Resource exploitation efficiency collapses the home range of an apex predator

Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 103(5)

Published: Jan. 23, 2022

Abstract Optimizing energy acquisition and expenditure is a fundamental trade‐off for consumers, strikingly reflected in how mobile organisms use space. Several studies have established that home range size decreases as resource density increases, but the balance of costs benefits associated with exploiting given unclear. We evaluate ability consumers to exploit their resources through movement (termed “resource exploitation”) interacts influence size. then contrast two hypotheses exploitation influences across vast gradient productivity human‐created linear features (roads seismic lines) are known facilitate animal movements. Under Diffusion Facilitation Hypothesis, predicted lead more diffuse space larger ranges. Exploitation Efficiency increase foraging efficiency, resulting less being required meet energetic demands therefore smaller Using GPS telemetry data from 142 wolves ( Canis lupus ) distributed over than 500,000 km 2 , we found wolf was influenced by interaction between efficiency. Home decreased feature increased, supporting Hypothesis. However, effect on diminished productive areas, suggesting efficiency greater importance when low. These results suggest ranges will occur where both primary higher, thereby increasing regional density.

Language: Английский

---

Habitat alteration or climate: What drives the densities of an invading ungulate?

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(4)

Published: April 1, 2024

Abstract Anthropogenic habitat alteration and climate change are two well‐known contributors to biodiversity loss through changes species distribution abundance; yet, disentangling the effects of these factors is often hindered by their inherent confound across both space time. We leveraged a contrast in associated with jurisdictional boundary between Canadian provinces evaluate relative spatial variation on white‐tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) densities. White‐tailed an invading ungulate much North America, whose expansion into Canada's boreal forest implicated decline caribou Rangifer tarandus ), listed as Threatened Canada. estimated densities using 300 remote cameras 12 replicated 50 km 2 landscapes over 5 years. were significantly lower areas where winter severity was higher. For example, predicted declined from 1.83 0.35 deer/km when increased lowest value median value. There tendency for increase increasing alteration; however, magnitude this effect approximately half that climate. Our findings suggest primary driver populations; understanding mechanisms underpinning relationship requires further study over‐winter survival fecundity. Long‐term monitoring at invasion front needed drivers abundance time, particularly given unpredictability prevalence extreme weather events.

Language: Английский

---

Anthropogenic impacts at the interface of animal spatial and social behaviour

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 379(1912)

Published: Sept. 4, 2024

Human disturbance is contributing to widespread, global changes in the distributions and densities of wild animals. These anthropogenic impacts on wildlife arise from multiple bottom-up top-down pathways, including habitat loss, resource provisioning, climate change, pollution, infrastructure development, hunting our direct presence. Animal behaviour an important mechanism linking these disturbances population outcomes, although behavioural pathways are often complex can remain obscured when different aspects studied isolation one another. The spatial–social interface provides a lens for understanding how animal’s spatial social environments interact determine its phenotype (i.e. measurable characteristics individual), phenotypes feed back reshape environments. Here, we review studies animal at understand predict human affects movement, distribution intraspecific interactions, with consequences conservation populations ecosystems. By mechanisms better design management interventions mitigate undesired disturbance. This article part theme issue ‘The interface: theoretical empirical integration’.

Language: Английский

---

Movement‐integrated habitat selection reveals wolves balance ease of travel with human avoidance in a risk–reward trade‐off

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 13, 2025

Abstract Anthropogenic linear features often alter wildlife behaviour and movement. Landscape features, such as habitat, can have important mediating effects on response to disturbance yet are rarely explicitly considered in how habitat interact. We tested the movement space‐use responses of GPS‐collared grey wolves with respect adjacent variation. simultaneously modelled wolf selection within a conditional logistic regression framework (integrated Step Selection Analysis). alters these through putative effects, friction. Classifying based revealed that pairing transmission lines primary roads increased avoidance be greater than either feature its own provided evidence semi‐permeable barrier In contrast, reduced human activity, including secondary tertiary roads, were highly selected for may function corridors. Synthesis applications . Explicitly parameterizing provides where is routed which habitats it interacts will greatest implications behavioural responses. Reduced risky environments signifies importance maintaining landscape connectivity, particularly when routing multiple different parallel near each other. Increased vegetation density along also reduces advantages putatively by increasing friction, indicating actively decommissioning other could an effective mitigation strategy reducing encounters prey. Knowing influence likelihood selecting given creates context minimize impact new anthropogenic behaviour.

Language: Английский

---

Logging, linear features, and human infrastructure shape the spatial dynamics of wolf predation on an ungulate neonate

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 33(7)

Published: Aug. 21, 2023

Humans are increasingly recognized as important players in predator-prey dynamics by modifying landscapes. This trend has been well-documented for large mammal communities North American boreal forests: logging creates early seral forests that benefit ungulates such white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), while the combination of infrastructure development and resource extraction practices generate linear features allow predators wolves (Canis lupus) to travel forage more efficiently throughout landscape. Disturbances from recreational activities residential other major sources human activity ecosystems may further alter wolf-ungulate dynamics. Here, we evaluate influence several types anthropogenic landscape modifications (timber harvest, features, infrastructure) have on where how hunt ungulate neonates a southern forest ecosystem Minnesota, USA. We demonstrate each disturbance significantly influences wolf predation fawns (n = 427 kill sites). In contrast with "human shield hypothesis" posits prey use human-modified areas refuge, killed closer buildings than expected based spatial availability. Fawns were also within recently-logged expected. Concealment cover was higher at sites random sites, suggesting senses vision, probably olfaction, detect hidden fawns. Wolves showed strong selection hunting along hypothesize facilitated allowing among high-quality patches (recently logged areas, near buildings), increase encounter rates olfactory cues them These findings provide novel insight into strategies many ways alters neonate dynamics, which remained elusive due challenges locating small prey. Our research management conservation implications systems subjected pressures, particularly range overlap between expands appears be altering food web ecosystems.

