Abstract

MOLINA, Misael  and  ARIAS, José H.. Población y uso de hábitat del venado de páramo Odocoileus lasiotis (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) en Venezuela. Rev. biol. trop [online]. 1998, vol.46, n.3, pp.817-820. ISSN 0034-7744.

Direct observations of Paramo´s white-tailed deer were made along transect in the Mucubají area (Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada, Mérida, Venezuela). Sex ratio was two does per buck. Group composition varied with time of year and reproductive condition. The reproductive cycle was similar to that of the white-tailed deer from the Costa Rican dry Pacific region. Activity was maximum between 9 - 11 h and 15 - 17 h, and minimum at night. The deer feed on 13 species of vascular plants (five families), and one of mushroom (Boletaceae: Agaricales). Fifteen plant species were used for shelter. Territory delimitation and signs for social communication were made primarily on gymnosperms (Cupressus and Pinus). Most deer were observed in terrain with slopes under 20% where the more complex and diverse vegetation associations exist.

Keywords : Activity periods; antler rubbing; food; paramo; Venezuela; white-tailed deer.