Population Characteristics Of A White Tailed Deer Herd In A Bottomland Hardwood Forest Of South Central Louisiana

Author : Stephanie Kathryn Hasapes
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 368 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (861 download)

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Download or read book White-tailed Deer Habitat Use, Movements, and Reproduction at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana written by Stephanie Kathryn Hasapes and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Despite decades of widespread interest and extensive research, many questions remain about white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) seasonal movements and habitat use in the southeastern United States. Certain seasons, like parturition and breeding, have been studied in detail; however, there is a general lack of specific, year-round information on herd dynamics. The availability of GPS-based telemetry has made studies of year-round movements feasible, and there has been a recent increase in data of this type. During 2009-2011, I assessed deer habitat use and movement dynamics in Northwest Louisiana. Barksdale Air Force base consists of 8,900 ha of bottomland hardwood and upland managed pine stands in Bossier Parish, LA. I placed GPS radiocollars on 15 adult male and 15 adult female white-tailed deer and obtained 1 fix per hour for approximately one year. I quantified annual and monthly home range sizes and habitat composition, and seasonal movement parameters for adult white-tailed deer. Adult home range and core area sizes were larger during the winter months than the summer months for both genders. Male monthly home ranges varied from 97 to 380 ha and were larger than female home ranges (44-181 ha; P 0.0001) in all months. Habitats were utilized similarly by males and females. Shrub habitats and hardwood bottoms were utilized more than expected throughout the year while thinned and wet hardwood bottoms and scrub habitats showed little utilization. Openings such as fields, food plots, and developed areas were preferred when present as patches in primarily forested areas but were avoided when found as large uninterrupted tracts of land. All other habitat types were similar in preference (P 0.05) and showed little variation among months. Overall, males moved more than females for daily movement rate and extreme daily distance. Movement peaked for both genders in the winter season around breeding. I found that movement rates and patterns differed greatly between years, perhaps more than variation among seasons. Ten out of 14 female deer made breeding season excursions outside of normal movements, presumably to seek additional mating opportunities. Although movements declined around the predicted date of parturition, I did not find that movements in the weeks surrounding known parturition dates differed from pre- or post-parturition based on vaginal implant transmitter expulsion dates (P > 0.0664). I also quantified fawn survival, home range size, and habitat composition up to three months of age. Overall fawn mortality was 50%, which is generally consistent with other studies in the southeast. I observed differences in fawn mortality between different habitats on base, with 5 of 6 fawns predated before 30 days on the hardwood-dominated western half and 1 of 6 fawns dying (from apparent internal trauma and subsequent starvation) before 30 days on the pine-dominated eastern half. Fawns in the hardwood ecotype had larger home ranges (P = 0.0011) and core areas (P = 0.0018) than the pine ecotype but doe home ranges and core areas did not differ by ecotype (P > 0.2578). Known parturition sites were closer to habitat edges (P = 0.0242) and developed areas (P = 0.0476) than random sites within doe home ranges, suggesting does were seeking areas of their home range with more cover at parturition. The majority of fawns utilized habitats differently than their dams, with fawns being located more often in developed areas and mixed stands and does being located more often in mature pine stands and shrub habitats. Movement and home range data suggest white-tailed deer at Barksdale are finding adequate year-round resources to meet their needs. Fawn survival appeared to vary considerably depending on habitat at the base, and the provision of additional fawning cover in the form of small openings or timber harvests in areas of mature forest may aid in survival. Female movement data and summer habitat use data raise the possibility that deer density is below target density for harvest management at the site. An accurate estimate of density should be obtained and it may be advisable to consider changes to harvest regulations to increase herd density.