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Excursion behaviour of female roe deer may depend on density
1University of Siena, Department of Life Sciences - Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology and Wildlife Management, via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy. annabocci@unisi.it
Behavioural Processes
|April 10, 2013
Summary
Roe does exhibit significant excursion behavior during the rutting season, expanding their home range eightfold in low-density populations. This roaming increases when population density is low, likely due to reduced mating opportunities.
Area of Science:
- Wildlife Ecology
- Animal Behaviour
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Excursion behavior in roe does (Capreolus capreolus) is a poorly understood aspect of their ecology.
- Understanding factors influencing roe deer movement is crucial for effective wildlife management and conservation strategies.
- Previous studies have not consistently assessed the impact of population density on roe deer excursion behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the excursion behavior of roe does in a low-density population.
- To determine the relationship between population density and roe deer excursion behavior.
- To synthesize existing research on roe deer excursion behavior.
Main Methods:
- Satellite radiotracking of six roe does over two years in Southern Italy.
- Analysis of excursion area size and duration during the rutting period.
- Literature review and meta-analysis of six existing studies on roe deer excursion behavior, using drive counts for population density assessment.
Main Results:
- Radiotagged roe does significantly expanded their home ranges during the rutting season, with excursion areas eight times larger than summer ranges.
- Excursion durations averaged 51 hours, with one female away for 11 days.
- Roe deer excursion behavior was negatively and significantly associated with population density; lower densities correlated with increased roaming.
Conclusions:
- Low population density is a key driver of increased roe deer excursion behavior during the rutting season.
- This behavior may be an adaptation to overcome reduced mating opportunities in sparse populations.
- Conservation efforts should consider population density when managing roe deer movement and habitat use.
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