Large herbivore migration plasticity along environmental gradients in Europe: life‐history traits modulate forage effects

摘要: The most common framework under which ungulate migration is studied predicts that it driven by spatio– temporal variation in plant phenology, yet other hypotheses may explain differences within and between species. To disentangle more complex patterns than those based on single species/ populations, we quantified variability using two sympatric species differing their foraging strategy, mating system physiological constraints due to body size. We related observed a set of hypotheses. used GPS-collar data from 537 individuals 10 roe Capreolus capreolus 12 red deer Cervus elaphus populations spanning environmental gradients across Europe assess propensity, distance timing. Using time-to-event models, explored how the probability varied relation sex, landscape (e.g. topography, forest cover) temporally-varying factors green-up, snow cover). Migration propensity study areas. Red were, average, three times migratory (56% versus 18%). This relationship was mainly males were twice as females (82% 38%). similar sexes. Roe (both sexes) migrated earliest spring. While territorial male last autumn, female around same time likely polygynous system. Plant productivity determined onset spring both species, but if winter ranges sufficiently high, less leave. In coincided with reduced for stronger deer. Our results confirm influenced novel way, these effects appear be modulated species-specific traits, especially strategies.