Does aridity affect spatial ecology? Scaling of home range size in small carnivorous marsupials

The size of an animal’s home range is strongly influenced by the resources available within it. In productive, resource-rich habitats sufficient resources are obtainable within a smaller area, and for many species, home ranges are smaller in resource-rich habitats than in habitats with lower resource abundance. Location data on 14 male and 27 female echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) fitted with tracking transmitters, in the southern midlands of Tasmania, were used to test the influence of habitat type on home-range size. We hypothesised that as woodland should offer more shelter, food resources and refuges than pasture, echidnas living in woodland would have smaller home ranges than those living in pasture areas. We found significant differences between the sexes. Male echidnas had a significantly larger mean home range than females and a quite different relationship between home-range size and habitat type from females. There was no relationship between the proportion of woodland within male home ranges and home-range size whereas female echidnas had a highly significant negative relationship. This suggests that home-range size of female echidnas is highly influenced by the amount of woodland within it, but the home-range size of male echidnas is controlled by factors other than habitat. This pattern is consistent with the spatial ecology of many other solitary species with a promiscuous mating system. The home ranges of females are scaled to encompass all necessary resources for successfully raising their young within a minimal area, whilst the large home ranges of males are scaled to maximise access to females.

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Spatial ecology of copperhead snakes (Agkistrodon contortrix) in response to urban park trails

Journal of Urban Ecology ◽

10.1093/jue/juaa007 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Malle F Carrasco-Harris ◽

Dale Bowman ◽

Steve Reichling ◽

Judith A Cole

Keyword(s):

Home Range ◽

Spatial Ecology ◽

Urban Forest ◽

Average Distance ◽

Mammalian Species ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Range Size ◽

Urban Park ◽

Active Season ◽

Agkistrodon Contortrix

Abstract Urban forests and parks are important for recreation and may serve as a natural corridor for commuters. The consequences of human-mediated disturbance in natural areas are documented for avian and mammalian species. Less is known about the consequences of human disturbance on reptile species, specifically snakes, residing in natural refuges within the urban matrix. Thus, we examined the spatial activity of copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) in regard to pedestrian trails within an urban forest. We used radio telemetry to track snakes during the active season and estimated distances moved in between relocations, distances to the nearest trail and home range size for individuals. We found sex and season, but not distance to the nearest trail, affected the distance snakes moved. In addition, we observed a weak, positive relationship between home range size and average distance to the trail. Sex, season and body condition did not explain snake distance to the trail, but individual patterns were variable for snakes compared to random locations generated from snake relocations. Our study indicates copperheads may be tolerant of low-level human disturbances found in an urban forest. Further work should be done to quantify levels of disturbance, such as trail use, and compare the behavior of reptiles across urban park types and locations.

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Spatial ecology of the mulgara in arid Australia: impact of fire history on home range size and burrow use

Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1111/j.1469-7998.2007.00334.x ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 273 (4) ◽

pp. 350-357 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

G. Körtner ◽

C. R. Pavey ◽

F. Geiser

Keyword(s):

Home Range ◽

Spatial Ecology ◽

Fire History ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Range Size ◽

Burrow Use

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Interactive effects of sex and body size on the movement ecology of adfluvial bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus)

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/cjz-2015-0104 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 94 (1) ◽

pp. 31-40 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

L.F.G. Gutowsky ◽

P.M. Harrison ◽

E.G. Martins ◽

A. Leake ◽

D.A. Patterson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Home Range ◽

Spatial Ecology ◽

Animal Movement ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Range Size ◽

