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Ortega AC, Aikens EO, Merkle JA, Monteith KL, Kauffman MJ. Migrating mule deer compensate en route for phenological mismatches. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2008. [PMID: 37037806 PMCID: PMC10086060 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37750-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Billions of animals migrate to track seasonal pulses in resources. Optimally timing migration is a key strategy, yet the ability of animals to compensate for phenological mismatches en route is largely unknown. Using GPS movement data collected from 72 adult female deer over a 10-year duration, we study a population of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in Wyoming that lack reliable cues on their desert winter range, causing them to start migration 70 days ahead to 52 days behind the wave of spring green-up. We show that individual deer arrive at their summer range within an average 6-day window by adjusting movement speed and stopover use. Late migrants move 2.5 times faster and spend 72% less time on stopovers than early migrants, which allows them to catch the green wave. Our findings suggest that ungulates, and potentially other migratory species, possess cognitive abilities to recognize where they are in space and time relative to key resources. Such behavioral capacity may allow migratory taxa to maintain foraging benefits amid rapidly changing phenology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C Ortega
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA.
- Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA.
| | - Ellen O Aikens
- U.S. Geological Survey, South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Natural Resource Management, Brookings, SD, 57006, USA
| | - Jerod A Merkle
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
| | - Kevin L Monteith
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82072, USA
| | - Matthew J Kauffman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
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2
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Laforge MP, Webber QMR, Vander Wal E. Plasticity and repeatability in spring migration and parturition dates with implications for annual reproductive success. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:1042-1054. [PMID: 36871141 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
In seasonal environments, animals should be adapted to match important life-history traits to when environmental conditions are optimal. Most animal populations therefore reproduce when resource abundance is highest to increase annual reproductive success. When facing variable, and changing, environments animals can display behavioural plasticity to acclimate to changing conditions. Behaviours can further be repeatable. For example, timing of behaviours and life history traits such as timing of reproduction may indicate phenotypic variation. Such variation may buffer animal populations against the consequences of variation and change. Our goal was to quantify plasticity and repeatability in migration and parturition timing in response to timing of snowmelt and green-up in a migratory herbivore (caribou, Rangifer tarandus, n = 132 ID-years) and their effect on reproductive success. We used behavioural reaction norms to quantify repeatability in timing of migration and timing of parturition in caribou and their plasticity to timing of spring events, while also quantifying phenotypic covariance between behavioural and life-history traits. Timing of migration for individual caribou was positively correlated with timing of snowmelt. The timing of parturition for individual caribou varied as a function of inter-annual variation in timing of snowmelt and green-up. Repeatability for migration timing was moderate, but low for timing of parturition. Plasticity did not affect reproductive success. We also did not detect any evidence of phenotypic covariance among any traits examined-timing of migration was not correlated with timing of parturition, and neither was there a correlation in the plasticity of these traits. Repeatability in migration timing suggests the possibility that the timing of migration in migratory herbivores could evolve if the repeatability detected in this study has a genetic or otherwise heritable basis, but observed plasticity may obviate the need for an evolutionary response. Our results also suggest that observed shifts in caribou parturition timing are due to plasticity as opposed to an evolutionary response to changing conditions. While this provides some evidence that populations may be buffered from the consequences of climate change via plasticity, a lack of repeatability in parturition timing could impede adaptation as warming increases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel P Laforge
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Quinn M R Webber
