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For more than 15 years, I have been studding deer in Mexico and Latin America.Most of my initial deer research was with white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus couesi) in the north-west of Mexico (Durango). Later, I moved to the Yucatan peninsula to launch a long-term study (1996-2001) on sympatric populations of
the endemic Yucatan brown brocket deer (Mazama pandora), red brocket deer (Mazama americana) and white-tailed deer in the tropical rainforests of the Greater Calakmul Region, Campeche, Mexico. I am in the process of publishing all the information gathered during this project (including that coming from both my Msc and PhD theses).
Papers to be published soon. Keep tuned here!
My deer research in Calakmul from 1996 to 2001 centered in the following goals:
1. To document unknown aspects on the natural history and ecology of sympatric populations of three species of tropical deer: The recently re-discovered endemic Yucatan Peninsula brown brocket deer (Mazama pandora), the red brocket deer (Mazama americana) and the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the forest ecosystems of the Greater Calakmul Region, Campeche, Mexico.
2. To better-understand the effects of subsistence hunting on the populations of these species of deer with particular emphasis on the temporal and spatial organization of deer hunters in the forest landscape.
3. To provide ecologically sound management alternatives for deer populations subjected to intensive human hunting pressure for subsistence.
A copy of my PhD thesis (Weber, M. 2005. Ecology and conservation of sympatric tropical deer populations in the Greater Calakmul Region, Mexico. PhD dissertation. University of Durham. 241 pp.) can be dowloaded here:
Here is the abstract of the thesis:
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Ecology and conservation of sympatric tropical deer populations
in the Greater Calakmul Region, Mexico
in the Greater Calakmul Region, Mexico
by Manuel Weber
Abstract
The conservation and management of tropical deer populations needs both knowledge of the ecology and natural history of deer and an understanding of the utilization of deer populations by humans. The south-eastern portion of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico is the region with the largest ungulate diversity in Mesoamerica, including three of the five species of deer found in Mexico. For centuries, human populations have been harvesting deer for subsistence in this region. Little is know on the ecology and conservation of ungulate populations undergoing subsistence harvesting in Mesamerica.
This thesis is the result of a long-term study (1996-2001) on the population, community ecology and sustainable management of the Yucatan Peninsula brown brocket deer (Mazama pandora), red brocket deer (Mazama americana) and white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the Greater Calakmul Region (GCR), south-eastern Mexico. Chapter two addresses the estimation of deer abundance, densities, population structure and habitat use of sympatric populations of these three species of deer. Chapter three outlines the relationships of the deer diet with aspects of habitat ecology such as fruit phenology, availability and seasonality. Chapter four describes the spatial and temporal patterns of subsistence hunting of tropical deer populations with the use of a novel technique incorporating both GIS/GPS technologies and participatory research.
The abundance of deer in the GCR remained stable during a continuous monitoring period of five years and no effects of hunting were detected in the populations of the two Mazama species. A steady decline was detected in the populations of white-tailed deer that might be attributed to over-harvesting by subsistence hunters. Densities of the three species of deer are similar or higher that those reported elsewhere in the Neotropics. Mazama americana presented strong preferences in habitat use for the Tall Perennial Forest, while M. pandora and O. virginianus used habitats in relation with availability. The population structure of the three species of deer resembles a stable population with the majority of individuals found in younger age classes but older individuals still found in ages above 12 years old (the cementum annuli technique for age determination was used for the first time in a tropical deer population). Mazama americana is a frugivore deer with its diet composed of up to 80% fruits year-round, while M. pandora and O.virginianus are both frugivores and browsers. Fruit availability for deer was strongly linked with fruit phenological patterns of the major plant species composing the deer diet year-round. A critical period with low fruit availability and potential dietary stress for deer was found during the dry season (April-May).
Abstract
The conservation and management of tropical deer populations needs both knowledge of the ecology and natural history of deer and an understanding of the utilization of deer populations by humans. The south-eastern portion of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico is the region with the largest ungulate diversity in Mesoamerica, including three of the five species of deer found in Mexico. For centuries, human populations have been harvesting deer for subsistence in this region. Little is know on the ecology and conservation of ungulate populations undergoing subsistence harvesting in Mesamerica.
This thesis is the result of a long-term study (1996-2001) on the population, community ecology and sustainable management of the Yucatan Peninsula brown brocket deer (Mazama pandora), red brocket deer (Mazama americana) and white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the Greater Calakmul Region (GCR), south-eastern Mexico. Chapter two addresses the estimation of deer abundance, densities, population structure and habitat use of sympatric populations of these three species of deer. Chapter three outlines the relationships of the deer diet with aspects of habitat ecology such as fruit phenology, availability and seasonality. Chapter four describes the spatial and temporal patterns of subsistence hunting of tropical deer populations with the use of a novel technique incorporating both GIS/GPS technologies and participatory research.
The abundance of deer in the GCR remained stable during a continuous monitoring period of five years and no effects of hunting were detected in the populations of the two Mazama species. A steady decline was detected in the populations of white-tailed deer that might be attributed to over-harvesting by subsistence hunters. Densities of the three species of deer are similar or higher that those reported elsewhere in the Neotropics. Mazama americana presented strong preferences in habitat use for the Tall Perennial Forest, while M. pandora and O. virginianus used habitats in relation with availability. The population structure of the three species of deer resembles a stable population with the majority of individuals found in younger age classes but older individuals still found in ages above 12 years old (the cementum annuli technique for age determination was used for the first time in a tropical deer population). Mazama americana is a frugivore deer with its diet composed of up to 80% fruits year-round, while M. pandora and O.virginianus are both frugivores and browsers. Fruit availability for deer was strongly linked with fruit phenological patterns of the major plant species composing the deer diet year-round. A critical period with low fruit availability and potential dietary stress for deer was found during the dry season (April-May).
Subsistence hunting of deer is widespread in the GCR region, but deer hunting seems to be sustainable in part due to the dynamic patterns in spatial and temporal location of hunters in the landscape. The spatial and temporal patterns of deer hunting might be responsible for the creation of natural refuges and source/sink areas for deer populations. The conservation and management of tropical deer populations in the GCR and Meso-America are discussed in the light of these findings.
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The start of my wildlife health and conservation medicine program is taking all of my time and energy these days, so further deer research and conservation will have to be through work with graduate students.
You might want to take a closer look at my previous deer work by looking at some of my publication record in the section "Academic stuff (and a brief curriculum vitae)"
Interested in deer research and conservation in the humid tropics?
Looking for postgraduate opportunities in this field in Mesoamerica and the the southern-border of Mexico ?
Give me a call!
