Theses and Dissertations
Issuing Body
Mississippi State University
Advisor
Demarais, Steve
Committee Member
Strickland, Bronson K.
Committee Member
Willard, Scott W.
Date of Degree
5-3-2008
Document Type
Graduate Thesis - Open Access
Major
Wildlife and Fisheries Science
Degree Name
Master of Science
College
College of Forest Resources
Department
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Abstract
The reproductive timing and success of white-tailed deer are important to managers. I evaluated the reproductive variability of pen-raised deer and wild populations within Mississippi and investigated effects of age, body condition and moon phase on conception dates. I also examined the reproductive potential of doe fawns from 3 regions of Mississippi. Individual conception dates varied more than expected and were not related to moon phase. Age affected individual conception date, although the effect may have been confounded by estimated gestation length. Population level variation was less than reported and could not be explained by moon phase or late-winter body condition. One of 65 doe fawns bred. The critical mass for reproduction may be lower in Mississippi than previous reports for the northern U.S. Regional variation in fawn breeding based on yearling lactation rates warrants additional research.
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/11668/17417
Recommended Citation
Dye, Michael Paul, "Effects Of Body Mass, Physiographic Region, And Environmental Cues On Reproductive Timing In Deer" (2008). Theses and Dissertations. 1720.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/1720