title: A paleozoological perspective on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus texana) population density and body size in central Texas.
abstract: Archaeological and paleontological datasets are used in conservation to add time-depth to ecology. In central Texas, several top carnivores including prehistoric Native American hunters have been extirpated or have had their historic ranges restricted, which has resulted in pest-level white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus texana) populations in some areas. Differences in body size of deer between prehistory and modernity are expected, given that a lack of predation likely has increased intraspecific competition for forage among deer, resulting in smaller body size today. In fact, modern deer from settings without harvest pressure are significantly smaller than those from harvested areas and from prehistoric deer. From a natural history perspective, this research highlights potential evolutionary causes and effects of top-predator removal on deer populations and related components of biological communities in central Texas.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Sciences & Department of Geography, University of North Texas, P.O. Box 305279, Denton, Texas 76203-5279, USA. sjw0095@unt.edu
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolverton
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Cornelius
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003670:Deer / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010163:Paleontology; D011156:Population Density; D013628:Talus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013781:Texas; D015046:Zoology