Linking conception and weaning success with environmental variation and female body condition in a northern ungulate

Abstract

Abstract Success or failure of any stage of reproduction is generally related to maternal characteristics and environmental influences. In addition, postreproductive body condition of females should be a function of effort allocated to reproduction. Using data on > 800 female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) harvested during 4 years on Anticosti Island (Quebec, Canada), we investigated factors affecting reproductive status, from ovulation to weaning, and measured the resulting effect on female body condition. The probability of ovulation (single or double) increased with female age, but weaning success was unrelated to age. Female reproduction was determined by climatic conditions in each season and the availability of preferred habitat, but high density only affected young primiparous females. More specifically, snowy autumns decreased ovulation rate, dry springs disfavored the production of twins, and cold and snowy winters decreased weaning success. Habitat with high summer plant biomass favo...