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Barboza PS, Shively RD, Thompson DP. Robust Responses of Female Caribou to Changes in Food Supply. ECOLOGICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 97:29-52. [PMID: 38717369 DOI: 10.1086/729668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
AbstractUngulates can respond to changes in food supply by altering foraging behavior, digestive function, and metabolism. A multifaceted response to an environmental change is considered robust. Short seasons of plant growth make herbivores sensitive to changes in food supply because maintenance and production must be accomplished in less time with fewer options in a more fragile response. Caribou live at high latitudes where short summers constrain their response to changes in food supply. We measured the ability of female caribou to resist and tolerate changes in the quality and quantity of their food supply during winter and summer. Caribou resisted changes in food abundance and quality by changing food intake and physical activity with changes in daily temperature within each season. Peak food intake rose by 134% from winter pregnancy to summer lactation (98 vs. 229 g kg-0.75 d-1), as digestible requirements to maintain the body increased by 85% for energy (1,164 vs. 2,155 kJ kg-0.75 d-1) and by 266% for N (0.79 vs. 2.89 g N kg-0.75 d-1). Caribou required a diet with a digestible content of 12 kJ g-1 and 0.8% N in pregnancy, 18 kJ g-1 and 1.9% N in early lactation, and 11 kJ g-1 and 1.2% N in late lactation, which corresponds with the phenology of the wild diet. Female caribou tolerated restriction of ad lib. food intake to 58% of their energy requirement (680 vs. 1,164 kJ kg-0.75 d-1) during winter pregnancy and to 84% of their energy requirement (1,814 vs. 2,155 kJ kg-0.75 d-1) during summer lactation without a change in stress level, as indicated by fecal corticosterone concentration. Conversely, caribou can respond to increased availability of food with a spare capacity to process digestible energy and N at 123% (2,642 vs. 2,155 kJ kg-0.75 d-1) and 145% (4.20 vs. 2.89 g N kg-0.75 d-1) of those respective requirements during lactation. Robust responses to changes in food supply allow caribou to sustain reproduction, which would buffer demographic response. However, herds may decline when thresholds of behavioral resistance and physiological tolerance are frequently exceeded. Therefore, the challenge for managing declining populations of caribou and other robust species is to identify declines in robustness before their response becomes fragile.
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Garcia F, Alves da Silva A, Ruckstuhl K, Neuhaus P, Coelho C, Wang M, Sousa JP, Alves J. Differences in the Diets of Female and Male Red Deer: The Meaning for Sexual Segregation. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12040540. [PMID: 37106741 PMCID: PMC10136149 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Sexual segregation is a common phenomenon among animals, particularly dimorphic ones. Although widely addressed, the reasons and consequences of sexual segregation are still an important topic in need of better understanding. In this study, we mainly evaluate the diet composition and feeding behaviour of animals, which are related to the use of different habitats by the sexes, a special case of sexual segregation also termed habitat segregation. Sexually size dimorphic males and females often have different energetic and nutritional needs and, thus, different diets. We collected fresh faecal samples from wild Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) in Portugal. Samples were analysed in terms of diet composition and quality. As expected, both sexes differed in their diet composition, with males eating more arboreous species than females, but this difference was affected by sampling periods. Diet composition of both sexes had the biggest differences (and the lowest overlap) in spring, which corresponds to the end of gestation and beginning of birth. These differences might be a consequence of the sexual body size dimorphism characteristic of this species, as well as of different needs due to different reproductive costs. No differences regarding the quality of the excreted diet were observed. Our results may help to understand some patterns of sexual segregation observed in this red deer population. However, besides foraging ecology, other factors may also be contributing to sexual segregation in this Mediterranean population of red deer, and further studies focusing on sexual differences regarding feeding behaviour and digestibility are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Garcia
- Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), TERRA Associate Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - António Alves da Silva
- Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), TERRA Associate Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Kathreen Ruckstuhl
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Peter Neuhaus
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Catarina Coelho
- Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), TERRA Associate Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Muyang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
- Sino-Tajikistan Joint Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Biological Resources, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - José Paulo Sousa
- Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), TERRA Associate Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Joana Alves
- Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), TERRA Associate Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
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Roles of Ghrelin and Leptin in Body Mass Regulation under Food Restriction Based on the AMPK Pathway in the Red-Backed Vole, Eothenomys miletus, from Kunming and Dali Regions. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12233333. [PMID: 36496854 PMCID: PMC9739273 DOI: 10.3390/ani12233333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The phenotype plasticity of animals' physiological characteristics is an important survival strategy to cope with environmental changes, especially the change in climate factors. Small mammals that inhabit seasonally changing environments often face the stress of food shortage in winter. This study measured and compared the thermogenic characteristics and related physiological indicators in the adenosine-5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway in Eothenomys miletus between Kunming (KM, n = 18) and Dali (DL, n = 18) under food restriction and refeeding. The results showed that food restriction and the region have significant effects on body mass, the resting metabolic rate (RMR), hypothalamic neuropeptide gene expression, ghrelin levels in the stomach and serum, serum leptin level and the activity of AMPK, and malonyl CoA and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT-1) activity. Food restriction reduced the body mass, the gene expression of neuropeptide proopiomelanocortin (POMC), cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcription peptide (CART), and leptin level. However, the ghrelin concentration and AMPK activity increased. After refeeding, there was no difference in these physiological indexes between the food restriction and control groups. Moreover, the physiological indicators also showed regional differences, such as the body mass, POMC and CART gene expression, ghrelin concentration in the stomach and serum, and AMPK activity in DL changed more significantly. All these results showed that food restriction reduces energy metabolism in E. miletus. After refeeding, most of the relevant physiological indicators can return to the control level, indicating that E. miletus has strong phenotypic plasticity. Ghrelin, leptin, and the AMPK pathway play an important role in the energy metabolism of E. miletus under food restriction. Moreover, regional differences in physiological indicators under food restriction may be related to the different temperatures or food resources in different regions.
