Abstract
Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) has a wide distributional range in Europe and inhabits a broad range of habitats and environmental conditions. Thus, populations of roe deer show substantial variation in demographic parameters. We aimed to determine whether body mass and population density—which influence the reproductive potential of roe deer at a local scale—affect their reproductive potential at a biogeographical scale as well. We reviewed the literature (covering years 1948–2015) on in utero litter size in roe deer from 59 locations in 14 countries in Europe. Across study sites, mean litter size varied from 1.0 to 2.4 embryo or corpora lutea per female, and population density ranged from 4.5 to 73.5 individuals/km2. Mean body mass varied from 11.2 to 20.8 kg in subadult females and from 12.1 to 22.4 kg in adult females. Between 46° and 56° N, body mass of females did not show a significant trend of increase, whereas between 56° and 63° N, it increased with latitude (Bergmann’s rule). We used linear mixed-effects models (LMMs) to analyse the influence of body mass and population density (analysed separately) on litter size. Females with larger body mass produced larger litters, and this pattern was pronounced at both higher and lower latitudes. Higher population densities negatively affected litter size in a sample of all females. This macroecological analysis showed that factors influencing the reproductive potential of roe deer females at local scales produce similar effects at the biogeographical scale.
Highlights
Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is the most abundant European ungulate with a distributional range spanning from the south of Spain to northern Norway and from the BritishCommunicated by: Justin G
Studies on local populations have shown that the number of offspring in a litter varies with individual female quality, population density and demographic structure (Andersen and Linnell 2000, Nilsen et al 2009), weather conditions, landscape structure, habitat quality (Nilsen et al 2004; Toïgo et al 2006), and the genetic characteristics of individual females within populations (Hewison 1997)
Between 46° and 56° N, body mass of female roe deer did not show a significant trend of increase contrary to our prediction (P from 0.41 to 0.55), whereas between 56° and 63°N, it increased with latitude, Fig. 2 Upper panel: Influence of population density on litter size of roe deer females in Europe
Summary
Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is the most abundant European ungulate with a distributional range spanning from the south of Spain to northern Norway and from the BritishCommunicated by: Justin G. Roe deer occupy a wide variety of natural and humanaltered habitats (Andersen et al 1998) and face diverse environmental and climatic conditions, which influence their reproduction—the major component of population dynamics (Andersen and Linnell 2000). Studies on local populations have shown that the number of offspring in a litter varies with individual female quality (body size and body mass; Kjellander et al 2004; Hamel et al 2009; Flajšman et al 2017a), population density and demographic structure (Andersen and Linnell 2000, Nilsen et al 2009), weather conditions, landscape structure, habitat quality (Nilsen et al 2004; Toïgo et al 2006), and the genetic characteristics of individual females within populations (Hewison 1997)
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