Top-down and Bottom-up Influences on Central New Mexico Mule Deer (Odocoileus Hemionus) PDF Download
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Author: Jacob H. Kay Publisher: ISBN: Category : Languages : en Pages : 372
Book Description
Mule deer declined throughout the western United States over the last five decades. Researchers have identified numerous possible mechanisms underlying this range wide decline including: decrease in habitat quantity and quality, predation, competition with other species, disease and overharvest. However, changes in habitat conditions, resulting in diminished nutritional carrying capacity and predation have been the most widely implicated causes of declining mule deer populations. The relationships between nutrition, predation, climate and density dependence and their impact on mule deer vital rates are still not completely understood, and limit our ability to identify factors comtrolling population growth. However, as deer populations continue to decrease, managers face an increasingly urgent need to solve the complex ecological problems surrounding the decline of mule deer. I captured and fitted adult mountain lions (Puma concolor) and adult female mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) with GPS telemetry collars and sampled vegetation in the Gallinas Mountains of New Mexico to examine the effects of predation and nutrition on mule deer.
Author: Jacob H. Kay Publisher: ISBN: Category : Languages : en Pages : 372
Book Description
Mule deer declined throughout the western United States over the last five decades. Researchers have identified numerous possible mechanisms underlying this range wide decline including: decrease in habitat quantity and quality, predation, competition with other species, disease and overharvest. However, changes in habitat conditions, resulting in diminished nutritional carrying capacity and predation have been the most widely implicated causes of declining mule deer populations. The relationships between nutrition, predation, climate and density dependence and their impact on mule deer vital rates are still not completely understood, and limit our ability to identify factors comtrolling population growth. However, as deer populations continue to decrease, managers face an increasingly urgent need to solve the complex ecological problems surrounding the decline of mule deer. I captured and fitted adult mountain lions (Puma concolor) and adult female mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) with GPS telemetry collars and sampled vegetation in the Gallinas Mountains of New Mexico to examine the effects of predation and nutrition on mule deer.
Author: Tavis Donahue Forrester Publisher: ISBN: 9781321608526 Category : Languages : en Pages :
Book Description
Mule (Odocoileus hemionus) and black-tailed deer (O. h. columbianus) have exhibited marked population fluctuations throughout their range over the past century. The relative contributions of predation, forage availability, and weather to observed population changes remain unclear and controversial. I evaluated the effects of both predation and forage on the survival of mule and black-tailed deer though a literature review and extensive field research in the Mendocino National Forest from 2009-2013. I reviewed 48 studies on mule deer survival and predation from the past 30 years and quantified age-specific vital rates, population growth rates (lamda) and causes of mortality. I also evaluated the effect of environmental variables on variation in vital rates and the contribution of age-specific survival to population growth. Age-specific survival (Phi) was the most frequently studied population parameter. Mule deer have lower and more variable fawn survival than other ungulate species (Phi(summer)=0.44, CV=0.42; Phi(annual)=0.29, CV=0.67). Adult female survival conversely appeared to be high and stable throughout the geographical range of the species (Phi(annual)=0.84, CV=0.06). Observed low fawn survival appears to be compensated for by high fecundity rates. Predation was the primary proximate cause of mortality for all age classes, and was an important source of summer fawn mortality and of mortality in multi-prey, multi-predator systems. However, predator removal studies suggest that predation is compensatory, particularly at high deer densities, and that nutrition and weather shape population dynamics. I propose three models to explain local population dynamics of mule deer: a) populations are limited by forage availability and weather; b) adult females are limited by forage availability, fawns are limited by forage availability and predation, and population growth is constrained by fecundity and fawn predation; and c) large changes in the abundance of predators or alternative prey change predation risk and destabilize population dynamics. From 2009 to 2013, I led field crews that captured and monitored 135 black-tailed deer fawns in coastal California to study possible interactions between forage and predation on survival. I estimated seasonal and annual survival rates, assessed the cause of all mortalities (n=95), measured available forage, estimated relative abundances of predators on summer range (i.e., fawning areas) each year, and used remote sensing to quantify habitat on winter range. I then used cumulative incidence and proportional hazards functions to evaluate how environmental covariates were related to fawn survival. Summer survival rates averaged 0.40 across all years (SE=0.05) and the mean annual survival rate was 0.25 (SE=0.04). I found that most fawn mortality resulted from predation during summer, mainly by black bears (Ursus americanus) and coyotes (Canis latrans), and spatial differences in summer survival persisted until recruitment. Black bear predation, the single largest cause of mortality, was unrelated to forage availability. Observed spatial variation in mortality risk due to other causes was linked to the availability of oak forage but not predator abundance. Additionally, characteristics of deer including adult female condition and fawn birthweight, did not provide evidence for purely bottom-up limitation. Rather my results provided evidence that both bottom-up and top-down effects were influencing fawn survival in this declining population, and that predator identity and the timing of mortality affected these interactions. I also tracked 57 adult female black-tailed deer using GPS collars and radio-telemetry to determine seasonal movements and home ranges and monitor survival and cause of mortality. I used the seasonal home range as a measure of site familiarity and modeled how mortality risk varied with use of familiar areas, forage availability, age class, and elevational overlap with simultaneously collared pumas using Cox proportional hazards models. Adult female survival was low in our study area (0.70 vs. 0.84 species average), and predation was the largest cause of mortality. The use of familiar areas was the best predictor of mortality risk, and deer that had a 40% chance of leaving the home range in a given week were 4 times more likely to die. Puma predation was the largest cause of mortality and deer whose average weekly elevation was farther from the average elevation of pumas were less likely to die. While forage availability was not related to mortality risk, adult females with lower forage availability were more likely to leave their home range in both summer and winter. I found fitness benefits of using familiar areas and bottom-up effects on the use of familiar areas as a refuge from predation. The benefits of site familiarity are likely widespread in ungulates, especially when there are stable home ranges, complex habitats, and unclear cues of predation risk. My results provide evidence that both bottom-up and top-down effects were influencing black-tailed deer survival in this declining population, and that predator identity, the timing of mortality, and individual behavior affected these interactions.
