Development of feeding selectivity in roe deer.

Area of Science:

• Ethology
• Animal Behavior
• Ecology

Background:

• Understanding the development of feeding behavior in herbivores is crucial for conservation and ecosystem management.
• European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) exhibit complex feeding strategies, but the ontogeny of these behaviors is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the developmental trajectory of feeding selectivity in European roe deer fawns.
• To identify the sensory cues and learning mechanisms involved in the acquisition of feeding preferences and aversions.

Main Methods:

• Observational study of nine roe deer fawns from birth to 1.5 months.
• Individual presentation of seven plant species in a randomized order.
• Comparison of fawn feeding behavior with that of eight adult roe deer.

Main Results:

• Fawns demonstrated plant selectivity from initial exposure, responding primarily to gustatory stimuli.
• Consumption of preferred plant species increased over time, while avoided species intake remained low.
• Learning, involving olfactory and potentially visual cues for highly avoided plants and taste-consequence associations for others, enabled discrimination similar to adults by one month of age.

Conclusions:

• Learning plays a critical role in shaping the selective and flexible feeding behavior of roe deer.
• Both immediate sensory cues and post-ingestive feedback contribute to the development of feeding strategies.
• Fawns rapidly acquire sophisticated foraging skills, distinguishing palatable from toxic plants through associative learning.