GASTROINTESTINAL MORPHOLOGY OF FEMALE WHITE-TAILED AND MULE DEER: EFFECTS OF FIRE, REPRODUCTION, AND FEEDING TYPE

摘要: We assessed variation in length, width, density, and surface enlargement factor of papillae; rumen intestinal digesta weight; length; tissue weight reproductive nonreproductive female whitetailed (Odocoileus virginianus) mule deer (O. hemionus) using similar burned unburned habitat. Deer were collected from study areas Custer Pennington counties, South Dakota, adjacent to a wildfire burn. Length papillae white-tailed greater than habitat, dry was Papillae factor, length for lactating nonlactating deer. weight, The mosaic pattern the habitat beneficial at mucosal level within 3 years postfire. Enhanced morphology compared with pregnant attributed high nutritional demands associated status. density may be more important because feeding strategy (concentrate selector‐intermediate feeder) selector), whereas directly size.