Factors affecting habitat use by mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the central part of the Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico: an assessment with univariate and multivariate methods

Habitat use by mule deer was studied in the Mapimí Biosphere Reserve in the Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico. The deer population in this area is distributed among isolated hills and sierra. Because of their similar soil and vegetation characteristics, these hills are a homogeneous element of the landscape. This study was carried out within this element, in order to understand the habitat variables that are important for deer in the selection of habitat. Univariate as well as multivariate analytical methods were used in a complementary fashion to identify habitat variables associated with habitat selection during wet and dry seasons. The univariate method detected a relationship between habitat use and variation in slope (measurements of unevenness in terrain), in both seasons, it also detected a relationship between habitat use and the distance to water in the dry season. The multivariate method detected higher use of sites with greater unevenness in the terrain, higher shrub diversity, greater visibility and that were closer to water sources. Unevenness in terrain seems to be the most important factor influencing habitat selection by mule deer. This factor is limited to isolated hills and sierra in this part of the Chihuahuan Desert, so it is a spatially well defined resource. Such areas should be considered as a high-priority for the conservation of this species.