Human and environmental associates of local species-specific abundance in a multi-species deer assemblage

Abstract Understanding how habitat, landscape context, and human disturbance influence local species-specific deer density provides evidence informing strategic management of increasing populations. Across an extensive (187 km 2 ) heterogeneous forest-mosaic in eastern England, spatially explicit surface models roe Capreolus capreolus introduced muntjac Muntiacus reevesi were calibrated by thermal imaging distance sampling (recording 1590 400 groups, respectively, on 567 driven transects). Models related to habitat composition, recreational intensity, (roe controlled for vice versa) at a grain across 1162 composite transect segments, incorporating geographical coordinates accounting spatial autocorrelation. Abundance both species was lower localities with more grasslands (inter-quartile, IQ, effect size: ?2.9 deer/km ; ). Roe abundance (mean = 7 , SD 6) greater young stands (IQ size, + 1.3 recreationists (?1.1 Muntjac 21 10) (+ 2.4 ), mature (? 46 years) 1.5 or calcareous soil 7.1 Comparison candidate variables comprising only shows be weak predictors densities. Adapting forest manipulate access may densities, but subtly: sizes are not sufficient mitigate impacts through planting vulnerable tree crops areas avoided deer. Effective culling remains the most viable option.