SENSITIVITY OF CONDITION INDEXES TO CHANGING DENSITY IN A WHITE-TAILED DEER POPULATION

The ways in which comprehensive condition profiles, incorporating morp hometric, histologic, physiologic, and diet quality indices, responded to changes in density of a white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) population were examined. Changes in these condition indices were mon itored in a northeastern Oklahoma deer herd as density declined from p eaks of 80 and 72 deer/km(2) in 1989 and 1990 (high-density) to lows o f 39 and 41 deer/km(2) in 1991 and 1992 (reduced-density), respectivel y. Compared to a reference population (6 deer/km(2)), deer sampled dur ing high-density exhibited classic signs of nutritional stress such as low body and visceral organ masses (except elevated adrenal gland mas s), low fecal nitrogen levels, reduced concentrations of serum albumin , elevated serum creatinine concentrations, and a high prevalence of p arasitic infections. Although density declined by one half over the 4- yr study, gross indices of condition (in particular body mass and size ) remained largely unchanged. However, selected organ masses, serum al bumin and non-protein nitrogen constituents, and fecal nitrogen indice s reflected improvements in nutritional status with reductions in dens ity. Many commonly used indices of deer condition (fat reserves, hemat ocrit, total serum protein, and blood urea nitrogen) were not responsi ve to fluctuations in density.