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Nothing else matters? Food as a driving factor of habitat use by red and roe deer in winter?

  • Habitat use by cervids can have large effects on vegetation. Therefore, factors influencing habitat use are pertinent to ecology, nature conservation as well as management of forests and hunting. The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing habitat use by red and roe deer, Cervus elaphus and Capreolus capreolus, in the Lüneburger Heide, Germany. We used faecal pellet counts as an indicator of habitat use and applied generalized linear models to conclude that habitat use by both cervids was largely explained by the availability of food plants. In particular, the occurrence of bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus and deciduous trees such as beeches Fagus sylvatica were of major importance. Nonetheless, red and roe deer showed preferences for different plant species, but for both deer, the presence of large trees and conifers, with exception of young Norway spruce Picea abies providing shelter for roe deer, was less attractive. Furthermore, the proximity of mineral licks was important for both cervids. Relative to roe deer, red deerHabitat use by cervids can have large effects on vegetation. Therefore, factors influencing habitat use are pertinent to ecology, nature conservation as well as management of forests and hunting. The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing habitat use by red and roe deer, Cervus elaphus and Capreolus capreolus, in the Lüneburger Heide, Germany. We used faecal pellet counts as an indicator of habitat use and applied generalized linear models to conclude that habitat use by both cervids was largely explained by the availability of food plants. In particular, the occurrence of bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus and deciduous trees such as beeches Fagus sylvatica were of major importance. Nonetheless, red and roe deer showed preferences for different plant species, but for both deer, the presence of large trees and conifers, with exception of young Norway spruce Picea abies providing shelter for roe deer, was less attractive. Furthermore, the proximity of mineral licks was important for both cervids. Relative to roe deer, red deer showed a stronger avoidance of well-used paths. Surprisingly, landscape features such as distance to settlements and elevated hunting standshad no significant effect. Our study demonstrates similarities and differences in habitat use of two important herbivores of the Northern temperate forests. We propose that managers establish ‘decoy’ sites for deer: areas with a high proportion of ground vegetation and young trees of lower forestry value. This will serve to divert deer from valuable trees and thereby enhance biodiversity. These open stands could be interspersed with dense islands of young coniferous trees to offer shelter and should be distant to frequently used pathways. Mineral licks may help enhance use of these sites. Providing an attractive resource for both species of cervids is the best way to manage large herbivores in economically valuable forests.show moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author:Maria BobrowskiORCiD, Benjamin GillichORCiD, Caroline StolterORCiD
URN:urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-2373
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00723
Parent Title (English):Wildlife Biology
Publisher:Wiley
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Year of Completion:2020
Date of Publication (online):2022/05/27
Date of first Publication:2020/11/12
Publishing Institution:Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde
Release Date:2022/05/27
Tag:Capreolus capreolus; Cervus elaphus; anthropogenic influences; browsing; decoy feed; food availability; landscape features; ungulates; vegetation composition
Volume:2020
Issue:4
Article Number:wlb.00723
Page Number:9
Institutions / Departments:Fachbereich Wald und Umwelt
Dewey Decimal Classification:5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 57 Biowissenschaften; Biologie / 570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie
5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 59 Tiere (Zoologie) / 599 Mammalia (Säugetiere)
open_access (DINI-Set):open_access
University Bibliography:University Bibliography
Licence (German):License LogoCreative Commons - CC BY - Namensnennung 4.0 International
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