Survival of desert mule deer fawns in central Arizona

Quintana, Nicole T.; Ballard, Warren B.; Wallace, Mark C.; Krausman, Paul R.; Vos, James de; Alcumbrac, Ole J.; Cariappa, C. A.; O'Brien, Chantel

doi:10.1894/15-00063r2.1

Cited by 10 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Quintana et al. () investigated survival of young in an arid ecosystem, and similar to our results, they showed evidence that structural size, not weight or condition, was indicative of survival, although their confidence intervals overlapped zero. Further, our findings indicate that environmental factors affecting the mother's forage quality and fetal development (i.e., larger neonates) are the strongest indicators of survival of young.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…If PET coding (i.e., the neonate's age) was less than 3 hr, technicians would allow time for critical bonding, and colostrum transfers between neonate and mother before approaching (White, Knowlton, & Glazener, 1972). Technicians would systematically search the area using the location of the VIT or the female's location at initial sighting as the beginning of their search radius (Quintana et al, 2016). Search times were restricted to 30 min to reduce the chance of abandonment of the neonate or stress to the female (Livezey, 1990).…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Timing of precipitation in an arid environment: Effects on population performance of a large herbivore

Heffelfinger

Stewart

Bush

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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Climate models predict that shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns are likely to occur across the globe. Changing climate will likely have strong effects on arid environments as a result of increased temperatures, increasing frequency and intensity of droughts, and less consistent pulses of rainfall. Therefore, understanding the link between patterns of precipitation, temperature, and population performance of species occupying these environments will continue to increase in importance as climatic shifts occur within these natural ecosystems. We sought to evaluate how individual, maternal, population, and environmental, particularly temperature and precipitation, level factors influence population performance of a large herbivore in an arid environment. We used mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) as a representative species and quantified juvenile survival to test hypotheses about effects of environmental factors on population performance. Precipitation events occurring in mid‐ to late‐pregnancy (January–April) leading to spring green‐up, as indexed by normalized difference in vegetation index, had the strongest positive effect on juvenile survival and recruitment. In addition, larger neonates had an increased probability of survival. Our findings indicate that timing and amount of precipitation prior to parturition have strong influences on maternal nutritional condition, which was passed on to young. These results have important implications for understanding how animal populations may benefit from timing of precipitation during spring and prior to parturition, especially in arid environments.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Timing of precipitation in an arid environment: Effects on population performance of a large herbivore

Heffelfinger

Stewart

Bush

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Predation is the dominant cause of mortality for ungulate neonates (Smith et al 1986, Scotton 1998, Gustine et al 2006, Quintana et al 2016. Predation caused 82% and 86% of mortality of desert bighorn sheep lambs in 2 studies in New Mexico (Parsons 2007, Karsch et al 2016.…”

Section: Mountain Lionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Gordian knot of mountain lion predation and bighorn sheep

Rominger¹

2017

J Wildl Manag

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The objective of this review is to generate a synthesis of research conducted on predation of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) and to suggest directions for future research relative to current knowledge gaps and a novel hypothesis. This review is primarily based on literature from the last 60 years on desert bighorn sheep (O. c. nelsoni), Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (O. c. canadensis), and mountain lion (Puma concolor) predation. Although, many predators kill bighorn sheep, only mountain lions are currently considered to be the primary proximate cause of mortality for many bighorn sheep populations. The ultimate cause of this phenomenon has vexed wildlife managers for >40 years. There are 3 primary reasons for increased predation on bighorn sheep by mountain lions. First, there is an increased presence of mountain lions in habitats where they were historically absent or rare because of the expansion of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) following the extensive conversion of fire‐maintained grasslands to shrublands in the late‐1800s. Second, is the extirpation of the 2 dominant apex carnivores (wolves [Canis lupus] and grizzly bears [Ursus arctos]) during this same time period and a hypothesized numerical response of mountain lions to those extirpations. Finally, the response of mountain lions to the cessation of >70 years of intensive predator control has often resulted in unsustainable mountain lion‐bighorn sheep ratios, especially for desert bighorn sheep. Additionally, the effect of mountain lion predation is exacerbated by declines in bighorn sheep that do not result in declines in mountain lions because of their ability to prey switch to mule deer, elk (Cervus canadensis), or domestic cattle; kleptoparasitism of mountain lions kills, by ursids and canids, resulting in higher kill rates for mountain lions; and a possible ecological trap where adaptations derived over evolutionary time are no longer adaptive because of human‐induced changes in the sympatric apex predator guild. Control of mountain lions, when mountain lion‐ungulate ratios are high, might be required to protect small or endangered bighorn sheep populations, and to produce bighorn sheep for restoration efforts. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.