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Staudenmaier AR, Shipley LA, Camp MJ, Forbey JS, Hagerman AE, Brandt AE, Thornton DH. Mule deer do more with less: comparing their nutritional requirements and tolerances with white-tailed deer. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Congeneric species often share ecological niche space resulting in competitive interactions that either limit co-occurrence or lead to niche partitioning. Differences in fundamental nutritional niches mediated through character displacement or isolation during evolution are potential mechanisms that could explain overlapping distribution patterns of congenerics. We directly compared nutritional requirements and tolerances that influence the fundamental niche of mule (Odocoileus hemionus) and white-tailed deer (O. virginianus), which occur in allopatry and sympatry in similar realized ecological niches across their ranges in North America. Digestible energy and protein requirements and tolerances for plant fiber and plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) of both deer species were quantified using in vivo digestion and intake tolerance trials with six diets ranging in content of fiber, protein, and PSMs using tractable deer raised under identical conditions in captivity. We found that compared with white-tailed deer, mule deer required 54% less digestible protein and 21% less digestible energy intake per day to maintain body mass and nitrogen balance. In addition, they had higher fiber, energy, and dry matter digestibility and produced glucuronic acid (a byproduct of PSM detoxification) at a slower rate when consuming the monoterpene α-pinene. The mule deers’ enhanced physiological abilities to cope with low-quality, chemically defended forages relative to white-tailed deer might minimize potential competitive interactions in shared landscapes and provide a modest advantage to mule deer in habitats dominated by low-quality forages.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lisa A Shipley
- School of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Meghan J Camp
- School of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Jennifer S Forbey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA
| | - Ann E Hagerman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Abigail E Brandt
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Daniel H Thornton
- School of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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5
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Parikh GL, Webster CR, Vucetich JA. A Microhistological Investigation of Winter Diets of White-Tailed Deer in Relict Eastern Hemlock Stands, Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2021. [DOI: 10.1656/045.028.0305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Grace L. Parikh
- Ecosystem Science Center, College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931
| | - Christopher R. Webster
- Ecosystem Science Center, College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931
| | - John A. Vucetich
- Ecosystem Science Center, College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931
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6
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Ren Y, Song S, Liu X, Yang M. Phenotypic changes in the metabolic profile and adiponectin activity during seasonal fattening and hibernation in female Daurian ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus). Integr Zool 2020; 17:297-310. [PMID: 33190391 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Seasonal hibernation has provided an opportunity to study animals' phenotypic plasticity in adaptation to changing environment. In the present study focusing on the female Daurian ground squirrel (Spermophilus dauricus)-a well demonstrated seasonal hibernator-we examined their behavioral, morphological, and metabolic changes during fattening, hibernation, and emergence. Our data indicated high levels of food intake, fat deposition, and body mass increases during fattening compared to hibernation. The levels of serum glucose and triglycerides were also higher during fattening than during hibernation and emergence. Interestingly, although squirrels showed signs of obesity and elevated triglycerides in serum during fattening, triglyceride levels in the liver and skeletal muscles remained unchanged. Our data also indicated that adiponectin levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid were different between fattening and hibernation. Levels of adiponectin receptor 1 in the skeletal muscle remained low during fattening but peaked in late hibernation. In contrast, adiponectin receptor 2 in the liver showed a steady increase during fattening, which was followed by a significant decrease at early hibernation. Our data indicate that adiponectin may play an important role in preventing heterotopic fat accumulation in a receptor- and organ-specific manner, as well as in facilitating the switch from glucose metabolism to lipid metabolism during fattening and hibernation in female Daurian ground squirrels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Ren
- College of life Sciences, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, China
| | - Shiyi Song
- College of life Sciences, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xinyu Liu
- College of life Sciences, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ming Yang
- College of life Sciences, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, China
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7
