support of a link between the FMH and migration: migratory ungulates' access to earlier-stage plant phenology can be prolonged relative to that of residents (Pettorelli et al 2005a;Hebblewhite et al 2008;Sawyer and Kauffman 2011), which leads to higher forage quality for migrants (Hebblewhite et al 2008;Hamel et al 2009). As a consequence of access to better forage, migrants are heavier than resident individuals (Albon and Langvatn 1992), and body condition is tightly linked with fitness components in ungulates (White 1983;Choquenot 1991;Gaillard et al 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Migratory Northern Ungulate in the Pursuit of Spring: Jumping or Surfing the Green Wave?

Bischof

Loe²,

Meisingset³

et al. 2012

The American Naturalist

333

565

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Online enhancements: appendixes. Dryad data: http://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.3hr2c. abstract:The forage-maturation hypothesis (FMH) states that herbivores migrate along a phenological gradient of plant development in order to maximize energy intake. Despite strong support for the FMH, the actual relationship between plant phenology and ungulate movement has remained enigmatic. We linked plant phenology (MODISnormalized difference vegetation index [NDVI] data) and space use of 167 migratory and 78 resident red deer (Cervus elaphus), using a space-time-time matrix of "springness," defined as the instantaneous rate of green-up. Consistent with the FMH, migrants experienced substantially greater access to early plant phenology than did residents. Deer were also more likely to migrate in areas where migration led to greater gains in springness. Rather than "surfing the green wave" during migration, migratory red deer moved rapidly from the winter to the summer range, thereby "jumping the green wave." However, migrants and, to a lesser degree, residents did track phenological green-up through parts of the growing season by making smaller-scale adjustments in habitat use. Despite pronounced differences in their life histories, we found only marginal differences between male and female red deer in this study. Those differences that we did detect pointed toward additional constraints on female space-use tactics, such as those posed by calving and caring for dependent offspring. We conclude that whereas in some systems migration itself is a way to surf the green wave, in others it may simply be a means to reconnect with phenological spring at the summer range. In the light of ubiquitous anthropogenic environmental change, understanding the relationship between the green wave and ungulate space use has important consequences for the management and conservation of migratory ungulates and the phenomenon of migration itself.

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“…Winter food shortage results in mortality by depressing birth weights and delaying dates of birth (Blaxter and others 1981, Thorne and others 1976, Verme 1969. In fact, CluttonBrock and others (1987,1988) and Choquenot (1991) concluded that juvenile mortality, through densityinduced food shortage effects on birth weight and date, was the key factor regulating populations of red deer and feral donkeys, respectively. Experimental reduction in density of Rocky Mountain goats led to decreased age at first reproduction and to an increase in the number of young per reproducing female (Houston and Stevens 1988).…”

Section: Predicted Feedback Effects Of Herbivory On Large Ungulate Pomentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of long-term use by big game and livestock in the Blue Mountains forest ecosystems.

Irwin¹,

Cook²,

Riggs³

et al. 1994

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There is empirical evidence that persistent herbivory by large mammals caused moderate to severe reduction of shrubs and forage productivity in a variety of logged and unlogged forest communities, with subsequent effects on frequency of wildfire and conifer seedling establishment in some plant communities. Long-term herbivory was shown to have alternative effects by either improving or reducing wood-fiber production by reducing competition from understory plants or reducing soil fertility. The changes in plant communities caused by the herbivores may have had negative feedback effects to productivity of both elk and cattle. Cattle do not achieve desired weight gains on summer allotments. Empirical studies on forage quality and livestock nutritional status support a view that large domestic and wild mammals subsist on suboptimal forage conditions most of the year in the Blue Mountains. Survival of elk calves appears low, partly as a result of density-induced shortages of high-quality forage. The reduced calf production appears to be exacerbated by low adult bull:cow elk ratios, which reduces calf survival via delayed and lengthy birthing periods. The low bull:cow ratios are a result of reduced cover due to logging and increased access to hunters due to logging roads. Reduced big game productivity has led to restrictions on hunting opportunities, with concomitant losses in revenue to local economies. In addition, the dense elk herds, in concert with forest management activities on federal lands, have resulted in increased use by elk on private lands, where they damage crops. The paper identifies adaptive management experiments that could identify options for-clarifying the complex relationships between herbivores, vegetation, and ecosystem processes and identify management options for restoring forest health.

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Density‐Dependent Growth, Body Condition, and Demography in Feral Donkeys: Testing the Food Hypothesis

Cited by 127 publications

References 32 publications

Patterns of diet and body mass of large ungulates from the Pleistocene of Western Europe, and their relation to vegetation

Patterns of diet and body mass of large ungulates from the Pleistocene of Western Europe, and their relation to vegetation

A Migratory Northern Ungulate in the Pursuit of Spring: Jumping or Surfing the Green Wave?

Effects of long-term use by big game and livestock in the Blue Mountains forest ecosystems.

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