systematic literature review (Cervidae)

Knowledge graph centered on systematic literature review (Cervidae) with 66 nodes and 156 connections. Top connected: Marmota flaviventris, Rushes, Populus, Populus tremuloides, Ambystoma.

Method synopsis

Field playback experiments testing Mule deer responses to predator and control vocalizations. Single observer approached focal deer, conducted pre- and post-stimulus behavioral observations, and broadcast acoustic stimuli to measure antipredator responses.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 3 papers using this protocol.

Procedure from a recent peer-reviewed implementation

Steps below were extracted from the most recent peer-reviewed implementation of this protocol in the corpus — Prey responses to predator’s sounds: a review and empirical study. (2014), Ethology. The protocol was originally introduced by Do mule deer respond to the sounds of their predators? (2012). Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Select study site and establish observation protocols
   Selected site at Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) in upper East River Valley, Gunnison County, Colorado (38°57.508N, 106°59.296W) consisting of subalpine meadows, aspen groves, and willow thickets. Observer walked on trails between 18:30-21:00 hours searching for Mule deer forage.
   Quantities: Single study site, single observerDuration: May 30, 2012 to July 9, 2012Conditions: Summer range period for Mule deer, evening hours during active foraging
   Equipment: trails, Garmin eTrex H GPS unit
2. Locate and approach focal deer
   When deer or group spotted foraging, selected single individual as focal subject and approached to separation distance of 40 m. Observer spent 150 hours in field searching for deer, with 44% of time outside 0.5 km radius from human residences.
   Quantities: 40 m separation distance, 150 hours total field time, 52 individual deer tested successfullyDuration: 150 hours total across study periodConditions: During deer foraging periods, avoiding areas near human residences when possible
   Equipment: Garmin eTrex H GPS unit
3. Conduct pre-playback behavioral observation
   Recorded deer behavior for 30 seconds before stimulus playback using established ethogram of 14 behaviors including looking while standing, looking while chewing, foraging, walking-head down, walking-head up, sniffing ground, scratching, running, prancing, ear twitch, ear movement forward or backward, tail flick, and alarm walk.

Typical Equipment

• Garmin eTrex H GPS unit
• Sony SRS-77G speaker
• Apple iPod
• SPER Scientific 840029 digital sound level meter
• Olympus VN-7000 digital recorder

Output Measurements

• behavioral response scores
• time allocation to heightened behaviors
• stimulus discrimination

Papers Using This Protocol (6)

Species Studied With This Protocol