László Szemethy

RESOURCE USE BY RED DEER IN LOWLAND NONNATIVE FORESTS, HUNGARY

Abstract Many red deer (Cervus elaphus) inhabit nonnative Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) forested areas with impoverished shrub understory in the Hungarian Plains. Nonnative plants can displace native plant species and alter wildlife habitat use, but few studies have investigated the relationship between the characteristics of these forests and red deer resource use. We investigated whether forest type (main tree species), rate of the main tree species, and age class of nonnative stands determine the typical distribution of certain browse species at the shrub layer. We also examined whether we could predict red deer use of the various forests. We quantified the canopy cover of understory browse and estimated deer diet using microhistological analysis of composite fecal samples collected at 2–4 week intervals between May and November 2000. We also evaluated the habitat use of 3 radiomarked deer in the study area from 1995 to 2001. No significant correlation could be drawn between the characteristics of forest stands and browse at shrub level according to forest types, rate of main tree species, age classes, and canopy cover of the dominant browse species. Red deer consumed mainly browse species (63%) complemented by forbs (31%). The dominant browse species in the diet were black locust (75–71%) and elder (Sambucus nigra; 75–27%). The predominant browse species in the forests were black locust, tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), western hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), elder, and rare browse species categorized as OTHERS. Each browse species formed separate patches—where its cover was significantly higher (range = 45–85%) within the patch than outside (range = 5–9%)—that made up 70% of the lowland forest. Deer occupied habitats containing 1–3 browse clusters. Browse species coverage differed according to individual core areas for deer, but the total browse cover (40%) within the core areas was significantly higher than outside (29%). We concluded that the characteristics of forest stands (type and age) do not predict the behavior of deer in nonnative lowland stands because forest types do not have a characteristic shrub flora. Therefore, neither foraging nor hiding patches were related to overstory characteristics. Thus, a detailed shrub description according to cover and distribution of species is necessary for forest and wildlife management.

Diet of wolves Canis lupus returning to Hungary

At the end of the nineteenth century, the wolf Canis lupus was extinct in Hungary and in recent decades has returned to the northern highland area of the country. The diet of wolves living in groups in Aggteleki National Park was investigated using scat analysis (n = 81 scats) and prey remains (n = 31 carcasses). Throughout the year wolves (average, minimum two wolves per year) consumed mostly wild-living ungulates (mean percent of biomass consumed, B% 97.2%; relative frequency of occurrence, %O 74.0%). The wild boar Sus scrofa was the most common prey item found in wolf scat (%B 35.6%) and is also the most commonly occurring ungulate in the study areas. The second most commonly occurring prey item in wolf scat was red deer Cervus elaphus (B% 32.8%). Conversely, prey remain analyses revealed wild boar as the second most commonly utilised prey species (%O 16.1%) after red deer (%O 67.7%). The roe deer Capreolus capreolus that occurs at lower population densities was the third most commonly utilised prey species. The importance of low population density mouflon Ovis aries, livestock and other food types was low. The results are similar to those found in the northern part of the Carpathian Mountains.

Iodine distribution in the environment as a limiting factor for roe deer antler development.

The iodine-containing hormones produced by the thyroid gland play a role in the complex neuro-hormonal regulation of antler development. The proper function of the thyroid depends on the adequate iodine supply of the organism, which is directly related to the iodine content of food and drinking water. The purpose of this study was to explore the connection between the iodine content of the water base, which has a strong correlation with the iodine concentration of environmental components available to animals, and the antler weight of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) shot in Hungarian hunting areas. Using a general linear model, controlling for the collective effects of other environmental factors (deer population density, harvest rate, land use, and soil fertility information), the iodine content of the water base explained 51.4% of the total variance of antler weights. The results suggest that antler weights increase with increasing iodine concentration regardless of other factors; thus, the environmental iodine distribution can be a limiting factor suppressing roe deer performance assessed here as antler weight. Further experimental studies of controlled iodine uptake are needed to define the exact physiological iodine requirements of roe deer bucks.

Seasonal home range shift of red deer in a forest-agriculture area in southern Hungary

A long-term radiotelemetry study on red deerCervus elaphus Linnaeus, 1758 was carried out in a lowland forest-agriculture area in Hungary between 1993–2000. Previous observations suggested seasonal changes in population distribution between forested and agricultural habitat. Red deer concentrated in the forest during winter, but they appeared in the agricultural field during the vegetational period. We investigated the ranging behaviour, testing two alternative hypotheses: home range expansion and home range shift. Weekly radiotelemetry localisations revealed that 9 of 28 hinds showed a clear home range shift from the forest to the agricultural area for a prolonged time during the vegetational period. The remaining portion of the animals used a home range within the forest throughout the entire year. Diet composition analysis using indicator plant species showed that neither daily passages between habitats, nor home range expansion exists. These ranging behaviours were stable hence, if an animal shifted one year it shifted again in consecutive years andvice versa. Our results could be useful for the successful management of red deer populations in such complex habitats and to decrease agricultural damage.

