Urban habitat use and home ranges of fishing cats in Colombo, Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anya A. W. Ratnayaka ◽  
Laurel E. K. Serieys ◽  
Tharaka Prasad ◽  
Gabriella R. M. Leighton ◽  
James G. Sanderson ◽  
...  
2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 272-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shyamala Ratnayeke ◽  
Frank T. van Manen ◽  
U. K. G. K. Padmalal

1979 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald G. Eckstein ◽  
Thomas F. O'Brien ◽  
Orrin J. Rongstad ◽  
John G. Bollinger

The effects of snowmobile traffic on the winter home-ranges, movements, and activity patterns, of White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), were studied during two winters in northern Wisconsin. There were no significant differences in home-range size and habitat use of the Deer in areas with and without snowmobiling. However, snowmobiling caused some Deer to leave the immediate vicinity of the snowmobile trail. Deer were most affected when they were within 61 m of the snowmobile trail.


2013 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 252-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariane Massé ◽  
Steeve D. Côté

Although activity budget, movements, and habitat use of herbivores have been extensively studied, few studies have simultaneously examined these behaviors at several temporal scales. We investigated the influence of spatiotemporal variations in forage and climate on the activity and movement patterns of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann, 1780)) at high density, in a predator-free ecosystem impacted by long-term browsing. We used GPS telemetry and activity sensors to monitor seasonal activity budgets, movements, and patterns of habitat use within the home ranges of 24 female deer at three temporal scales: (1) season, (2) within season, and (3) daily. At large temporal scale, deer were less active and moved less during winter than during summer. Within each season, deer reduced their activity and movements in areas where forage resources were abundant and when climatic conditions were more difficult. On a daily scale, summer and winter movements peaked at dusk, but habitat selection neither changed with period of the day nor activity (foraging vs. resting). These results provide empirical evidence on how environmental constraints can modulate the trade-offs between forage acquisition and exposure to limiting factors.


2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgina J. Yeatman ◽  
Adrian F. Wayne

An understanding of the factors that influence the distribution of the woylie (Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi) at local and regional scales has been identified as a key knowledge gap, because such knowledge may assist in the recovery of this endangered species. We aimed to investigate the seasonal home-range size and habitat use of woylies to update current knowledge of the species in the context of a substantial decline. Specifically, we examined the home range and habitat use of woylies reintroduced into a sanctuary free from invasive predators and compared these data to those from an external reference site. Eight woylies inside the sanctuary and seven outside were radio-tracked in autumn 2011. The average home-range size was 65.4 (±8.2, s.e.) ha. There was little evidence to suggest any difference in home-range size between woylies inside and outside the sanctuary. Woylies were more likely to be found in the slope and low-lying valley habitats, which have greater water-holding capacity and sandier soils. These relatively large seasonal home ranges, compared with previously published estimates for the species, may be accounted for by low population density, lower seasonal food availability and clustered food distribution. Monitoring the home-range size of woylies within the sanctuary may assist in identifying the carrying capacity of the sanctuary, which has implications for how this population is managed.


2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn Molsher ◽  
Chris Dickman ◽  
Alan Newsome ◽  
Warren Müller

Twenty-one feral cats were radio-tracked using direct sighting and triangulation techniques (amassing 730 location fixes) during winter in an agricultural landscape in central-western New South Wales. Factors affecting home-range size, home-range overlap and habitat use were assessed. Mean home-range size was 248 ha (s.e. = 34.9, n = 15 cats, 598 location fixes). Home-range size and habitat use were not influenced by sex or age of adult cats, prey abundance or time of day. However, cat weight significantly influenced range size, with heavier cats having larger ranges than smaller cats. Although the cats are apparently solitary, their home ranges overlapped considerably, particularly between young adults and old adult cats. Cats were active both by day and night and did not occupy permanent dens. Home ranges encompassed mixed habitat types that provided both shelter and prey. Open woodland and open forest were the main habitat types covered by home ranges, but within these areas cats showed a preference for grassland, where rabbits were more abundant. The results recorded in this study indicate that cat-control programs should concentrate in mixed habitat areas, where both shelter and food are available, and over widely dispersed areas. The absence of group living suggests that the effectiveness of virally vectored fertility or biological control agents would be limited.


