Capture method affects survival estimates and subsequent interpretation of ecological covariates for a long‐lived cervid
Abstract Understanding what variables affect ungulate neonate survival is imperative to successful conservation and management of the species. Predation is commonly cited as a cause‐specific source of mortality, and ecological covariates often influence neonate survival. However, variation in surviv...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7494 |
| _version_ | 1819084562728222720 |
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| author | Katherine L. Brackel Eric S. Michel Bailey S. Gullikson Jonathan A. Jenks William F. Jensen |
| author_facet | Katherine L. Brackel Eric S. Michel Bailey S. Gullikson Jonathan A. Jenks William F. Jensen |
| author_sort | Katherine L. Brackel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Understanding what variables affect ungulate neonate survival is imperative to successful conservation and management of the species. Predation is commonly cited as a cause‐specific source of mortality, and ecological covariates often influence neonate survival. However, variation in survival estimates related to capture methodology has been documented with opportunistically captured neonates generally displaying greater survival than those captured via aid of vaginal implant transmitters (VITs), likely because of increased left truncation observed in the opportunistically captured datasets. Our goal was to assess whether 3‐ and 6‐month survival estimates varied by capture method while simultaneously assessing whether capture method affected model selection and interpretation of ecological covariates for white‐tailed deer neonates captured from three study sites from 2014 to 2015 in North Dakota and South Dakota, USA. We found survival varied by capture method for 3‐month neonate survival with opportunistically captured neonates displaying up to 26% greater survival than their counterparts captured via VITs; however, this relationship was not present for 6‐month survival. We also found model selection and subsequent interpretation of ecological covariates varied when analyzing datasets comprised of neonates captured via VITs, neonates captured opportunistically, and all neonates combined regardless of capture method. When interpreting results from our VIT‐only analysis for 3‐month survival, we found survival varied by three time intervals and was lowest in the first two weeks of life. Capture method did not affect 6‐month survival, which was most influenced by total precipitation occurring during 3 – 8 weeks of a neonate's life and percent canopy cover found at a neonate's capture site. Our results support previous research that capture method must be accounted for when deriving survival estimates for ungulate neonates as it can impact derived estimates and subsequent interpretation of results. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:50:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-efb3830579064a1a814d28710daf7436 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:50:26Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-efb3830579064a1a814d28710daf74362022-12-21T18:50:43ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582021-06-0111116444645510.1002/ece3.7494Capture method affects survival estimates and subsequent interpretation of ecological covariates for a long‐lived cervidKatherine L. Brackel0Eric S. Michel1Bailey S. Gullikson2Jonathan A. Jenks3William F. Jensen4Department of Natural Resource Management South Dakota State University USAFarmland Wildlife Populations and Research GroupMinnesota Department of Natural Resources Madelia USADepartment of Natural Resource Management South Dakota State University USADepartment of Natural Resource Management South Dakota State University USANorth Dakota Game and Fish Department Bismarck USAAbstract Understanding what variables affect ungulate neonate survival is imperative to successful conservation and management of the species. Predation is commonly cited as a cause‐specific source of mortality, and ecological covariates often influence neonate survival. However, variation in survival estimates related to capture methodology has been documented with opportunistically captured neonates generally displaying greater survival than those captured via aid of vaginal implant transmitters (VITs), likely because of increased left truncation observed in the opportunistically captured datasets. Our goal was to assess whether 3‐ and 6‐month survival estimates varied by capture method while simultaneously assessing whether capture method affected model selection and interpretation of ecological covariates for white‐tailed deer neonates captured from three study sites from 2014 to 2015 in North Dakota and South Dakota, USA. We found survival varied by capture method for 3‐month neonate survival with opportunistically captured neonates displaying up to 26% greater survival than their counterparts captured via VITs; however, this relationship was not present for 6‐month survival. We also found model selection and subsequent interpretation of ecological covariates varied when analyzing datasets comprised of neonates captured via VITs, neonates captured opportunistically, and all neonates combined regardless of capture method. When interpreting results from our VIT‐only analysis for 3‐month survival, we found survival varied by three time intervals and was lowest in the first two weeks of life. Capture method did not affect 6‐month survival, which was most influenced by total precipitation occurring during 3 – 8 weeks of a neonate's life and percent canopy cover found at a neonate's capture site. Our results support previous research that capture method must be accounted for when deriving survival estimates for ungulate neonates as it can impact derived estimates and subsequent interpretation of results.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7494capture methodcause‐specific mortalityOdocoileus virginianussurvivalvaginal implant transmitterswhite‐tailed deer neonates |
| spellingShingle | Katherine L. Brackel Eric S. Michel Bailey S. Gullikson Jonathan A. Jenks William F. Jensen Capture method affects survival estimates and subsequent interpretation of ecological covariates for a long‐lived cervid Ecology and Evolution capture method cause‐specific mortality Odocoileus virginianus survival vaginal implant transmitters white‐tailed deer neonates |
| title | Capture method affects survival estimates and subsequent interpretation of ecological covariates for a long‐lived cervid |
| title_full | Capture method affects survival estimates and subsequent interpretation of ecological covariates for a long‐lived cervid |
| title_fullStr | Capture method affects survival estimates and subsequent interpretation of ecological covariates for a long‐lived cervid |
| title_full_unstemmed | Capture method affects survival estimates and subsequent interpretation of ecological covariates for a long‐lived cervid |
| title_short | Capture method affects survival estimates and subsequent interpretation of ecological covariates for a long‐lived cervid |
| title_sort | capture method affects survival estimates and subsequent interpretation of ecological covariates for a long lived cervid |
| topic | capture method cause‐specific mortality Odocoileus virginianus survival vaginal implant transmitters white‐tailed deer neonates |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7494 |
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