Evaluating movement-based methods for estimating the frequency and timing of parturition in mule deer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Information on reproduction of harvested species such as mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is vital for conservation and management. Furthermore, parturition in ungulates may be detected using patterns of movement logged by GPS transmitters. Several movement-based methods have been developed to detect parturition in ungulates including the Peterson method, behavioral change point analysis (BCPA), rolling minimum convex polygons (rMCP), individual-based method (IBM), and population-based method (PBM). Our objectives were to (1) test the accuracy and the precision of each previously described method and (2) develop an improved method optimized for mule deer that incorporated aspects of the other methods.

Methods

We determined parturition timing and status for female m

SUBMITTER: Hughes TA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10799437 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature