scholarly journals Bigger teeth for longer life? Longevity and molar height in two roe deer populations

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 268-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vebjørn Veiberg ◽  
Atle Mysterud ◽  
Jean-Michel Gaillard ◽  
Daniel Delorme ◽  
Guy Van Laere ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus ◽  
Tooth Wear ◽  
Population Difference ◽  
Animal Life ◽  
Proximate Cause ◽  
Expected Longevity

The role of tooth wear as a proximate cause of senescence in ruminants has recently been highlighted. There are two competing hypotheses to explain variation in tooth height and wear; the diet-quality hypothesis predicting increased wear in low-quality habitats, and the life-history hypothesis predicting molar height to be related to expected longevity. We compared tooth height and wear from roe deer of known age from two contrasting populations of roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ) in France: Trois Fontaines (TF) with good habitat and shorter animal life expectancy and Chizé (CH) with poor habitat and longer animal life expectancy. There was no population difference in tooth wear, leading to rejection of the diet-quality hypothesis. However, despite their smaller body size, initial molar height for animals from CH was larger than for animals from TF. This provides the first evidence that variation in longevity between populations can lead to differences in molar height within a species.

scholarly journals Examination of Reproductive Performance of Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Hungary

2004 ◽  
pp. 33-38
Author(s):  
István Majzinger
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus ◽  
Tooth Wear ◽  
High Fertility ◽  
Previous Pregnancy ◽  
Embryo Number ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Post Implantation ◽  
Implantation Period

The objective of the research partly is to compare the reproduction performance of the populations living in different regions with regard to some special characteristics (age, condition).When estimating the age through tooth wear and cementum-layer-counting there was a difference of 0.87 years in favour of the first one (r=0,840; p<0,001). I found cementum layers at 42% of the does in the study after examining the MI teeth.There was lose connection between the weight (eviscerated, with head and legs) and the KFI (r=0,296; p<0,01), and for further analysis, I used only the KFI as the index for condition.The regional average KFI varied from 0.24-0.37 in fawns, 0.82-1.73 in does, with individual extremes of 0-4.05. Within the examined regions the highest index belonged to the prime-aged does, while the 1-year-olds had a lower rate, and it was the lowest in the does older than 8 years.The rate of fertility was between 83,3(ns)-100% as we can see from the presence of the CL. All the examined does were fertile, except in one region, while among the female fawns in two regions I only found three with active ovaries. The average number of CL was 1.5-2.13, and this varied by regions; all in all it was the highest in the 2-7-year-old group (1.96) and in the ones over 8 years (2.00!), while it was lower in the does younger than 1 year (1.90). The high fertility of the does over 8 years is remarkable.I could examine the number of embryos in two regions during the post-implantation period, and beside 100% fertility I found significant differences among the does, which can be associated with the condition. The ratio of CL carriers and the pregnant does was 100% and 73% in the two regions, the average number of CL were 1.92 and 1.72, while the average embryo number were 1.83 and 1.36 per doe. The difference between the CL and the embryo numbers on the two regions were 5% and 21%. The difference (prenatal loss) is in connection with the age (age class) of the doe. It is possible, however, that in some cases oestrus was not followed by gestation. But in roe deer, owing to the commonly known lack of luteolysis-mechanism (Flint et al., 1994), the regression of the CL of the does that did not get pregnant takes place in December and January, so the CL found in January cannot prove a previous pregnancy, which might have been followed by an abortion.Although it has to be proven, it seems that the number of the CL (potential progeny) can be associated with the age (r=0,418; p<0,01) and the weight (r=0,312; p<0,01) of the doe, while the embryo number (realised progeny) is influenced by the age of the doe and probably by external factors.It is essential to continue and extend the research to increase the reliability of the results and their correlation.

scholarly journals Dentition and body condition: tooth wear as a correlate of weight loss in roe deer

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Chirichella ◽  
Anna Maria De Marinis ◽  
Boštjan Pokorny ◽  
Marco Apollonio
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Physical Condition ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Tooth Wear ◽  
The Body ◽  
Permanent Teeth ◽  
Tooth Surface ◽  
Mandible Length

Abstract Background In many mammalian species, once the permanent teeth have erupted, the only change to dentition is a gradual loss of tooth surface/height through wear. The crown of the teeth cannot be repaired once worn. When dental crown tissue has been depleted due to wear, the animal is expected to have a suboptimal body condition. We evaluated the role of tooth wear in causing a reduction of physical condition in adult roe deer females (Capreolus capreolus). Results The progressive wearing of the lower cheek teeth was assessed in a Northern Apennines (Italy) population with a new scoring scheme based on objectively described tooth characteristics (morphotypes) being either present or absent. Eviscerated body mass and mandible length, which is a good proxy for body size in roe deer, were related to the tooth wear score by the use of linear regressions. The sum of wear scores for molariform teeth correlated most strongly with body condition (i.e., eviscerated body mass/mandible length), showing the importance of the entire chewing surface for acquiring energy by food comminution, chewing, and digestion. In comparison with individuals of comparable size experiencing minor tooth wear, the body mass of those with the most advanced stage of tooth wear was decreased by 33.7%. This method was compared to the height and the hypsodonty index of the first molar, the most commonly used indices of tooth wear. The sum of molariform wear scoring scheme resulted in a more suitable index to describe the variation in body condition of roe deer. Conclusions Describing tooth wear patterns in hunted populations and monitoring at which tooth wear level (and therefore dental morphotype) an animal is no longer able to sustain its physical condition (i.e. when it begins to lose body mass) can be a useful tool for improving the management of the most widespread and abundant deer species in Europe. At the same time, such an approach can clarify the role of tooth wear as a proximate cause of senescence in ungulates.

scholarly journals Memory drives the formation of animal home ranges: evidence from a reintroduction

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Ranc ◽  
Francesca Cagnacci ◽  
Paul Moorcroft
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Empirical Data ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Primary Process ◽  
Movement Model ◽  
Large Mammal ◽  
Resource Preference

Most animals live in a characteristic home range, a space-use pattern thought to emerge from the benefits of memory-based movements; however, a general model for characterizing and predicting their formation in the absence of territoriality has been lacking. Here, we use a mechanistic movement model to quantify the role of memory in the movements of a large mammal reintroduced into a novel environment, and to predict observed patterns of home range emergence. We show that an interplay between memory and resource preferences is the primary process influencing the movements of reintroduced roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Our memory-based model fitted with empirical data successfully predicts the formation of home ranges, as well as emerging properties of movement and revisits observed in the reintroduced animals. These results provide a quantitative framework for combining memory-based movements, resource preference and the emergence of home ranges in nature.

Tests of estimation of age from tooth wear on roe deer of known age: variation within and among populations

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
AJM Hewison ◽  
J P Vincent ◽  
J M Angibault ◽  
D Delorme ◽  
G Van Laere ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Roe Deer ◽  
Estimation Error ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus ◽  
Tooth Wear ◽  
Maximum Error ◽  
Average Error ◽  
Low Degree ◽  
Age Variation ◽  
Reference Specimens ◽  
Two Populations

The rate of wear of ruminant teeth may vary according to diet, habitat, and individual tooth characteristics. This variation may cause error in estimating the age of wild ungulates from patterns of tooth wear. We tested the ability of 10 observers to accurately estimate age from observation of tooth wear in a large sample of jaws of known-age roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from three populations. Although the average error was not large (±1.02 years), maximum error ranged from -5 to +6 years for jaws of animals between 1 and 7 years old, with observers generally overestimating the age of young animals and underestimating the age of old animals. We found significant differences among observers in estimation error. When a "jaw-board" of known-age reference specimens was provided, this observer effect was largely controlled for, but accuracy was not improved. Error was partly due to variation in tooth wear, both within and among populations. Initial cusp height of the first molar was lower, but tooth wear tended to be slower in one population than in the other two populations, possibly reflecting differences in diet and (or) habitat. Individual variation in tooth wear within populations was observed, possibly reflecting variation in tooth characteristics (e.g., enamel mineralisation), which was a source of error in age estimation from observation. Observers tended to underestimate the age of jaws with a relatively low degree of wear and vice versa. These results show that estimating the age of roe deer from observation of tooth wear produces biased results, severely limiting its application in population studies of this species.

Roe deer habitat selection in Spain: constraints on the distribution of a species

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (7) ◽  
pp. 1294-1299 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Virgós ◽  
J L Tellería
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Quercus Ilex ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Mountain Forests ◽  
Central Spain ◽  
Leguminous Shrubs ◽  
Sclerophyllous Forests

This study analyzes the role of summer habitat selection in determining the distribution of a population of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) in central Spain, where surplus individuals have emigrated from mountains to the surrounding plateaus during the last decade. The species was more abundant in the mesic mountain forests (Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), Pyrenean oak (Quercus pyrenaica)) than in the xeric, sclerophyllous holm oak (Quercus ilex) forests of surrounding plateaus. Roe deer prefer patches occupied by brambles (Rubus spp.) and rose bushes (Rosa spp.) and patches with higher cover on pastures and moors (Erica spp. and Calluna spp.). These vegetation types are linked to moist soils in the Mediterranean zone, indicating that roe deer prefer the moister, more productive patches. Roe deer actively selected productive patches covered by leguminous shrubs (Sarothamnus, Retama) and rejected poor patches covered by Cistus ladanifer and Cistus laurifolius (two shrubs that produce chemicals toxic to other plants). Low summer primary productivity of xeric, sclerophyllous forests can explain the low abundance of roe deer in these forests. This supports the view that habitat constraints limit numbers and distribution of this Palaearctic species at the southern edge of its range.

scholarly journals Coexistence of tick-borne pathogens in game animals and ticks in western Poland

2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 12) ◽  
pp. 668-675 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Skotarczak ◽  
M. Adamska ◽  
M. Sawczuk ◽  
A. Maciejewska ◽  
B. Wodecka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽  
Sus Scrofa ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus ◽  
Study Materials ◽  
North Western ◽  
Game Animals

Molecular studies enabling the recognition of the role of game and ticks in the circulation of pathogens transmitted by ticks and detection of coinfections in order to estimate a risk which a contact with tissues of roe deer, red deer and wild boar from north-western Poland brings were the aim of this research. DNA isolated from the blood and spleen of game and from <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> were the study materials. The results shows that <i>Capreolus capreolus</i> and <i>Cervus elaphus</i> play an important role in the life cycle of <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i>, two <i>Bartonella</i> species, <i>Theileria</i> and <i>Babesia</i> spp. Whereas in the isolates obtained from 50 representatives of <i>Sus scrofa</i>, the DNA of only one pathogen, <i>A. phagocytophilum</i> occurred. 63.5% of 74 PCR+ isolates from <i>Capreolus capreolus</i> showed a double coinfection and three isolates – triple. In the tissues of <i>Cervus elaphus</i>, the coinfections were triple in 38% of individuals, double in 40%, single in 84%.

scholarly journals Faecal nitrogen, an index of diet quality in roe deer Capreolus capreolus?

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hélène Verheyden ◽  
Lise Aubry ◽  
Joël Merlet ◽  
Patrick Petibon ◽  
Béatrice Chauveau-Duriot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diet Quality ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus ◽  
Faecal Nitrogen
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