White-tailed deer population dynamics and management on the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center /
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | , |
| Format: | Thesis eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
[College Station, Tex.] :
[Texas A & M University],
[2003]
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Link to OAK Trust copy |
| Abstract: | White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) numbers on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas have increased in recent years and are a cause of urban-related accidents (e.g., deer-vehicle collisions, negative interation with humans). Safety personnel for the JSC are interested in reducing human-deer interaction by a reduction in overall population numbers. My overall study objectives were to (1) estimate population parameters for JSC deer, (2) develop a computer simulation model for the JSC deer, and (3) evaluate 2 management strategies to control JSC deer numbers a priori using the JSC deer model. The 2 management strategies I evaluated were the efficacy of SpayVac [trademark] immunocontraceptive vaccine (sterilization) and trap and translocation (deer removal) efforts in managing white-tailed deer on JSC. In general, single treatments of removals or sterilization (>75 percent of female deer treated) were not effective in reducing population growth (R<1). Approximately 50% of female deer needed to be removed annually to reduce population growth whereas approximately 25% of female deer needed to be treated annually with SpayVac [trademark] for the same effects. A combination of trap and removals and sterilizations was effective in reducing population growth when applied to approximately 25% of the female population annually. I recommend the use of sterilization annually ([approximately]25%) or a combination of sterilization and removal ([approximately]25%) to achieve the goals of JSC in maintaining current deer numbers. Removing or sterilizing>50% of the female deer annually caused the JSC deer population to decrease to a level near eradication. |
|---|---|
| Item Description: | Vita. Abstract. "Major Subject: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences" Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created on Oct. 15, 2004.) Electronic resource. |
| Physical Description: | 1 online resource. |
| Format: | System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |