We analysed effects of females% body mass and age on reproductive capacity of European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in a large sample set of 1312 females (305 yearlings and 1007 adults), hunted throughout Slovenia, central Europe, in the period 2013%2015. Body mass positively affected probability of ovulation and potential litter size (number of corpora lutea), although its effect was more pronounced in yearlings than in adults. Between age groups, we found clear differences in responses of both reproductive parameters to body mass which influences primarily reproductive performance of younger, and in particular, lighter individuals: at the same body mass yearlings would at average have smaller litters than adults, and at lower body mass also young to middle-aged adults would have smaller litters than old ones. In addition, while yearlings have to reach a critical threshold body mass to attain reproductive maturity, adult females are fertile (produce ova) even at low body mass. However, at higher body mass also younger individuals shift their efforts into the reproduction, and after reaching an age-specific threshold the body mass does not have any further effects on the reproductive output of roe deer females. Increased reproductive capacity at more advanced age, combined with declining body mass suggests that old does allocate more of their resources in reproduction than in body condition.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4728742
Red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) is in many parts of the world ecologically important and highly popular game species. Its population densities and environmental impacts largely depend on habitat suitability, which in turn is under strong influence of humans. Wildlife management intentionally improves habitat suitability, while forestry%s impacts on red deer are mostly unintentional. In both disciplines the full extent of these impacts is poorly understood. To better understand habitat use and improve management of red deer, we studied the impacts of multiple environmental and historical factors, mostly anthropogenic, on red deer spatial distribution in Slovenia. We found that the probability of red deer presence and population density are higher close to locations of historic () 100 years ago) red deer reintroduction sites and in large continuous forest complexes. The finding is important for forecasting future red deer distribution and population dynamics. Population density is also positively dependent on proximity to supplemental feeding sites, the proportion of spruce stands in pole-stage and the share of forest young growth, which is important for preventing unwanted impacts of red deer on forest. The approach used by this study and its results are also useful for improving habitat ranking of hunting grounds, which some countries use in wildlife management planning.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4769702
Most roe deer females produce twins and more rarely singletons and triplets. Some very rare reported cases of litters above three offspring refer to quadruplets which are, however, very much an exception in roe deer reproduction (only some tens of documented cases can be found in the scientific literature). In this paper, we present the first firm evidence that roe deer females are able to produce even five offspring. By examination of large sample set (n = 4690) of roe deer uteri and ovaries in two neighbouring countries in southern/central Europe (Italy and Slovenia), we found ten females that either carried or had potential to produce quadruplets, and in three does the (potential) litter size was even five. While one doe from Slovenia had five corpora lutea, two does from Tuscany, Italy, carried five foetuses. In both cases, all foetuses were normally and equally developed, indicating that none of them had predominant exposure to resorption/abortion. Six out of 13 females with exceptionally large potential litters ()3 offspring) had significantly higher body mass in comparison with mean body mass of all does harvested in the same hunting management district and in the same period, while five of them were significantly lighter. This indicates that some roe deer females can produce exceptionally large litters even when their phenotypic quality is not higher than the average in the population, and that such large litters are a stochastic episode rather than a reproductive...
COBISS.SI-ID: 4758182
The information on the sex ratio of roe deer, which is a very important game species in Slovenia, should be one of the key parameters in sustainable and adaptive population management. Due to the lack of relevant data on the demographic structure of adult roe deer, we determined the sex ratio in the initial life periods, i.e. by analyses of: (i) foetuses from pregnant road-killed females, collected in the period 2014–2017 (primary sex ratio); and (ii) data on road-killed juvenile roe deer, collected from the national hunting-information system. The sex ratio of foetuses was 1:0.9 in favor of males, and the sex ratio of fawns from the same litter (shot as twins together with the doe, period 2013–2015) was 1:1.1 in favor of females. The analysis of road-killed juvenile roe deer revealed the higher percentage of females during the whole studied period (2008–2017). In 2017, for example, the sex ratio of fawns was 1:1.22 (males vs. females), and the sex ratio of yearlings was 1:1.10, respectively. Despite a preliminary context of the study, the main conclusions regarding the sex ratio of roe deer, which suggests the slight prevalence of females also in juveniles, should be considered in the management of roe deer in Slovenia.
COBISS.SI-ID: 5306022
The information on absolute and/or relative abundance of wild ungulates is one of the key parameters for sustainable and efficient management. Wild ungulates are the most important and abundant group of game species in Slovenia, however there are currently no standard and routine census methods in the process of management, which would be performed on the annual basis. There are various census methods for estimating wild ungulate abundance and several criteria have to be met, when selecting the most suitable one. The most important criteria that have to be taken into account are studied species, habitat characteristics, size of the studied area, population density and cost efficiency. We prepared a review of census methods, focusing on the methods suitable for Slovenia and for estimating abundance of the most important ungulate species from game-management point of view - roe deer, red deer, wild boar and chamois.
COBISS.SI-ID: sprejeto za obja