Daily Activity Patterns of Mule Deer During Migration and Understanding Stakeholder Perspective to Improve Science Communication Around Mule Deer

Daily Activity Patterns of Mule Deer During Migration and Understanding Stakeholder Perspective to Improve Science Communication Around Mule Deer PDF Author: Rhiannon Jakopak
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Communication in science
Languages : en
Pages : 71

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Book Description
When completing seasonal migrations, some migrants switch their activity to take advantage of better conditions. We tested the niche switch hypothesis for a migratory ungulate by comparing activity patterns before and during migration for 3 populations of migratory mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus; n = 176) in western Wyoming, U.S.A (2008 – 2019). Both before and during migration, mule deer were crepuscular (i.e., most active during twilight hours). Mule deer overall maintained a consistent pattern of crepuscular activity, but fine-tuned their activity patterns during migration, which may allow them to better match their behaviors with environmental conditions while completing an important life event. To improve science communication, we characterized perspectives regarding issues negatively affecting mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in Wyoming, USA. We identified 3 perspectives (52% of variance explained) that captured shared views regarding what factors are negatively affecting mule deer: bottom-up (n = 17 participants; 26% variance), human contributions (n = 9; 14% variance), and top-down (n = 8; 12% variance) perspectives. Based on how participants diverged in perspectives and their interest in mule deer management, we discuss opportunities for scientists to improve communication by incorporating ecological complexity and nuance, moving towards a 2-way dialogue of communication, and sharing their own first-hand experiences in future communications with stakeholders.

Daily Activity Patterns of Mule Deer During Migration and Understanding Stakeholder Perspective to Improve Science Communication Around Mule Deer

Daily Activity Patterns of Mule Deer During Migration and Understanding Stakeholder Perspective to Improve Science Communication Around Mule Deer PDF Author: Rhiannon Jakopak
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Communication in science
Languages : en
Pages : 71

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Book Description
When completing seasonal migrations, some migrants switch their activity to take advantage of better conditions. We tested the niche switch hypothesis for a migratory ungulate by comparing activity patterns before and during migration for 3 populations of migratory mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus; n = 176) in western Wyoming, U.S.A (2008 – 2019). Both before and during migration, mule deer were crepuscular (i.e., most active during twilight hours). Mule deer overall maintained a consistent pattern of crepuscular activity, but fine-tuned their activity patterns during migration, which may allow them to better match their behaviors with environmental conditions while completing an important life event. To improve science communication, we characterized perspectives regarding issues negatively affecting mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in Wyoming, USA. We identified 3 perspectives (52% of variance explained) that captured shared views regarding what factors are negatively affecting mule deer: bottom-up (n = 17 participants; 26% variance), human contributions (n = 9; 14% variance), and top-down (n = 8; 12% variance) perspectives. Based on how participants diverged in perspectives and their interest in mule deer management, we discuss opportunities for scientists to improve communication by incorporating ecological complexity and nuance, moving towards a 2-way dialogue of communication, and sharing their own first-hand experiences in future communications with stakeholders.

Home Range and Movement of Five Mule Deer in a Semidesert Grass-shrub Community

Home Range and Movement of Five Mule Deer in a Semidesert Grass-shrub Community PDF Author: Kenneth J. Rodgers
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Mule deer
Languages : en
Pages : 8

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The Activity Patterns of Mule Deer in Response to Hunting in Southeastern Idaho

The Activity Patterns of Mule Deer in Response to Hunting in Southeastern Idaho PDF Author: Michael J. McDonald
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Deer hunting
Languages : en
Pages : 134

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Book Description


Weather and Sex Influence Migratory Behaviors and Habitat Selection in Mule Deer

Weather and Sex Influence Migratory Behaviors and Habitat Selection in Mule Deer PDF Author: Patrick A. Rodgers
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Mule deer
Languages : en
Pages : 70

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Book Description
Seasonal migrations along elevational and latitudinal gradients allow a diversity of wildlife species to persist in the face of dramatic seasonal shifts in habitat quality. Recent work to better understand ungulate migration has produced a suite of analytical tools for identifying the mechanisms behind migration and quantifying associated behaviors. While environmental variables like weather and plant phenology are thought to be the main drivers of migration, emergent evidence suggests that anthropogenic disturbances, such as hunting, as well as intrinsic factors like age and sex can also influence migratory patterns. However, critical gaps in understanding of the influence of both the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence migratory behaviors remain common. We used three years (2016–2018) of GPS-collar data for a herd of migratory mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in south-central Wyoming to compare key migratory behaviors between sexes, identify factors that influence the timing of migration, and evaluate habitat selection in and around the autumn hunting season. Overall, migratory behaviors were sex specific. Both sexes showed high-fidelity to their migratory routes, but route fidelity was more variable in males. Males also migrated 30% farther on average, spent 14% more time on stopover sites, and took twice as long in spring and 44% longer in autumn to complete migration. Additionally, we found that weather, mainly precipitation events (i.e., snowfall), not hunting disturbance, was the main driver of autumn migration, increasing the likelihood of migration in both males and females by 14%. Our findings suggest that response to disturbance from hunting season is sex-specific. The hunted sex (males) more intensively sought refugia, whereas the less-hunted sex continued to use areas with good forage. Overall, our findings contribute to a broader understanding of migration ecology and the factors that influence migration and habitat selection of wild ungulates in western landscapes.

