Vplivi ekoloških dejavnikov na telesno maso srnjadi (Capreolus capreolus L.) na Jelovici z obrobjem
The effects of environmental factors on Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) body mass on Jelovica and its periphery

slovenian

2012

volume 70, issue 7/8

Slovenia 

Zveza gozdarskih društev Slovenije
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

Body mass of the free-living wild ungulates is an important index of their vitality and varies considerably among the animals in the population; these variations have numerous environmental and temporal causes. In the research we analyzed the influence of habitat structure and other environmental factors on the body mass of roe deer. The research is based on the sample of 2604 individuals of culled deer in the area of Jelovica and its periphery; with regard to the data from 33 GIS layers of environmental factors and to the dataabout sex, age, season of the year, and population density of deer and other ungulates they were assigned to quadrants sized 100 ha. Through our research we have found that the roe deer body mass is, in addition to the main factors (sex, age, season), negatively affected by population density, share of forests, small amount of precipitation, and inclination of the terrain; it is positively affected by the intensity of insloation in summer. After the check of influences of sex, age of the animal and day of the hunt we also discovered that the body mass is negatively affected by the share of pole forest and agricultural areas; they also differ with regard to individual years and hunting grounds. The listed environmental variables most probably affect energy balance and through it body weights of animals. Thereby, an important role is played by the consumption and input of energy, reflected in the quantity and quality of food, and affected by phenology, plant biomass, and vegetation structure.

08.04.2015