Author: Rhiannon Jakopak Publisher: ISBN: Category : Communication in science Languages : en Pages : 71
Book Description
When completing seasonal migrations, some migrants switch their activity to take advantage of better conditions. We tested the niche switch hypothesis for a migratory ungulate by comparing activity patterns before and during migration for 3 populations of migratory mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus; n = 176) in western Wyoming, U.S.A (2008 – 2019). Both before and during migration, mule deer were crepuscular (i.e., most active during twilight hours). Mule deer overall maintained a consistent pattern of crepuscular activity, but fine-tuned their activity patterns during migration, which may allow them to better match their behaviors with environmental conditions while completing an important life event. To improve science communication, we characterized perspectives regarding issues negatively affecting mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in Wyoming, USA. We identified 3 perspectives (52% of variance explained) that captured shared views regarding what factors are negatively affecting mule deer: bottom-up (n = 17 participants; 26% variance), human contributions (n = 9; 14% variance), and top-down (n = 8; 12% variance) perspectives. Based on how participants diverged in perspectives and their interest in mule deer management, we discuss opportunities for scientists to improve communication by incorporating ecological complexity and nuance, moving towards a 2-way dialogue of communication, and sharing their own first-hand experiences in future communications with stakeholders.
Author: Scott E. Hygnstrom Publisher: DIANE Publishing Inc. ISBN: 1437936881 Category : Nature Languages : en Pages : 503
Book Description
A comprehensive reference on vertebrate species that can cause economic damage or become nuisance pests. Reviews all vertebrate species that come into conflict with human interests in North America. Includes agricultural, commercial, industrial, and residential pest problems and recommends solutions; emphasizes prevention; outlines and explains all currently registered and recommended control methods and materials. Contains dozens of chapters written by various authors. Figures.
Author: Kenneth A. Logan Publisher: Island Press ISBN: 1610910583 Category : Nature Languages : en Pages : 498
Book Description
Scientists and conservationists are beginning to understand the importance of top carnivores to the health and integrity of fully functioning ecosystems. As burgeoning human populations continue to impinge on natural landscapes, the need for understanding carnivore populations and how we affect them is becoming increasingly acute.Desert Puma represents one of the most detailed assessments ever produced of the biology and ecology of a top carnivore. The husband-and-wife team of Kenneth Logan and Linda Sweanor set forth extensive data gathered from their ten-year field study of pumas in the Chihuahua Desert of New Mexico, also drawing on other reliable scientific data gathered throughout the puma's geographic range. Chapters examine: the evolutionary and modern history of pumas, their taxonomy, and physical description a detailed description and history of the study area in the Chihuahua Desert field techniques that were used in the research puma population dynamics and life history strategies the implications of puma behavior and social organization the relationships of pumas and their preyThe authors provide important new information about both the biology of pumas and their evolutionary ecology -- not only what pumas do, but why they do it. Logan and Sweanor explain how an understanding of puma evolutionary ecology can, and must, inform long-term conservation strategies. They end the book with their ideas regarding strategies for puma management and conservation, along with a consideration of the future of pumas and humans. Desert Puma makes a significant and original contribution to the science not only of pumas in desert ecosystems but of the role of top predators in all environments. It is an essential contribution to the bookshelf of any wildlife biologist or conservationist involved in large-scale land management or wildlife management.
Author: John Terborgh Publisher: Island Press ISBN: 1597268194 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 487
Book Description
Trophic cascades—the top-down regulation of ecosystems by predators—are an essential aspect of ecosystem function and well-being. Trophic cascades are often drastically disrupted by human interventions—for example, when wolves and cougars are removed, allowing deer and beaver to become destructive—yet have only recently begun to be considered in the development of conservation and management strategies. Trophic Cascades is the first comprehensive presentation of the science on this subject. It brings together some of the world’s leading scientists and researchers to explain the importance of large animals in regulating ecosystems, and to relate that scientific knowledge to practical conservation. Chapters examine trophic cascades across the world’s major biomes, including intertidal habitats, coastal oceans, lakes, nearshore ecosystems, open oceans, tropical forests, boreal and temperate ecosystems, low arctic scrubland, savannas, and islands. Additional chapters consider aboveground/belowground linkages, predation and ecosystem processes, consumer control by megafauna and fire, and alternative states in ecosystems. An introductory chapter offers a concise overview of trophic cascades, while concluding chapters consider theoretical perspectives and comparative issues. Trophic Cascades provides a scientific basis and justification for the idea that large predators and top-down forcing must be considered in conservation strategies, alongside factors such as habitat preservation and invasive species. It is a groundbreaking work for scientists and managers involved with biodiversity conservation and protection.
Author: Ludwig N. Carbyn Publisher: University of Regina Press ISBN: 9780889771543 Category : Nature Languages : en Pages : 268
Book Description
In 1998, biologists and endangered species experts met at an international symposium on swift foxes held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to exchange information and identify the state-of-the-science of swift fox ecology and status in North America. Papers presented at the symposium, together with other written afterwards, are brought together in this peer-reviewed volume.
Author: Jacob H. Kay
Author: Jacob H. Kay
Author: Tavis Donahue Forrester
Author: Rhiannon Jakopak
Author: Olof C. Wallmo
Author: 
Author: Scott E. Hygnstrom
Author: Kenneth A. Logan
Author: John Terborgh
Author: Matthew J. Kauffman
Author: Ludwig N. Carbyn