Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Activity patterns of female red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) in the Alps

  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

During 1976 to 1978 in the Bavarian Alps (Southern West Germany) the activity patterns of nine female red deer have been studied using radio-telemetry. The daily sum total of activity shows a marked annual cycle, ranging from about 7 h in winter to some 15 h in summer. It becomes obvious that the duration of activity during solar day, night and twilight is not only due to the length of these three periods but also varies independently in the course of the year. The daily pattern of activity reveals a bimodal 24-h rhythm throughout the year. Its two peaks coincide with dawn and dusk. Their temporal position shifts according to the seasonally changing LD-ratio. Also the relative height of the two peaks varies in the course of the year; they decrease in the summer months in favour of more activity during the light time. These daily and annual rhythms rely on corresponding changes in the pattern of activity bursts. In some cases the sequences of activity bursts reflect also influences of weather conditions or of differently structured habitats on the animals' behaviour. The possible influences of some endogenous and exogenous factors on the activity patterns are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andersen J (1961) Biology and Management of roe-deer in Denmark. La Terre et la Vie 1:41–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Altmann M (1952) Social behavior of elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni) in the Jackson Hole Area of Wyoming. Behavior 4:116–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Arman P, Kay RNB, Goodall ED, Sharman GAM (1974) The composition and yield of milk from captive red deer (Cervus elaphus L.). J Reprod Fert 37:67–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnold GW (1969) Regulation of food intake in grazing ruminants. In: AT Phillipson, Physiology of digestion and metabolism in the ruminant. Proc. 3rd Int. Symp. Anim. Prod., pp 264–276

  • Aschoff J (1962) Spontane lokomotorische Aktivität. Handbuch der Zoologie 8:11, 1–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Aschoff J (1963a) Circadian activity patterns with two peaks. Ecology 47:657–662

    Google Scholar 

  • Aschoff J (1963b) Comparative physiology: diurnal rhythms. Ann Rev 25:581–600

    Google Scholar 

  • Berg FC von (1978) Zum Raum-Zeit-System des Rehes. AFZ 21:48–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Briedermann L (1971) Ermittlungen zur Aktivitätsperiodik des mitteleuropäischen Wildschweins (Sus scrofa L.). Zool Garten NF, Leipzig 40:302–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Bubenik AB, Bubenikova LM (1965) 24-h periodicity in red deer. VII Int Congr of Game Biologists, Beograd-Ljubljana, 343–349

  • Bützler W (1974) Kampf- und Paarungsverhalten, soziale Rangordnung und Aktivitätsperiodik beim Rothirsch. Fortschritte der Verhaltensforschung 16:pp 80

    Google Scholar 

  • Campling RC (1969) Physical regulation of voluntary intake. In: AT Phillipson, Physiology of digestion and metabolism in the ruminant. Proc 3rd Int Symp Anim Prod, pp 227–233

  • Carbough B, Vaughan LP, Bellis ED, Graves HB (1975) Distribution and activity of white-tailed deer along an interstate highway. J Wildl Manage 39:570–581

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter LH (1976) Forage intake-24-h activity patterns. Colorado Game Res Rev, pp 4–5

  • Collins WB, Urness PJ, Austin DD (1978) Elk diets and activities on different lodgepole pine segments. J Wildl Manage 42:799–810

    Google Scholar 

  • Craighead JJ, Craighead FC, Ruff RL, O'Gara BW (1973) Home ranges and activity patterns of non-migratory elk of the Madison Drainage Herd as determined by biotelemetry. Wildl Monogr 33:pp 50

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellenberg H (1978) Zur Populationsökologie des Rehes (Capreolus capreolus L.) in Mitteleuropa. Spixiana 2: pp 211

    Google Scholar 

  • Erkinaro E (1972a) Seasonal changes in the phase position of circadian activity in some voles, and their endogenous component. Aquilo Ser Zool 13:87–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Erkinaro E (1972b) Fasväxling hos djur. Fauna och Flora 67:215–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Geist V (1963) On the behavior of the north american moose (Alces alces andersoni Peterson 1950) in British Columbia. Behavior 20:377–416

    Google Scholar 

  • Georgii B (1978) Monitoring activity of free-ranging wild ungulates. Biotelemetry IV:179–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Georgii B (1980) Home range patterns of female red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) in the Alps. Oecologia (Berl) 47:278–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Georgii B, Schröder W (1978) Radiotelemetrisch gemessene Aktivität weiblichen Rotwildes (Cervus elaphus L.). Z Jagdwiss 24:9–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Goss RJ (1969) Photoperiodic control of antler cycles in deer. J Exp Zool 170:311–324 and 233–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Goss RJ, Dinsmore CE, Grimes LN, Rosen JK (1974) Expression and suppression of the circannual antler growth cycle in deer. In: Circannual Clocks, ET Pengelley (ed), Academic Press New York San Francisco London, pp 393–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Gundlach H (1968) Brutfürsorge, Brutpflege, Verhaltensontogenie und Tagesperiodik beim europäischen Wildschwein. Z Tierpsych 25:955–995

