Supplemental feeding of game is a well established management practice in Slovenia and worldwide. Supplemental feeding of red deer has had a long tradition in some parts of Slovenia, while it has only been established recently in the others. Due to the differences in supplemental feeding historyand diverse environmental factors, Slovenia reperesents an ideal objectfor supplemental feeding studies. This study is based on 134159 locations of 24 red deers, which were tracked in GPS telemetry projects between years 2004 - 2012 in seven research areas in Slovenia. The thesis explores 1) characteristics of yearly, seasonal and circadian supplemental feeding place (SFP) usage 2) the influence of metheorological factors upon SFP usage 3) the influence of moonlight upon SFP usage and 4) the influence of supplemental feeding history upon SFP usage. On yearly level red deer spent 4,7 % of the time at the SFP. The SFP usage starts increasing in September, reaches the maximum in February (13 % of locations at the SFP), and decreases after. The active time red deer spent at the SFP represents 5,6 % of their entire active time. Outside the vegetation period (temperature below 5 °C) when the natural forage becomes scarce, the SFP usage increases. The weather conditions in preceeding month (average temperature, number of days with temperature below 0 °C and the cumulative snowfall) influence the SFP usage significantly. With the increase in cumulative snowfall the SFP usage initially increases, but later declines. The influence of moonlight upon the SFP usage was not confirmed. Where the supplemental feeding has been established for a longer time and carried out regularly, the SFP usage is higher. Results show the importance of supplemental feeding for spatial distribution of red deer and their behaviour, though the influences of supplemental feeding might fully express only in the long term.
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