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Spilinek S, Reitz R, Weckerly F. Rumen–reticulum organ mass and rumen mucosa surface area of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) consuming two energy diets. CAN J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2020-0043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Flexibility in gut morphology has fitness consequences in herbivores. To accommodate dietary variation in energy concentration, rumen–reticulum absorptive capacity and organ mass might also covary. We hypothesized that low energy diets result in greater food intake but lower volatile fatty acid concentrations. The consequence would be heavy rumen–reticulum organs and low absorptive capacity. We measured rumen–reticulum organ mass and absorptive capacity in captive white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann, 1780)) from central Texas, USA. Deer consumed a pelleted ration, ad libitum, of 1.77 kcal/g (low) or 2.67 kcal/g (standard) digestible energy from the time animals were weaned. In December, 4.5- and 5.5-year-old deer were euthanized, the rumen–reticulum was extracted, thoroughly rinsed, wrung out, and weighed. Four 1 cm × 3 cm samples were extracted from four regions of the rumen and mucosal surface area was measured. Our surrogate of food intake and mastication intensity was first molar height. Molar height was lower in animals consuming the low energy diet. Analyses indicated sex-specific responses. Males eating the low energy diet had heavier rumen–reticulum organs, but females did not. Females consuming the low energy diet had a lower surface enlargement factor, but males did not. The processes driving variation in rumen–reticulum morphology from dietary variation require further examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- S.G. Spilinek
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
| | - R. Reitz
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
| | - F.W. Weckerly
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
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8
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Kaneko M, Takeshita KM, Tanikawa K, Kaji K. Seasonal Variation in and Nutritional Implications of the Diet Composition of a Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) Population in a Heavily Browsed Habitat: Contribution of Canopy Subsidies. MAMMAL STUDY 2020. [DOI: 10.3106/ms2020-0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mizuki Kaneko
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | - Koichi Kaji
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
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9
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Ayotte P, Le Corre M, Côté SD. Synergistic Population Density and Environmental Effects on Deer Body Condition. J Wildl Manage 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pascale Ayotte
- Université Laval 1045 avenue de la Médecine Québec (QC) Canada G1V 0A6
| | - Mael Le Corre
- Université Laval 1045 avenue de la Médecine Québec (QC) Canada G1V 0A6
| | - Steeve D. Côté
- Université Laval 1045 avenue de la Médecine Québec (QC) Canada G1V 0A6
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10
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Fuller J, Ferchaud A, Laporte M, Le Luyer J, Davis TB, Côté SD, Bernatchez L. Absence of founder effect and evidence for adaptive divergence in a recently introduced insular population of white‐tailed deer (
Odocoileus virginianus
). Mol Ecol 2019; 29:86-104. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jérémie Fuller
- Département de Biologie Université Laval Québec QC Canada
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Research Chair in Integrated Management of the Resources of Anticosti Island and Centre d'Études Nordiques (CEN) Québec QC Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative des Systèmes (IBIS) Université Laval Québec QC Canada
| | - Anne‐Laure Ferchaud
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative des Systèmes (IBIS) Université Laval Québec QC Canada
| | - Martin Laporte
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative des Systèmes (IBIS) Université Laval Québec QC Canada
| | - Jérémy Le Luyer
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative des Systèmes (IBIS) Université Laval Québec QC Canada
| | | | - Steeve D. Côté
- Département de Biologie Université Laval Québec QC Canada
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Research Chair in Integrated Management of the Resources of Anticosti Island and Centre d'Études Nordiques (CEN) Québec QC Canada
| | - Louis Bernatchez
- Département de Biologie Université Laval Québec QC Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative des Systèmes (IBIS) Université Laval Québec QC Canada
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11
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Zhang HJ, Wang ZK, Zhu WL. Metabolomics of Eothenomys miletus from five Hengduan Mountains locations in summer. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14924. [PMID: 31624370 PMCID: PMC6797714 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51493-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Climatic characteristics of Hengduan Mountains region were diverse, and Eothenomys miletus was a native species throughout this region. To investigate adaptive strategies of E. miletus to environmental factors in different locations in this region, five locations were selected, including Deqin (DQ), Xianggelila (XGLL), Lijiang (LJ), Jianchuan (JC) and Ailaoshan (ALS). Then, body mass, visceral organ masses, and serum and liver metabolomes of E. miletus from each location were examined. The results showed that body mass was significantly different among these five sites. Liver mass was lower in ALS than in other locations. PLS-DA analysis, metabolite tree maps and heat maps of serum and liver metabolites showed that samples from DQ and XGLL clustered together, as did the samples from LJ, JC and ALS. Serum concentrations of lipid and amino acid metabolites, concentrations of TCA cycle intermediates, lipid metabolites and amino acid metabolites in livers from DQ and XGLL were higher than those from other three regions. However, the concentrations of glycolytic metabolites were lower in DQ and XGLL. All these results indicated that E. miletus adapts to changes in environmental temperature and altitude of this region by adjusting body mass and serum and liver metabolite concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Ji Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Adaptive Evolution and Ecological Conservation on Plants and Animals in Southwest Mountain Ecosystem of Yunnan Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, 650500, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng-Kun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Adaptive Evolution and Ecological Conservation on Plants and Animals in Southwest Mountain Ecosystem of Yunnan Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, 650500, People's Republic of China.,Yunnan Normal University, Engineering Research Center of Sustinable Development and Utilization of Biomass Energy Ministry of Education, Kunming, 650500, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Yunnan Province for Biomass Energy and Environment Biotechnology, Kunming, 650500, People's Republic of China
| | - Wan-Long Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Adaptive Evolution and Ecological Conservation on Plants and Animals in Southwest Mountain Ecosystem of Yunnan Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, 650500, People's Republic of China. .,Yunnan Normal University, Engineering Research Center of Sustinable Development and Utilization of Biomass Energy Ministry of Education, Kunming, 650500, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory of Yunnan Province for Biomass Energy and Environment Biotechnology, Kunming, 650500, People's Republic of China.
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12
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McGrosky A, Codron D, Müller DWH, Navarrete A, Isler K, Hofmann RR, Clauss M. Gross intestinal morphometry and allometry in ruminants. J Morphol 2019; 280:1254-1266. [PMID: 31241799 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 06/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
While some descriptions of ruminants' dietary adaptations suggest that the length of the intestinal tract reflects the proportion of grass or browse in the diet, this assumption has been questioned. We collated data on body mass (BM), as well as small intestine, caecum, colon/rectum, large and total intestine length in 68 ruminant species, and, while accounting for the phylogenetic structure of the dataset, evaluated both allometric scaling and the potential influence of diet, digestive physiology or climate proxies on measures of intestine length. Intestinal length generally scaled to BM at an exponent higher than the 0.33 expected due to geometry. Diet or digestive physiology proxies did not have an influence on any intestinal length measures, though some proxies indicating more arid natural habitats were positively correlated with measures of the large intestine. The relative size of a forestomach compartment, the omasum, was negatively correlated with intestine length. The results indicate that intestine length measures provide little indication of feeding type or digestive physiology, but rather indicate adaptations to aridity. Higher-than-geometry scaling of intestinal length may be related to the necessity of maintaining geometric (or metabolic) scaling of intestinal surface area while keeping gut diameter, and hence the diffusion distances, small. The way in which space trade-offs determine the macroanatomy of different organs in the abdominal cavity, such as the omasum and the intestine, deserves further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda McGrosky
- Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daryl Codron
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Dennis W H Müller
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zoological Garden of Halle, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Ana Navarrete
- Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Karin Isler
- Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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13
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Reproductive plasticity of female white-tailed deer at high density and under harsh climatic conditions. Oecologia 2019; 189:661-673. [PMID: 30756224 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04337-9] [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: 07/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Life-history strategies of female ungulates usually depend on density-dependent and independent processes affecting body condition. Using a long-term data set on life-history traits of female white-tailed deer (2002-2014), we investigated the influence of population density and environmental factors on the reproductive effort of females. We also evaluated post-reproductive consequences on body condition using body mass, body fat, and body protein contents in the autumn following conception. We found that under high densities, females had a lower reproductive rate, which corresponds to a conservative reproduction strategy. However, females born at high density were more likely to reproduce and conceive larger litter size than females born at low density, a possible consequence of strong selective pressure in early life. Body condition was affected by reproduction; lactation had a large negative impact on body mass and body reserves, and conception, irrespectively of litter size, had a negative impact on body fat. Our long-term study demonstrates that plasticity in life-history strategies is a major determinant of reproductive potential for females living at high density and under harsh climates.
