Does artificial feeding impact neonate growth rates in a large free-ranging mammal?

ABSTRACT: Variation and disparity in resource access between individuals in an animal population within human-dominated landscapes require attention as artificial selection processes may be at work. Independent, recreational human-wildlife feeding interactions constitute an increasingly prevalent, yet understudied, food resource for birds and mammals living in our cities. However, only a limited number of risk-taking individuals may access it. Using urban fallow deer as our model species, we hypothesized that if these interactions result in positive effects for the engaging individual, e.g. increased milk quality and yield, then this would result in the increased growth rates of their offspring. Alternatively, if these individuals were prioritizing investing time in engagement with humans, resulting

SUBMITTER: Griffin LL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10031432 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature