The intrepid urban coyote: a comparison of bold and exploratory behavior in coyotes from urban and rural environments

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 9(1)

Published: Feb. 14, 2019

Abstract Coyotes ( Canis latrans ) are highly adaptable, medium-sized carnivores that now inhabit nearly every large city in the United States and Canada. To help understand how coyotes have adapted to living urban environments, we compared two ecologically evolutionarily important behavioral traits (i.e., bold-shy exploration-avoidance behavior) contrasting environments rural urban). Boldness is an individual’s reaction a risky situation exploration willingness explore novel situations. Our results from both tests indicate bolder more exploratory than within populations there individuals vary across spectrums. Bolder behavior emerged over several decades speculate on possible processes (e.g., learning selection) site differences could be playing role this adaptation. We hypothesize factor people treat coyotes; area were regularly persecuted whereas rarely sometimes positively rewarded close proximity of people. Negative consequences adaptation become bold enough occasionally prey pets or attack humans.

Language: Английский

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The evolutionary consequences of human–wildlife conflict in cities

Evolutionary Applications, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 14(1), P. 178 - 197

Published: Sept. 17, 2020

Human-wildlife interactions, including human-wildlife conflict, are increasingly common as expanding urbanization worldwide creates more opportunities for people to encounter wildlife. Wildlife-vehicle collisions, zoonotic disease transmission, property damage, and physical attacks or their pets have negative consequences both wildlife, underscoring the need comprehensive strategies that mitigate prevent conflict altogether. Management techniques often aim deter, relocate, remove individual organisms, all of which may present a significant selective force in urban nonurban systems. Management-induced selection significantly affect adaptive nonadaptive evolutionary processes populations, yet few studies explicate links among wildlife management, evolution. Moreover, intensity management can vary considerably by taxon, public perception, policy, religious cultural beliefs, geographic region, underscores complexity developing flexible tools reduce conflict. Here, we cross-disciplinary perspective integrates evolution address how social-ecological drive adaptation cities. We emphasize variance implemented actions shapes strength rate phenotypic change. also consider specific either promote genetic plastic changes, leveraging those biological inferences could help optimize while minimizing Investigating an phenomenon provide insights into arises plays critical role shaping phenotypes.

Language: Английский

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Behavioral plasticity can facilitate evolution in urban environments

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 37(12), P. 1092 - 1103

Published: Sept. 1, 2022

Language: Английский

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Coyote diet in North America: geographic and ecological patterns during range expansion

Mammal Review, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 52(4), P. 480 - 496

Published: June 21, 2022

Abstract Coyotes Canis latrans have expanded their geographic range by 40% in the last 120 years, raising questions about ecological impacts newly colonised areas. Despite a wealth of local knowledge on coyote diet North America, we little information how and why might vary throughout species' range. We conducted first rangewide meta‐analysis investigating ecoregion, mass, environmental conditions, presence top predators alternative food items are related to dietary diversity, as well consumption small mammals, lagomorphs, vegetation ungulates. Using data from 93 studies, used generalised linear mixed models determine which variables best explained patterns. were generally more carnivorous temperate forests than other ecoregions, primarily due greater ungulate consumption. Dietary diversity was most influenced via negative effect mammal consumption; diverse spring where human footprint greater. There minor variation consumption, but lagomorph winter when coyotes larger. Vegetation greatest summer autumn. Ungulate positively snow cover grey wolves lupus . Both intrinsic extrinsic factors diet. Larger ate larger foods, parallels relationship between mass prey size across carnivore guild. Wolves humans opposing effects seem prioritise eating wild though work is needed quantify scavenging. Collectively, our findings emphasise need for continued or regional studies understand highly variable within ecosystems they currently inhabit poised inhabit.

Language: Английский

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Human-induced fear in wildlife: A review

Journal for Nature Conservation, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 74, P. 126448 - 126448

Published: July 3, 2023

Language: Английский

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Coyotes living near cities are bolder: implications for dog evolution and human-wildlife conflict

Behaviour, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 157(3-4), P. 289 - 313

Published: Feb. 8, 2020

Abstract How animal populations adapt to human modified landscapes is central understanding modern behavioural evolution and improving wildlife management. Coyotes ( Canis latrans ) have adapted activities thrive in both rural urban areas. Bolder coyotes showing reduced fear of humans their artefacts may an advantage environments. We analysed the reactions 636 novel (camera traps) at 575 sites across state North Carolina. Likelihood a coyote approaching camera increased with housing density suggesting that are experiencing selection for boldness becoming more attracted artefacts. This has implications human-wildlife conflict theories dog domestication. also note physical traits could be result domestication-related pressures, or hybridization.

