The Social Structure of Fallow Deer Populations (Cervus dama) in Steppe Areas of Ukraine

Abstract

In a social organization of wild ungulate populations their ability to unite in herds is especially important. The herd index of the fallow deer equalled 6.9 ± 0.64 (1–35) individuals in winter and 12.7 ± 0.89 (1–115) individuals in summer that is the maximum value during their annual biological cycle. It results from social attraction of animals and their concentration in the areas with the highest resources of qualitative forage. In summer, the herd index decreased to 3.9 ± 0.13 (1–34) deer, because females fawned and separated with their fawns from different age-sex groups. By autumn, this index had increased to 4.6 ± 0.17 (1– 45) individuals. For a long period of time (2008–2015), the average size of the fallow deer’s herd was similar to that of the family group and made up 5.9 ± 0.20 individuals. The highest values (6.15 ± 0.22: 1–115 individuals) in the steppe zone of Ukraine were registered in open areas (steppe, meadow, sparse reedbeds), and the lowest ones (4.5 ± 0.33: 1– 45 individuals) were observed in closed areas (plakor and floodplain deciduous forests).