Experimental evidence for density-dependence of home-range size in roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus L.): a comparison of two long-term studies

Abstract

The effect of experimental manipulation of population density on home-range size was investigated in two free-ranging roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) populations under contrasting environmental conditions. In these two long-term monitoring studies, one in Bogesund, Sweden (12 years) and one in Dourdan, France (10 years), deer density varied fourfold through varying culling pressure. Home-range data were collected by radio-tracking across the periods of contrasting density of the studies. We predicted that home-range size for females should vary in relation to the level of feeding competition, while for males, competition for mating opportunities should also influence range size, at least in summer when roe bucks are territorial. We found a highly consistent pattern over the two populations, with strong effects of deer density on home-range size, as well as significant differences between winter and summer ranges and between the sexes. Home ranges were consistently smaller at high density compared to low density. Males had larger ranges than females and this was particularly so during summer. Lastly, winter ranges were generally larger than summer ranges, particularly among females, although males at Dourdan had larger summer ranges compared to winter ranges. We suggest that the reduction of range size at high deer density during winter, as well as summer, is linked to the solitary behaviour and territorial social system of roe deer, with possible effects of dominance rank, even outside the mating season.

Behavior‐Based Scale Definitions for Determining Individual Space Use: Requirements of Two Amphibians

“…A number of empirical studies have shown that home range size depends on habitat structure and/or resource density (Ebersole 1980;Prohl and Berke 2001;Buner et al 2005; our study). Home range size is generally predicted to decrease when population density increases (Kjellander et al 2004;Wang and Grimm 2007). However, we lack empirical evidence that home range size and population dynamics are similarly controlled by the interplay of habitat structure and resource density.…”

“…These factors are in turn linked to key parameters of population dynamics. For example, with decreasing home range size, population density and dispersal rate are predicted to increase (Kjellander et al 2004;Wang and Grimm 2007). Thus, home range size is a general variable for studying spatially structured populations, and it is informative for population management (Lomnicki 1988).…”

Temporal patterns of deer–vehicle collisions consistent with deer activity pattern and density increase but not general accident risk

“…positively density dependent, remains difficult to assess. In general, habitat selection (Mobaek et al, 2009;Blix et al, 2014;van Beest et al, 2014), activity (Mobaek et al, 2012) and home range size (Kjellander et al, 2004) of large herbivores are density dependent. In particular, at high density, more habitats are used, which also forces deer into more urban environments, and one might therefore expect a more than proportional increase in DVCs with increasing density of deer.…”

Reproductive potential of Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus L.)

“…body size, body mass, physical condition (Kjellander et al, 2004a;Hamel et al, 2009a); genetic characteristics of populations and individual does (Hewison, 1997); and other factors, such as population age structure and the age of individuals ( Figure 1, Table 1). …”