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Intraspecific temporal resource partitioning at white-tailed deer feeding sites
David B Stone1, James A Martin1,2, Bradley S Cohen3
1Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
Current Zoology
|April 3, 2019
Summary
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) temporally segregate at feeding sites based on social rank, with subordinates more active during daylight hours in pre- and post-breeding seasons. This segregation may increase their risk of hunting.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Wildlife Management
Background:
- Competition for resources can be reduced through temporal partitioning of resource use.
- Behavioral differences, particularly between sexes, can drive segregation in ungulates to minimize antagonistic interactions.
- Dominant individuals may limit subordinates' access to food resources, irrespective of sex.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate temporal segregation at supplemental feeding sites among white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) based on social rank (dominant: adult males; subordinate: yearling males and adult females).
- To determine how the breeding season phase and diel cycle influence this temporal segregation.
- To assess if social rank-based segregation patterns increase the susceptibility of subordinate deer to hunter-induced mortality.
Main Methods:
- Employed a multi-state modeling approach to quantify temporal segregation.
- Calculated the probability of feeding site occupancy by different social classes during diurnal and nocturnal hours across three breeding season phases.
- Analyzed transition probabilities between different temporal states.
Main Results:
- Dominant and subordinate white-tailed deer exhibited clear temporal segregation, with less than 1% co-occurrence at feeding sites.
- During the pre-breeding season, subordinates were 3x more likely to be present during diurnal hours than dominants.
- During the post-breeding season, subordinates were 1.7x more likely to be present during diurnal hours than dominants, with no significant differences during nocturnal hours or during the breeding season itself.
Conclusions:
- Social rank significantly influences temporal segregation patterns in white-tailed deer at feeding sites.
- The observed segregation is modulated by the phase of the breeding season and the diel cycle.
- Subordinate deer activity patterns during pre- and post-breeding seasons may elevate their risk of human predation.
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