Spatial analysis of home range, core area and habitat selection of red deer (Cervus elaphus) on an extensively managed high-country station

The aim of this research was to determine the behavior and habitat selection of red deer (Cervus elaphus) hinds during the calving period, on an extensively managed rangeland in the high-country of New Zealand’s South Island. The research was developed using ArcView and eCognition software, GPS collars on five red deer hinds, an aerial photograph and topographic data. The results showed that three out of the five study deer escaped the original study paddock into adjacent extensive paddocks. The deer did not use the entire study paddocks they were in, but instead formed distinct home ranges (total area of movement) and core areas (areas of intensive use, 45% of deer locations). These home ranges were highly variable in size from 225 ha. To 36 ha.. Core areas ranged from 102 ha. To 36 ha.. The variation in size of home ranges and core areas was directly related to the size of the paddock, and indirectly to social constraints within the paddock. The results suggest that deer within these extensive paddocks are under strong densitydependent effects during the calving season that may be forcing some hinds (probably less-dominant hinds) to the marginal edges of the pasture, where they may eventually escape. Habitat selection indicated, that while red deer often selected the naturalized pasture grass areas (high in metabolized energy), tussock grassland, when present in the home range, was also highly selected for. The selection of tussock grasslands was probably a result of tussock habitat providing both good cover/security during the calving season, and the presence of reasonably good forage in the inter-tussock area.PublishedNon Peer ReviewedAsher, G.W. & Adams, L.J. (1985) Reproduction in farmed red and fallow deer in northern New Zealand. Biology of Deer Production, Royal Society Bulletin, 217-224. Ciuti, S., P., B., Vassale, S., & Apollonio, M. (2006) Influance of fawning on the spatial behaviour and habitat selection of female fallow deer (Damma damma) during late pregnancy and early lactation. Journal of Zoology, 97-107. Clutton-Brock, T.H., Guinness, F.E., & Albon, S.D. (1983) The costs of reproduction to red deer hinds. Journal of Animal Ecology, 52, 367-383. Clutton-Brock, T.H., Guinnness, F.E., & Albon, S.D. (1982) Red Deer: Behavior and ecology of two sexes The University of Chago Press, Chigo. Cowie, G.M., Moore, G.H., Fisher, M.W., & Taylor, M.J. (1985) Calving behaviour of farmed red deer. Proceedings of a Deer Course for Veternarians, 143-154. Hall, M.J. (1983) Social organization in an enclosed group of red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) on Rhum. I. The dominance hierarchy of femailes and their offspring. Zeitschrift fur Tierpsychologic, 250-262. Hester, A.J., Gordon, I.J., Baillie, G.J., & Tappin, E. (1999) Foraging behaviour of sheerp and red deer within natural heather/grass mosaics. Journal of Applied Ecology, 133-146. Holdsworth, D.K. & Mark, A.F. (1990) Water and nutrient input: output budgets: effects of plant cover at seven sites in upland snow tussock grasslands of eastern and central Otago, New Zealand. Journal of Royal Societu of New Zealand, 20, 1-24. Lent, P.C. (1974) Mother-Infant Relationship in Ungulates Union Conservation Nature Publishing, Morges, Switzerland. Milne, J.D. (1987) Comparison of Behavioral Interactions of Red Deer Hinds and Their Pure or Hybrid Offspring, University of Otago, Dunedin. Neu, C.W., Byers, C. R., Peek, J. M. (1974) A technique foe analysis of utilization-availability data. Journal of Wildlife Management, Vol. 38, 541-545. Pollard, J.C. & Drewry, J. (2002) Calving environments for farmed red deer: a review of current knowledge and a pilot study on soil quality. In New Zealand Veteranary Assoceation Deer Branch No.19/97, pp. 104. Van Mourik, S. (1985) Expression and relevance of dominance in farmed rusa deer (Cervus russa timonensis). Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 275-287