Physiological Carry-over Effects of Variable Precipitation are Mediated by Reproductive Status in a Long-lived Ungulate
Author(s): Hediger, J.A., B.D. Spencer, M.R. Rice, M.L. Hopper, R.W. DeYoung, J.A. Ortega-S., T.E. Fulbright, D.G. Hewitt, A.M. Foley, L.R. Schofield, T.A. Campbell, M.J. Sheriff, and M.J. Cherry
Published: July 2024
This study found that reduced summer rainfall in semi-arid Texas led to increased stress hormone levels in lactating female white-tailed deer the following autumn. This demonstrates that environmental stressors can have long-lasting effects on animals, which is important for understanding the potential impacts of climate change on wildlife.
Suggested Citation
Hediger, J.A., B.D. Spencer, M.R. Rice, M.L. Hopper, R.W. DeYoung, J.A. Ortega-S., T.E. Fulbright, D.G. Hewitt, A.M. Foley, L.R. Schofield, T.A. Campbell, M.J. Sheriff, and M.J. Cherry. 2024. Physiological carry-over effects of variable precipitation are mediated by reproductive status in a long-lived ungulate. Conservation Physiology 12:coae045 https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/coae045. (East Foundation Manuscript 103)