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Newman BA, D’Angelo GJ. A Review of Cervidae Visual Ecology. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:420. [PMID: 38338063 PMCID: PMC10854973 DOI: 10.3390/ani14030420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
This review examines the visual systems of cervids in relation to their ability to meet their ecological needs and how their visual systems are specialized for particular tasks. Cervidae encompasses a diverse group of mammals that serve as important ecological drivers within their ecosystems. Despite evidence of highly specialized visual systems, a large portion of cervid research ignores or fails to consider the realities of cervid vision as it relates to their ecology. Failure to account for an animal's visual ecology during research can lead to unintentional biases and uninformed conclusions regarding the decision making and behaviors for a species or population. Our review addresses core behaviors and their interrelationship with cervid visual characteristics. Historically, the study of cervid visual characteristics has been restricted to specific areas of inquiry such as color vision and contains limited integration into broader ecological and behavioral research. The purpose of our review is to bridge these gaps by offering a comprehensive review of cervid visual ecology that emphasizes the interplay between the visual adaptations of cervids and their interactions with habitats and other species. Ultimately, a better understanding of cervid visual ecology allows researchers to gain deeper insights into their behavior and ecology, providing critical information for conservation and management efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blaise A. Newman
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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Newman BA, Dyal JR, Miller KV, Cherry MJ, D'Angelo GJ. Influence of visual perception on movement decisions by an ungulate prey species. Biol Open 2023; 12:bio059932. [PMID: 37843403 PMCID: PMC10602006 DOI: 10.1242/bio.059932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Visual perception is dynamic and depends on physiological properties of a species' visual system and physical characteristics of the environment. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are most sensitive to short- and mid-wavelength light (e.g. blue and green). Wavelength enrichment varies spatially and temporally across the landscape. We assessed how the visual perception of deer influences their movement decisions. From August to September 2019, we recorded 10-min locations from 15 GPS-collared adult male deer in Central Florida. We used Hidden-Markov models to identify periods of movement by deer and subset these data into three time periods based on temporal changes in light environments. We modeled resource selection during movement using path-selection functions and simulated 10 available paths for every path used. We developed five a priori models and used 10-fold cross validation to assess our top model's performance for each time period. During the day, deer selected to move through woodland shade, avoided forest shade, and neither selected nor avoided small gaps. At twilight, deer avoided wetlands as cloud cover increased but neither selected nor avoided other cover types. Visual cues and signals are likely more conspicuous to deer in short-wavelength-enriched woodland shade during the day, while at twilight in long-wavelength-enriched wetlands during cloud cover, visual cues are likely less conspicuous. The nocturnal light environment did not influence resource selection and likely has little effect on deer movements because it's relatively homogenous. Our findings suggest visual perception relative to light environments is likely an underappreciated driver of behaviors and decision-making by an ungulate prey species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blaise A. Newman
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Jordan R. Dyal
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Karl V. Miller
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Michael J. Cherry
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, 700 University Blvd., Kingsville, TX 78363, USA
| | - Gino J. D'Angelo
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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Guerisoli MM, Fergnani DM, Fracassi NG, Thompson J, Pereira JA. Activity patterns of the marsh deer: Effects of proxies of human movement, cattle presence, and moon phases on its behavior. J Zool (1987) 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M. M. Guerisoli
- División Mastozoología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" (MACN‐CONICET) Buenos Aires Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - D. M. Fergnani
- División Mastozoología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" (MACN‐CONICET) Buenos Aires Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - N. G. Fracassi
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) Paraná de las Palmas and Canal Laurentino Comas (2804) Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - J. Thompson
- Guyra Paraguay, Asunción, Paraguay Instituto Saite, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) Asunción Paraguay
| | - J. A. Pereira
- División Mastozoología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" (MACN‐CONICET) Buenos Aires Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) Buenos Aires Argentina
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Watson EM, Cohen BS, Osborn DA, Brown JM, Miller KV. Estimation of Visual Discrimination in the White-tailed Deer by Behavioral Assay. AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 2022. [DOI: 10.1674/0003-0031-187.1.90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eryn M. Watson
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athen 30602
| | - Bradley S. Cohen
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athen 30602
| | - David A. Osborn
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athen 30602
| | - James M. Brown
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens 30602
| | - Karl V. Miller
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens 30602
