Changes in roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus L.) population density in response to forest habitat succession

Abstract

In spite of several studies showing that roe deer typically achieve higher population densities in openings or younger forest stands, there do not appear to be any reporting the response of a single population to forest habitat change. In this paper the results of a 25-year study of a roe deer population, which was not subject to significant levels of culling, predation or ungulate competition are presented. Following planting with conifers (which was mostly in 1961–1962), the canopy cover increased, most rapidly between 8 and 15 years after planting. Ground vegetation cover was negatively correlated with canopy cover. The deer population increased from 46 km −2 to 76 km −2 between 4 and 13 years after planting, after which it declined sharply to 34 km −2. A significant negative cross-correlation was found between conifer canopy cover and deer density with a lag of 6 years, indicating that the decline in deer numbers lagged behind the decline in browse supply. The rate of recruitment was correlated with the conifer canopy cover without any indication of a significant lag. The decline in cover of the main food plant species (bramble Rubus fruticosus), was much greater than the decline in deer density, implying that the deer were forced to change their diet and perhaps also their patterns of habitat selection in response to the change in habitat structure.