Behaviour of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus Rafinesque) in winter in relation to the social and physical environment

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dc.contributor.advisorGeist, Valerius
dc.contributor.authorBouckhout, Leo William
dc.coverage.spatial20000045en
dc.date.accessioned2005-07-19T21:34:22Z
dc.date.available2005-07-19T21:34:22Z
dc.date.issued1972
dc.descriptionBibliography: p. 116-124.en
dc.description.abstractThe behaviour of mule deer was studied from October, 1969 to April, 1970 in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. Deer movements, group dynamics, aggression, activity, and habitat utilization were examined in relation to the social and physical environment, in an attempt to determine the factors which could influence deer behaviour in winter. Social factors appeared to exert a major influence on deer behaviour in early winter. In November, rutting bucks sometimes disrupted the activity of maternal groups, and there was some indication that these groups preferred habitats that provided concealment during the rut, possibly because of such disturbances. Intra-group dominance and examples of potential inter-group dominance were observed during early winter, while inter-class dominance was observed throughout the winter. The activity of members of established maternal groups was reasonably synchronous, but synchrony was less evident in unstable groups. Changes in monthly activity patterns appeared to be associated with alterations in group structure, which were particularly frequent during mid and late winter. The deer's patterns of movement and habitat utilization seemed to follow the law of least effort. In early winter, when forage was readily available, deer moved little and occupied small areas. Movements of bucks during the rut was an exception to this rule. When snow restricted forage availability and deer mobility, the animals moved to habitats where snow was shallowest. The deer appeared to be continually compensating for changes in the environment by altering their pattern of habitat utilization in order to take advantage of areas which provided either food or shelter, or both.
dc.description.notesThis title is not available online. Access options are: - consulting the copy from Archives in our reading room in person - https://asc.ucalgary.ca/visiting/ - borrowing a circulating copy from the Library catalogue – https://ucalgary.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?vid=01UCALG_INST:UCALGARY&lang=en
dc.format.extentx, 124 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.en
dc.identifier82480815en
dc.identifier.citationBouckhout, L. W. (1972). Behaviour of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus Rafinesque) in winter in relation to the social and physical environment (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/11954en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/11954
dc.identifier.lccQL 737 U5 B67 1972en
dc.identifier.other82480815en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/15108
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject.lccQL 737 U5 B67 1972en
dc.subject.lcshMule deer
dc.subject.lcshAnimal behavior
dc.titleBehaviour of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus Rafinesque) in winter in relation to the social and physical environment
dc.typemaster thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineBiology
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (MSc)
ucalgary.thesis.accessionTheses Collection 58.002:Box 125 82480815
ucalgary.thesis.notesPLen
ucalgary.thesis.uarcreleasenoen
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