Oral Presentations: UC 327
To Jump or Not to Jump: Mule Deer and White-tailed Deer Crossing Decisions
Presentation Type
Presentation
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Mark Hebblewhite
Abstract / Artist's Statement
Wildlife meet energetic requirements for maintenance, reproduction and survival by considering the physiological, biotic, and abiotic factors that regulate energetic costs. These can include demographic, climatic and anthropogenic factors. The purpose of this study is to investigate fence crossing decisions of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and determine what factors influence their crossing decisions. I hypothesize that deer will choose to cross under a fence rather than jump over if it’s more energetically beneficial, based on measured physical and abiotic attributes. Data from remote cameras was collected and analyzed from three study areas; two in Southeastern Alberta, Canada and one in Northcentral Montana. Using a Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) design, cameras were set up along fence lines within each study area. I recorded individual’s species type, age, sex and crossing decision. I also recorded the season, bottom and top wire height, snow presence, and the modification-type of the fence. I used logistic regression to model the probability of deer crossing under a fence versus jumping over it based on important fence and environmental characteristics. My results show that males and white-tail deer are less likely to cross under than females and mule deer. Both species are more likely to cross under during the summer and fall in reference to spring. Deer are less likely to cross under during the winter than in spring, however it was not statistically significant (P-value>0.05). As the bottom and top wire heights increase, deer are more likely to cross under. Snow presence, modification-type, and before/after periods were not included in the model because they were found to be statistically insignificant. Understanding the determinants behind either crawling under or jumping over a fence and how energetic requirements are associated with this decision is important to discerning animal movement for management and conservation practices.
Category
Physical Sciences
To Jump or Not to Jump: Mule Deer and White-tailed Deer Crossing Decisions
Wildlife meet energetic requirements for maintenance, reproduction and survival by considering the physiological, biotic, and abiotic factors that regulate energetic costs. These can include demographic, climatic and anthropogenic factors. The purpose of this study is to investigate fence crossing decisions of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and determine what factors influence their crossing decisions. I hypothesize that deer will choose to cross under a fence rather than jump over if it’s more energetically beneficial, based on measured physical and abiotic attributes. Data from remote cameras was collected and analyzed from three study areas; two in Southeastern Alberta, Canada and one in Northcentral Montana. Using a Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) design, cameras were set up along fence lines within each study area. I recorded individual’s species type, age, sex and crossing decision. I also recorded the season, bottom and top wire height, snow presence, and the modification-type of the fence. I used logistic regression to model the probability of deer crossing under a fence versus jumping over it based on important fence and environmental characteristics. My results show that males and white-tail deer are less likely to cross under than females and mule deer. Both species are more likely to cross under during the summer and fall in reference to spring. Deer are less likely to cross under during the winter than in spring, however it was not statistically significant (P-value>0.05). As the bottom and top wire heights increase, deer are more likely to cross under. Snow presence, modification-type, and before/after periods were not included in the model because they were found to be statistically insignificant. Understanding the determinants behind either crawling under or jumping over a fence and how energetic requirements are associated with this decision is important to discerning animal movement for management and conservation practices.