    Google Scholar 

  • Gwinner E (1972) Endogenous timing factors in bird migration. In: Animal Orientation and Navigation. SR Galler, K Schmidt-Koenig, GL Jacobs, RE Belleville (eds), NASA, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofmann A, Nievergelt B (1972) Das jahreszeitliche Verteilungsmuster und der Äsungsdruck von Alpensteinbock, Gemse, Rothirsch und Reh in einem begrenzten Gebiet im Oberengadin. Z Jagdwiss 18:185–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson J (1977) When do fallow deer feed? Deer 4:215–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaczewski Z (1954) The effect of changes in length of daylight on the growth of antlers in the deer (Cervus elaphus L.) Folia Biologica 2:133–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Kammermeyer KE, Marchinton RL (1977) Seasonal changes in circadian activity of radio-monitored deer. J Wildl Menage 41:315–317

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein H (1974) The adaptational value of internal annual clocks in birds. In: Cicannual Clocks. E Pengelley (ed), Academic Press, New York San Francisco London, pp 347–392

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell B, McCowan D, Nicholson IA (1976) Annual cycles of body weight and condition in Scottish red deer (Cervus elaphus L.). J Zool Lond 180:107–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell B, Staines BW, Welch D (1977) Ecology of red deer. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Banchory, pp 74

    Google Scholar 

  • Moen AN (1973) Wildlife Ecology. WH Freeman and Co, San Francisco, pp 457

    Google Scholar 

  • Moen AN (1978) Seasonal changes in heart rates, activity, metabolism, and forage intake of white-tailed deer. J Wildlife Manage. 42:715–738

    Google Scholar 

  • Moen AN, Chevalier S (1977) Analysis of telemetred ecg signals from white-tailed deer. Proc 1st Int Conf Wildl Biotelemetry, Univ of Wyoming Laramie: 118–125

  • Montgomery GG (1963) Nocturnal movements and activity rhythms of white-tailed deer. J Wildl Manage 27:422–427

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordan HC, Cowan IMcT, Wood AJ (1968) Nutritional requirements and growth of black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) in captivity. In: Comparative nutrition of wild animals, MA Crawford. Symp Zool Soc Lond 21:153–161

  • Ozoga JJ, Verme LJ (1970) Winter feeding patterns of penned white-tailed deer. J Wildl Manage 34:431–439

    Google Scholar 

  • Ozoga JJ, Verme LJ (1975) Activity patterns of white-tailed deer during estrus. J Wildl Manage 39:679–683

    Google Scholar 

  • Pengelley ET, Asmundson SJ (1971) Annual biological clocks. Scient Amer 224:72–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Schröder W (1978) Der Rothirsch. Jahrbuch des Vereins zum Schutze der Bergwelt 43:123–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Schürholz G, Gossow H (1973) Mechanical recording of ruminant activities: a preleminary report. Manuscript, pp 13

  • Siver H (1968) Deer nutrition studies. New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Survey Report 10:182–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Silver H, Colovos NF, Holter JB, Hayes HH (1969) Fasting metabolism of white-tailed deer. J Wildl Manage 33:490–498

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson AM (1976) A study of the energy metabolism and seasonal cycles of captive red deer. Ph D Thesis University of Aberdeen

  • Skogland T (1972) Range use and food selectivity by wild reindeer in southern Norway. Proc 1st Int Reindeer and Caribou Symp, 342–354

  • Sonnberger H, Georgii B, Schröder W, Freimann D (1977) Ein System zur Funkortung und automatischen Aufzeichnung der Aktivität von wildlebenden Huftieren. Z Jagdwiss 23:137–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward AL, Cupal JJ, Goodwin GA, Morris HD (1976) Effects of highway construction and use on big game populations. Report No. FHWA-RD-76-174, pp 98, National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiesner H (1977) Zur Narkosepraxis mit dem Blasrohrgewehr. Kleintierpraxis 22:327–330

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lehreinheit für Wildbiologie und Jagdkunde der Universität München, Außenstelle Oberammergau, D-8107, Dickelschwaig-Ettal, Federal Republic of Germany

    B. Georgii

Authors
  1. B. Georgii
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Georgii, B. Activity patterns of female red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) in the Alps. Oecologia 49, 127–136 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00376910

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00376910

Keywords

Search

Navigation