Language: Английский

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Fear and stressing in predator–prey ecology: considering the twin stressors of predators and people on mammals

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 8, P. e9104 - e9104

Published: April 30, 2020

Predators induce stress in prey and can have beneficial effects ecosystems, but also negative on biodiversity if they are overabundant or been introduced. The growth of human populations is, at the same time, causing degradation natural habitats increasing interaction rates humans with wildlife, such that conservation management routinely considers disturbance as tantamount to surpassing those predators. need simultaneously manage both these threats is particularly acute urban areas are, increasingly, being recognized global hotspots wildlife activity. Pressures from altered predator–prey interactions activity may each initiate fear responses species above triggered by stressors ecosystems. If experienced elevated levels, top multiple environmental stressors, chronic impacts occur. Despite common knowledge stress, however, it rare considered conservation, except intensive ex situ situations captive breeding facilities zoos. We propose mitigation crucial for preserving biodiversity, especially value within increases. As such, we highlight future studies consider ecology preserve ecosystem functioning, where occurs. suggest, particular, non-invasive investigations endocrinology ethology be partnered planning surveys habitat resources incorporate reduce wildlife.

Language: Английский

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Fear, love, and the origins of canid domestication: An oxytocin hypothesis

Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 9, P. 100100 - 100100

Published: Dec. 2, 2021

The process of dog domestication likely involved at least two functional stages. initial stage occurred when subpopulations wolves became synanthropes, benefiting from life nearby or in human environments. second phase was characterized by the evolution novel forms interspecific cooperation and social relationships between humans dogs. Here, we discuss possible roles oxytocin system across these stages domestication. We hypothesize that early domestication, played important attenuating fear stress associated with contact. In later oxytocin's most critical functions were those affiliative behavior, engagement, humans. outline neurobiological changes processes present a Siberian fox model canid which predictions can be tested. Lastly, identify limitations current studies on neuroendocrinology challenges opportunities for future research.

Language: Английский

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Coexistence across space and time: Social‐ecological patterns within a decade of human‐coyote interactions in San Francisco

People and Nature, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 5(6), P. 2158 - 2177

Published: Oct. 10, 2023

Abstract Global change is increasing the frequency and severity of human‐wildlife interactions by pushing people wildlife into increasingly resource‐limited shared spaces. To understand dynamics what may constitute coexistence in Anthropocene, there a critical need to explore spatial, temporal, sociocultural ecological variables that contribute conflicts urban areas. Due their opportunistic foraging behavioural flexibility, coyotes ( Canis latrans ) frequently interact with environments. San Francisco, California, USA hosts very high density coyotes, making it an excellent region for analysing human‐coyote attitudes toward over time space. We used community‐curated long‐term data source from Francisco Animal Care Control summarise decade coyote sightings characterise spatiotemporal patterns interaction types relation housing density, socioeconomics, pollution human vulnerability metrics, green space availability. found conflict reports have been significantly past 5 years were more during pup‐rearing season (April–June), dry (June–September) COVID‐19 pandemic. Conflict also likely involve dogs occur inside parks, despite overall occurring outside parks. Generalised linear mixed models revealed places higher vegetation greenness median income. Meanwhile reported boldness, hazing correlated burden population indices. Synthesis applications : Our results provide compelling evidence suggesting are intimately associated social‐ecological heterogeneities time, emphasizing road will require socially informed strategies. Additional research articulating how drivers (e.g. food subsidies, domestic species, climate‐induced droughts, socioeconomic disparities, etc.) be essential building adaptive management efforts effectively mitigate future occurring. Read free Plain Language Summary this article on Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Human densities, not pollution, affect urban coyote boldness and exploration

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 28, 2025

Comparative studies show that urban coyotes behave differently from their rural counterparts. However, these often treat cities as homogeneous. Cities feature diverse pressures for wildlife, such variable human densities and environmental hazards, two factors are known to drive increased risk-taking. Thus, this heterogeneity creates a shifting landscape of risk, which may locally adapted behavioral strategies within cities. Yet, the influence on coyote behavior is not well understood. To investigate this, we conducted novel object testing at 24 sites across gradients density pollution. We recorded detections responses object, focusing time spent alert, close, total exploration. found varied with both pollution, being markedly lower in areas high Coyote boldness (time alert close) exploration were uniformly associated density, human-dense displaying elevated heightened Our results suggest impacts apex predator behavior, potentially having downstream consequences human-carnivore coexistence.

Language: Английский

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