Language: Английский

---

Variation in adult and pup wolf diets at natal den sites is influenced by forest composition and configuration

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Although wolves are wide-ranging generalist carnivores throughout their life cycle, during the pup-rearing season wolf activity is focused on natal den sites where pup survival depends upon pack members provisioning food. Because prey availability influenced by habitat quality within home range, we investigated relative importance of species for adults and pups further examined relationship between characteristics, diet, litter size Prince Wales Island (POW) in Southeast Alaska. During 2012-2020, detected 13 active ranges nine packs. We estimated minimum counts using motion-detecting cameras individual genotypes from noninvasive samples (hair: n = 322; scat: 227) quantified diet composition fecal DNA metabarcoding (n 538). assessed composition, configuration, connectivity denning annual GPS-collar data. Contrary to expectations, had a more constricted (April 15-July 31), this narrower dietary niche (species richness [S] 4) deer (relative frequency occurrence [O/I] 0.924) than (S 15; O/I 0.591). Litter positive with pack's diet. Wolf consumption was positively associated proportion young-growth forest (≤25 years old) ranges. High levels vegetation patch interspersion, density closed logging roads were also important predictors, suggesting these qualities influential increasing wolves. Our results contrast previous research indicating diets included alternate (i.e., beaver) emphasize viability POW, especially season.

Language: Английский

---

Ranging behaviours across ecological and anthropogenic disturbance gradients: a pan-African perspective of giraffe ( Giraffa spp . ) space use

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 290(2001)

Published: June 26, 2023

Animal movement behaviours are shaped by diverse factors, including resource availability and human impacts on the landscape. We generated home range estimates daily rate for 148 giraffe ( Giraffa spp . ) from all four species across Africa to evaluate effects of environmental productivity anthropogenic disturbance space use. Using continuous time modelling framework a novel application mixed meta-regression, we summarized overall use tested impact 95% autocorrelated kernel density estimate (AKDE) size movement. The mean AKDE was 356.4 km 2 14.1 km, both with marginally significant differences species. found negative availability, positive heterogeneity protected area overlap size. There were movements Our results provide unique insights into interactive development large-bodied browser highlight potential rapidly changing landscapes animal space-use patterns.

Language: Английский

---

Predator home range size mediates indirect interactions between prey species in an arctic vertebrate community

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 92(12), P. 2373 - 2385

Published: Oct. 10, 2023

Abstract Indirect interactions are widespread among prey species that share a common predator, but the underlying mechanisms driving these often unclear, and our ability to predict their outcome is limited. Changes in behavioural traits impact predator space use could be key proximal mechanism mediating indirect interactions, there little empirical evidence of causes consequences such behavioural‐numerical response multispecies systems. Here, we investigate complex ecological relationships between seven sharing predator. We used path analysis approach on comprehensive 9‐year data set simultaneously tracking use, densities mortality rate simplified Arctic food web. show high availability clumped spatially predictable (goose eggs) leads twofold reduction (arctic fox) home range size, which increases local density strongly decreases nest survival an incidental (American golden plover). On contrary, scattered cyclic with potentially lower spatial predictability (lemming) had weaker effect fox overall positive prey. These contrasting effects underline importance studying responses predators multiprey systems explicitly integrate predator–prey models.

Language: Английский

---

Behavioral “bycatch” from camera trap surveys yields insights on prey responses to human‐mediated predation risk

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12(7)

Published: July 1, 2022

Human disturbance directly affects animal populations and communities, but indirect effects of on species behaviors are less well understood. For instance, may alter predator activity cause knock-on to predator-sensitive foraging in prey. Camera traps provide an emerging opportunity investigate such disturbance-mediated impacts across multiple scales. We used camera trap data test predictions about behavior three ungulate (caribou

Language: Английский

---

Where did my dog go? A pilot study exploring the movement ecology of farm dogs

Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: Jan. 8, 2024

Movement ecology is important for advancing our comprehension of animal behavior, but its application yet to be applied farm dogs. This pilot study uses combined GPS and accelerometer technology explore the spatial patterns activity levels free roaming dogs, Canis familiaris ( n = 3). Space-use distributions range sizes were determined compare locations visited across days between individuals, as well in relation specific areas interest. Individual analyzed compared within showed variation among although substantial similarity overall observed each pair. Among extent distribution overlap varied, with some individuals exhibiting more than others. The dogs allocated different amounts their time close landscape features, slow-, medium-, fast movements. demonstrates potential using automated tracking monitor space-use interactions livestock, wildlife. By understanding managing ranging behavior farmers could potentially take steps improve health wellbeing both limiting disease spread, reducing possibility related economic losses.

Language: Английский

---