Synergistic Population Density and Environmental Effects on Deer Body Condition

2020 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 938-947
Author(s):  
Pascale Ayotte ◽  
Mael Le Corre ◽  
Steeve D. Côté
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Environmental Effects

Using ecology to inform physiology studies: implications of high population density in the laboratory

2015 ◽  
Vol 308 (6) ◽  
pp. R449-R454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy E. M. Newman ◽  
Nicholas B. Edmunds ◽  
Shannon Ferraro ◽  
Quentin Heffell ◽  
Gillian M. Merritt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Immune Function ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Natural Environment ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
High Population Density ◽  
Animal Kingdom ◽  
Present Evidence ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Conspecific Density

Conspecific density is widely recognized as an important ecological factor across the animal kingdom; however, the physiological impacts are less thoroughly described. In fact, population density is rarely mentioned as a factor in physiological studies on captive animals and, when it is infrequently addressed, the animals used are reared and housed at densities far above those in nature, making the translation of results from the laboratory to natural systems difficult. We survey the literature to highlight this important ecophysiological gap and bring attention to the possibility that conspecific density prior to experimentation may be a critical factor influencing results. Across three taxa: mammals, birds, and fish, we present evidence from ecology that density influences glucocorticoid levels, immune function, and body condition with the intention of stimulating discussion and increasing consideration of population density in physiology studies. We conclude with several directives to improve the applicability of insights gained in the laboratory to organisms in the natural environment.

scholarly journals Environmental suitability models predict population density, performance and body condition for microendemic salamanders

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrico Lunghi ◽  
Raoul Manenti ◽  
Manuela Mulargia ◽  
Michael Veith ◽  
Claudia Corti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Environmental Suitability

Agricultural land use alters trophic status and population density of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) on the North American Great Plains

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (7) ◽  
pp. 868-874 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.J. White ◽  
R.G. Poulin ◽  
B. Wissel ◽  
J.L. Doucette ◽  
C.M. Somers
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Trophic Level ◽  
Trophic Status ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Peromyscus Maniculatus ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Agricultural Land Use ◽  
Native Prairie

Habitat conversion is among the most important causes of environmental change worldwide, yet relatively little is known about its potential influence on trophic interactions. We investigated the effects of agricultural land use on carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values, trophic status, population density, and body condition of deer mice ( Peromyscus maniculatus (Wagner, 1845)) in a grassland ecosystem. Muscle δ15N (cropland = 7.6‰ ± 1.3‰; hay fields = 7.9‰ ± 1.3‰; native prairie = 7.2‰ ± 2.1‰) from deer mice did not vary with land use despite baseline soil and vegetation δ15N differences. Enrichment of deer mice over vegetation (Δδ15N) was, on average, a full trophic level (~2.5‰) higher on native prairie (6.4‰ ± 1.6‰) than on cropland (3.9‰ ± 2.3‰), and intermediate in hay fields (5.9‰ ± 2.0‰). Relative density of deer mice was more than twofold higher in crop and hay fields compared with native prairie, but body condition did not vary with land use. Our results suggest that agricultural activity caused a shift in the trophic level and relative abundance of a generalist grassland omnivore. Soil and vegetation δ15N reflected anthropogenic N inputs to agricultural fields but were not useful as general markers of habitat use in this study.

scholarly journals Population growth, movements, and status of the Nushagak Peninsula Caribou Herd following reintroduction, 1988 - 2000

Rangifer ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail H. Collins ◽  
Michael T. Hinkes ◽  
Andrew R. Aderman ◽  
James D. Woolington
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Range Condition ◽  
Calf Survival ◽  
Population Mortality

Barren ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus) were reintroduced to the Nushagak Peninsula, Alaska in February of 1988 after an absence of more than 100 years. Since reintroduction, herd growth and population dynamics have been monitored closely. At this time, there has been no significant dispersal from the herds' core range. The Nushagak Peninsula Caribou Herd (NPCH) grew rapidly from 146 reintroduced individuals to over 1000 in 13 years. Dramatic mean annual growth during the first 6 years (1988-1994) of 38% (r = 0.32) can be attributed to the high percentage of females in the initial reintroduction, high calf production and survival, exceptional range conditions, few predators, and no hunting. However, the populations' exceptional growth (peak counts of 1400) slowed and stabilized between 1996¬1998 and then decreased between 1998 and 2000. Size, body condition and weights of calves captured in 2000 were significantly lower than those captured in 1995 and 1997. Although calf production also decreased from close to 100% (1990-1995) to about 91% (1996-2000), overall calf survival continued to be high. Legal harvest began in 1995, and harvest reports have accounted for approximately 3% of population mortality annually. Although brown bears (Ursus arctos) and wolves (Canis lupus) are present, the extent of predation is unknown. Mean home range of the NPCH was 674 km2 and group sizes were greatest during post-calving aggregation in July (mean = 127). Caribou population density on the Nushagak Peninsula reached approximately 1.2 caribou/km2 in 1997 before declining to about 1.0 caribou/km2. A range survey in 1994 noted only trace utilization of lichens on the Nushagak Peninsula by caribou. A subsequent survey in 1999 found moderate to severe utilization in 46% of plots, suggesting the reintroduced herd was beginning to alter range condition. Between 1997 and 2000, both calf production and condition of 10-month-old calves declined. Calving has also been delayed in recent years. However, we suspect the reduced herd growth can be attributed to increasing hunting pressure and some dispersal of caribou from the Peninsula, not reduced range condition.