Phenotypic Traits ◽

Bull Trout ◽

Lateral Movement ◽

Salvelinus Confluentus

Animal movement occurs as a function of many factors including changing environmental conditions (e.g., seasonality) and the internal state (e.g., phenotypic traits) of the focal organism. Identifying how these factors interact can reveal behavioral patterns that would otherwise go undiscovered. Given a large sample size of individuals (n = 187), we used acoustic biotelemetry to examine the spatial ecology of adfluvial bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus (Suckley, 1859)) in a large hydropower reservoir in British Columbia, Canada. Dependent variables, including home-range size and lateral movement, were analysed as a function of interactive relationships among seasons (over a 2-year period) and phenotypic traits. Mixed models indicated relationships between home-range size and season, whereas variation in lateral movement was explained by month and a two-way interaction between sex and body size. Large females (765 mm total length) were estimated to move laterally up to five times greater than females half their length, whereas movements between large and small males were not significantly different. This study shows how body size and sex can have a profound and possible interactive effect on animal movement. In addition, the results offer new information on the spatial ecology and conservation of adfluvial bull trout.

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Movement and Home Range of the Smooth Softshell Turtle (Apalone mutica): Spatial Ecology of a River Specialist

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d11080124 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 124

Author(s):

Jason P. Ross ◽

Robert D. Bluett ◽

Michael J. Dreslik

Keyword(s):

Home Range ◽

Spatial Ecology ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Water Levels ◽

Range Size ◽

Theoretic Approach ◽

Stream Order ◽

Movement Rate ◽

Active Season ◽

Softshell Turtle

Spatial ecological information is necessary to guide the conservation efforts of river turtles, but it is lacking for many species including the smooth softshell turtle (Apalone mutica). We investigated the spatial ecology of A. mutica in two reaches of the Kaskaskia River in Illinois, USA to determine variables influencing movement rates, the best estimate of home range, and variables influencing home range size. We radio-tracked 28 A. mutica from 2013 to 2014 and used an information theoretic approach to select the best models describing movement and home range estimates. Mean movement rate was 142.3 m/day and was highly variable with some movements >2 km/day. Movement peaked at moderate water temperatures early in the active season, increased at higher water levels for females, and was greater in the higher stream order. The sexes responded differently to environmental variation, with female movement higher in most but not all conditions. The most informative home range estimate was a 95% kernel density estimate using likelihood cross-validation (CVh) smoothing clipped to the river channel. The mean home range size was 18.1 hectares and increased with movement rate, number of radio-locations, and stream order. Most turtles had well-defined home ranges, though a few were possibly nomadic. Our methods also provide a framework for spatial ecological studies of other riverine species.

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Space use and territoriality in swift foxes (Vulpes velox) in northeastern Colorado

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z2012-003 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 90 (3) ◽

pp. 337-344 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Amariah A. Lebsock ◽

Christopher L. Burdett ◽

Safi K. Darden ◽

Torben Dabelsteen ◽

Michael F. Antolin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Home Range ◽

Spatial Ecology ◽

Space Use ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Range Size ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Spatial Overlap ◽

Vulpes Velox ◽

Shortgrass Prairie ◽

Core Areas

Space use is a fundamental characteristic that informs our knowledge of social relationships and the degree to which individuals are territorial. Until recently, relatively little was known about the spatial ecology and social organization of swift foxes ( Vulpes velox (Say, 1823)). We investigated space use of swift foxes on shortgrass prairie in northeastern Colorado. Our first objective was to evaluate sizes of seasonal and annual home ranges and core areas of 13 radio-collared swift foxes monitored continuously for 2 years. Our second objective was to compare home-range and core-area overlap of breeding pairs to that of neighboring foxes, including male–male, female–female, and nonbreeding female–male dyads. Home-range size in our study population was among the smallest previously reported for swift foxes. Males tended to have slightly larger home ranges and core areas than females, and home-range size was significantly larger in the breeding season than in both the pup-rearing and the dispersal seasons; sizes of core areas did not differ seasonally. Spatial overlap between breeding pairs was substantial, whereas spatial overlap between neighbors, particularly males, was low, suggesting territoriality.

