Implications of the forage maturation hypothesis for activity of partially migratory male and female deer

• DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2050
• Publication Date: 2017-12-23T14:46:47Z
• Authors: Lucie Debeffe; Inger Maren Rivrud; Øystein Brekkum; Erling L. Meisingset; Atle Mysterud
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; 570; partial migration; gps; [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]; GPS; red deer; 590; Cervus elaphus; foraging strategy; 15. Life on land; 01 natural sciences; cervus elaphus;dual-axis accelerometer;foraging strategy;gps;movement;partial migration;red deer;ungulate; [SDV] Life Sciences [q-bio]; cervus elaphus; dual-axis accelerometer; ungulate; movement

Abstract Partial migration is common in a large variety of taxa seasonally variable environments. Understanding the mechanisms underlying important, as affects individual fitness. Migratory herbivores benefit from delayed forage maturation and hence higher food quality during at their summer range, termed hypothesis ( FMH ). The link between diet rumination time allows migrants eating to spend less on rumination, they can thus allocate more additional feeding. However, such an argument implicitly assumes that deer are energy maximizers, while studies have reported also minimization strategies under risk predation. Male female distributions limited by different factors linked both body size differences reproductive strategies, but there no study investigating activity pattern according migratory patterns for male deer. We here unify with hypotheses predicting sex‐specific allocation strategies. To test predictions resident red Cervus elaphus ), we analyzed data 286 individuals were fitted GPS collars population western Norway. While active itself, found migrant main growth season, neither terms proportion daily nor mean movement speed, rejecting maximizers. Overall, females season even after controlling differences. These consistent predicted sexual segregation theory strategy hypothesis. Our highlights how understanding be advanced considering it context males females.