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14
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Ehrlich C, Codron D, Hofmann RR, Hummel J, Clauss M. Comparative omasum anatomy in ruminants: Relationships with natural diet, digestive physiology, and general considerations on allometric investigations. J Morphol 2019; 280:259-277. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Ehrlich
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse FacultyUniversity of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Daryl Codron
- Florisbad Quaternary Research DepartmentNational Museum Bloemfontein South Africa
- Centre for Environmental ManagementUniversity of the Free State Bloemfontein South Africa
| | | | - Jürgen Hummel
- Ruminant Nutrition, Department of Animal SciencesUniversity of Goettingen Goettingen Germany
| | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse FacultyUniversity of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
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15
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Weckerly F, Bhaskar G, Duarte A, Luna R, Starns H. Heavier rumen–reticulum organs in white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) is consistent with dietary bulk not quality. CAN J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2017-0036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The organs that make up the gastrointestinal tract have high energy demands. Therefore, when these organs vary in mass, they should impact metabolic requirements. Mass of the rumen–reticulum organs, the organs that comprise the largest part of the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants, might vary from bulk or nutrient availability of the diet. We examined differences in mass of the rumen–reticulum organs in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann, 1780)) from two sites in Texas, USA, with different diet types. Specifically, at one site deer were fed a pelleted ration and at the other site deer consumed a natural browse diet. Accounting for body mass, deer consuming the browse diet had rumen–reticulum organ masses that were about 1.7 times heavier than deer consuming the pelleted diet. Deer consuming the browse diet also had lower diet quality, as indexed by crude protein concentration, than deer consuming the pelleted diet. The digesta loads of deer, however, were similar for the two types of diet. Our study findings are consistent with increased mass of rumen–reticulum organs from greater bulk, not diet quality. Understanding variation in rumen–reticulum organ mass has implications for understanding energy conservation in white-tailed deer.
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Affiliation(s)
- F.W. Weckerly
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
| | - G. Bhaskar
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
| | - A. Duarte
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
| | - R.S. Luna
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
| | - H.D. Starns
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
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Champagne E, Moore BD, Côté SD, Tremblay J. Spatial correlations between browsing on balsam fir by white-tailed deer and the nutritional value of neighboring winter forage. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:2812-2823. [PMID: 29531697 PMCID: PMC5838068 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Associational effects, that is, the influence of neighboring plants on herbivory suffered by a plant, are an outcome of forage selection. Although forage selection is a hierarchical process, few studies have investigated associational effects at multiple spatial scales. Because the nutritional quality of plants can be spatially structured, it might differently influence associational effects across multiple scales. Our objective was to determine the radius of influence of neighbor density and nutritional quality on balsam fir (Abies balsamea) herbivory by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in winter. We quantified browsing rates on fir and the density and quality of neighboring trees in a series of 10-year-old cutovers on Anticosti Island (Canada). We used cross-correlations to investigate relationships between browsing rates and the density and nutritional quality of neighboring trees at distances up to 1,000 m. Balsam fir and white spruce (Picea glauca) fiber content and dry matter in vitro true digestibility were correlated with fir browsing rate at the finest extra-patch scale (across distance of up to 50 m) and between cutover areas (300-400 m). These correlations suggest associational effects, that is, low nutritional quality of neighbors reduces the likelihood of fir herbivory (associational defense). Our results may indicate associational effects mediated by intraspecific variation in plant quality and suggest that these effects could occur at scales from tens to hundreds of meters. Understanding associational effects could inform strategies for restoration or conservation; for example, planting of fir among existing natural regeneration could be concentrated in areas of low nutritional quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Champagne
- Département de biologieCentre d’études nordiques & Chaire de recherche industrielle CRSNG en aménagement intégré des ressources de l’île d'AnticostiUniversité LavalQuébecCanada
- Centre d’étude de la forêtUniversité LavalQuébecCanada
| | - Ben D. Moore
- Hawkesbury Institute for the EnvironmentWestern Sydney UniversityRichmondNSWAustralia
| | - Steeve D. Côté
- Département de biologieCentre d’études nordiques & Chaire de recherche industrielle CRSNG en aménagement intégré des ressources de l’île d'AnticostiUniversité LavalQuébecCanada
| | - Jean‐Pierre Tremblay
- Département de biologieCentre d’études nordiques & Chaire de recherche industrielle CRSNG en aménagement intégré des ressources de l’île d'AnticostiUniversité LavalQuébecCanada
- Centre d’étude de la forêtUniversité LavalQuébecCanada
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