Relative reproductive phenology and synchrony affect neonate survival in a nonprecocial ungulate
1. Degree of reproductive synchronization in prey is hypothesized as a predator defense strategy reducing prey risk via predator satiation or predator avoidance. Species with precocial young, especially those exposed to specialist predators, should be highly synchronous to satiate predators (predato...
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Zusammenfassung: | 1. Degree of reproductive synchronization in prey is hypothesized as a
predator defense strategy reducing prey risk via predator satiation or
predator avoidance. Species with precocial young, especially those exposed
to specialist predators, should be highly synchronous to satiate predators
(predator satiation hypothesis), while prey with nonprecocial (i.e.,
altricial) young, especially those exposed to generalist predators, should
become relatively asynchronous to avoid predator detection (predator
avoidance hypothesis). The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in
North America is an example of a nonprecocial ungulate that uses the hider
strategy early in life; its primary predator (coyote; Canis latrans) is a
generalist, making white-tailed deer a good model species to test the
predator avoidance hypothesis. 2. We used birth dates and known fates of
white-tailed deer neonates (n=1032) across nine study sites varying in
relative synchrony and predator assemblages to test the predator avoidance
hypothesis. We predicted that relative birthing asynchrony of the
population would increase relative survival at the population level;
therefore, at the individual scale, neonate birth date nearer to mean
birthing date in a respective population would not influence individual
survival. 3. Coyotes were responsible for the majority of predation
events, and survival of those neonates increased the closer the individual
was born to peak birthing season in each respective population. Also, at
the population level, reproductive asynchronization negatively affected
survival. 4. Contrary to the predator avoidance hypothesis, our data
indicate patterns in neonate survival for white-tailed deer better support
the predator satiation hypothesis at the individual and population level.
Additionally, coyotes may present a selective force great enough to shift
reproductive synchrony such that predator satiation may become a feasible
defense strategy for neonates at local spatial scales. 5. Our results
indicate that synchronizing reproduction may still be the most effective
strategy to reduce individual predation risk from generalist predators,
particularly when the window of heightened resource availability to the
prey is narrow. |
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DOI: | 10.5061/dryad.pg4f4qrmn |