Habitat and host factors associated with liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) diagnoses in wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) in the Scottish Highlands

Table 2 Summary of host and habitat characteristics for wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) from estimated 2 km radius home ranges in the Scottish Highlands. Units in which ranges are expressed are indicated in parentheses in the explanatory variables column

Explanatory variable	2012–2013		2013–2014
Explanatory variable	M (n = 173)	F (n = 116)	M (n = 211)	F (n = 179)
Days into season (days)	33–112	114–230	39–112	113–228
Stream length (km)	24.7–62.6	22.2–64.9	24.1–64.5	20.8–65.2
Blanket bog (%)	0–86.8	0–72.4	0–90.5	0–81.4
Heather moor (%)	13.2–99.9	18.6–94.5	8.2–97.6	10–99.7
Smooth grassland (%)	0–42.5	0–40.2	0–39.3	0–50.6
Mean annual rainfall total (mm)	1053–3363	1005–3715	1002–3564	1013–3658
Mean annual development days (days)	35.5–163.9	35.5–157.3	40–157.7	37–156.9

Abbreviations: F, female deer; M, male deer
Notes: Annual development days were defined as the total number of days per year with mean air temperature exceeding 10°C. Mean annual rainfall total and mean annual development days were calculated using data from the 5 years immediately preceding each sampling season

ISSN: 1756-3305