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.,Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eric Vander Wal
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.,Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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3
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Deng Y, Belotti MCTD, Zhao W, Cheng Z, Perez G, Tielens E, Simons VF, Sheldon DR, Maji S, Kelly JF, Horton KG. Quantifying long-term phenological patterns of aerial insectivores roosting in the Great Lakes region using weather surveillance radar. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:1407-1419. [PMID: 36397251 PMCID: PMC10098490 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Organisms have been shifting their timing of life history events (phenology) in response to changes in the emergence of resources induced by climate change. Yet understanding these patterns at large scales and across long time series is often challenging. Here we used the US weather surveillance radar network to collect data on the timing of communal swallow and martin roosts and evaluate the scale of phenological shifts and its potential association with temperature. The discrete morning departures of these aggregated aerial insectivores from ground-based roosting locations are detected by radars around sunrise. For the first time, we applied a machine learning algorithm to automatically detect and track these large-scale behaviors. We used 21 years of data from 12 weather surveillance radar stations in the Great Lakes region to quantify the phenology in roosting behavior of aerial insectivores at three spatial levels: local roost cluster, radar station, and across the Great Lakes region. We show that their peak roosting activity timing has advanced by 2.26 days per decade at the regional scale. Similar signals of advancement were found at the station scale, but not at the local roost cluster scale. Air temperature trends in the Great Lakes region during the active roosting period were predictive of later stages of roosting phenology trends (75% and 90% passage dates). Our study represents one of the longest-term broad-scale phenology examinations of avian aerial insectivore species responding to environmental change and provides a stepping stone for examining potential phenological mismatches across trophic levels at broad spatial scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Deng
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | | | - Wenlong Zhao
- College of Information and Computer SciencesUniversity of MassachusettsAmherstMassachusettsUSA
| | - Zezhou Cheng
- College of Information and Computer SciencesUniversity of MassachusettsAmherstMassachusettsUSA
| | - Gustavo Perez
- College of Information and Computer SciencesUniversity of MassachusettsAmherstMassachusettsUSA
| | - Elske Tielens
- Department of BiologyUniversity of OklahomaNormanOklahomaUSA
| | - Victoria F. Simons
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Daniel R. Sheldon
- College of Information and Computer SciencesUniversity of MassachusettsAmherstMassachusettsUSA
| | - Subhransu Maji
- College of Information and Computer SciencesUniversity of MassachusettsAmherstMassachusettsUSA
| | - Jeffrey F. Kelly
- Department of BiologyUniversity of OklahomaNormanOklahomaUSA
- Oklahoma Biological SurveyUniversity of OklahomaNormanOklahomaUSA
| | - Kyle G. Horton
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
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4
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LaSharr TN, Jakopak RP, Dwinnell SPH, Rafferty RT, Thonhoff M, Kaiser RC, Fralick GL, Monteith KL. Maternal effects and the legacy of extreme environmental events for wild mammals. Ecology 2023; 104:e3953. [PMID: 36484728 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tayler N LaSharr
- Haub School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA.,Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
| | - Rhiannon P Jakopak
- Haub School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
| | - Samantha P H Dwinnell
- Haub School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
| | - Rebekah T Rafferty
- Haub School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA.,Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
| | - Mark Thonhoff
- Bureau of Land Management, Pinedale Field Office, Pinedale, Wyoming, USA
| | - Rusty C Kaiser
- United States Forest Service, Big Piney Ranger District, Big Piney, Wyoming, USA
| | - Gary L Fralick
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Jackson Regional Office, Jackson, Wyoming, USA
| | - Kevin L Monteith
- Haub School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA.,Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
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5
