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GPS telemetry and activity measurement focused on even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla)
Peterka, Tomáš ; Bartoš, Luděk (advisor) ; Komárková, Martina (referee)
GPS telemetry is a recently expanding method for research on most animal species. It provides automatical scanning of position and related data on large distances and often on large temporal scale. The research studies has changed dramatically during the development of this method. Experiments using this technology deal with scanning of incidence, management and species conservation, activity pattern of controlled animals, estimation of behavior in various scales and so on. Activity sensors which are often included to GPS collars serve for determination of behavior of monitored species. In this thesis there are summarized basics of VHF and GPS technology. In available articles of great terrestrial mammals like even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla) and marginally also bears (Ursidae) we show possible application of GPS technology for activity measurement, methods, restrictions and results of experiments. At the end we introduce experimental approach for activity measurement of red deer (Cervus elaphus) and results of the pilot study.
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Mapping of distribution of red deer and sika deer hybrids in Czechia using audio recordings - citizen science project
Nečasová, Monika ; Pipek, Pavel (advisor) ; Červený, Jaroslav (referee)
In the Czech Republic, as in other parts of Europe (e.g., British Isles), the native European red deer (Cervus elaphus) has been hybridising with sika deer (C. nippon), which was introduced from East Asia. The hybrids are fertile, and, therefore, can backcross with their parental species and threaten their genetic integrity. Offsprings of such multiple crosses are very difficult to identify according to their morphological traits, while more reliable genetic methods are financially and logistically demanding. This work follows the study of Long et al. from 1998, which showed clear differences in vocalization between red deer, sika deer and the first generation of their hybrids, and thus suggested the third way how to identify hybrids - bioacoustic analysis. We decided to test this method in the Czech Republic in a citizen science project, the aim of which was to map the distribution of parent species and their hybrids using audiorecordings of rut vocalisation. To allow more detailed analysis, we also recorded our own recordings on a professional recording device with a directional microphone. In total, 451 recordings were collected, of which only 263 with a vocalization of 162 individuals were selected for further analysis. Recordings from previous studies from Ireland (Long et al. 1998; Wyman et...
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Mapping of distribution of red deer and sika deer hybrids in Czechia using audio recordings - citizen science project
Nečasová, Monika ; Pipek, Pavel (advisor) ; Červený, Jaroslav (referee)
In the Czech Republic, as in other parts of Europe (e.g., British Isles), the native European red deer (Cervus elaphus) has been hybridising with sika deer (C. nippon), which was introduced from East Asia. The hybrids are fertile, and, therefore, can backcross with their parental species and threaten their genetic integrity. Offsprings of such multiple crosses are very difficult to identify according to their morphological traits, while more reliable genetic methods are financially and logistically demanding. This work follows the study of Long et al. from 1998, which showed clear differences in vocalization between red deer, sika deer and the first generation of their hybrids, and thus suggested the third way how to identify hybrids - bioacoustic analysis. We decided to test this method in the Czech Republic in a citizen science project, the aim of which was to map the distribution of parent species and their hybrids using audiorecordings of rut vocalisation. To allow more detailed analysis, we also recorded our own recordings on a professional recording device with a directional microphone. In total, 451 recordings were collected, of which only 263 with a vocalization of 162 individuals were selected for further analysis. Recordings from previous studies from Ireland (Long et al. 1998; Wyman et...
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Characteristics of inter-individual relationship (friend vs. rival) in red deer and its effect on agonistic behavior and endocrinological feedback
Peterka, Tomáš ; Bartoš, Luděk (advisor) ; Fuchs, Roman (referee)
Red deer males aggregate for a major part of a year to bachelor groups. Social position - Rank - is unstable in these groups. Previous experiments revealed that rank modulated by agonistic behaviour influences antler growth and antler cycle timing. Antlers are secondary sexual characteristics of the deer family and one of the fastest growing tissue in the vertebrate taxa. Their development is modulated by androgenic hormone, testosterone. In our experiment, we observed agonistic behaviour of 19 males. They were equipped with GPS collars and regularly handled for blood samples and downloading of telemetrical data. Based on statistical analysis, we found that in our bachelor group 13 stags kept similar interindividual distances which did not exceed 22 metres ("Closest associates"), whereas the rest of the group moved tens of metres away ("Wanderers"). In regard to the number of agonistic interactions and the interindividual relationship, which arose from that, we divided the bachelor group on "Friends" (˂9 interactions) and "Rivals" (≥9). We found that the number of interactions depended on average distance among males in groups divided by dyadic relationship ("Friends" and "Rivals"). With increasing distance, "Rivals" increased the number of interactions, while "Friends" did not show this trend....
