Regional Differences in Fawning Times of North Carolina Deer

Weber, Andrew J.

doi:10.2307/3798295

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…First, in tropical latitudes, lack of change in day length results in the physiological capacity for breeding year-round, though reproduction is usually timed to coincide with resource availability (Heffelfinger 2011). Second, breeding dates of some geographically proximate populations of white-tailed deer in portions of the southern United States differ by as much as 6 weeks (Weber 1966, Lueth 1967, Wilson and Sealander 1971, Jacobson et al 1979, Richter and Labisky 1985, with no obvious latitudinal or distance-based pattern (Fig. 1).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Variable breeding dates among populations of white‐tailed deer in the southern United States: The legacy of restocking?

Sumners¹,

Demarais²,

DeYoung

et al. 2015

J Wildl Manag

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Reproduction is timed so that parturition coincides with optimal conditions for offspring survival, with strong fitness implications in northern regions. However, in the southern United States the breeding season of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is relatively heterogeneous over short distances. To test the hypothesis that genetic differences account for heterogeneity in breeding dates, we compared the degree of mitochondrial (mtDNA) and microsatellite DNA differentiation among 6 pairs of adjacent populations with breeding dates differing by an average of 35 days (DBD group) and 4 pairs of populations displaying similar breeding dates (SBD group) differing by no more than 2 days. Average mtDNA differentiation between pairs in the DBD group (F ST ¼ 0.408, SD ¼ 0.190) was larger (P ¼ 0.03) than for the SBD group (F ST ¼ 0.140, SD ¼ 0.092). The average differentiation at biparentally inherited microsatellite loci within the SBD group (F ST ¼ 0.028, SD ¼ 0.021) did not differ from that observed for the DBD group (F ST ¼ 0.047, SD ¼ 0.024; P ¼ 0.200). The similarity at biparentally inherited loci suggests that there are no cryptic barriers and populations are connected by male dispersal. The greater differences in mtDNA lineages between geographically proximate populations in the DBD group imply a maternal genetic effect on the timing of breeding, likely maintained by female philopatry. We hypothesize that this difference is a genetic legacy of restocking efforts and the recovery of remnant localized populations. Translocation efforts require careful consideration of differences between source and recipient populations. Breeding dates that differ among some proximate southern deer populations may be a fixed trait that must be considered when establishing management objectives and harvest criteria. Ó 2015 The Wildlife Society.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Variable breeding dates among populations of white‐tailed deer in the southern United States: The legacy of restocking?

Sumners¹,

Demarais²,

DeYoung

et al. 2015

J Wildl Manag

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Across large regions and distinct topographies, variation in the timing and duration of resource availability is known to shape the timing of large herbivores reproductive cycle. Therefore, as the growing season starts later at high latitudes, females of large herbivores delay their parturition to match the later onset of vegetation growth (Weber, 1966;Bunnell, 1982;Linnell, & Andersen, 1998a;Loe et al, 2005;Plard et al, 2013). Furthermore, at these latitudes, the growing season also becomes shorter, which limits the time available for offspring growth (Oftedal, 1985;Clutton-Brock et al, 1987;Rutberg, 1987) and female body condition recovery before the onset of the winter, the limiting season (Clutton-Brock, Guinness, & Albon, 1983).…”

Section: Breeding Timing and Local Adaptation Across Environmental Gr...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As the growing season of plants is delayed with increasing latitude or altitude, females of large herbivores delay their parturition to match the peak in vegetation quality and biomass (Weber, 1966;Bunnell, 1982;Linnell & Andersen, 1998a;Loe et al, 2005). Furthermore, the growing season also becomes shorter, which limits the time available for offspring to grow during the period of abundant forage (Oftedal, 1985;Rutberg, 1987;).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, most studies have focused on variation in parturition timing and synchrony along latitudinal gradients, whereas studies specifically addressing altitudinal variation in large herbivores (Weber, 1966 on white tailed deer; Bunnell, 1982;Thompson & Turner, 1982;Hass, 1997 Zhao, 1994 on Tibetan macaques, Macaca thibetana). On the other hand, altitudinal variation in reproduction has been widely studied in birds where results showed delayed and more synchronized laying dates with increasing altitude (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Effects of environmental variation on the reproduction of two widespread cervid species

Beato¹

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Factors affecting conception date variation in white‐tailed deer

Dye

Demarais

Strickland

et al. 2012

Wildlife Society Bulletin

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Understanding the factors that influence timing of reproduction can be of value to wildlife managers. We used estimated breeding dates of captive individual white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Texas and Mississippi, USA, and wild deer populations in Mississippi, to document natural variation within individuals and populations, and to determine whether body condition, age, or moon phase explained conception date variation. Mean conception date of captive individual deer was 1 December with a median of 26 November, a standard deviation of 13.6 days, and a mean range of 33 days. Overall mean conception date for wild populations in Mississippi was 1 January with a standard deviation of 13.4 days and a mean range of 46 days. Annual population mean conception date had a standard deviation of 4 days and a range of 12 days. Moon phase did not predict accurately conception date for individuals or populations of deer. Body condition did not influence conception date at the population level. Individual females 2.5 years old bred earlier than females 1.5 and 3.5 years old; however, the difference was minimal and may have been influenced by the mean gestation used to determine conception date. When scheduling recreational hunting opportunities relative to population breeding dates, managers should rely on local reproductive data and should not rely on predictions based on moon schedules. Further assessment of the individual variation in conception date and potential environmental cues is warranted. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.

show abstract

Regional Differences in Fawning Times of North Carolina Deer

Cited by 8 publications

References 0 publications

Variable breeding dates among populations of white‐tailed deer in the southern United States: The legacy of restocking?

Variable breeding dates among populations of white‐tailed deer in the southern United States: The legacy of restocking?

Effects of environmental variation on the reproduction of two widespread cervid species

Factors affecting conception date variation in white‐tailed deer

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About