ABOUT THE PROJECT
The project’s main purpose is to evaluate the effects of management-relevant levels of anthropogenic disturbance on resource use and environmental impact of red deer.
We hypothesise that:
1) Tourism-related disturbance may alter habitat usage, time budgets and consequently foraging intensity of red deer.
2) Red deer maintain biodiverse short-sward grassland habitats which are refuges and breeding grounds for rare Lepidoptera species, more effectively than sheep.
3) Regular anthropogenic disturbances decrease the grazing intensity of red deer and, as such a less intensive grazing regime conducive for promoting suitable breeding habitat for rare Lepidoptera species can be established.
This work constitutes a PhD project. Expected outputs are a PhD thesis, several presentations at national and international conferences, a series of papers published in the peer-reviewed and popular literature, and information to help the owners of the Isle of Ulva decide on the future management of red deer and their habitat on the island
FURTHER READING
Discover the Latest Insights in Digital Deer’s Summer 2024 Edition!
We are delighted to announce the release of the Summer 2024 edition of our highly anticipated free online taster version of the members’ magazine, Digital Deer. Packed with exciting content, this edition is your gateway to the latest news, research, and insights from the world of deer. Here’s a sneak peek into what you can expect:
Protect Our Park – Don’t Feed The Deer Campaign at Phoenix Park
Ireland’s Office of Public Works (OPW) has launched the ‘Protect Our Park – Don’t Feed the Deer’ campaign, aiming to alter public behaviour to safeguard the wild deer in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. This initiative follows a recent University College Dublin (UCD) report highlighting the negative impact of human feeding on the behaviour and welfare of the park’s deer population.
Understanding Tick Hazards in South Downs National Park
The British Deer Society is excited to share the findings of a groundbreaking research project we supported, aimed at understanding tick hazards in South Downs National Park (SDNP). As the UK’s most visited national park, SDNP attracts countless visitors every year, making the management of tick-borne diseases a critical public health concern.
