Optimization of delivery date in cervids

Female mammals adjust their birth date according to actual environmental conditions and their own condition to maximize their reproductive fitness. Optimizing of birth date allows the mothers to maximize not only their own fitness but also the fitness of their offspring. The aim of my bachelor`s thesis is to document the optimization of the delivery date in the deer family (Cervidae), i.e. timing of delivery whereby females can attain successful reproduction. This family is thanks to world-wide areal an ideal taxon for the study of optimization of the delivery date. 40 species and 200 subspecies renders this family one of the most diversified and the most numerous of even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla). In general, factors that affect the timing of the delivery date are: ecological, behavioral, reproductive, physiological and genetic. These factors include, for example, seasonality, availability and quality of food, condition, social rank and age of the female, the presence of the male and the sex of the offspring. Depending on actual environmental conditions, female deer may either hasten or, on the contrary, delay the delivery date and thus maximize the chances of survival of their offspring. The synchronization of the birth date is another important strategy which allows females to reduce the..