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“…Coyotes killed calves during their first several weeks of life but not thereafter. Conversely, mountain lions did not specialize on newly born calves but instead killed older individuals as reported for other ungulates (Barber‐Meyer et al , White et al , Monteith et al , Quintana et al ). Mountain lions were responsible for all identifiable (6 of 8) overwinter mortality observations; however, we may have underestimated mountain lion predation because our sample size of marked calves was smaller by late summer.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Population dynamics of ungulates are largely influenced by adult female survival, but in most cases, juvenile survival has a larger influence on population growth rates because adult female survival is typically high and relatively constant, whereas juvenile survival is much more variable (Gaillard et al , ; Ballard et al ; Raithel et al ; Eacker et al ). Predation is often the dominant cause of mortality for juveniles (Singer et al , Ballard et al , Barber‐Meyer et al , White et al , Quintana et al ). Experimental manipulations of predator populations have been advocated to quantify the effects predators have on ungulate prey (Gasaway et al , Gaillard et al , Hayes et al , Griffin et al ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of calf predation and nutrition on elk vital rates

Tatman¹,

Liley²,

Cain

et al. 2018

J Wildl Manag

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Demographic data indicated a population of elk (Cervus canadensis) in northern New Mexico had reduced juvenile recruitment, resulting in a concern over quality hunting opportunities. Following several years of low calf:female ratios of <25:100, we conducted a 4‐year study from 2009–2012 to identify reasons for poor recruitment and evaluated the role of predation and nutrition in limiting productivity. We captured and fixed ear‐tag radio transmitters to 245 elk calves (126 males, 119 females) to determine cause‐specific mortality and estimate calf survival. During the second half of our study, we implemented a new spring black bear (Ursus americanus) season resulting in higher spring black bear harvest and evaluated response in calf survival. We also quantified herd‐wide nutritional condition and productivity. We estimated percent ingesta‐free body fat (IFBF) and pregnancy rates by sampling 1,808 hunter‐harvested female elk from autumn through winter. The primary cause of summer mortality for calves across all years was black bear predation. Estimates for annual calf survival were greater when spring black bear harvest was moderate to high (0.44–0.47) compared to periods with lower bear harvest (0.33–0.35). For every additional bear harvested in spring, radio‐tagged elk calves were 2.4% more likely to survive the summer. Across years and age classes 82 ± 1% (SE) of females were pregnant. Pregnancy rate was greatest for prime‐aged (2–14 yr) females (88 ± 1%). Our herd‐wide estimate of IFBF for prime‐aged adult female elk was 11.9 ± 0.19% but varied by pregnancy and lactation status. Our results that black bear predation was the primary cause of summer calf mortality and that adult females were in adequate nutritional condition suggested that black bear predation was limiting population productivity. Additionally, calf survival was higher in drought years, the same years when targeted spring black bear harvest was implemented. Our results demonstrated that productivity could be increased by implementing a spring black bear harvest strategy targeted around calving areas and could be applied in other areas experiencing low elk calf survival. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.

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Survival of desert mule deer fawns in central Arizona

Cited by 10 publications

References 38 publications

Timing of precipitation in an arid environment: Effects on population performance of a large herbivore

Timing of precipitation in an arid environment: Effects on population performance of a large herbivore

The Gordian knot of mountain lion predation and bighorn sheep

Effects of calf predation and nutrition on elk vital rates

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