Seasonal Foraging Strategies and Habitat Utilization of Deer in Fragmented Forest Landscapes Under Resource Scarcity

Abstract

Resource fluctuations on a seasonal basis affect not only foraging but also the movement strategies of deer. This research aimed at studying the effects of seasonal variations in resource availability on habitat selection and movements of deer across continuous and fragmented forests. The information about the studied animals' foraging habits was gathered from tracking data collected with the help of GPS collars and camera traps. For a whole year, researchers monitored deer movement patterns and feeding habits in wet and dry periods. Deer showed different behaviors depending on whether resources were abundant or not: during wet seasons, deer covered bigger areas while being selective towards choosing patches that were richer in nutrients. In contrast, during dry periods, foraging behavior was less diverse as deer preferred habitats with constant food and water resources availability. Moreover, fragmentation had a considerable impact on deer habitat use: in fragmented habitats, deer had smaller home ranges and higher tendency to move along edges. Correlation analysis proved the connection between movement success (r = 0.78, p < 0.05) and foraging success (r = 0.82, p < 0.01) and forest connectivity.