Early body development of roe deer Capreolus capreolus in a sub‐Mediterranean ecosystem

Abstract

Patterns of roe deer Capreolus capreolus body development are particularly interesting in view of the wide distribution range and different habitat conditions faced by the species throughout Europe. In order to investigate patterns of roe deer fawn body development in a sub‐Mediterranean ecosystem, we caught 78 fawns during the four fawning seasons of 1997–2000. We investigated the effect of gender and date and year of birth on body mass of fawns in their first month of life. In agreement with earlier studies, there was a period of linear growth during which we found no differences in body mass between the sexes. Body mass varied significantly between years. The mean birth weight of 1,500 g did not show overall yearly variations, but fawns were heavier in 2000 than in 1998. Daily weight gain was more variable between years with fawns born in 2000 growing faster than fawns born in 1999 and 1997. Lastly, when fawns were split into two categories according to birth weight, light‐born fawns had a significantly faster body development than heavy‐born fawns. Therefore, we suggest that roe deer fawns may compensate for a low weight at birth. Such a compensatory process allows light‐born fawns to catch up with heavy‐born fawns by the end of their first month of life.

How does environmental variation influence body mass, body size, and body condition? Roe deer as a case study

“…However, spring conditions markedly influence fawn birth mass and size (see Gaillard et al 1993b for evidence on roe deer). Our results thus suggest that fawns with light birth weight are able to compensate for a bad start in life, as previously reported in two other roe deer populations (Gaillard et al 1993c, Pelliccioni et al 2004) and other ungulates (see Pélabon 1997 on fallow deer). While roe deer fawns seem to be able to compensate during their first summer for a bad start in life, a low mass in winter cannot be compensated for, generating cohort effects on adult body mass (Pettorelli et al 2002 on roe deer, Solberg et al 2004 on moose, Mysterud et al 2001 on red deer).…”

When a generalist becomes a specialist: patterns of red fox predation on roe deer fawns under contrasting conditions

“…All fawns were weighed at capture and 61 fawns were reweighed an average of 6 days later to measure their daily growth rates. In 13 cases, we were able to directly observe the birth date and to record the mass at birth (1.427 ± 0.291 kg), which was, on average, similar to the one previously calculated in other study areas in Norway (Aanes and Andersen 1996;, Sweden (Jarnemo et al 2004a), and Italy (Pelliccioni et al 2004). In the other cases, birth dates were determined by back calculation to the average birth mass for the population using the observed individual growth rates; if the observed individual growth rate was not available, we used the mean (SD) observed growth rate (152 ± 0.042 g/day, n = 60).…”

Growth under uncertainty: The influence of marine variability on early development of Galapagos sea lions

“…These effects tend to disappear at later ages, when juveniles seem to compensate for an eventual early nutritional deficit by accelerated growth. Compensatory (or catch‐up) growth is a topic widely discussed in a variety of taxa ( e.g ., Pelliccioni et al 2004, Royle et al 2005, Criscuolo et al 2008), and supposed to induce long‐term disadvantages, but the mechanisms underlying such negative effects are poorly understood (Metcalfe and Monaghan 2001). Nevertheless, it seems likely that the differences in early development that we have documented (and which were exaggerated in more serious El Niño conditions; see Trillmich and Dellinger 1991) may exert long‐term influences on the life history of individuals, for example, via later maturation.…”