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Risky movements? Natal dispersal does not decrease survival of a large herbivore.

Eric S Long¹, Duane R Diefenbach², Clayton L Lutz³

¹Department of Biology Seattle Pacific University Seattle WA USA.

Ecology and Evolution

|March 26, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Natal dispersal in white-tailed deer does not significantly impact survival rates for males or females. Dispersing deer showed similar survival to non-dispersers, suggesting dispersal risk may be lower than assumed for this species.

Keywords:

benefit cost dispersal mortality philopatry risk survival trade‐offs transfer white‐tailed deer

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Animal Behavior
Conservation Biology

Background:

Natal dispersal is a critical life-history event for many species, often assumed to carry high mortality risks.
The fitness consequences of dispersal, particularly survival costs, are poorly understood in large mammals.
Understanding dispersal impacts is vital for population dynamics and conservation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between natal dispersal and survival rates in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).
To test the hypothesis that dispersing individuals face higher mortality risks compared to non-dispersing (philopatric) individuals.
To compare survival between dispersers and non-dispersers for both male and female juvenile deer.

Main Methods:

Utilized radio-telemetry data from 398 juvenile male and 276 juvenile female white-tailed deer.
Compared survival rates of individuals identified as dispersers versus non-dispersers.
Analyzed mortality causes, including vehicular collisions and overwinter survival.

Main Results:

No significant difference in yearling survival rates was found between dispersing and non-dispersing male deer (49.9% vs. 51.6%).
No significant difference in yearling survival rates was observed between dispersing and non-dispersing female deer (64.0% vs. 70.7%).
Vehicular collisions and overwinter survival patterns did not differ notably between dispersers and non-dispersers.

Conclusions:

Natal dispersal in white-tailed deer does not appear to impose a significant survival cost.
The assumption of high dispersal risk may not apply universally, especially in species like white-tailed deer where dispersal might be condition-dependent.
Further research is needed to explore non-survival fitness benefits and costs of dispersal in large mammals.