Variation in movement patterns of mule deer: have we oversimplified migration?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Conservation and management of migratory animals has gained attention in recent years, but the majority of research has focused on stereotypical 'migrant' and 'resident' behaviors, often failing to incorporate any atypical behaviors or characterize migratory behaviors beyond distance and timing of the migration. With migration threatened by anthropogenic development and climate change, it is crucial that we understand the full range of migratory behaviors. Our objective was to demonstrate and characterize the variation in migration strategies, including typical and atypical migratory behaviors for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in Utah, USA.

Methods

Because calculation of common metrics such as distance, timing, and use of stopovers during migration did not adequ

SUBMITTER: van de Kerk M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8394567 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature