Variation in winter daily range area of red deer (Cervus elaphus xanthopygus) based on DNA extracted from fecal samples

Abstract

With environmental change and increased human activity, wild red deer (Cervus elaphus xanthopygus) populations and habitat area continue to decrease. Red deer is a main prey species of Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica). Factors affecting red deer winter home range in the Wanda montains of northeast China are not well understood. In this study, we aimed to better document red deer daily ranges to support conservation of red deer. A second objective was to develop a practical research method combining macro- and micro-technology for home range research on a variety of rare or endangered wild species. We collected 105 fresh fecal samples of red deer in three different periods during winter from December 2012 to March 2013 in the Wandashan region, Heilongjiang Province, China. Individual and sex identities were analyzed based on fecal DNA using microsatellite DNA. We used samples from deer farms for correction and validation of our identifications from field samples. We used a combination of molecular scatology, 3S techniques (GPS), and direct observation to estimate winter daily range areas. Based on eleven microsatellite loci, we identified 18 individuals, 10 females and 8 males, with a correction factor of 1.00 and sex ratio of 1:0.8. The mean (± SE) number of alleles was 5.1 ± 0.41, and mean polymorphism information content was 0.63 ± 0.03. Expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.46 to 0.81, with a mean of 0.69 ± 0.03, and mean observed heterozygosity was 0.73 ± 0.07. Sizes of mean daily ranges were 26.1 ± 1.1 ha in December, 89.3 ± 1.6 ha in January, and 67.5 ± 1.9 ha in March, indicating the following trend for daily range area: middle winter > late winter > early winter. Mean daily range area was insignificantly larger for males than for females. Estimated winter daily ranges were similar to those reported for Europe. Our combination of macro- and micro-technology proved useful for estimating winter home range areas of red deer.