Space use, habitat selection and browsing effects of red deer in Sardinia

Sound ecological data are important for the conservation of the endangered Sardinian red deer, but mainly anecdotal information is available. Deer density in Mt. Arcosu WWF Reserve was 25-26 deer/100 ha. We radiotracked 8 hinds and 2 stags. Mean annual home range size was 36.5 ha (hinds) and 65.9 ha (stags). On the rut, adult females increased their home ranges by 25% and subadult females by 80%. At birthing, female home ranges reached a minimum. Small home ranges of our deer were probably related to the mild climate and dense evergreen vegetation, providing food and cover. Hinds always moved more than stags. Site fidelity was shown to areas rich in food and cover, except on the rut. In days with tourists, mean home range size significantly increased and deer selected wooded areas, whereas they preferred open terrain in days without tourists. A stronger response to disturbance occurred during the rut and in winter, when deer were less habituated to tourists. Maximum habitat selection occurred in spring and summer, when open areas were rarely used. A lethal impact on uncommon species, because of overbrowsing, was observed on 1.3% of plants. The overall impact on vegetation was negligible, despite the great deer density.