Seasonality of White-Tailed Deer
Deer are one of the most abundant mammals on earth. Their capability to adapt easily to the environment around them allows deer populations to prosper. Because deer can meet their needs in almost any ecological area, they are a numerous species. Although they can be found almost anywhere in the world, white-tailed deer are mainly found in the Western Hemisphere. Ranging from southern Canada to South America, white-tailed deer inhabit a large geographical area. White-tailed deer experience dramatic changes in their surrounding environment and in their own biology during the course of a year. More specifically, deer express very noticeable changes in their diet, their antlers, and their coat or pelage as the seasons change. The white-tailed deer's changes allow them to survive through the fluctuations in temperature and available food sources that occur over the year. Because they are able to adapt to the seasonal changes taking place in their environment, white-tailed deer are able to survive, reproduce, and prosper. Because White-tailed deer have such high metabolisms, they require very large amounts of food. "A deer weighing 100 to 150 pounds needs four to six pounds (6,300 to 9,900 calories) of high qua
At first, the new winter hairs are short and fine, but they grow longer and expand in diameter with time (Hiller 29). All of these changes described are beneficial to the deer. When the antlers begin to develop, certain amounts of nutrients and proteins are needed to ensure healthy development. In order to meet their daily food requirements, deer spend most of their time eating and searching for food. The emerging plants of spring provide a nutritious diet for hungry deer. Since the summer and winter hair grow out of the same follicle, the summer hair has to be pushed out by the winter hair. "As winter progresses and food becomes more difficult to find, such fat reservoirs may keep the deer from starving during this stressful time" (Hiller 21). They are a vital part of a buck's life (Hiller 45). This fat reserve is imperative for a deer about to battle the harsh winter. "Bucks shed their antlers from late December to late March, with most of the shedding occurring in February and March" (Hiller 50). Also, if the antlers are deformed or damaged, this shedding allows for a normal pair to come in. Like all growing things in the spring, antlers develop very rapidly.
Common topics in this essay:
Diet White-tailed,
Antlers Species,
Coat/Fur Deer,
April June,
South America,
March Hiller,
,
summer coat,
winter coat,
white-tailed deer,
food sources,
deer able,
deer eat,
winter deer,
shed antlers,
winter hair,
survive reproduce,
deer's summer coat,
winter coat summer,
Hemisphere Ranging,
hiller 29 summer,
food sources available,
coat summer coat,
|
Acceptance Essays
