Density‐habitat relationships of white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Finland

• Published in: Ecology and evolution Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. e9711 - n/a
• Main Authors: Poutanen, Jenni, Fuller, Angela K., Pusenius, Jyrki, Royle, J. Andrew, Wikström, Mikael, Brommer, Jon E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.01.2023; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Agriculture; Animal populations; Applied Ecology; Biogeography; Capture-recapture studies; Clearcutting; Crops; Deer; Feces; Genetic markers; Genetics; Habitat selection; Habitats; Heterogeneity; Landscape Ecology; Macroecology; Microsatellites; Mixed forests; Movement Ecology; non‐invasive genetics; Odocoileus virginianus; Population density; Population Ecology; Probability; spatial capture‐recapture; Spatial Ecology; Telemetry; white‐tailed deer; wildlife ecology; Woodlands; Zoology; Finland; population density; spatial capture‐recapture; wildlife ecology; non‐invasive genetics; white‐tailed deer; Odocoileus virginianus
• ISSN: 2045-7758; 2045-7758
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9711

In heterogeneous landscapes, resource selection constitutes a crucial link between landscape and population‐level processes such as density. We conducted a non‐invasive genetic study of white‐tailed deer in southern Finland in 2016 and 2017 using fecal DNA samples to understand factors influencing white‐tailed deer density and space use in late summer prior to the hunting season. We estimated deer density as a function of landcover types using a spatial capture‐recapture (SCR) model with individual identities established using microsatellite markers. The study revealed second‐order habitat selection with highest deer densities in fields and mixed forest, and third‐order habitat selection (detection probability) for transitional woodlands (clear‐cuts) and closeness to fields. Including landscape heterogeneity improved model fit and increased inferred total density compared with models assuming a homogenous landscape. Our findings underline the importance of including habitat covariates when estimating density and exemplifies that resource selection can be studied using non‐invasive methods. In heterogeneous landscapes, resource selection constitutes a crucial link between landscape and population‐level processes such as density. We studied factors influencing white‐tailed deer density and space use in Finland by using non‐invasively collected fecal DNA samples and Spatial Capture‐Recapture modeling. Here, we underlined the importance of incorporating habitat covariates when estimating density and exemplify that resource selection can be studied using non‐invasive methods.