The timing and spatial distribution of mother–offspring interactions in an obligate hider DOI Creative Commons
Sophie Baur, Frederick W. Stehr,

A. J. Mark Hewison

et al.

Movement Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Nov. 26, 2024

Abstract Background Parental care is indispensable for the survival and development of dependent offspring, often requiring a delicate balance time energy allocation towards offspring by parents. Among ungulates employing hider strategy, deciding when where to provide while also maintaining sufficient distance not reveal offspring´s hiding place likely crucial in determining their fate. Methods In this study, we analyzed timing spatial distribution mother–offspring interactions roe deer females ( Capreolus capreolus L. ). We fitted mothers neonates with GPS-collars combined proximity sensor south Germany address temporal mother-fawn during first two months fawns’ lives. Results observed variations between mother fawn, which initially increased over month then decreased as fawns grew older. The contacts was strongly linked circadian rhythm mother, aligning closely typical bimodal activity peaks at dawn dusk. Furthermore, differences habitat use reflecting mother's requirements food protection (e.g. greater forests, higher distances roads), well fawn's priority requirement unmown grassland). documented time, highlighting how these changed fawn ages. Interestingly, initial weeks, most occurred habitats that were particularly favored mothers. However, aged, increasingly routinely used fawns. Conclusions Understanding timing, frequency, provides valuable insights into strategies ungulates. observation leave agricultural fields few weeks life has strong implications wildlife management, behavior constitutes kind evolutionary trap under current practices mowing regimes. Whether can adjust maternal tactics novel selection pressures human-altered landscapes key predicting population dynamics obligate hider.

Language: Английский

Drivers of individual differences in the sleep behaviour of fallow deer neonates DOI Creative Commons
Euan Mortlock, Holly M. English, Luca Börger

et al.

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Abstract Inter‐individual differences are necessary for selection to act, while plasticity (intra‐individual variation) may buffer against selection. Sleep is a critical self‐maintenance behaviour but, unlike most behaviours, the causes and consequences of its inter‐ intra‐individual variation in wild animals poorly understood, particularly neonates where sleep plays key role development. We have shown previously that free‐ranging neonate fallow deer ( Dama dama ) differ during first few weeks life. Here, we test whether individual variability organised systematically across population, these associated with chronic stress measured using hair cortisol, or timing birth. Four dimensions (total time, fragmentation, quality, distribution over 24‐h) were quantified state‐of‐the‐art triaxial accelerometers. then used multivariate mixed‐effects model Bayesian framework evaluate covariation between multiple behaviour, quantify relative importance birth, accounting confounding effects environmental conditions age. found birth not changes individuals. While both total time number bouts per day declined age, their rate development covaried, but no other covaried. Our results represent an in‐depth analysis natural sleep, show four aspects architecture free‐living fawns strong independent one another unrelated suggest might emerge later life cortisol be very short transient.

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Maternal behaviors influence survival of ungulate neonates under heavy predation risk DOI Creative Commons

Michael Muthersbaugh,

Wesley W. Boone, Elizabeth A. Saldo

et al.

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(8)

Published: Aug. 1, 2024

Abstract Predators impose top‐down forces on prey populations, with the strength of those effects often varying over space and time among demographic groups. In ungulates, predation risk is typically greatest for neonatal offspring, some suggesting that predators can key in adult activity to locate hidden neonates. However, few field studies date have been able directly assess influence maternal care ungulate neonate survival. Using a population white‐tailed deer under heavy coyote pressure, we tested dispersion hypothesis, which suggests temporally spatially attenuates neonates during this vulnerable altricial phase. We compared support hypothesis more commonly hypotheses regarding habitat conditions intrinsic factors Fawn survival 16 weeks was 27.7%, coyotes accounting 59% fawn mortalities. our temporal diffusion found decreased as visits (proportionally) occurred at night. The only other significant ( p < .1) predictor birth timing, decreasing season progressed. Given declined proportion nighttime increased, wild pig presence human disturbance push doe toward nocturnal hours, additional research needed determine whether managing decrease mortality. More broadly, given importance recruitment dynamics, finding opens potentially important new line inquiry how behaviors large animal predator–prey ecology.

Language: Английский

Citations

4
Defensive risk-taking in animals DOI
Theodore Stankowich

Elsevier eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Citations

0
The timing and spatial distribution of mother–offspring interactions in an obligate hider DOI Creative Commons
Sophie Baur, Frederick W. Stehr,

A. J. Mark Hewison

et al.

Movement Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Nov. 26, 2024

Abstract Background Parental care is indispensable for the survival and development of dependent offspring, often requiring a delicate balance time energy allocation towards offspring by parents. Among ungulates employing hider strategy, deciding when where to provide while also maintaining sufficient distance not reveal offspring´s hiding place likely crucial in determining their fate. Methods In this study, we analyzed timing spatial distribution mother–offspring interactions roe deer females ( Capreolus capreolus L. ). We fitted mothers neonates with GPS-collars combined proximity sensor south Germany address temporal mother-fawn during first two months fawns’ lives. Results observed variations between mother fawn, which initially increased over month then decreased as fawns grew older. The contacts was strongly linked circadian rhythm mother, aligning closely typical bimodal activity peaks at dawn dusk. Furthermore, differences habitat use reflecting mother's requirements food protection (e.g. greater forests, higher distances roads), well fawn's priority requirement unmown grassland). documented time, highlighting how these changed fawn ages. Interestingly, initial weeks, most occurred habitats that were particularly favored mothers. However, aged, increasingly routinely used fawns. Conclusions Understanding timing, frequency, provides valuable insights into strategies ungulates. observation leave agricultural fields few weeks life has strong implications wildlife management, behavior constitutes kind evolutionary trap under current practices mowing regimes. Whether can adjust maternal tactics novel selection pressures human-altered landscapes key predicting population dynamics obligate hider.

Language: Английский

Citations

1