Jacob Dykes
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Graduate Research Assistant/ PhD. / Wildlife Sciences
Behavioral Responses of White-tailed Deer to Heat Stress
Jacob Dykes is originally from Amory, MS and completed both his Bachelors and Masters of Science degrees in Wildlife Sciences at Mississippi State University. His current research is evaluating behavioral responses of white-tailed deer to heat stress and assessing competition with cattle for thermal refuge. Because animals are commonly at risk of heat stress during hotter times of the year, changes in behavior such as seeking shade, wind, or altering activity patterns are important in alleviating heat stress and are often less costly than relying solely on the animal’s physiological responses. However, changes in behavior can lead to competition with other species. Using black-globe thermometers that consider radiant heat from the sun, air temperature, and wind, provide a more accurate measure of the temperature experienced by the animal, known as operative temperature. Using these black-globe thermometers while monitoring animal location with GPS collars will give insight in how these animals respond when temperatures start to rise. The use of GPS collars equipped with miniature black-globe thermometers on white-tailed deer and cattle will be used to monitor behavior and potential competition for cover during the summer.