Wildlife Ecology and Management. Lecture notes by Peter Kabai

UNGULATES

Phylogeny: Not fully resolved, Ungula (Latin): hoof
Interesting:

Elephants are closely related to manatees and hyraxes

Hippos closest relatives are Cetaceans

38 deer species, All ruminants
Order Artiodactyla> Family Cervidae

Species occuring in Europe:

Cervus elaphus - Red Deer

Cervus nippon - Sika deer(introduced)

Dama dama-Fallow Deer

Rangifer tarandus-Reindeer

Capreolus capreolus-Roe

Muntiacus reevesi-Muntjac(introduced)

Food and feeding
Method: microhistological analysis of rumen or feces.
Browsers: grasses, herbs, shrubs, tree shoots.
Winter: less selective feeding
Mátrai and Kabai (1989). Winter plant selection by red and roe deer in a forest habitat in Hungary. Acta Theriologica 34:227-234.
Red and roe deer diet in winter
Study area: mosaic habitat (pine, acacia, oak etc)
Diet of Red and Roe deer was very simlar, depended on micro-habitat

Antlers: short (<30cm)
Development: Starts during winter, Velvet, mineralization
Shedding velvet in spring

Lifespan: Max. 16 years. (Bucks 5 years, does 6 to 7 years).
Heavy mortality at and shortly after birth and during first winter.
Social groups: Solitary, forming small groups in winter.
Territory: males mark and defend area from April
Scent glands: forehead, tarsal, metatarsal.

Barking: Males bark
Territorial defence? Alarm call? Pursuit-deterrant?
Reby et al. 1999. Anim Behav. see abstract

See more on male-male competiton, antler evolution in Concepts

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	6. Cervidae

	UNGULATES Phylogeny: Not fully resolved, Ungula (Latin): hoof Interesting: Elephants are closely related to manatees and hyraxes Hippos closest relatives are Cetaceans 38 deer species, All ruminants Order Artiodactyla> Family Cervidae

	CERVIDAE
			Species occuring in Europe: Alces alces - Moose Cervus elaphus - Red Deer Cervus nippon - Sika deer(introduced) Dama dama-Fallow Deer Rangifer tarandus-Reindeer Capreolus capreolus-Roe Muntiacus reevesi-Muntjac(introduced) Please, note that Roe deer is a closer relative of Elk or Mule deer than of red deer. Figure adapted from Randi et al.

	ROE DEER (Capreolus capreolus) Odocoileinae Adult Size: 10 to 25 kg, 60 to 75 cm at shoulder Colouration: Summer: reddish brown. Winter: grey, pale brown (black) Distribution: Eurasia Habitat: forest AND field Northern limit: > 30-50 cm snow cover in winter		Pick from Fellinger


	Food and feeding Method: microhistological analysis of rumen or feces. Browsers: grasses, herbs, shrubs, tree shoots. Winter: less selective feeding Mátrai and Kabai (1989). Winter plant selection by red and roe deer in a forest habitat in Hungary. Acta Theriologica 34:227-234. Red and roe deer diet in winter Study area: mosaic habitat (pine, acacia, oak etc) Diet of Red and Roe deer was very simlar, depended on micro-habitat

	Antlers: short (<30cm) Development: Starts during winter, Velvet, mineralization Shedding velvet in spring First antler: 1 point Mature antler: 3 points Remember: antler is built of BONE Please visit Jeju Island page on roe deer www

	Lifespan: Max. 16 years. (Bucks 5 years, does 6 to 7 years). Heavy mortality at and shortly after birth and during first winter. Social groups: Solitary, forming small groups in winter. Territory: males mark and defend area from April Scent glands: forehead, tarsal, metatarsal. Damage to trees and shrubs		Barking: Males bark Territorial defence? Alarm call? Pursuit-deterrant? Reby et al. 1999. Anim Behav. see abstract Human disturbance: solitary males barked more Playback in territory: counterbarking, aggressive behaviour. Function? ??? Alarm -> pursuit-deterrant -> territorial ??? Alarm signals in Concepts

	Sexual dimorphism: Males slightly bigger, Males have antlers Territory size: few square km Overlaps with homeranges of 1.5 3 females Mating in July AugustMale chases female, female circles Reproduction system: territorial polygyny(see Concepts)

	Mating: July August Time of birth: May to June. Gestation period: 9 months Too long for such a small mammal? Trick: delayed implantation Egg is fertilized, no implantation for 4 months Fast embrionic growth for 5 months Number of offspring: 2 (max 3).

