This diploma thesis was based on frequently discussed topic of population density in hoofed game. The monitored area is in the south-west of Bohemia, in Hartmanice. The greater part of the territory extends into the conservation area and a smaller part od the Šumava National park, with this work focusing on the population density of roe deer. To determine population densities, two methods were used, one direct method and one indirect method. For the direct method, a census method was used for the roe deer from a high seat and the indirect method, a method of counting droppings was used on a sample of regulary cleaned surfaces. Counting was carried out on transects of 200 m2 (100 x 2 m) or (50 x 4 m). The present results indicate that the population of roe deer is seeing a long downward trend. Most roe deer prefer the brushwood at lower altitudes, at an altitude of 525 to 650 m above sea level (asl), with less occuring in the positions of the altitude of 950 to 1125 m asl. The habitat least preferred by roe deer was forests aged 81 years and older.

This thesis deals with a data processing about growth and browse damage at check and comparative areas. The data is evaluated by the method used by Forest Management Institute in the process of creation of Regional Plans of Forest Development and it is compared with my own detailed monitoring according CERMAK (2006). The results are further confronted with game records, namely the spring game numbers and the number of annual hunting. The data about growth and browse damage were collected at 28 check and comparative areas. The total browse damage of trees in the forest district Loučná nad Desnou was 42.2 %. The most damaged and at the same time the most occuring deciduous tree species in the forest district are common ash, sycamore maple and rowan. In case of common ash (Acer pseudoplatanus) reachs the browse damage 73 %. Among the most damaged coniferous species is silver fir (Abies alba) with browse damage up to 85 %.

This study was investigating the relationships between: 1) habitat type and tick abundance, 2) habitat type and tick load on fawns, and 3) tick load and fawn survival. During two years and in two study areas, 105 fawns (57 fawns in Bogesund and 48 fawns in Grimsö) have been captured by hand and equipped with a radio-transmitter. The fawns’ positions have then been triangulated almost every day until they died or had at least 30 positions. The surviving fawns were recaptured when they were estimated to have a weight of 3.6 kg. Ticks were collected from the fawns during both the capture and the recapture. By using the flagging-method, in which a white sheet is dragged along the ground, ticks were also collected from the vegetation. A vegetation map was used to determine the habitat on transects and the home range of the fawns. The study areas showed different results regarding in which habitat the ticks were found. At Grimsö ticks seems to favor deciduous forest and mixed forest not on mires. At Bogesund the favored tick habitat was instead coniferous forest with trees between five to fifteen meters. In Bogesund there was a positive correlation between tick-burden and percent of coniferous forest on lichen-dominated areas that covered fawn home ranges. No relationship could be found between ticks and the survival of the fawns. A positive correlation between surviving days and tick load during first capture could instead be found on fawns that died within 30 days.

