Abstract
The Dama dama dama population of the island of Rhodes has an important conservation significance because of its unique genetic characters. Currently, many are the factors that threaten its survival. Aim of this paper is to provide the first data on the spatio-temporal co-occurrence between the only free-ranging Greek population of common fallow deer and local domestic caprines. Kilometric abundance index (KAI) was derived from spotlight counts. The unattended domestic caprines appear to impact on fallow deer, in particular during fawning season. Livestock monitoring over time can act as a proxy indicator of the status of this deer population.
Funding source: Decentralized Administration of the Aegean
Funding source: Directorate General of Forest and Agriculture, Piraeus
Funding source: Department of Environmental Protection of the Municipality of Rhodes
Acknowledgements
In the course of this project we have been fortunate to have the help of many friends and colleagues. We should like to express special thanks to Nikos Theodoridis and Konstantinia Papastergiou for their contributions in material and information. We are grateful to the reviewers for insightful comments and suggestions on an earlier draft.
Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Research funding: This work was supported by the Decentralized Administration of the Aegean, Directorate General of Forest and Agriculture, Piraeus (Greece), and the Department of Environmental Protection of the Municipality of Rhodes (Greece).
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.
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