The ability to predict energy and protein allocation to different body condition parameters according to environmental constraints is a key component in understanding the processes underlying population dynamics. We investigated the influence of a proxy of population density and environmental factors on individual body condition parameters of female white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) based on long‐term monitoring (2002–2013) of autumn harvest on Anticosti Island, Québec, Canada. We used dressed body mass, peroneus muscle mass, and rump fat thickness to evaluate the nutritional status of 3,123 adult females. Density index and winter precipitation negatively affected fat reserves in autumn. We detected the negative effect of winter precipitation on fat reserves only at low density likely because individuals at high density were already in bad condition. High normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in spring (May–Jun) reduced body mass, and this influence was more pronounced under high population density, probably because individuals at high densities were less likely to be buffered against environmental fluctuations when resources were scarcer than resources at low population density. Using different body condition parameters, our results provide additional insights on how northern ungulates influenced by food limitation may respond to future environmental changes. We recommend managers to collect long‐term data on multiple physiological indicators of body condition. These data could be used as an index of ecological changes and provide a quantitative basis to help setting harvest objectives or supporting adaptive management. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.

中文翻译：

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协同种群密度和环境对鹿体状况的影响

根据环境限制预测能量和蛋白质分配给不同身体状况参数的能力是理解种群动态过程的关键组成部分。我们调查了种群密度和环境因素的替代对雌性白尾鹿（Odocoileus virginianus）个体身体状况参数的影响）基于对加拿大魁北克安蒂科斯蒂岛秋季收获的长期监测（2002年至2013年）。我们使用穿戴的体重，腓骨肌肉质量和臀部脂肪厚度来评估3123名成年女性的营养状况。密度指数和冬季降水对秋季的脂肪储量有负面影响。我们仅在低密度条件下检测到冬季降水对脂肪储量的负面影响，可能是因为高密度条件下的个体已经处于不良状态。春季（5月至6月）的高归一化差异植被指数（NDVI）减少了体重，并且这种影响在高人口密度下更为明显，这可能是因为在资源稀缺的情况下，高密度个体不太可能受到环境波动的缓冲低人口密度的资源。使用不同的身体状况参数，我们的结果提供了关于受食物限制影响的北部有蹄类动物如何对未来环境变化做出反应的更多见解。我们建议管理人员收集有关身体状况的多种生理指标的长期数据。这些数据可用作生态变化的指标，并提供定量依据，以帮助设定收获目标或支持适应性管理。©2020野生动物协会。这些数据可用作生态变化的指标，并提供定量依据，以帮助设定收获目标或支持适应性管理。©2020野生动物协会。这些数据可用作生态变化的指标，并提供定量依据，以帮助设定收获目标或支持适应性管理。©2020野生动物协会。