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Okubo M, Sato M, Tamamura W, Tsutsumi S, Morie S, Souma K. Discrimination between two chromatic colors in sika deer. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Lunar Phases and Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions: Application of the Lunar Disk Percentage Method. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11030908. [PMID: 33810052 PMCID: PMC8005019 DOI: 10.3390/ani11030908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The moon is ubiquitous in the night sky and considered an important abiotic factor that influences animal activity. However, little is known about the relationship between moonlight and the daily, monthly, or seasonal frequency of wildlife–vehicle collisions (WVCs). Traditionally, the influence of moonlight on WVCs has been analyzed using the lunar phase (quarters) approach, which evaluates moonlight on a rough scale (only four 25% steps of the visible moon disc and a strict arrangement of phases over time). We used a different approach; we compared WVCs to the actual lunar disc illumination that is based on the specific daily percentage of the visible lunar disk (LDP). Our findings indicated a significant trend of increasing WVC frequencies with increasing LDP at night. We also examined the correlation between the daily numbers of WVCs and LDP for different months and seasons. Positive correlations between LDP and WVCs were stronger at night and during the late autumn–winter months, particularly in December, suggesting the importance of lunar illumination on WVCs. Our study suggests that the LDP approach may provide more possibilities for the evaluation and quantification of WVCs and lunar light relationships than the traditional lunar phase approach. The results can be useful for predicting and reducing WVCs at different times of the lunar illumination cycle and in different seasons. Abstract We investigated the relationship between lunar illumination based on the percentage of the visible lunar disk (LDP) and the frequency of wildlife–vehicle collisions (WVCs) in Lithuania. We analyzed WVC frequency during ten 10% LDP intervals to more precisely reflect the relationship between LDP and WVC. The 10% LDP interval approach showed a significant trend of increasing WVC frequencies with an increasing LDP at night. We also examined the correlation between the daily numbers of WVCs and LDP for different months and seasons. The relationship seemed to be stronger at night and during the late autumn–winter months, particularly in December, suggesting the importance of lunar illumination on WVCs. There was a weak positive correlation between LDP and overall daily number of WVCs (rs = 0.091; p < 0.001) and between LDP and night WVCs (rs = 0.104; p < 0.001). We found significant positive correlations for winter (December–February) (rs = 0.118; p = 0.012) and autumn (August–November) (rs = 0.127; p = 0.007). Our study suggests that the LDP interval approach may provide more possibilities for the evaluation and quantification of WVCs and lunar light relationships than the traditional lunar phase approach.
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DeVault TL, Seamans TW, Blackwell BF. Frontal vehicle illumination via rear‐facing lighting reduces potential for collisions with white‐tailed deer. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Travis L. DeVault
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center Sandusky Ohio44870USA
| | - Thomas W. Seamans
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center Sandusky Ohio44870USA
| | - Bradley F. Blackwell
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center Sandusky Ohio44870USA
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Ladine TA, Settles L. Response in Nighttime Activity of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to Lunar Cycle and Cloud Cover. SOUTHEAST NAT 2020. [DOI: 10.1656/058.019.0211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Troy A. Ladine
- Department of Biology, East Texas Baptist University, Marshall, TX 75670
| | - Lindsey Settles
- Department of Biology, East Texas Baptist University, Marshall, TX 75670
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Lindenau W, Kuhrt H, Ulbricht E, Körner K, Bringmann A, Reichenbach A. Cone-to-Müller cell ratio in the mammalian retina: A survey of seven mammals with different lifestyle. Exp Eye Res 2019; 181:38-48. [PMID: 30641045 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2019.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian retinal glial (Müller) cells are known to guide light through the inner retina to photoreceptors (Franze et al., 2007; Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 104:8287-8292). It was shown that Müller cells transmit predominantly red-green and less violet-blue light (Labin et al., 2014; Nat Commun 5:4319). It is not known whether this optical function is reflected in the cone-to-Müller cell ratio. To determine this ratio in the retinas of mammals with different lifestyle, we evaluated the local densities of cones and Müller cells in the retinas of guinea pigs, rabbits, sheep, red deer, roe deer, domestic pigs, and wild boars. Retinal wholemounts were labeled with peanut agglutinin to mark cones and anti-vimentin antibodies to identify Müller cells. Wholemounts of guinea pig and rabbit retinas were also labeled with anti-S-opsin-antibodies. With the exceptions of guinea pig and pig retinas that had cone-to-Müller cell ratios of above one, the local densities of cones and Müller cells in the retinas of the species investigated were roughly equal. Because the proportion of S-cones is usually low (for example, 5.3% of all cones in the dorsal guinea pig retina expressed S-opsin), it is suggested that Müller cells are mainly coupled to M-cones. Exceptions are the ventral peripheries of guinea pig and rabbit retinas which are specialized areas with high S-cone densities. Here, up to 50% of Müller cells may be coupled to S-cones, and 40% of S-cones may be not coupled to Müller cells. Among the species investigated, the density of Müller cells in the central retina was inversely correlated with the axial length of the eyes. It is suggested that (with the exception of specialized S-cone areas) Müller cells support high acuity vision by predominant guidance of red-green light to M-opsin expressing cones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilhelm Lindenau
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Heidrun Kuhrt
- Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Germany
| | - Elke Ulbricht
