Spatial variation in red deer density in a transboundary forest ecosystem.

Area of Science:

• Ecology and Wildlife Management
• Conservation Biology
• Population Dynamics

Background:

• European forests face increasing disturbances (windfalls, bark beetles), altering habitats and impacting wildlife.
• Transnational wildlife populations, like red deer (Cervus elaphus) in the Bohemian Forest, require coordinated management across borders.
• Accurate red deer density estimates are crucial for adapting management to changing environmental conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate red deer density and abundance in the transnational Bohemian Forest Ecosystem.
• To investigate the influence of forest disturbances and differing management strategies on red deer density.
• To provide data for adaptive, cross-border management of red deer populations.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a transnational non-invasive DNA sampling study across 1081 km² in 2018.
• Genotyped 1578 DNA samples from 1120 individual red deer.
• Applied spatial capture-recapture models to estimate abundance and density.

Main Results:

• Estimated total red deer abundance at 2851 individuals (95% CI: 2609-3119) with a balanced sex ratio.
• Red deer density was higher in Czechia (3.5/km²) than Germany (2/km²).
• Forest disturbance effects were elevation-dependent; density increased at higher elevations and decreased at lower elevations. Higher densities were observed in areas with restricted hunting, and sex ratios were more balanced in these zones.

Conclusions:

• Forest disturbance impacts on red deer are modulated by elevation and management practices, influencing spatial density patterns.
• Differential management strategies and protected zones significantly shape red deer distribution and sex ratios.
• Effective management of wide-ranging species like red deer necessitates coordinated, population-level monitoring that transcends administrative boundaries, especially in the context of climate change.