Face à la menace des pathogènes présents dans l’environnement, l’immunité représente une fonction cruciale pour la survie des organismes. Cependant, cette fonction représente divers coûts de développement et d’utilisation, et le caractère limité des ressources dans l’environnement impose des compromis d’allocation entre différentes fonctions (immunité, croissance, reproduction). Sur le long-terme, ces choix peuvent avoir de lourdes conséquences sur les probabilités de se reproduire et de survivre à chaque âge. L’objectif de cette thèse a été de décrire les variations avec l’âge du phénotype immunitaire d’un mammifère longévif, le chevreuil (Capreolus capreolus) et de mieux comprendre les compromis régissant l’allocation de ressources entre l’immunité et les autres grandes fonctions de l’organisme. Cette thèse a été menée au sein de deux populations naturelles, permettant de tester l’influence de conditions environnementales contrastées sur ces variations. Nous avons montré qu’une croissance rapide pendant les premiers mois de vie du chevreuil n’imposait pas de coûts en terme de développement du phénotype immunitaire sur la même période (niveaux des traits innés et acquis), ni sur le long-terme. Nous avons aussi montré que le développement de l’immunité des jeunes n’était pas dépendant de l’âge de leur mère, mais était fortement influencé par la condition corporelle de celle-ci. Chez les adultes, nous avons décrit les variations avec l’âge d’une dizaine de traits reflétant l’immunité innée et adaptative. Cela a permis de mettre en évidence de profondes modifications du profil immunitaire aux âges avancés, i.e. une augmentation de la production de marqueurs inflammatoires (haptoglobine, beta-globulines) et une diminution de la réponse adaptative (lymphocytes). L’augmentation parallèle avec l’âge de la charge parasitaire des individus appuie l’idée que le chevreuil est sujet à l’immunosenescence. Enfin, nous avons montré que la longueur des télomères leucocytaires varie avec l’âge. Nous n’avons pas trouvé d’associations entre la longueur des télomères et les proportions de chaque forme leucocytaire (neutrophiles, monocytes, lymphocytes). Cependant, nous avons montré que de forts niveaux de certains marqueurs inflammatoires (beta- et alpha1-globulines) semblent être associés à des télomères courts dans les cellules immunitaires. Ces résultats ouvrent de nombreuses pistes pour une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes physiologiques à la base du vieillissement / Immunity determines an organism’s sensitivity to pathogens and parasites and thus represent a crucial function that affects survival of individuals in the wild. However, this function represents several energy costs for development and use, and in natural conditions, resources are limited. Organisms consequently face energy allocation trade-offs between costly functions such as immunity, growth or reproduction. On the long term, these allocations are supposed to have serious consequences on probability of individuals to reproduce and to survive at each age.The aim of this thesis was to describe age-related variations of immune phenotype in a wild and long-lived mammal, the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and to provide a better understanding of energy trade-offs between immune function and other life-history traits. This thesis was conducted in roe deer of both sexes and from two natural populations, which allow to test the influence of sex and contrasting environmental conditions on these variations.We first described that rapid growth did not impair the development of young roe deer immune phenotype (levels of innate and adaptive traits), neither on the short-term (during growth), neither on the long-term (during adulthood). We also proved that immune development of juveniles was not dependent of maternal age, but was strongly influenced by maternal body condition. In adult roe deer, we have described the precise patterns of age-related changes in ten immune traits reflecting both innate and adaptive immunity. It revealed that roe deer are subjected to profound changes in their immune profile with increasing age, i.e. an increase in the production of inflammatory markers (haptoglobin, beta-globulin) and a decrease in the adaptive response (lymphocytes). In the same individuals, the parallel increase with age of parasite load supports the idea that deer are subject to immunosenescence. Finally, we described age-related changes in leukocyte telomere length. We found no associations between telomere length and proportions of each leukocyte form (neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes). However, we observed that high levels of some inflammatory markers (beta- and alpha1-globulin) tend to be associated with short telomeres in immune cells. These results open many avenues for a better understanding of the physiological mechanisms underlying aging

The land around Herrevad Abbey consists mostly of pastures with a lot of old coarse oaks, a touch of broad-leaved decidous forest andmixed deciduous and coniferous forest. In the year 2010 the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency became owner of the area around Herrevad Abbey, previously owned by the Swedish National Fortification Administration. A high pressure from hunting occurred during the Swedish National Fortification Administration ownership. This resulted in a decrease of the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) population. A pellet-group count is a reliable, indirect inventory method that is used with high frequence within wildlife management since the 1930s. Pellet-group count is used in Swedish Wildlife research since the 1977 at Grimsö Research Station and today an increasing interest for this method is seen both in nature management, among hunters and  in the Swedish Association for Hunters. Through a pellet-group count of a roe deer population, an underestimated index of the total density is shown, which means that the investigated population can be larger than the survey shows. The pellet-group count in this study covered 3,20 km-2 with a total of 315 plots. The plot had a circular shape and covered 10m2, which is recommended for roe deer surveys. Each plot was investigated twice, one round clockwise and one round counter clock-wise to increase the precision of the survey. The calculation showed 10,76 roe deer per 1,00 km-2 in winter population during 2010; with a 10% set-off for winter mortality and 8,22 roe deer per 1,00 km-2 in winter population with a 30% set-off. The density with 10,76 roe deer /km-2 is low compared to experimental plots at Bogesund, Ekenäs, where the population is estimated to around 17-23 roe deer/ 1,00 km-2. A calculation for carrying capacity shows that the population will reach the density limit within four years at Herrevad Abbey.