Mule Deer Habitat Guides

Mule Deer Habitat Guides PDF Author: Richard M. Kerr
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Mammals
Languages : en
Pages : 76

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An Evaluation of Annual Migration Patterns of the Paunsaugunt Mule Deer Herd Between Utah and Arizona

An Evaluation of Annual Migration Patterns of the Paunsaugunt Mule Deer Herd Between Utah and Arizona PDF Author: William K. Carrel
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Mule deer
Languages : en
Pages : 60

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Movement and Activity Patterns of Mule Deer in the Sagebrush-steppe Region

Movement and Activity Patterns of Mule Deer in the Sagebrush-steppe Region PDF Author: L. E. Eberhardt
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 6

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Social and Scientific Factors Impacting Mule Deer Habitat Conservation in the Intermountain West

Social and Scientific Factors Impacting Mule Deer Habitat Conservation in the Intermountain West PDF Author: Nicholas F. Trulove
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781303150265
Category : Mule deer
Languages : en
Pages : 164

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Book Description
For mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus ) in the Intermountain West, alterations to habitat are outpacing strategies to mitigate human disturbance on critical seasonal ranges and migration routes. Conserving mule deer habitat requires cooperation between a diverse group of stakeholders, state wildlife agencies, and federal land management agencies. The first chapter of this thesis explores the current and historical relationship between state wildlife agencies, citizen stakeholders, and federal agencies in order to highlight opportunities to improve cooperative habitat conservation in the United States. Conservation is a result of social, political, and economic action, but relies upon science to inform policy. The second chapter explores the seasonal habitat use of mule deer in southwestern Wyoming. In response to low fawn recruitment, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department deployed 15 GPS collars on adult female mule deer in an effort to enhance knowledge of mule deer population dynamics, migrations, and habitat use. The study captured two winter climate regimes, with greater winter severity during the 2010-11 winter compared to the winter of 2011-12. Deer migrated an average of 23.9 km (SE = 2.2) between seasonal ranges, and completed spring migrations nearly one month earlier following the milder winter of 2011-12 ( t 19 = 5.53, df = 19, P ? 0.001). Pooled, the average area of winter ranges (1057 ha, SE = 103, n = 26) was larger than summer ranges (423 ha, SE = 51 ha, n = 25) (t = -5.44, df = 49, P ≤ 0.001), with no increase or decrease in size of seasonal ranges detected between years (P = 0.243) according to a post-hoc Tukey HSD test. Between years, deer were observed to shift the geographic center of winter ranges (2.9 km, SE = 1.1, n = 12) to a larger degree than summer ranges (0.4 km, SE = 0.1, n = 12) (t = -2.20, df = 22, P = 0.040). Survival and pregnancy rates (86% and 96%, respectively) correlated closely with other mule deer studies, and neither factor appears to negatively impact population growth. Identifying seasonal ranges and migration routes, and quantifying seasonal habitat use, will assist Wyoming Game and Fish Department efforts to protect mule deer seasonal habitats and migration routes, and direct vegetation manipulations intended to improve the nutritional quality of habitats. On average, winter ranges included a later percentage of shrub-dominated habitat (83.8%, SE = 0.3, n = 26) than summer ranges (57.5%, SE = 2.0, n = 25) (t = -4.42, df = 49, P ? 0.001). Summer ranges averaged a greater proportion of agricultural lands (2.8%, SE = 1.1, n = 25) and aspen (Populus tremuloides ) habitats (9.0%, SE = 2.2, n = 25) than winter ranges (0.1%, SE = 0.1, n = 26 and 0.2%, SE = 0.0, n = 26, respectively) (t = 3.03, df = 49, P = 0.004 and t = 3.86, df = 49, P ? 0.001, respectively). Mule deer ranges are primarily located on Bureau of Land Management (73%, SE = 2.8, n = 51) and privately owned (17.3%, SE = 2.9, n = 51) lands, highlighting opportunities for cooperative partnerships for mule deer habitat conservation.

Mule Deer Mortality on Interstate 80 in Wyoming

Mule Deer Mortality on Interstate 80 in Wyoming PDF Author: Gregory A. Goodwin
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Mule deer
Languages : en
Pages : 4

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Mule Deer

Mule Deer PDF Author: Erwin A. Bauer
Publisher: Voyageur Press (MN)
ISBN:
Category : House & Home
Languages : en
Pages : 168

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Book Description
An introduction to the mule deer, native of North America, discussing its physical characteristics, habitats, and behavior.