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Couriot OH, Cameron MD, Joly K, Adamczewski J, Campbell MW, Davison T, Gunn A, Kelly AP, Leblond M, Williams J, Fagan WF, Brose A, Gurarie E. Continental synchrony and local responses: Climatic effects on spatiotemporal patterns of calving in a social ungulate. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ophélie H. Couriot
- Department of Environmental Biology State University of New York ‐ College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse New York USA
- Department of Biology University of Maryland College Park Maryland USA
- National Socio‐Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) Annapolis Maryland USA
| | - Matthew D. Cameron
- National Park Service, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Arctic Inventory and Monitoring Network Fairbanks Alaska USA
| | - Kyle Joly
- National Park Service, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Arctic Inventory and Monitoring Network Fairbanks Alaska USA
| | - Jan Adamczewski
- Wildlife Division, Environment and Natural Resources Government of Northwest Territories Yellowknife Northwest Territories Canada
| | - Mitch W. Campbell
- Department of Environment Government of Nunavut Arviat Nunavut Canada
| | - Tracy Davison
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources Government of the Northwest Territories Inuvik Northwest Territories Canada
| | - Anne Gunn
- Department of Biology University of Maryland College Park Maryland USA
- CARMA Salt Spring Island British Columbia Canada
| | - Allicia P. Kelly
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources Government of the Northwest Territories Fort Smith Northwest Territories Canada
| | - Mathieu Leblond
- Science and Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada Ottawa Ontario Canada
| | - Judy Williams
- Wildlife Division, Environment and Natural Resources Government of Northwest Territories Yellowknife Northwest Territories Canada
| | - William F. Fagan
- Department of Environmental Biology State University of New York ‐ College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse New York USA
- Department of Biology University of Maryland College Park Maryland USA
| | - Anna Brose
- Department of Biology University of Maryland College Park Maryland USA
| | - Eliezer Gurarie
- Department of Environmental Biology State University of New York ‐ College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse New York USA
- Department of Biology University of Maryland College Park Maryland USA
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6
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Aikens EO, Wyckoff TB, Sawyer H, Kauffman MJ. Industrial energy development decouples ungulate migration from the green wave. Nat Ecol Evol 2022; 6:1733-1741. [PMID: 36202922 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01887-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The ability to freely move across the landscape to track the emergence of nutritious spring green-up (termed 'green-wave surfing') is key to the foraging strategy of migratory ungulates. Across the vast landscapes traversed by many migratory herds, habitats are being altered by development with unknown consequences for surfing. Using a unique long-term tracking dataset, we found that when energy development occurs within mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) migration corridors, migrating animals become decoupled from the green wave. During the early phases of a coalbed natural gas development, deer synchronized their movements with peak green-up. But faced with increasing disturbance as development expanded, deer altered their movements by holding up at the edge of the gas field and letting the green wave pass them by. Development often modified only a small portion of the migration corridor but had far-reaching effects on behaviour before and after migrating deer encountered it, thus reducing surfing along the entire route by 38.65% over the 14-year study period. Our study suggests that industrial development within migratory corridors can change the behaviour of migrating ungulates and diminish the benefits of migration. Such disruptions to migratory behaviour present a common mechanism whereby corridors become unprofitable and could ultimately be lost on highly developed landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen O Aikens
- U.S. Geological Survey, South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Natural Resource Management, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA. .,Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.
| | - Teal B Wyckoff
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.,The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA, USA
| | - Hall Sawyer
- Western Ecosystems Technology, Inc., Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Matthew J Kauffman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
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7
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Jakopak RP, Sawyer H, LaSharr TN, Randall J, Dwinnell SP, Fralick GL, Monteith KL. Diel timing of migration is not plastic in a migratory ungulate. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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8
