Thesis
Effects of reproductive status of mountain lions on prey selection of mule deer and white-tailed deer in northeastern Washington
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2009
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/102425
Abstract
A significant and steady decline in mule deer and corresponding increase in white-tailed deer has occurred during the last 20 years throughout western North America. In northeastern Washington, disproportionate selection for mule deer by mountain lion during summer is the major limiting factor of mule deer population growth. One hypothesis predicts that mountain lions select for declining mule deer during summer because their primary prey (white-tailed deer) moved up in elevation and become sympatric with higher elevation mule deer -increasing the encounter probability between predator and prey (apparent competition). Another hypothesis predicts that only females, and especially females with kittens will select for mule deer during summer when most kittens are vulnerable to sexually selected infanticide (sexual segregation). I calculated prey use and estimated prey availability to test whether mountain lions selected for mule deer as a result of apparent competition or sexual segregation. When pooled into a single group, mountain lions selected for mule deer annually, in winter and in summer. However, the most pronounced selection for mule deer was by females with kittens and occurred during summer. My results suggest disproportionate selection of mule deer by mountain lions is most pronounced by females with kittens and may be a result of sexual segregation by females with kittens to avoid potentially infanticidal immigrant males. Further, hunting regimes focusing on male harvest may exacerbate disproportionate selection for mule deer by causing females to move into higher elevation, low density prey areas.
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Details
- Title
- Effects of reproductive status of mountain lions on prey selection of mule deer and white-tailed deer in northeastern Washington
- Creators
- Jonathan R. Keehner
- Contributors
- Robert B. Wielgus (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, College of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525201601842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis