Morphometric characterization of the Carmen mountain white-tailed deer in Mexico

Abstract

Unidad Academica Multidisciplinaria Agronomia y Ciencias, Division de Estudios de Postgrado e Investigacion, Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas. CU Adolfo Lopez Mateos, Cd. Victoria, Tam. CP 87149. Tel y Fax: (834)3181721. Departamento de Produccion Agricola y Animal. Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, Unidad Xochimilco. Calzada del Hueso 1100, D.F., Mexico 04960 Niver Ivan Tarqui Callejas niver_27@hotmail.com Juan Carlos Martinez Gonzalez jmartinez@uat.edu.mx Karla Gisela Logan Lopez karlalogan@hotmail.com Antonio Guerra-Perez melopsytacus@hotmail.com Arnoldo Gonzalez Reyna argonzal@uat.edu.mx Hector Castillo-Juarez hcjuarez@correo.xoc.uam.mx *Correspondence author: Eugenia Cienfuegos –Rivas, ecienfue@uat.edu.mx ABSTRACT Carmen mountain white-tailed (Odocoileus virginianus carminis) is one of the 14 white-tailed deer subspecies distributed in Mexico. In the northeastern region, the beef cattle – deer model has been described as a highly successful system of wildlife conservation. In this area, there are three white-tailed deer subspecies whit contiguous distribution polygon (O. v. carminis, O. v. miquihuanensis and O. v. texanus). Nevertheless, transition areas have not been established, which has affected the proper management and conservation of these populations. The morphometric variability of the O. v. carminis was determined in order to augment the definition of this subspecies of white-tailed deer in Mexico. Morphometric records of 180 deer harvested from 1997 to 2009 were analyzed. These records are from north central Coahuila, a northeastern state of Mexico. Data was analyzed using linear models with age as a covariate to study 8 body and 23 antler variables. Pearson correlations and morphometric trends were estimated. Morphometric variability was found (P<0.05) for both, body and antler variables. Morphometric trend was positive and highly associated to within year pluvial precipitation. The Carmen Mountain white-tailed deer described in the present study in the Coahuila state (northeastern, Mexico), is similar to the one reported in the U.S. but different from subspecies O.v. texanus.