Variation in the fecundity of roe deer in Britain: effects of age and body weight

• Autorzy: Hewison A. J. M.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

This paper investigates variation in female fecundity in relation to effects of age and body weight within and between 15 populations of roe deer Capreolus capreolus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Britain. Analyses were based on carcass material and fecundity was assessed from the presence/absence and number of fertilised ovulations (.corpora lutea) and implanted foetuses. A significant proportion (> 10%) of does ovulated in their first year in some populations, but such precocious reproductive activity rarely resulted in successful implantation of a foetus. Generally, the majority of yearling does (in their second year) conceived successfully, but average potential litter size was lower than among older animals. There was no consistent age-related variation in fecundity among does older than 2 years. Differences in fecundity between age and body weight classes suggest weight thresholds may exist for the onset of puberty and for successful conception as an adult. Fecundity of adults and yearlings was highly variable between populations and in some populations was considerably lower than previously reported for this species. Although differences between populations were correlated with differences in body weight, this relationship was insufficient to explain the wide variation in fecundity across Britain, suggesting fecundity body weight thresholds will be defined independently in separate populations.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

fecundity; age structure; population dynamics; body weight; roe deer; Capreolus capreolus

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Acta Theriologica
• Rocznik: 1996
• Tom: 41
• Numer: 2
• Opis fizyczny: p.187-198,fig.

Twórcy

autor

Hewison A. J. M.

• University of Southampton, Southampton SO9 3TU, UK

Bibliografia

• Aitken R. J, 1974. Delayed implantation in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 39: 225-233.
• Aitken R. J. 1975. Cementum layers and tooth wear as criteria for ageing roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Journal of Zoology, London 175: 15-28.
• Albon S. D., Mitchell B., Huby B. J. and Brown D. 1986. Fertility in female red deer fCeruus elaphus): the effects of body composition, age and reproductive status. Journal of Zoology, London 209: 447-460.
• Bobek B. 1977. Summer food as the factor limiting roe deer population size. Nature 268: 47-49.
• Borg K. 1971. On mortality and reproduction of roe deer in Sweden during the period 1948-1969. Viltrevy 7: 119-149.
• Chaetum E. L. and Severinghaus C. W. 1950. Variations in fertility of white-tailed deer related to range conditions. Transactions of the North American Wildlife Conference 15: 170-189.
• Chaplin R. E., Chapman D. I. and Prior R. 1966. An examination of the uterus and ovaries of some female roe deer, (.Capreolus capreolus) from Wiltshire and Dorset, England. Journal of Zoology, London 148: 570-574.
• Chapman D. I. and Chapman N. G. 1971. Further observations on the incidence of twins in roe deer, Capreolus capreolus. Journal of Zoology, London 165: 505-509.
• Clutton-Brock T. H, 1984. Reproductive effort and terminal investment in iteroparous animals. American Naturalist 123: 212-219.
• Clutton-Brock T. H. and Albon S. D. 1989. Red deer in the Highlands. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford: 1-260.
• Clutton-Brock T, IL, Guinness F. E. and Albon S. D. 1982. Red deer: behaviour and ecology of two sexes. University of Chicago Press, Chicago: 1-378.
• Clutton-Brock T. H., Guinness F. E. and Aibon S. D. 1983. The cost of reproduction to red deer hinds. Journal of Animal Ecology 52: 367-383.
• Ellenberg H. 1978. Zur Populationsokologie des Rehes {Capreolus capreolus) in Mitteleuropa. Spixiana, Supplement 2: 1-199.
• Fisher R. A. 1930. The genetical theory of natural selection. Oxford University Press, Oxford: 1-272.
• Frisch R. E. 1984. Body fat, puberty and fertility. Biological Review 59: 161-188.
• Gaillard J. M., Sempere A, J,, Boutin J. M,, Van Laere G. and Boisaubert B. 1992. Effects of age and body weight on the proportion of females breeding in a population of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Canadian Journal of Zoology 70: 1541-1545.
• Guinness F. E., Albon S. D. and Clutton-Brock T. H. 1978. Factors affecting reproductive success in red deer (Cervus elaphus L.). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 54: 325-334.
• Hamilton W. J. and Blaxter K. L. 1980. Reproduction in farmed red deer. I. Hind and stag fertility. Journal of Agricultural Science 95: 261-273.
• Hanks J, 1981. Characterisation of population condition. |In: Dynamics of large mammal populations. C. W. Fowler and T. D. Smith, eds[. Wiley, New York: 47-73.
• Joubert D. M. 1954. The influence of winter nutritional depressions on the growth, reproduction and production of cattle. Journal of Agricultural Science 44: 5-66.
• Kaluziñski J. 1982. Dynamics and structure of a field roe deer population. Acta Theriologica 27: 385-408.
• Loudon A. 1987. The influence of forest habitat structure on growth, body size and reproduction in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). [In: Biology and management of the Cervidae. C. M. Wemmer, ed], Smithsonian, Washington: 559-567.
• Mitchell B. 1973. The reproductive performance of wild Scottish red deer (Cervus elaphus). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 19: 271-285.
• Mitchell B. and Brown D. 1974. The effects of age and body size on fertility in female red deer (Ceruus elaphus). Proceedings of the Congress of the International Union of Game Biologists 11: 89-98.
• Nellis C. H. 1968. Productivity of mule doer on the National Bison Range, Montana. Journal of Wildlife Management 32: 344-349.
• Pole V. B. 1973. Breeding of the roe deer in Kazakhstan. Proceedings of the Kazakhstan Academy of Science, Institute of Zoology 34: 135-144.
• Prusaite J. A., Blajis A. S. and Baieishis R, M- 1977. Breeding intensity and fertility of the European roe deer in northern Lithuania. Proceedings of the Lithuanian Academy of Science 3: 105-110.
• Ratcliffe P. R. and Mayle B. A. 1992. Roe deer biology and management. Forestry Commission Bulletin 105. HMSO, London: 1-28.
• Reimers E. 1983. Reproduction in wild reindeer in Norway. Canadian Journal of Zoology 61: 211-217.
• Sadleir R. M, 1987, Reproduction of female cervids. [In: Biology and management of the Cervidae. C. M. Wemmer, ed|. Smithsonian, Washington: 123-144.
• Sinclair A. E. 1977. The African buffalo: A study of resource limitation of populations. University of Chicago Press, Chicago: 1-355.
• Strandgaard H. 1972a. An investigation of corpora lutea, embryonic development and time of birth in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Denmark. Danish Review of Game Biology 6: 3-21.
• Strandgaard H. 1972b. The roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) population at Kalo and the factors regulating its size. Danish Review of Game Biology 7: 1-205.
• Widdowson E. M,, Mavor W. 0. and McCance R. A. 1964, The effect of undernutrition and reha­bilitation on the development of the reproductive organs: rats. Journal of Endocrinology 29: 119-126.