How important is supplementary feed in the winter diet of red deer? a test in Hungary

Winter supplementary feeding is widespread in large game management. As it is very expensive, it is important to know how essential this feeding may be for populations of game like red deer Cervus elaphus. Game managers typically observe only the disappearance of feed, but do not measure the consumption from the perspective of the animal, so the importance of feeding programs is often uncertain. During the winter of 2007–2008 we determined the consumption by red deer of two feed types (maize silage and apple pomace which is the residue from pressing apples) commonly offered at feeding plots in Hungary in two study areas. We simultaneously utilised two complementary methods: microhistological analysis of faeces and rumen content, and macroscopic observation of natural and artificially mixed food markers. Based on our analyses, 20 to 90% of the red deer (among different dates and measures) had eaten the supplementary food. However, the proportion of supplementary food in the red deer droppings collected in the immediate surroundings of the feeding plots was always very low (< 10%). This indicates that not every individual of the red deer population visits the feeders, or if does, eats a rather small amount of the provided food. Our data strongly suggests that supplementary food did not play a large role in the diet of the red deer individuals regularly visiting these sites. We emphasise that the mere observation that supplementary food regularly vanishes from the feeder does not necessarily mean that even one individual red deer has gained a significant biological advantage which would result in additional financial profit for the game manager later. Managers considering supplementary feeding should evaluate the quality of the forest area because the natural food supply can greatly influence the use of the feeding plots.

Spatial and temporal characteristics of the damage caused by wild ungulates in maize (Zea mays L.) crops

ABSTRACT Agricultural damage caused by wild ungulates can be economically very important worldwide. In Europe, the impact of wild ungulates causes significant losses to crops, mainly to maize, where it exceeds billions of US dollars annually. The objective of this study was to explore the spatial and temporal characteristics of damage caused by wild boar and red deer to maize, in order to propose efficient prevention and mitigation of losses to agricultural producers worldwide. The study was carried out in three forests neighbouring maize fields in two different areas. We recorded data on the proportion, type and the location of the damage by ungulates within the fields. According to our results the damage varied greatly along the vegetation growth period (from green plant to corncob), likely due to the changes in the food supply provided by maize. The proportion of damaged plants increased through the growing season and was probably affected by the appearance of corncobs. Seventy to 90% of the total damage occurred within a 300 m distance to the forest edge. Considering these findings, we propose to arrange a protocol for damage prevention based on damage risk maps.

A vaddisznó (Sus scrofa) zárttéri tartásban fellépő viselkedési problémái

A vaddiszno a vadgazd alkodas szamara jelen t ő s bevet elt j elen t, szabad terul eten a llo- manya fol yam atosan n ő ; a vaddisznos kerti vadaszat iran ti ig enyeket megis eg yre nehezebb teljesite- ni, habar a kertb en lev ő allomany ok nag y resze befogasbol szar mazik . Ahhoz, ho gy a par napos v ada- szat s oran a k ertet uz em elte t ő k b iztosit ani tud jak a vendeg ek a ltal „elv art” n agy teritek ű vadaszatok at, nag y letszamban kell tar taniuk a vaddisznoka t. Ez pedig sokszor nag y alloman ys ű r ű seggel is p arosul, aminek oka a kis, altalaban 200 es 500 hek tar ko zotti kiterjedes ű terul et. Zart tar tasban, leg yen az va- daszati celu ker t, vag y hus term elest szolga lo far m, a s peci alis eletkorulm enyek miatt a z eg yedek vi- selkedese meg f og valto zni a szabadteru leti tarsaikhoz kep est. A v izsgalat soran szabadteruleti es k erti alloman yok, kon dak viselked esbeli kulonbseg eit vizsga ltuk eg y taplalek-kompeti cios hely zetb en, ra- vilagitva ig y azo kra a lehetseges okokra, amely ek miatt a kertek t obbsege nem on fenntar to, az ottani szaporulat jelen t ő s resze elhullik . Az er edmen yeink alap jan elm ondhato, hog y a vaddisznoskertben me gn ő tt az eg yedek szocialis interakci okkal to ltott ideje, mig a tapl alkozasra for ditott id ejuk ped ig jelent ő sen kev esebb volt. A kerti kocakat tek intv e, jelen t ő sen megn ő tt agr essziot fig yelh ettunk m eg. Osszessegeben elmondhato, hog y a nag yobb alloman ys ű r ű seg okozta stressz a malacokra volt jelen- t ő s hatassal, mely negativ h atas ok azonban eddigi vizsgalataink ered men yei es javaslataink alapjan csokkenthet ő ek lennenek .

Seasonal distribution of red deer (Cervus e/aphus) in a forest-agriculture habitat in Hungary

Abstract Habitat use by red deer (Gervus e/aphus L. 1758) in forest and grassland habitats is relatively well known; however, few studies have been carried out in forest-agriculture habitats. We conducted seasonal track and bed site counts to estimate annual changes in red deer density and describe annual habitat in a Hungarian lowland area between 1995 and 2000. We found that the entire red deer population grouped into the forest in winter, while its presence during the vegetation growth period (mainly in summer) increased in agricultural areas, when track and bed site density between these two areas were equal. Our results do not support the notion that forests are abandoned in summer for agricultural food resources of better quality. Likewise, water resource locations had no significant influence on the population distribution. We conclude that increasing population density could lead to an expansion of the area occupied by the population during the vegetation growth period, i.e., when agricultural areas can provide suitable conditions for red deer.