Resumen

PINA, Evelyn  y  TREJO, Irma. Population density and habitat characterization of the white-tailed deer in a temperate forest of Oaxaca, Mexico. Acta Zool. Mex [online]. 2014, vol.30, n.1, pp.114-134. ISSN 2448-8445.

The population density and the habitat characterization of the white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus were assessed in a temperate forest near Santa María Yavesía, Sierra Norte of Oaxaca. Two sample surveys were carried out at 13 sites belonging to five plant associations using the pellet group count method. The population density was calculated with the Eberhardt & Van Etten (1959) model using two defecation rates. The presence of deer was only registered in the coniferous forest and the closed pine-oak forest. The average densities found between March and July 2008 were 1.30 ± 3.04 individuals/km² and 0.49 ± 1.14 individuals/km². Thirteen variables (vegetation and physical attributes) of the white-tailed deer habitat were measured. The sites of the coniferous forest are found at higher altitudes, are colder, have more humidity, have a higher number or larger trees and an open tree and shrub strata. The population densities found in this study were low compared with densities found in other studies carried out in Mexico with the pellet group count method. Some management recommendations are proposed for the white-tailed deer of Santa María Yavesía.

Palabras llave : Population density; habitat characterization; Santa María Yavesía; Oaxaca; Artiodactyla; Odocoileus virginianus.