Title: Monitoring the density of a roe deer Capreolus capreolus population subjected to heavy hunting pressure
Abstract: A 5 year study was undertaken in Kielder Forest to examine changes in pellet group counts, direct observations, body weight and potential fertility in a population of roe deer Capreolus capreolus subjected to heavy hunting pressure. Over the study period, the mean number of pellet groups per plot and mean number of deer observed per hour declined consistently while the mean number of hours hunting effort required to remove one deer increased. Measuring the rate of accumulation of pellet groups in permanent sample plots over 6 month periods appeared to provide a reliable method of monitoring changes in population density, as did systematic collection of observational data. Based on estimates derived from the pellet group counts, the deer population was reduced from a density of 12.0 to 3.0 deer km−1 over the study period. In the latter stages, the number of deer removed from the population was equal to or greater than the estimated population size, suggesting that immigration from the surrounding forest area was a major factor affecting population density. Despite the significant reduction in population density, the average body weight and number of corpora lutea present in female deer was apparently unaffected, suggesting that habitat quality (rather than population density), was the main determinant of fertility.
Publication Year: 1995
Publication Date: 1995-11-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 21
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