Designing the Future Deer Herd

Research


Deer epigenetics May 24, 2024 Louisiana Sportsman

... the biggest and best deer follow genetics that are more than one or two generations deep in their bloodline.  Recent research has shown that deer are more than just a product of what they eat. They’re also a product of what their parents and grandparents ate as well as their genetics... More information on epigenetics


'Designer' deer herds touted to help farmers April 20, 2021 New Zealand, rnz

... a range of factors that influenced where a deer wanted to forage, including its personality, health, social interactions, past experience, food availability and diet.  Thompson said if those foraging behaviors were better understood, it might be possible to create herds with deer that were suited to specific farms...


A review of urban wildlife management from the animal personality perspective: The case of urban deer  T Honda, H Iijima, J Tsuboi, K Uchida - Science of The Total Environment, 2018

... Studies have shown how the personalities of wildlife contribute to their adaptation to urban habitats. In order to prevent human-urban wildlife conflicts, recognizing the personalities of wildlife and selective culling of bold individuals should be conducted for deliberate selection for shyness when developing wildlife management plans...


Integrating evolution in the management of captive zoo populations [PDF]

AI Schulte‐Hostedde, GF Mastromonaco - Evolutionary Applications, 2015

... Both natural animal populations and those in captivity are subject to evolutionary forces. Evolutionary changes to captive populations may be an important, but poorly understood, factor that can affect the sustainability of these populations...


Genetic Diversity Issues


Phylogeography, population genetics and conservation of the European red deer Cervus elaphus  FE Zachos, GB Hartl - Mammal Review, 2011

... Although hunting has an impact on red deer gene pools, the main threat today is habitat fragmentation in human-dominated landscapes. The resulting increase in genetic drift and inbreeding reduces variability in isolated populations and may lead to inbreeding depression. To support vital meta-populations, migration corridors should be established...


Modeling problems in conservation genetics using captive Drosophila populations: Improvement of reproductive fitness due to immigration of one individual into small partially inbred populations  Derek Spielman, Dr. Richard Frankham.   Zoobiology. 1992

... Immigration into small isolated captive and wild populations is recommended to alleviate inbreeding depression... These results indicate substantial benefits can be gained by the translocation of as few as a single animal between small, partially inbred populations ...


Genetic diversity and genetic similarity between urban and rural white‐tailed deer populations in Iowa. Whitney Briggs, Lynne Gardner & Julie Blanchong,

Department of Natural Resource Ecology & Management, Iowa State University

... Conclusions:  High levels of diversity suggests no isolation of urban deer.  Urban and rural populations are genetically similar.  Implications:  High rate of movement between urban and rural populations


Population Viability Analysis and Genetic Diversity of the Endangered Red Deer Cervus elaphus Population from Mesola, Italy   Frank E. Zachos, et al © Wildlife Biology, NKV 2008

...  we present a genetic analysis of 25 Mesola red deer ... A sensitivity analysis revealed that inbreeding depression and possible catastrophes had a huge impact on the population's prospects. However, the establishment of two subpopulations and successful attempts at reducing the consequences of catastrophic events were able to significantly mitigate the harmful effects of both inbreeding and environmental stochasticity...


Modeling problems in conservation genetics using captive Drosophila populations: Improvement of reproductive fitness due to immigration of one individual into small partially inbred populations  Derek Spielman, Dr. Richard Frankham.   Zoobiology. 1992

... Immigration into small isolated captive and wild populations is recommended to alleviate inbreeding depression... These results indicate substantial benefits can be gained by the translocation of as few as a single animal between small, partially inbred populations ...


Captive breeding programs for populations with a small number of founders

Katherine Ralls. Jonathan Ballou  Trends in Ecology & Evolution.  Volume 1, Issue 1, July 1986, Pages 19-22

... Small captive populations are likely to become extinct. Detailed breeding plans based on the principles of population genetics and demography can greatly increase their chances of long-term survival. Zoos have now begun to implement such plans but lack the resources to extend them to the many species that are likely to become extinct in the wild in the near future.


Migration to Improve Genetic Diversity


Female deer disperse farther than males, present disease-control challenge, Science Daily, June 28, 2016

... “Dispersal of female deer is density dependent, meaning that higher deer densities lead to greater dispersal rates.” He explained. “Therefore, reducing deer density will reduce female dispersal rates — and likely will reduce disease spread. Containing the spread of chronic wasting disease is going to be difficult when female deer disperse. Although not as many females disperse — 8 to 24 percent of females versus 50 to 75 percent of males — there end up being more of them, because they live longer than males and they disperse an average of 11 miles compared to 5 miles for males.”

News


With study, you can groom a place where deer flourish November 28, 2015 Minnesota, SC Times

... Our group tries to manage the herd in our area by being selective with the deer we harvest. Our goal is to carry a relatively high number of deer, while improving the overall age structure of the herd, particularly with bucks. We have been selectively harvesting deer for several years now, and the results are slowly starting to show...


Deer Control: DEC Plan Is Not Reducing Numbers Yet November 4, 2015 New York, ithaca.com 

...  a program which allows hunters to take up to two antlerless deer per day and added a two-week, antlerless-only season in January.  ...“When you have more does than bucks, things go awry,” Edwards said. “The inferior bucks have the opportunity to breed as much as they can. When the herd is even, one buck for one doe, the dominant buck is going to be spreading his genes.” ...


The Tragic Saga of a Texas “Superbuck” February 12, 2016 OutdoorHub

... They determined that the deer would score over 200 inches at four ... a pact was made among the hunters that the buck would be allowed to live out its natural life and spread its genes into the gene pool for as long as it lived... After a few weeks, it became clear that Superbuck was missing... above the fireplace, where Superbuck’s mount hung for all to see ...