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Smiley RA, Wagler BL, LaSharr TN, Denryter KA, Stephenson TR, Courtemanch AB, Mong TW, Lutz D, McWhirter D, Brimeyer D, Hnilicka P, Lowrey B, Monteith KL. Heterogeneity in risk‐sensitive allocation of somatic reserves in a long‐lived mammal. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A. Smiley
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming USA
| | - Brittany L. Wagler
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming USA
| | - Tayler N. LaSharr
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming USA
| | | | - Thomas R. Stephenson
- Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Bishop California USA
| | | | - Tony W. Mong
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department Cody Wyoming USA
| | - Daryl Lutz
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department Lander Wyoming USA
| | | | - Doug Brimeyer
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department Cheyenne Wyoming USA
| | | | - Blake Lowrey
- Fish and Wildlife Ecology and Management Program, Department of Ecology Montana State University Bozeman Montana USA
| | - Kevin L. Monteith
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming USA
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9
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Smiley RA, LaSharr TN, Abernathy HN, Shakeri YN, Levine RL, Rankins ST, Jakopak RP, Rafferty RT, Kolek JT, Wagler BL, Dwinnell SPH, Robinson TJ, Randall JE, Kaiser RC, Thonhoff M, Scurlock B, Fieseler T, Fralick GL, Monteith KL. Biomarkers of Animal Nutrition: From Seasonal to Lifetime Indicators of Environmental Conditions. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:375. [PMID: 35330126 PMCID: PMC8949293 DOI: 10.3390/life12030375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nutrition underpins survival and reproduction in animal populations; reliable nutritional biomarkers are therefore requisites to understanding environmental drivers of population dynamics. Biomarkers vary in scope of inference and sensitivity, making it important to know what and when to measure to properly quantify biological responses. We evaluated the repeatability of three nutritional biomarkers in a large, iteroparous mammal to evaluate the level of intrinsic and extrinsic contributions to those traits. During a long-term, individual-based study in a highly variable environment, we measured body fat, body mass, and lean mass of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) each autumn and spring. Lean mass was the most repeatable biomarker (0.72 autumn; 0.61 spring), followed by body mass (0.64 autumn; 0.53 spring), and then body fat (0.22 autumn; 0.01 spring). High repeatability in body and lean mass likely reflects primary structural composition, which is conserved across seasons. Low repeatability of body fat supports that it is the primary labile source of energy that is largely a product of environmental contributions of the previous season. Based on the disparate levels in repeatability among nutritional biomarkers, we contend that body and lean mass are better indicators of nutritional legacies (e.g., maternal effects), whereas body fat is a direct and sensitive reflection of recent nutritional gains and losses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A. Smiley
- Haub School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, 804 E Fremont St., Laramie, WY 82072, USA; (T.N.L.); (H.N.A.); (Y.N.S.); (R.L.L.); (S.T.R.); (R.P.J.); (R.T.R.); (J.T.K.); (B.L.W.); (K.L.M.)
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Tayler N. LaSharr
- Haub School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, 804 E Fremont St., Laramie, WY 82072, USA; (T.N.L.); (H.N.A.); (Y.N.S.); (R.L.L.); (S.T.R.); (R.P.J.); (R.T.R.); (J.T.K.); (B.L.W.); (K.L.M.)
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Heather N. Abernathy
- Haub School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, 804 E Fremont St., Laramie, WY 82072, USA; (T.N.L.); (H.N.A.); (Y.N.S.); (R.L.L.); (S.T.R.); (R.P.J.); (R.T.R.); (J.T.K.); (B.L.W.); (K.L.M.)
| | - Yasaman N. Shakeri
- Haub School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, 804 E Fremont St., Laramie, WY 82072, USA; (T.N.L.); (H.N.A.); (Y.N.S.); (R.L.L.); (S.T.R.); (R.P.J.); (R.T.R.); (J.T.K.); (B.L.W.); (K.L.M.)
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Rebecca L. Levine
- Haub School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, 804 E Fremont St., Laramie, WY 82072, USA; (T.N.L.); (H.N.A.); (Y.N.S.); (R.L.L.); (S.T.R.); (R.P.J.); (R.T.R.); (J.T.K.); (B.L.W.); (K.L.M.)
| | - Seth T. Rankins
- Haub School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, 804 E Fremont St., Laramie, WY 82072, USA; (T.N.L.); (H.N.A.); (Y.N.S.); (R.L.L.); (S.T.R.); (R.P.J.); (R.T.R.); (J.T.K.); (B.L.W.); (K.L.M.)
