Qualitative assessment of habitats of the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) in the Forest Steppe (right-bank) forest-hunting zone of Ukraine

Abstract

The best means of assessing the living conditions of animals is the method of vegetation analysis. The productivity of hunting grounds is determined by the feeding and protective conditions of the territory. The classification of hunting grounds by a set of environmental conditions, productivity, and respective capacity is a necessary basis for a rational game husbandry, so they are grouped by types. In the practice of hunting organization of Ukraine, a classification based on phytocoenotic approach is applied. The objects of the study were hunting grounds of forest and forestry farms ruled by the State Agency of Forest Resources of Ukraine and located in the Forest-steppe (right-bank) forestry zone of Ukraine. The European roe deer exhibits the highest behavioural plasticity among representatives of ungulates, as it can successfully reside in both mosaic forest lands and in the field, forming respective forest and field ecotypes. The typological structure of hunting grounds of farms is analysed, which has an influence on the qualitative estimation of the living conditions for the European roe deer. From the northwest to the southeast of the Forest-steppe (right-bank) forest zone of Ukraine, the average hunting ground for the European roe deer varies from 2.7 to 2.4. In areas with predominance of arable land or coniferous forests, medium-quality conditions are formed, and deciduous forests provide good protective and feeding conditions for the European roe deer. It is revealed that good living conditions in the lands do not guarantee a high number of roe deer. Thus, in areas with predominance of arable lands, the number of roe deer was below the optimum by only 10%, and in areas with predominance of deciduous forests it was from 20 to 31.7 %. For practical purposes, it is necessary to determine the approximate level of optimal numbers, taking into account the density of animals in the best game farms in the region, as well as the known density at which reproductive indices and quality of populations deteriorate, and damage to forestry and agriculture is palpable.

Keywords

• european roe deer
• qualitative assessment
• hunting grounds
• living conditions