Synching with seasonality: Predicting roe deer parturition phenology across its distributional range.

ABSTRACT: Latitude and elevation are the most commonly studied drivers of large-scale variation in the phenology of life-history events. However, these coarse gradients cannot reliably predict observed spatial variation in phenology. Although it is less often investigated, environmental predictability is also a selective force that constrains spatial variation in life-history events. Here, we explore how environmental predictability contributes to shaping spatial variation in the parturition phenology of roe deer across its distributional range in Europe. We compiled data on roe deer parturition dates across Europe within the research collaboration EURODEER, and from citizen scientists and related birth dates to elevation and environmental predictability, measured by Colwell's metrics of contingency

SUBMITTER: Kauffert J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12673248 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature