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Abstract: Although individuals must generally trade off acquisition of high-quality resources against predation risk avoidance, removal of top predators by humans has resulted in many large herbivores experiencing novel conditions [...]

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0706.2010.18312.x Byline: Cecile Vanpe, Jean-Michel Gaillard, Petter Kjellander, Olof Liberg, Daniel Delorme, A. J. Mark Hewison Abstract: Little is known about traits under sexual selection in territorial mammals with low sexual size dimorphism. We examined the potential for sexual selection on male body mass and antler length in the European roe deer Capreolus capreolus, a territorial ungulate in which males are less than 10% heavier than females. Independently, both body mass and antler length (irrespective of age) had a positive effect on male yearly breeding success. However, when corrected for body mass, antler length at a given mass only had a slight effect on male breeding success. This suggests that: (1) 'bigger is better' and (2) sexual selection is responsible for at least part of the observed variation in body mass and antler length in roe deer. High body mass and large antlers may be advantageous to males for two reasons: (1) they enhance fighting ability and dominance, so allowing males to defend better their territory and hence access mates, and (2) they attract females because they are honest signals of male phenotypic quality. This suggests that, even in weakly dimorphic ungulate species, sexual selection may lead to a marked influence of body mass on male breeding success, as long as body mass is also strongly selected in females. Author Affiliation: (1)Laboratoire Comportement et Ecologie de la Faune Sauvage, Inst. National de la Recherche Agronomique, BP 52627, FR-31326 Castanet-Tolosan Cedex, France (2)Laboratoire de Biometrie et Biologie Evolutive, Univ. Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 43 boulevard du 11 novembre 1918, FR-69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France (3)Grimso Wildlife Research Station, Dept of Ecology, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Science (SLU), SE-73091 Riddarhyttan, Sweden (4)Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Centre National de Recherches Appliquees sur les Cervides-Sanglier, 1 Place Exelmans, FR-55000 Bar-le-Duc, France Article History: Paper manuscript accepted 7 January 2010 Article note: A. J. M. Hewison, Laboratoire Comportement et Ecologie de la Faune Sauvage, Inst. National de la Recherche Agronomique, BP 52627, FR-31326 Castanet-Tolosan Cedex, France. E-mail: mark.hewison@toulouse.inra.fr

We investigated age-specific variation in male yearly breeding success (YBS) using genetic estimates obtained from 2 populations of a territorial ungulate, the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). YBS in both populations was markedly age-structured, with 3 distinct stages, supporting the dome-shaped pattern of variation commonly reported for age-dependent variation in life-history traits of ungulates. YBS was low at 2 years of age, peaked at 3-8 years of age, and tended to decline afterwards (senescence). Most males successfully reproduced for the 1st time at 3 years of age, which is well after their physiological maturity. The few successful young males (i.e., 2 year olds) were likely fast-growing individuals that could successfully hold a territory. The high variance in YBS and antler size for old males at Bogesund, Sweden, suggests that only some males of this age class are able to maintain large antlers and, hence, retain their territories. Key words: age of 1st breeding, Capreolus capreolus, microsatellites, paternity analyses, reproductive success, senescence, territoriality, ungulate

A test for differentiating between red deer (Cervus elaphus) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) hair samples using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method is described. The method works by amplifying a section of the mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) D-loop, which differs in length between species.

A study was made to compare two estimators of population number and one index of population trend by directly observing a known number of a fallow deer population. Phases of population increase, stability and decrease were likewise examined. From the two estimators, reasonably unbiased estimates of absolute population size were determined. However, each measure exhibited some bias. Meanwhile, a kilometric index based on highly standardized methods is an excellent and inexpensive method to use in analyzing population trend.

We present methodological advances to a recently developed framework to study sequential habitat use by animals using a visually-explicit and tree-based Sequence Analysis Method (SAM), derived from molecular biology and more recently used in time geography. Habitat use sequences are expressed as annotations obtained by intersecting GPS movement trajectories with environmental layers. Here, we develop IM-SAM, where we use the individual reference area of use as the reference spatial context. To assess IM-SAM's applicability, we investigated the sequential use of open and closed habitats across multiple European roe deer populations ranging in landscapes with contrasting structure. Starting from simulated sequences based on a mechanistic movement model, we found that different sequential patterns of habitat use were distinguished as separate, robust clusters, with less variable cluster size when habitats were present in equal proportions within the individual reference area of use. Application on real roe deer sequences showed that our approach effectively captured variation in spatio-temporal patterns of sequential habitat use, and provided evidence for important behavioral processes, such as day-night habitat alternation. By characterizing sequential habitat use patterns of animals, we may better evaluate the temporal trade-offs in animal habitat use and how they are affected by changes in landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heterozygosity-fitness correlations (HFCs) in a population of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) are monitored intensively to assess the relationship between juvenile survival, a reliable proxy for individual fitness among studied roe deer population and genetic diversity. The results from both neutral and candidate gene markers suggested that the observed HFCs are likely due to linkage with dominant or overdominant loci that affect fitness rather than to a genome-wide relationship with homozygosity due to inbreeding.

Article describes the authors' belief that extraction of an incisiform canine tooth from deer and other ungulates to determine their age is not an acceptable method. They consider it to be an unethical practice, are not convinced that it is harmless to the animals and carries the risk of creating flaws in long-term studies.

The accuracy and precision of the vocalization frequency (VF) method for estimating the size of roe deer populations was evaluated and compared with the capture-mark-recapture method. Results suggested that the VF method provides estimates of absolute population size at low cost and with little material investment because physical capture and marking of animals is not necessary. The VF method may have potential applications for population estimation of other species of large mammals.

Comments on the study published in the Forum of Oikos, Saltz on maternal age as the predominant determinant of progeny sex ratio (PSR) variation of ungulates. Arguments on the theoretical basis in hypothesizing maternal age; Reliability of age in determining the ability of mother to provide care; Factors influencing PSR.