Changes in the activity pattern of white-tailed deer in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Abstract

The activity patterns of white-tailed deer are intricately linked to their fundamental requirements for nutrition, rest, and reproduction.
These patterns naturally fluctuate in response to seasonal variations and environmental conditions. This study analyzed the daily activity patterns of the white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, inhabiting the scrubland and tropical dry ecosystem within the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (TCBR), Mexico. Our investigation specifically focused on comparing these activity patterns across different reproductive periods (rut, gestation, and fawning) considering potential variations based on the individual’s sex and geographical location. We used 100 camera trap stations across four localities from February 2012 to February 2016. We analyzed white-tailed deer activity with circular statistics (Watson tests), kernel density estimates, Watson tests and activity range core. We obtained a total sampling effort of 22,809 days trap, resulting in 1,656 independent records. Our findings revealed that the white-tailed deer presented a bimodal activity pattern during the day, with activity peaks between 06:00-12:00 h and 17:00-19:00 h. We found significant differences in the activity peaks between the rut and fawning periods with the gestation period, between females and males, and between localities in the TCBR. White-tailed deer show remarkable adaptability to habitats with varying environmental and ecological conditions, as temperate, semi-arid, and tropical regions. Generally, it is considered crepuscular because it tends to present greater activity during dawn and dusk. However, our results diverge from this classification, as the white-tailed deer’s activity pattern was mainly diurnal, and their activity peaks changed depending on the physiological period, sex, and local habitat conditions. These variations could be attributed to habitat characteristics because extreme temperatures are not present in this tropical dry forest, as in arid and semi-arid zones. Moreover, the vegetation cover may protect against heat during the rainy season, and some plant species offer water sources for deer during the dry season. These findings contribute valuable insights into the biology and behavior of this species inhabiting the tropical dry forests of Mexico.