Dispersal dynamics of white-tailed deer in human-altered landscapes and implications for disease risk
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.White-tailed deer movement is influenced by sex, not agriculture, for dispersal probability. Males dispersed more, while females migrated more, with agriculture affecting dispersal distance, not occurrence.
Area Of Science
- Wildlife ecology
- Movement ecology
- Conservation biology
Background
- Habitat fragmentation and agricultural expansion impact wildlife populations.
- Understanding animal dispersal and migration is crucial for population management and disease surveillance.
- White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are common in agricultural landscapes.
Purpose Of The Study
- To investigate how natal habitat and agricultural land use influence white-tailed deer dispersal and migration probability and distance.
- To determine the role of sex in white-tailed deer movement behaviors.
Main Methods
- Studied white-tailed deer in southeastern Minnesota, USA.
- Analyzed the influence of habitat and agriculture on dispersal/migration probability and distance.
- Compared movement behaviors between sexes.
Main Results
- Agriculture in the natal range did not affect the probability of dispersal or migration.
- Male white-tailed deer were more likely to disperse and less likely to migrate than females.
- Agriculture influenced dispersal distance, with deer traveling farther in more agricultural areas and avoiding agricultural land during movement.
Conclusions
- Sex is a significant driver of white-tailed deer dispersal and migration patterns.
- While agriculture does not alter the likelihood of dispersal, it influences the distance traveled and avoidance behaviors.
- These findings are vital for managing white-tailed deer populations and understanding disease dynamics in human-altered landscapes.
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