scholarly journals Interacting environmental effects influence early body condition of a colonial waterbird living in complex coastal environments

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Ferreira ◽  
Jocelyn Champagnon ◽  
Irene Badone ◽  
Arnaud Béchet ◽  
Oscar Macouzet
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Coastal Environments

scholarly journals Environmental effects and individual body condition drive seasonal fecundity of rabbits: identifying acute and lagged processes

Oecologia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 181 (3) ◽  
pp. 853-864 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstans Wells ◽  
Robert B. O’Hara ◽  
Brian D. Cooke ◽  
Greg J. Mutze ◽  
Thomas A. A. Prowse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Seasonal Fecundity ◽  
Individual Body

scholarly journals Understanding metrics of stress in the context of invasion history: the case of the brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis)

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Claunch ◽  
Ignacio Moore ◽  
Heather Waye ◽  
Laura Schoenle ◽  
Samantha J Oakey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Acute Stress ◽  
Biological Significance ◽  
Invasion History ◽  
Boiga Irregularis ◽  
Bacterial Killing ◽  
Physiological Variables ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Brown Treesnake

Abstract Invasive species can exert rapid depletion of resources after introduction and, in turn, affect their own population density. Additionally, management actions can have direct and indirect effects on demography. Physiological variables can predict demographic change but are often restricted to snapshots-in-time and delayed confirmation of changes in population density reduces their utility. To evaluate the relationships between physiology and demography, we assessed metrics of individual and demographic stress (baseline and 1-h corticosterone (CORT), body condition and bacterial killing ability) in the invasive snake Boiga irregularis on Guam collected in intervals of 10–15 years. We also assessed potential discrepancies between different methods of measuring hormones [radioimmunoassay (RIA) versus enzyme immunoassay (EIA)]. The magnitude of difference between RIA and EIA was negligible and did not change gross interpretation of our results. We found that body condition was higher in recent samples (2003 and 2018) versus older (1992–93) samples. We found corresponding differences in baseline CORT, with higher baseline CORT in older, poorer body condition samples. Hormonal response to acute stress was higher in 2018 relative to 2003. We also found a weak relationship between circulating CORT and bacterial killing ability among 2018 samples, but the biological significance of the relationship is not clear. In an effort to develop hypotheses for future investigation of the links between physiology and demography in this and other systems, we discuss how the changes in CORT and body condition may reflect changes in population dynamics, resource availability or management pressure. Ultimately, we advocate for the synchronization of physiology and management studies to advance the field of applied conservation physiology.

Factors influencing annual variation in breeding by common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in New Zealand

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dave Ramsey ◽  
Murray Efford ◽  
Phil Cowan ◽  
Jim Coleman
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Annual Variation ◽  
Environmental Predictors ◽  
Major Exception ◽  
Individual Condition ◽  
Average Body ◽  
Long Term Studies

We assembled data on annual variation in breeding rates of brushtail possums from four long-term studies in the lower North Island of New Zealand, three of which spanned more than 20 years. In each study, more than 80% of adult females bred in most years. The major exception was in 1996, when breeding failed synchronously at sites separated by up to 122 km. The overall breeding rate in 1996 at these sites was 28% (n = 201). Other instances of low breeding rate (<70%) occurred asynchronously at particular sites. We analysed variation in breeding rates to determine the contributions to annual variation of individual condition (body weight), population density, food resources and other environmental predictors. The probability of breeding declined rapidly as body condition fell below average. An index of fruitfall of hinau (Elaeocarpus dentatus), a highly nutritious food used by possums, and population density in the previous year were the most important predictors of possum condition and breeding rate. High density in the previous year coupled with low hinau fruitfall in the current year predicted below-average body condition and reduced breeding rate. Although the magnitude of these effects were only significant in ‘extreme’ years, they are consistant with delayed density-dependent effects on fecundity in brushtail possums.

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