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Characteristics of inter-individual relationship (friend vs. rival) in red deer and its effect on agonistic behavior and endocrinological feedback
Peterka, Tomáš ; Bartoš, Luděk (advisor) ; Fuchs, Roman (referee)
Red deer males aggregate during the period of antler growth to bachelor groups. Social position - Rank - is unstable in these groups. Previous experiments revealed that rank modulated by agonistic behaviour influence the antler growth and antler cycle timing. Antlers are the secondary sexual characteristics of the deer family and one of the fastest growing tissue in vertebrate taxa. Their development is modulated by androgenic hormone, testosterone. In our experiment, we observed agonistic behaviour of 19 males. They were equipped with GPS collar and observation lasted for two hours in the evening an in the morning, once or twice a week from the end of May to the end of August. Deer were handled regularly for blood samples and downloading the telemetrical data from collars. Base on a statistical analysis we found that in our bachelor group 13 stags kept similar interindividual distances which did not exceed the 22 metres level. These stags - the closest associates - differed in the sum of agonistic interactions. Those who reached 8 or less interactions were called Friends, while subgroup of the others reaching much more interactions were classified as Rivals. We found that number of interactions depended on average distance among males in groups (Friends and Rivals). Rivals with increasing distance...
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GPS telemetry and activity measurement focused on even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla)
Peterka, Tomáš ; Bartoš, Luděk (advisor) ; Komárková, Martina (referee)
GPS telemetry is a recently expanding method for research on most animal species. It provides automatical scanning of position and related data on large distances and often on large temporal scale. The research studies has changed dramatically during the development of this method. Experiments using this technology deal with scanning of incidence, management and species conservation, activity pattern of controlled animals, estimation of behavior in various scales and so on. Activity sensors which are often included to GPS collars serve for determination of behavior of monitored species. In this thesis there are summarized basics of VHF and GPS technology. In available articles of great terrestrial mammals like even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla) and marginally also bears (Ursidae) we show possible application of GPS technology for activity measurement, methods, restrictions and results of experiments. At the end we introduce experimental approach for activity measurement of red deer (Cervus elaphus) and results of the pilot study.
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Towards a better understanding of ungulate diets: a methodological approach
Holá, Michaela ; Červený, Jaroslav (advisor) ; Stádník, Luděk (referee)
Populations of European ungulates have grown substantially over recent decades, resulting in considerable environmental and socio-economic impacts. Availability and quality of natural and supplemental food sources are among the main factors driving their population dynamics. Detailed knowledge of feeding strategies of management-targeted species is therefore of primary importance for their successful management. Over time, methods to study the feeding strategies of animals have also evolved considerably but each has its advantages as well as limitations. This doctoral thesis uses a combination of traditional methods (i.e. stomach content analysis) and novel methods (i.e. stable isotope analysis, near infrared reflectance spectroscopy) to achieve a better understanding of feeding strategies of two important ungulate species (i.e. wild boar and red deer) in the Czech Republic, where their populations are on the rise and supplementary feeding is rampant. Next, this dissertation aims to introduce and to establish a basis for these novel methodological approaches for the study of free-ranging individuals. In this respect, it also addresses methodological issues related to their application in this field.
The diet composition of wild boar was investigated by examining stomach contents in order to identify their dependence on food resources of human origin (i.e. agricultural crops and supplemental foods). Foods of human origin were the dominant diet type and constituted the bulk of the diet of wild boar throughout the year. A necessary prerequisite for application of stable isotope analysis is the trophic discrimination factor (i.e. systematic difference between the isotopic composition of the consumer tissues and that of the diet), which was experimentally determined for stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes, the two most commonly used in ecology, in hair tissue of wild boar and red deer. Furthermore, possible sources of variation (such as sex, age, body weight, and lactation) on isotopic discrimination were investigated. The results of the experiments provide a starting point for the successful use of stable isotope analysis in field studies on wild boar and red deer. Finally, application of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy was proven to be useful in measuring faecal indices of food quality for red deer. The results of this thesis will contribute towards efficient management of wild boar and red deer in the Czech Republic.
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Effect of hunting pressure on red deer activity
Rohla, Jan ; Ježek, Miloš (advisor) ; Obleser, Petr (referee)
In this work, I dealt with the impact of hunting pressure on the activity of red deers (Cervus elaphus) in Doupov mountains. The main goal was to find out, whether intensive killing will change the activity of deers, and also hinds. Evaluated data should be useful for easier reduction of these animals not only in Doupov Mountains. Numbers of deers have been very high in the last few years and it would be necessary to achieve effective reductions, which would reduce the population to a tolerable limit. That should contribute to decreasing animal causes in forests and agriculture crops. Decreasing the numbers of deers should also lead to improving the quality of this spiecies not only in terms of trophies, but also the overall physical condition. It turned out that the activity decreased significantly during hunting.
The reduction of activity began basically with the sunrise and ended in the sunset. For most individuals the activity increased in the night hours. In both July and August it turned out that there is a significant difference in activity among both day and sunset as well as day and night, while the lowest amount of activity was in the daytime, and in the sunset it has increased significantly. The highest activity was basically at dusk.
From these results we can say that when comparing the two periods, the significant activity is mainly in the evening and night hours.
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