	Offspring: precocial (imprinting by mother to fawn at Concepts) Stand up, walk, suckle. Hide. Next summer: young males leave or wander. Found a "lost" fawn in forest? It is not lost, mother leaves fawn alown hiding except for short periods of feeding. Do not take the fawn home. Handraised male fawn: dangerous beast by next summer.		Reproduction rate in Hungary (Heltay, Kabai, Sugár, Mátrai) Method: Embryo count All populations: almost 100% fertility, 2 embryos on average Field population: pregnant yearlings Extra rut in January?


	Red deer
	Cervidae > Cervinae > Cervus elaphus Distribution: Eurasia North Amerika (elk) Weight: 75 300 kg Height: 0.75 1.5 m (at shoulder) Food: any plant, including seedlings and barks of trees. Efficient on low quality food: farming in New Zealand, Britain, Hungary etc.

	Social behaviour: (extensive studies by Clutton-Brock) Separate male and female groups Diepersion: Yearlings stay with mother, mature young males leave Method: marking calves Females stay in matrilinear groups. (Method: direct obeservation) Mating: September (October) Rut: dominant stags go back to rutting place herd together females and defend harem.

	Male- male competition: Roaring contest Clutton-Brock: replay experiment Frequency of roaring indicates strength

	Deep voice large body in most species In Red deer: lowered larynx Fitch and Reby: The descended larynx is not uniquely human http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~wtsf/Fitch&Reby.pdf (as in humans) Costs? More men than women die choking in restaurants
			Link to wonderful photos: Stefan Meyers
	Male-male competition: roaring < parallel walk < antler fight Male-male competition: why so fierce? (Mortality can be up to 10%) Most fighting around conception date. Female-defence polygyny: harem Fights and injuries:what is to gain?

	Advantages of fighting for females Lifeime reproduction success (Clutton-Brock) Hinds: 0-14 calves Stags: 0-24 calves !!! No choice for males, but fight for females

	Male reproduction succes: age: 7-11 year old stags antler size body weight Repr. success of hinds: reaches maximum at age 2-3 years and stays there repr. success of stags: maximum at 8 then declines

	Sexual dimorphism in size Females develop faster, males keep on going for longer

	Female reproductive strategy: trade-offs Fertility depends on condition Well, condition is critical in harsh Scottish islands. Among overweight Hungarian ladies adult hinds were almost 100% fertile. In better habitats 30% of yearling females were pregnant. (embrio count, Heltay, Kabai, Sugár, Mátrai)

	Condition of hinds with calves is poor. (Carcass weight, kidney fat)

	Mortality of milk hinds is higher that that of hinds wothout calves. Trade-offs: good condition is needed for reproduction. However, having a calf lowers condition and increases chances to die. Strategy: have a calf every second year. Would you have a boy or a girl? (see Concepts)

	Fallow deer Cervidae > Cervinae > Dama dama Distribution: Asia minor, along the Mediterranean Sea + artificial introduction
	Body mass: 30-60 kg Antler: palmate, shed in April regrown by August Coloration: white, menil, common, black Why so diverse coloration? Species might have been going thorugh initial domestication.

	Reproduction Distinct male and female (+calves) herds October: males move to common rut place Each male defends and marks a small stand within place Females approach rut place Dominant males in middle copulate. LEK in dense populations Small populations: no lek, but defence of harem. Variable: may start with lekking followed by harem holding
	Lek polygyny (McElligot & Hayden, 2000, Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol.): Males: only 10% mates cca 3% gained 73% of all matings		See more on male-male competiton, antler evolution in Concepts