Šio darbo tikslas buvo nustatyti elninių žvėrių tankumą 4 tirtuose miškuose, o taip pat rasti stirninų kaukolių ir ragų morfometrinius skirtumus, kurie buvo sumedžioti skirtingos medžioklėtvarkos miškuose. Tyrimai parodė, kad tauriųjų elnių ir stirnų gausumas sumažėjo profesionaliuosiuose medžioklės plotuose, tuo tarpu mėgėjiškuose medžioklės plotuose sumažėjo elnių, o stirnų priešingai- padaugėjo. Briedžių tyrimų laikotarpiu buvo labai negausu, o per paskutiniuosiuss dvejus metus tirtuose miškuose jie išnyko visiškai. Kaip bebūtų, buvo rasti patikimi statistiniai skirtumai tiek tarp tauriųjų elnių tankumų, tiek tarp stirnų tankumų tirtuose skirtingos medžioklėtvarkos miškuose. Briedžių tankumas patikimai statitiškai nesiskiria, nes visuose tirtuose miškuose jų gausumas labai nedidelis. Tiriant elninių žvėrių pasiskirtymą skirtinguose biotopuose, statistiškai patikimų skirtumų nerasta. Tačiau buvo rasti labiausiai mėgstami stirnų biotopai. Tauriųjų elnių pasiskirstymas biotopuose skirtingais metais labai įvairuoja be konkrečios tendencijos. Ištyrus kraniometrinius stirninų parametrus, paaiškėjo, kad pagal daugelį požymių šiaurės Lietuvos stirninų kaukolės ir ragų parametrai yra mažesni ir statistiškai patikimai skiriasi nuo vidurio Lietuvos stirninų. Nors ir statistiškai nepatikimai, tačiau skiriasi stirninų parametrai ir dvejuose vidurio Lietuvos skirtingos medžioklėtvarkos miškuose dėl komercnionio stirninų išmedžiojimo profesionaliuosiuose medžioklės plotuose (didžiausi... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of this study was to find out and estimate the density of cervids in 4 researched forests; to find out the differences between craniometric data of roebucks which were hunted in forests of different management. The long study showed that the amount of red deers and roe deers decreased in professional hunting area whereas in club hunting area decreased only the amount of red deers while the amount of roe deers increased. The density of mooses felt into decline and finally during the last two years of study disappeared. Still and all there was found the significant differences in the red deer and in the roe deer densities in forests of different management. However in mentioned forests the densities of mooses were not significantly different. The significant differences of distributions of cervids in different biotopes were not found. There was found the most liked biotopes of roe deers during the non-vegetation period. Whereas red deer distribution in different biotopes has no regularity. The study of craniometric data showed that the parameter sizes of roebucks in the North Lithuania region are the smallest although not all are significantly different from parameters of craniometric data of roebucks in Middle Lithuania region. However the means of parameter show the same declining tendency. The craniometric data of roebucks in Middle Lithuania region in 2 different management hunting areas are lightly different. This difference was caused by commercial hunting in... [to full text]

Šio darbo tikslas buvo išstudijuoti elninių žvėrių (briedžių, tauriųjų elnių ir europinių stirnų) gausumą 2009-2010 m. žiemojimo periodu Kuršėnų urėdijos miškuose ir palyginti skirtingų miškų gautus rezultatus. Tyrimai atlikti 18 miškų, naudojant McCain netiesioginę elninių žvėrių apskaitą pagal jų paliekamus ekskrementus bei Aldous medžių pažeidimo metodą. Pagal atliktus tyrimus, vidutinis elninių žvėrių tankumas Kuršėnų urėdijos miškuose 2009-2010 m. žiemojimo periodu buvo 14, 7 individų tūkstančiui hektarų. Briedžių tankumas tirtame regione buvo du kartus didesnis, lyginant su vidutiniu briedžių tankumu visoje Lietuvos teritorijoje, tauriųjų elnių – labai panašus, o stirnų buvo dvigubai mažesnis. Taigi, tirtuose miškuose yra gausu stambiųjų elninių, tačiau jie konkuruoja su stirnomis. Vidutinis briedžių ir tauriųjų elnių tankumas tirtuose miškuose atitinka ekologinį ir ūkiškai leistiną elninių žvėrių gausumą Lietuvos miškams, o stirnų yra du kartus mažesnis, tačiau, atsižvelgiant į mitybinę konkurenciją, taurusis elnias laikomas pagrindine elninių žvėrių rūšimi tirtoje vietovėje, tad pagrindinis dėmesys turėtų būti skiriamas jo populiacijų gausinimui. Elniniai žvėrys pagal mitybos specializaciją renkasi skirtingus biotopus. Didžiausias briedžių gausumas nustatytas krūmynuose, tauriųjų elnių – pievose, o europinių stirnų – dirbamų laukų biotopuose. Vidutinis dendrofloros panaudojimo pašarams intensyvumas Kuršėnų urėdijos miškuose buvo 18,5 %, bet netgi didžiausi pažeidimai... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of this study was to find out the density of cervids during wintering period in Kušėnai forests and to compare gathered data with density in different forest. The research have been conducted in 18 forests, using McCain indirect record by excrement and Aldous trees damage method. Studies have shown that the average density of cervids in surveyed areas is 14.7 individuals per thousand hectares. Moose density in this region is twice higher than average moose density in whole Lithuania, red deer – very similar, roe deer density is half lower. Therefore, explored forests is rich of large ungulate mammals, but they compete with roe deers. The average abundance of red deer and moose satisfies commercially and ecologicaly acceptable ones, also roe deer density is more than two times smaller, bur in aspect of the competition diet, red deer is considered to be the main cervid species in studied forests, so more attention should be paid to increase their population. Cervids by specificity of their species in different forests choose similar biotopes. The highest abundance of moose were in scrubs, red deer – in meadows, roe deer – in cultivated fields. The average of tree damage in stydy areas is 18.5 percent, but even the highest nutrient load does not exceed the recommended rate (30–40 %), so there is no danger to natural forest regeneration.

