A new study of Red deer by scientists at the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh in the Isle of Rum has shown that the rutting and calving seasons are now up to two weeks earlier on average compared with 30 years ago. Scientists believe that this is because of warming spring and summer temperatures. The research was based on a 38-year study of the ecology of red deer on the Isle of Rum.
The researchers present key evidence of significant temporal trends in six phenological traits: oestrus date and parturition date in females, and antler cast date, antler clean date, rut start date and rut end date in males. These traits advanced by between 5 and 12 days across a 28-year study period.
According to the researchers their study provide rare evidence linking phenological advances to climate warming in a wild mammal and highlight the potential complexity of relationships between climate warming, phenology and demography in wild vertebrates.
The Isle of Rum National Nature Reserve has been a key centre for wildlife research for many years, particularly in relation to deer.
Details of the research appears in the journal Global Change Biology
Advancing breeding phenology in response to environmental change in a wild red deer population
KELLY MOYES,DANIEL H. NUSSEY, MICHELLE N. CLEMENTS, FIONA E. GUINNESS, ALISON MORRIS, SEAN MORRIS, JOSEPHINE M. PEMBERTON, LOESKE E. B. KRUUK,TIM H. CLUTTON-BROCK
Global Change Biology
No comments:
Post a Comment