ABSTRACT

Some prey species use hiding tactics and thus select areas that provide greater visual obstruction for predator avoidance, and vegetative characteristics that provide greater obstruction should be selected. To investigate vegetative characteristics selected by adult male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), we compared vegetation between heavily used and unused areas within home ranges of 22 adult (2.5+ years old) males during 1 November 2017–30 January 2018, which coincides with the Mississippi modern-firearms hunting season and includes breeding season. Vegetation within heavily used cells was 20% taller and provided 56% greater Nudds screening cover and >120% greater coverage of thicket and herbaceous plants. Four of seven vegetation variables were influential towards selection in heavily used areas: canopy coverage of thicket-producing, herbaceous, live woody, and dead woody plants. Basal area, height of vegetation, and Nudds board values were not influential. Exclusion of Nudds values from the model suggests adult males selected vegetative characteristics that provided more than just physical obstruction. Forest managers can use these results in inform management actions to attract adult male deer.

摘要

一些猎物使用躲藏策略，因此选择了避免躲避掠食者的视觉障碍较大的区域，应选择提供更大阻碍的营养特性。调查成年雄性白尾鹿（Odocoileus virginianus）选择的营养特性，我们比较了2017年11月1日至2018年1月30日之间22位成年男性（2.5岁以上）男性在家中频繁使用和未使用区域的植被，这与密西西比州现代枪支狩猎季节相吻合，其中包括繁殖季节。频繁使用的细胞内的植被高出20％，Nudds筛选覆盖率提高了56％，灌木丛和草本植物的覆盖率提高了120％以上。七个植被变量中的四个对在频繁使用地区的选择有影响：产生灌木丛，草本，活木本植物和枯木本植物的树冠覆盖率。基础面积，植被高度和Nudds板值没有影响。从模型中排除Nudds值表明成年男性选择的营养特征不仅提供身体上的阻碍。