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Comparison of foraging strategies and effects of the Wapiti and Siberian roe deer on Japanese yew
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  • Xianzhe Wang Wang,
  • Jianan Feng,
  • Yang Hong,
  • Hairong Du,
  • Minhai Zhang
Xianzhe Wang Wang
Northeast Forestry University
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Jianan Feng
Northeast Forestry University
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Yang Hong
Northeast Forestry University
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Hairong Du
Northeast Forestry University
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Minhai Zhang
Northeast Forestry University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

The foraging strategies of sympatric ungulates with similar ecological niches are important for understanding ecological niche differentiation, resource utilization, competition, and coexistence and for understanding the ecological impacts on plant communities in the ecosystem. The behavior of the wapiti (Cervus elaphus) and Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) foraging on Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata) has affected its succession and renewal in the northeastern forests of China, which has become an urgent problem for the relevant departments. This study analyzed the foraging strategies of the wapiti and Siberian roe deer on Japanese yew from July 2021 to January 2024 using field investigations and infrared camera monitoring in the Muling National Nature Reserve, Heilongjiang Province, China. It was found that the wapiti and Siberian roe deer have different foraging strategies in terms of time, space, and behavior. Temporally, they both preferred to forage for the saplings of the Japanese yew during the winter season, the degree of overlap in foraging rhythms was medium (Dhat1=0.67), and the diurnal foraging activity index (DRAI) of the wapiti was larger than that of the Siberian roe deer. Spatially, the suitable foraging habitat of the Siberian roe deer was twice that of the wapiti, and their overlap was low in the location and direction of saplings and the distance of the seed tree. Behaviorally, the foraging intensity of the wapiti was heavy, and Siberian roe deer was low. Foraging reduced the average primary branch height, number of new branches, and length of lateral branches of saplings, and the influence of the wapiti was significantly greater than that of the Siberian roe deer. This study provides a scientific basis for solving the conservation and management problems of the deer animals foraging on Japanese yew and contributes to further understanding of the competition-coexistence mechanism of sympatric species.
Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
Submission Checks Completed
Assigned to Editor
Reviewer(s) Assigned
28 Jun 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
15 Aug 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
22 Aug 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
10 Sep 20241st Revision Received
11 Sep 2024Submission Checks Completed
11 Sep 2024Assigned to Editor
11 Sep 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
12 Sep 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
30 Sep 2024Editorial Decision: Accept