For many species, population size data is difficult to obtain or even unavailable. Therefore, estimations or indirect abundance measures of populations are crucial for ungulate management. Hunting has an important role in wildlife management, and is a partnership between state, landowners, and hunting communities. In ungulate management harvest statistics, as well as ungulate-vehicle collisions (UVCs) and observations, are often used as proxies for population densities and provide detailed information on a spatial and temporal scale. A Bayesian approach was used to model hunters’ response to population densities of fallow deer (Dama dama), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and wild boar (Sus scrofa). The results indicate that the variability in number of individuals observed and the non-linearity of both hunters’ harvest and UVCs response varies between roe deer, fallow deer, and wild boar. Both hunters’ harvest and UVC display a sub-linear response to population densities to all three species. Additionally, roe deer show a low variability in the number of individuals observed compared to the other two species. Predictions of population densities by using proxies like harvest statistics and UVC statistics need to be species-specific to be reliable, and by considering a potential sub-linearity and temporal trends for the species of interest more confident and realistic estimates can be developed.

Le but de cette étude était d'utiliser les techniques moléculaires dans deux populations de chevreuil, pour estimer la variance du succès reproducteur des mâles et identifier les principaux déterminants de cette variance.<br /> Comme attendu du fait de son faible dimorphisme sexuel, la variance dans le succès reproducteur à vie des mâles, et donc l'opportunité pour la sélection sexuelle, sont faibles chez le chevreuil, suggérant un faible degré de polygynie.<br /> Les mâles peuvent se reproduire dès 2 ans, mais avec un succès reproducteur inférieur à celui des mâles plus âgés.<br /> Le succès reproducteur tend aussi à décroître après 8 ans.<br /> La masse corporelle, la taille des bois, et la taille du territoire des mâles, affectent positivement leur succès reproducteur, mais pas la qualité de l'habitat dans leur territoire.<br /> Cette étude apporte de nouveaux éléments sur l'évolution de la territorialité et la sélection sexuelle chez les ongulés sauvages.

Un des principaux challenges pour prédire la composition, la structure et la dynamique des communautés végétales est de déterminer comment l’environnement biotique et abiotique va modifier la direction et l’amplitude des interactions entre plantes. L’objectif de ma thèse est de mettre en évidence le rôle prépondérant des interactions complexes (impliquant plus de deux compartiments biotiques) dans la dynamique forestière et plus particulièrement dans la dynamique de régénération des ligneux d’intérêt sylvicole tel que le chêne sessile. Les résultats soulignent l’importance de prendre en compte : (i) l’effet des cervidés sur les patrons de réponses des interactions entre plantes le long des gradients de ressources, (ii) les interactions indirectes et notamment la facilitation indirecte, (iii) des paramètres démographiques différents en relation avec la phénologie des espèces en présence, (iv) la séparation des mécanismes sous-jacents à une interaction écologique multiple via un suivi des conditions environnementales. Ainsi, ma thèse appuie l’idée que les gestions se focalisant sur une unique pression et ignorant les autres pressions ne sont pas capables de maintenir des populations d’espèces cibles car elles ne tiennent pas compte des interactions multiples. Ceci souligne l’importance d’utiliser des stratégies complémentaires pour permettre la pérennité des écosystèmes forestiers et notamment une régénération suffisante dans le cadre des changements globaux que sont le changement climatique et la surabondance de cervidés. / One of the main challenges to predict vegetation dynamics and plant community composition is to identify how biotic and abiotic factors modify the nature and magnitude of plant-plant interactions. The objective of my thesis is to highlight the leading role of multiple interactions (involving more than two biotic compartments) in forest understory dynamics and more specifically regeneration dynamics of target species such as sessile oak. The results emphasize the importance of: (i) effects of deer on response patterns of plant-plant interactions along resource gradients, (ii) indirect interactions, in particular indirect facilitation, (iii) demographic parameters in relation to species phenology, (iv) distinguishing among underlying mechanisms of multiple interactions thanks to environmental monitoring. Thus, my thesis supports the idea that management practices focusing on a single pressure, while ignoring others, are unable to conserve populations of target species because they don’t consider multiple interactions. This highlights the importance to use complementary management strategies to achieve sustainability in the context of global changes (climatic change and deer overabundance).