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Spatial ecology of Paraguay’s last remaining Atlantic forest jaguars (Panthera onca): implications for their long-term survival

10.1101/426940 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Roy T McBride ◽

Jeffrey J Thompson

Keyword(s):

Home Range ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Spatial Ecology ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Range Size ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Panthera Onca ◽

Landscape Matrix ◽

Term Survival

AbstractUsing GPS telemetry we quantified space use and movements of jaguar (Panthera onca) in remnant populations in the Paraguayan Atlantic forest within a comparative context with populations in the Argentine and Brazilian Atlantic forest. Mean estimated home range size was 160 km2; estimated to be nearly equal to jaguars in the Morro do Diabo State Park in Brazil but jaguars in other populations in Argentina and Brazil had a 73% (Iguazú/Iguaçu national park complex) and 96% (Ivinhema State Park) probability of having larger home ranges. We found no relationship between home range size or movements and human population or the Human Footprint Index, while 75% of locations from all individuals were in protected areas. Our data and analysis highlight the dependence of Atlantic forest jaguars on protected areas, an avoidance of the landscape matrix and an extreme isolation of the remaining Paraguayan Atlantic forest jaguars.

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New insight into spatial ecology of Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) on the Balkans provides opportunity for focusing conservation actions for a threatened social scavenger

Biodiversity Data Journal ◽

10.3897/bdj.9.e71100 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Hristo Peshev ◽

Atanas Grozdanov ◽

Elena Kmetova–Biro ◽

Ivelin Ivanov ◽

Georgi Stoyanov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Home Range ◽

Spatial Ecology ◽

Balkan Peninsula ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Range Size ◽

Stepping Stones ◽

Griffon Vulture ◽

The Balkans ◽

Gyps Fulvus ◽

Conservation Actions

The knowledge in the behaviour and movement of endangered species is of key importance for the precise targeting and assessing the efficiency of nature conservation actions, especially considering vultures, which explore vast areas to locate ephemeral and unpredictable food resources. Therefore, a total of 51 Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) from both the re-introduced population and the autochthonous Balkan Peninsula (Balkans) colonies have been tagged with GPS/GSM transmitters in recent years, in order to study their seasonal and spatial distribution. The current study presents the analysis of the high-resolution GPS location data, acquired between January 2016 and March 2021. A total of 1,138,383 locations (an average number of 23,716 ± 18,886 positions per bird, ranged between 2,515 and 76,431 of total fixes per bird; n=48) were used to estimate the home range size and identify the traditional foraging areas and roosting sites of the birds during the wintering, migration/roaming and summering periods. Our results reveal that Griffon Vultures movement activity and home range size varied considerably throughout the annual cycle, especially between their wintering and summering grounds, while exhibiting significant overlapping amongst the tracked individuals. Specifically, immature Griffon Vultures travel long distances across all Balkan Peninsula countries, but always gather with conspecifics, showing strong fidelity to active breeding/roosting sites. The total home range 95% area of the Griffon Vulture population on the Balkans was estimated at 39,986.4 km² and the 50% core area at 1,545.42 km² (n = 48). All tracked birds were found to either visit or frequently use (> 95% of the time) the same seven vulture key zones on the Balkan Peninsula – one in Serbia, one shared between North Macedonia and Bulgaria, one shared between Bulgaria and Greece, two entirely lying in Bulgaria, one in western Greece and one shared between Kvarner Archipelago islands in Croatia and the Julian Alps - Italy, Austria and Slovenia. Several smaller sub-zones were also defined within these general ones. The seven key zones form a coherent network and are used as stepping stones for Griffon Vultures during their migration movements and roaming, but also wintering and summering. The observed concentration tendency of Griffon Vultures on the Balkans and the predictability of their temporal and spatial presence should be used to precisely target, address and substantially increase the efficiency of the conservation measures in this marginal and, thus, still vulnerable meta-population.

