The natural shelter for red deer (Cervus elaphus) in a Scottish glen.
Abstract
[See FA 40, 4698] Small-scale undulations in topography and a small area of woodland reduced wind speed by up to 95%. The reduction of windspeed in the glen overall was up to 42%. The influence of shelter on heat loss from deer was calculated using published data. It was estimated that at 0 deg C nearly twice as much heat would be lost in the most exposed as in the least exposed position. It is suggested that radiative shelter (i.e. shelter from the cold sky by trees) is as important as shelter from the wind in reducing heat loss.