Behaviour ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 141 (7) ◽  
pp. 881-898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Taborsky ◽  
Marcel Honza ◽  
Wolfgang Vogl ◽  
Yvonne Teuschl ◽  
Michael Taborsky

AbstractIn brood parasites, knowledge of spacing behaviour, habitat use and territoriality may reveal cues about how parasites find and use their hosts. To study the use of space and habitat of European cuckoos, Cuculus canorus, we radio-tagged 16 females during four consecutive reproductive seasons. We hypothesized that during the laying period cuckoo females should (1) use habitats selectively, and (2) attempt to monopolize potential egg laying areas to reduce competition for host nests. Our data are consistent with the first hypothesis: the use of pond edges compared to forest and transitional habitats was significantly greater than expected from the habitat availability in the total area and within individual female home ranges. All 26 directly observed egg layings and 27 nest visits without laying occurred at pond edges in nests of Acrocephalus spp. Females spent significantly more time at pond edges on egglaying days than on non-laying days. The second hypothesis was not supported: female home ranges overlapped similarly in all three major habitat categories of the potential egg laying areas, and only little aggression was observed between females. We discuss whether female cuckoos may lack territorial behaviour because they are not able to defend egg laying areas economically or because defence is not necessary due to sufficient availability of suitable host nests.


2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kira R. Withy-Allen ◽  
Kevin A. Hovel

The effectiveness of conservation efforts, including marine protected areas (MPAs), hinges on adequate knowledge of movement patterns, habitat associations and habitat-specific survival rates of mobile organisms. California spiny lobsters (Panulirus interruptus) support commercial and recreational fishing in southern California; however, we lack basic information to determine whether MPAs planned for the region will enhance abundance. Working within and outside a small southern California MPA, we (1) quantified the movement patterns and home ranges of the lobster over two time scales, (2) determined lobster day and night habitat associations and (3) determined habitat-specific predation risk. Lobsters exhibited high site fidelity and small home ranges (geometric mean of 651 m2 and 5912 m2 per week, on the basis of 50% and 95% kernel utilisation distributions, respectively). Lobsters were associated with rocky habitat during the day and with the red algae Plocamium cartilagineum while feeding at night. Relative survival rates of lobsters were high across vegetated and unvegetated habitats at night, and were highest in surfgrass (Phyllopsadix torreyi) habitat during the day. Our results highlight the need to consider how movement patterns vary over short and long time scales, and how habitat use may vary from day to night for nocturnally active species such as lobsters, when planning MPAs.


1993 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 457 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Lundie-Jenkins

A 2-year study was conducted to investigate two aspects of the local distribution of the rufous harewallaby, Lagorchestes hirsutus, in a region of the Tanami Desert. These were: (a) patterns of habitat use in response to changing environmental conditions and (b) environmental parameters influencing 'local' choice of habitat. Counts of faecal pellets and tracks were used to obtain indices of hare-wallaby activity within occupied sites and to gain an insight into the movements by individuals. Local choice of habitat was analysed by assessment of numerous habitat features at occupied and unoccupied sites in the region. Previous surveys over the greater part of the study area provide evidence of a significant local decline and local contraction of range by L. hirsutus during recent times. Hare-wallabies showed seasonal trends in the relative use of different vegetation systems in response to the relative availability of food items within each habitat. The home ranges of hare-wallabies consisted of two distinct areas of activity: a large sparsely used area within the dense Triodia pungens vegetation and a small concentrated feeding area within the neighbouring caliche system. Hare-wallabies were dependent upon a specialised form of spinifex habitat. Patchiness, hummock size, food diversity and the degree of floral senescence affected suitability for hare-wallabies. Within the Tanami Desert site, suitable combinations of these characters were associated with tight mosaics of different regenerative stages after fire. Fire is therefore clearly implicated as an important force in creating a greater diversity of feeding and sheltering habitats for the hare-wallabies in the otherwise uniform spinifex sandplains. There is an obvious role for the application of controlled burns as a means of managing habitats to favour L. hirsutus in the Tanami Desert.


1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Caley

Movements, activity patterns and habitat use of feral pigs were studied in a tropical woodland habitat by radio-telemetry, live-trapping and hunter returns. The mean aggregate home-range size was 33.5 km2 for boars and 24.1 km2 for sows. Feral pigs were rather sedentary, with no tendency to disperse great distances from their initial home ranges. Pigs were most active at night, with peaks of activity in the late afternoon and early morning. Pigs preferentially used the riparian vegetation strip bordering major rivers, and grain crops, when available. The implications for the management of pigs are discussed.


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