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OCELOT Leopardus pardalis (CARNIVORA: FELIDAE) SPATIAL ECOLOGY IN A FRAGMENTED LANDSCAPE OF COLOMBIA

Revista Mexicana de Mastozoologia ◽

10.22201/ie.20074484e.2015.5.1.204 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 17

Author(s):

Cristian Cruz-Rodríguez ◽

José F. González-Maya ◽

Abelardo Rodríguez-Bolaños ◽

Amancay A. Cepeda-Mercado ◽

Diego Zárrate-Charry ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Home Range ◽

Habitat Use ◽

Spatial Ecology ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Range Size ◽

Caribbean Region ◽

Fragmented Landscape ◽

Leopardus Pardalis ◽

Fragmented Landscapes ◽

Disturbed Habitats

ABSTRACTOcelots Leopardus pardalis (Linnaeus, 1758) are one of the most common felids in the Neotropics and in the absence of large carnivores, can function as apex predators. Despite occupying numerous habitats across its range, including human-dominated landscapes, there is limited information on how ocelots use fragmented landscapes. We radio-tracked a female ocelot in a fragmented landscape of the Caribbean region of Colombia from November 2010 to January 2011 to estimate home range and habitat use. We obtained 100 locations overall; home range size was 9.64 km2 using the 95% fixed kernel density estimate. Rivers and roads were the main variables related with the locations and the ocelot selected for natural forests but also used disturbed habitats. Home range size and habitat use was similar to previous studies, but we observed greater use of disturbed habitats. As ocelots become the top predators in many fragmented landscapes of the Neotropics, it is important to understand how they use landscapes and could serve as surrogates for conservation.Keywords: Home range, habitat use, Sucre, radio-telemetry, Colombia.RESUMENEl ocelote Leopardus pardalis (Linnaeus, 1758) es uno de los felinos más comunes en el Neotrópico y en ausencia de los grandes carnívoros, pueden funcionar como depredadores tope. A pesar de ocupar numerosos hábitats a través de su distribución, incluyendo paisajes dominados por el hombre, hay información limitada sobre cómo los ocelotes utilizan paisajes fragmentados. Realizamos radio-seguimiento de un ocelote hembra en un paisaje fragmentado de la región Caribe de Colombia entre noviembre de 2010 y enero de 2011 para estimar el ámbito hogareño y uso de hábitat. Se obtuvieron 100 ubicaciones en total; el ámbito de hogar fue de 9.64 km2 utilizando la estimación de la densidad del núcleo fijo del 95%. Los ríos y las carreteras fueron las principales variables relacionadas con las ubicaciones así como el individuo prefirió los bosques naturales, pero también utilizó hábitats perturbados. El tamaño del ámbito hogareño y uso de hábitat fue similar a estudios previos, pero se observó un mayor uso de los hábitats perturbados. A medida que los ocelotes se convierten en los principales depredadores en muchos paisajes fragmentados del Neotrópico, es importante entender cómo usan los paisajes y podrían servir como especies sustitutas en conservación.Palabras clave: ámbito de hogar, uso de hábitat, Sucre, radio-telemetría, Colombia.

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Socio-spatial organization and spatial ecology

10.1093/oso/9780198712145.003.0010 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

M.G.L. Mills ◽

M.E.J. Mills

Keyword(s):

Home Range ◽

Spatial Ecology ◽

Spatial Organization ◽

Scent Marking ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Dispersal Distance ◽

Range Size ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Large Home Range ◽

Core Areas

Home ranges of males (1204 km2) and females (1510 km2) were similar. Female home range size was positively related to the dispersion of prey and generally, but not exclusively, they displayed home range fidelity. Overlap between female home ranges was extensive, although they rarely met up. Male home ranges overlapped extensively and there was no difference in size between coalition and single males. Males overcame the problem of scent marking a large home range by concentrating scent marks in core areas. Generally female cheetah home range size is affected by resource productivity, although where prey are migratory, or in fenced reserves where movements are constricted, and areas where disturbance is severe, this may be different. Southern Kalahari males apparently need large home ranges to increase the likelihood of locating wide-ranging and sporadically receptive females. Mean dispersal distance for subadult males (96 km) was further than for females (39 km).

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