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Rhiannon P. Jakopak
- Haub School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, 804 E Fremont St., Laramie, WY 82072, USA; (T.N.L.); (H.N.A.); (Y.N.S.); (R.L.L.); (S.T.R.); (R.P.J.); (R.T.R.); (J.T.K.); (B.L.W.); (K.L.M.)
| | - Rebekah T. Rafferty
- Haub School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, 804 E Fremont St., Laramie, WY 82072, USA; (T.N.L.); (H.N.A.); (Y.N.S.); (R.L.L.); (S.T.R.); (R.P.J.); (R.T.R.); (J.T.K.); (B.L.W.); (K.L.M.)
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Jaron T. Kolek
- Haub School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, 804 E Fremont St., Laramie, WY 82072, USA; (T.N.L.); (H.N.A.); (Y.N.S.); (R.L.L.); (S.T.R.); (R.P.J.); (R.T.R.); (J.T.K.); (B.L.W.); (K.L.M.)
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Brittany L. Wagler
- Haub School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, 804 E Fremont St., Laramie, WY 82072, USA; (T.N.L.); (H.N.A.); (Y.N.S.); (R.L.L.); (S.T.R.); (R.P.J.); (R.T.R.); (J.T.K.); (B.L.W.); (K.L.M.)
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Samantha P. H. Dwinnell
- Arctic Terrestrial Biology, The University Centre in Svalbard, P.O. Box 156 N−9187, 9170 Longyearbyen, Norway;
| | - Timothy J. Robinson
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Wyoming, Department 3036, 1000 E University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071, USA;
| | - Jill E. Randall
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Pinedale Regional Office, 432 Mill St., Pinedale, WY 82941, USA; (J.E.R.); (B.S.); (T.F.)
| | - Rusty C. Kaiser
- United States Forest Service, Big Piney Ranger District, 10418 South US Highway 189, Big Piney, WY 83113, USA;
| | - Mark Thonhoff
- Bureau of Land Management, Pinedale Field Office, 1625 West Pine St., Pinedale, WY 82941, USA;
| | - Brandon Scurlock
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Pinedale Regional Office, 432 Mill St., Pinedale, WY 82941, USA; (J.E.R.); (B.S.); (T.F.)
| | - Troy Fieseler
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Pinedale Regional Office, 432 Mill St., Pinedale, WY 82941, USA; (J.E.R.); (B.S.); (T.F.)
| | - Gary L. Fralick
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Jackson Regional Office, 420 North Cache, Jackson, WY 83001, USA;
| | - Kevin L. Monteith
- Haub School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, 804 E Fremont St., Laramie, WY 82072, USA; (T.N.L.); (H.N.A.); (Y.N.S.); (R.L.L.); (S.T.R.); (R.P.J.); (R.T.R.); (J.T.K.); (B.L.W.); (K.L.M.)
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071, USA
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Pérez-Barbería FJ, García AJ, López-Quintanilla M, Landete-Castillejos T. Pelt Biting as a Practical Indicator of Social and Environment Stress in Farmed Red Deer. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11113134. [PMID: 34827865 PMCID: PMC8614323 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Agonistic behavioural interactions play a decisive role in the competition for food, space, mating opportunities, and establishing social rank. We propose the use of the number of bites on the pelt of red deer as an index of agonistic interactions between group members. Using behavioural data from a 14-year time series of a captive population of Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus), we found that deer that were of higher social rank, heavier, living in smaller groups, or under no heat stress conditions suffer less pelt bites than those of lower social rank, lighter, living in bigger groups, or under heat stressing conditions. Hinds that gave birth earlier in the parturition period suffered less pelt biting than those that gave birth around the peak of the parturition season. Pelt biting is useful to identify management situations in which deer welfare could be at stake. Abstract Agonistic behavioural interactions play a decisive role in the competition for food, space, mating opportunities, and establishing social rank. We used pelt biting (number of bites on an animal’s body) as a proxy for assessing the intensity of agonistic animal interactions and how it responded to social, population, and heat stress factors. We modelled a 14-year time series of pelt biting records and observational data of agonistic interactions on a population of captive Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus). We found that (i) the higher the social rank of deer, the lower the number of pelt bites received; (ii) increasing heat stress conditions caused deer to suffer more pelt bites; (iii) males received more bites than females; (iv) the heavier the deer, the lower the number of bites on their bodies; (v) the bigger the group, the more bites exhibited on its members; (vi) deer 5–6 years old suffered greater rate of pelt biting than younger or older deer; and (vii) hinds that gave birth earlier in the parturition period suffered less pelt biting than those that gave birth around the peak of the parturition season (p < 0.01 for all effects). Pelt biting is useful to predict management situations in which deer welfare could be at stake.