- Biotechnology Center, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Katrin Körner
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andreas Bringmann
- Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Andreas Reichenbach
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Skarin A, Sandström P, Alam M. Out of sight of wind turbines-Reindeer response to wind farms in operation. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:9906-9919. [PMID: 30386585 PMCID: PMC6202756 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Revised: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To meet the expanding land use required for wind energy development, a better understanding of the effects on terrestrial animals' responses to such development is required. Using GPS-data from 50 freely ranging female reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in the Malå reindeer herding community, Sweden, we determined reindeer calving sites and estimated reindeer habitat selection using resource selection functions (RSF). RSFs were estimated at both second- (selection of home range) and third-order (selection within home range) scale in relation to environmental variables, wind farm (WF) development phase (before construction, construction, and operation), distance to the WFs and at the second-order scale whether the wind turbines were in or out of sight of the reindeer. We found that the distance between reindeer calving site and WFs increased during the operation phase, compared to before construction. At both scales of selection, we found a significant decrease in habitat selection of areas in proximity of the WFs, in the same comparison. The results also revealed a shift in home range selection away from habitats where wind turbines became visible toward habitats where the wind turbines were obscured by topography (increase in use by 79% at 5 km). We interpret the reindeer shift in home range selection as an effect of the wind turbines per se. Using topography and land cover information together with the positions of wind turbines could therefore help identify sensitive habitats for reindeer and improve the planning and placement of WFs. In addition, we found that operation phase of these WFs had a stronger adverse impact on reindeer habitat selection than the construction phase. Thus, the continuous running of the wind turbines making a sound both day and night seemed to have disturbed the reindeer more than the sudden sounds and increased human activity during construction work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Skarin
- Department of Animal Nutrition and ManagementSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Per Sandström
- Department of Forest Resource ManagementSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUmeåSweden
| | - Moudud Alam
- Section of StatisticsSchool of Technology and Business StudiesDalarna UniversityFalunSweden
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The topography of rods, cones and intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells in the retinas of a nocturnal (Micaelamys namaquensis) and a diurnal (Rhabdomys pumilio) rodent. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202106. [PMID: 30092025 PMCID: PMC6084985 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We used immunocytochemistry to determine the presence and topographical density distributions of rods, cones, and intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) in the four-striped field mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio) and the Namaqua rock mouse (Micaelamys namaquensis). Both species possessed duplex retinas that were rod dominated. In R. pumilio, the density of both cones and rods were high (cone to rod ratio: 1:1.23) and reflected the species' fundamentally diurnal, but largely crepuscular lifestyle. Similarly, the ratio of cones to rods in M. namaquensis (1:12.4) reflected its nocturnal lifestyle. Similar rod density peaks were observed (R. pumilio: ~84467/mm2; M. namaquensis: ~81088/mm2), but a density gradient yielded higher values in the central (~56618/mm2) rather than in the peripheral retinal region (~32689/mm2) in R. pumilio. Two separate cone types (S-cones and M/L-cones) were identified implying dichromatic color vision in the study species. In M. namaquensis, both cone populations showed a centro-peripheral density gradient and a consistent S- to M/L-cone ratio (~1:7.8). In R. pumilio, S cones showed a centro-peripheral gradient (S- to M/L-cone ratio; central: 1:7.8; peripheral: 1:6.8) which appeared to form a visual streak, and a specialized area of M/L-cones (S- to M/L-cone ratio: 1:15) was observed inferior to the optic nerve. The number of photoreceptors per linear degree of visual angle, estimated from peak photoreceptor densities and eye size, were four cones and 15 rods per degree in M. namaquensis and 11 cones and 12 rods per degree in R. pumilio. Thus, in nocturnal M. namaquensis rods provide much finer image sampling than cones, whereas in diurnal/crepuscular R. pumilio both photoreceptor types provide fine image sampling. IpRGCs were comparably sparse in R. pumilio (total = 1012) and M. namaquensis (total = 862), but were homogeneously distributed in M. namaquensis and densest in the dorso-nasal quadrant in R. pumilio. The adaptive significance of the latter needs further investigation.
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Cohen BS, Osborn DA, Gallagher GR, Warren RJ, Miller KV. Behavioral measure of the light-adapted visual sensitivity of white-tailed deer. WILDLIFE SOC B 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bradley S. Cohen
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources; University of Georgia; Athens GA 30602 USA
| | - David A. Osborn
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources; University of Georgia; Athens GA 30602 USA
| | | | - Robert J. Warren
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources; University of Georgia; Athens GA 30602 USA
| | - Karl V. Miller
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources; University of Georgia; Athens GA 30602 USA
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Cohen BS, Osborn DA, Gallagher GR, Warren RJ, Miller KV. An automated device for training white-tailed deer to visual stimuli. WILDLIFE SOC B 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.99] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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