Responses of Female White-Tailed Deer Home-Ranges to Increased Resource Availability

Crimmins, Shawn M.; Edwards, John W.; Campbell, Tyler A.; Ford, W. Mark; Keyser, Patrick D.; Miller, Brad F.; Miller, Karl V.

doi:10.1656/045.022.0215

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…During the rainy season, there was a general decrease in daily activity (Figure 5a). This could be because greater resource availability during this season reduces the need for exploratory behavior for adequate forage (Crimmins et al 2015). Results also showed greater overlap and the same directionality in the activity of different groups during rainy season.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Activity patterns of the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in a neotropical dry forest: changes according to age, sex, and climatic season

Cueva-Hurtado,

Jara-Guerrero,

Cisneros

et al. 2024

Therya

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Mammalian daily activity is shaped by a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Age influences activity rhythms due to energy requirements, while physiological and reproductive traits cause differences between genders. In ecosystems with marked climatic seasonality, such as the seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF), activity patterns adapt to extrinsic factors like resource availability and environmental stress. This study investigates how intrinsic factors, specifically age and sex, influence the white-tailed deer's (Odocoileus virginianus) daily activities, and how these vary between dry and rainy seasons. Between 2015 and 2018, we conducted a camera trapping study to monitor the daily activity of a population of white-tailed deer in the Arenillas Ecological Reserve, southwestern Ecuador. We estimated individual daily activity based on four parameters: total and diurnal relative abundance index (RAI), activity directionality, and activity overlap between groups. We used generalized linear models to evaluate the changes in RAI based on age-classes and sex of the individuals. The Watson test was employed to assess differences in directional patterns during activity hours, while the Wald test was utilized to evaluate significant variations in activity overlap. The same analyses were also performed to assess changes in daily activity between the dry and rainy seasons. The daily activity patterns of white-tailed deer varied by age and sex. Fawns were predominantly diurnal, whereas adults displayed continuous activity throughout the 24 hours of the day, with males being more active during the night than females. Females did not show significant differences in the activity pattern compared to fawns and juveniles. The daily activity pattern of white-tailed deer varied between seasons. Overall, there was an increase in daily activity during the dry season, but significant only for males. Females were the only group that showing seasonal variation in activity directionality, with more morning activity during the dry season. The daily activity patterns of white-tailed deer in the dry forest exhibit slight differences compared to those observed in other ecosystems, with extended daily activity periods. During the rainy season, reproductive and post-reproductive behaviors, rather than resource abundance, predominantly shaped the white-tailed deer's daily activity patterns. In contrast, the dry season presented a notable rise in overall activity and daily activity, accompanied by partition between groups. This partition likely stems from diminished resource accessibility and increased intraspecific competition. Given the slight differences in the white-tailed deer's daily activity from those noted in other regions, these insights are crucial for formulating management and conservation strategies tailored to specific environmental conditions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Activity patterns of the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in a neotropical dry forest: changes according to age, sex, and climatic season

Cueva-Hurtado,

Jara-Guerrero,

Cisneros

et al. 2024

Therya

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“…Population density is often a major factor influencing homerange use in some mammals, whereby density reductions result in changes in home ranges (Tuyttens et al 2000). This may be due to survivors taking advantage of newly available resources (Wiggins et al 2010, Crimmins et al 2015, or due to the removal of dominant conspecifics that are constraining the use of resources (Efford et al 2000, Crimmins et al 2015. Many animals have been observed changing their home ranges following density reduction, including shifting or increasing their home-range size (Woodroffe et al 2006a, Wiggins et al 2010, Riordan et al 2011, Crimmins et al 2015, Schoeph et al 2015; however, other studies have not recorded any changes (McNulty et al 1997, Oyer andPorter 2004).…”

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confidence: 99%

Measuring Home‐Range Changes Following Density Reduction of Australian Brushtail Possum

2019

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It is not clear whether animals consistently change their home ranges in response to density reduction. This is important to understand for better management of pest species where sustained control is required. Our objective was to measure whether home ranges of Australian brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) change following density reduction, using global positioning system (GPS) tracking. We experimentally reduced the densities of 2 populations (1 high‐density at 7 possums/ha and 1 low‐density at 1.5 possums/ha) and did not manipulate another population. We then monitored home ranges of individual possums. The high‐density manipulated population had a significant increase in home‐range size and overlap within 5 weeks following reduction, whereas the other 2 populations did not. This research suggests that changes in possum home ranges following control are likely influenced by the initial density of the pest population. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.

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Forage quality, road and stocking density influence the home range size of free-ranging beef cattle in the boreal forest

Tofastrud,

Møllevold,

Zimmermann

2025

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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Responses of Female White-Tailed Deer Home-Ranges to Increased Resource Availability

Cited by 3 publications

References 35 publications

Activity patterns of the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in a neotropical dry forest: changes according to age, sex, and climatic season

Activity patterns of the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in a neotropical dry forest: changes according to age, sex, and climatic season

Measuring Home‐Range Changes Following Density Reduction of Australian Brushtail Possum

Forage quality, road and stocking density influence the home range size of free-ranging beef cattle in the boreal forest

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