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Aikens EO, Dwinnell SPH, LaSharr TN, Jakopak RP, Fralick GL, Randall J, Kaiser R, Thonhoff M, Kauffman MJ, Monteith KL. Migration distance and maternal resource allocation determine timing of birth in a large herbivore. Ecology 2021; 102:e03334. [PMID: 33710647 PMCID: PMC8243980 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Birth timing is a key life‐history characteristic that influences fitness and population performance. For migratory animals, however, appropriately timing birth on one seasonal range may be constrained by events occurring during other parts of the migratory cycle. We investigated how the use of capital and income resources may facilitate flexibility in reproductive phenology of migratory mule deer in western Wyoming, USA, over a 5‐yr period (2015–2019). Specifically, we examined how seasonal interactions affected three interrelated life‐history characteristics: fetal development, birth mass, and birth timing. Females in good nutritional condition at the onset of winter and those that migrated short distances had more developed fetuses (measured as fetal eye diameter in March). Variation in parturition date was explained largely by fetal development; however, there were up to 16 d of plasticity in expected birth date. Plasticity in expected birth date was shaped by income resources in the form of exposure to spring green‐up. Although individuals that experienced greater exposure to spring green‐up were able to advance expected birth date, being born early or late with respect to fetal development had no effect on birth mass of offspring. Furthermore, we investigated the trade‐offs migrating mule deer face by evaluating support for existing theory that predicts that births should be matched to local peaks in resource availability at the birth site. In contrast to this prediction, only long‐distance migrants that paced migration with the flush of spring green‐up, giving birth shortly after ending migration, were able to match birth with spring green‐up. Shorter‐distance migrants completed migration sooner and gave birth earlier, seemingly trading off more time for offspring to grow and develop over greater access to resources. Thus, movement tactic had profound downstream effects on birth timing. These findings highlight a need to reconsider classical theory on optimal birth timing, which has focused solely on conditions at the birth site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen O Aikens
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, Laramie, Wyoming, 82701, USA.,Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071, USA
| | - Samantha P H Dwinnell
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, 804 E. Fremont Street, Laramie, Wyoming, 82072, USA
| | - Tayler N LaSharr
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, Laramie, Wyoming, 82701, USA.,Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, 804 E. Fremont Street, Laramie, Wyoming, 82072, USA.,Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071, USA
| | - Rhiannon P Jakopak
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, Laramie, Wyoming, 82701, USA.,Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, 804 E. Fremont Street, Laramie, Wyoming, 82072, USA.,Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071, USA
| | - Gary L Fralick
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, P.O. Box 1022, Thayne, Wyoming, 83127, USA
| | - Jill Randall
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, PO Box 850, 432 East Mill St, Pinedale, Wyoming, 82941, USA
| | - Rusty Kaiser
- U.S. Forest Service, 10418 Highway 189, Big Piney, Wyoming, 83113, USA
| | - Mark Thonhoff
- U.S. Bureau of Land Management, 1625 W Pine St, PO Box 768, Pinedale, Wyoming, 82941, USA
| | - Matthew J Kauffman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071, USA
| | - Kevin L Monteith
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, Laramie, Wyoming, 82701, USA.,Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, 804 E. Fremont Street, Laramie, Wyoming, 82072, USA
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