Long-term presence and movement patterns of juvenile bull sharks, Carcharhinus leucas, in an estuarine river system

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle R. Heupel ◽  
Beau G. Yeiser ◽  
Angela B. Collins ◽  
Lori Ortega ◽  
Colin A. Simpfendorfer

Elasmobranchs living in rivers and estuaries may be highly susceptible to environmental and anthropogenic changes to coastal habitats. To address this, patterns of movement of 67 juvenile bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) were examined in the Caloosahatchee River between 2003 and 2006 using an array of 25 acoustic receivers. Individuals were monitored for periods of 1–460 days with most present for periods of weeks to months. Individuals utilised the entire monitored section of the river (~27 km) and also moved upriver beyond the extent of the acoustic array. Daily activity spaces of individuals ranged from 0 to 14 km with most <5 km. Monthly mean home ranges were 0.9–5.6 km and although home-range sizes were consistent through time, location of individuals within the river changed through time. Individuals moved upstream during the day and downstream at night and this pattern persisted across years. Based on data collected from depth transmitters in 2006, individuals swam closer to the surface at night and remained in deeper water during the day, suggesting further diurnal patterns in habitat use. Long-term consistent use of this habitat by young C. leucas suggests this population is highly dependent on the Caloosahatchee River as a nursery area.


2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 458-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann M Kitchen ◽  
Eric M Gese ◽  
Edward R Schauster

Long-term stability of territorial boundaries has not been well documented in canids. To evaluate the prevalence of long-term spatial stability of coyote (Canis latrans) home ranges, we compared the overlap of territorial boundaries and the spatial distribution of telemetry locations of packs in southeastern Colorado. From August 1983 to July 1988 (period 1), 16 coyotes from six packs were radio-tracked. From April 1996 to August 1997 (period 2), 12 coyotes from six packs were captured and tracked in the same area. Mean percentage of overlap of pack ranges was 89.8 ± 8.3% (±SD) for period 1 ranges over period 2 ranges and 55.8 ± 14.4% for period 2 ranges over period 1 ranges. Mean percentage of overlap of the 30% core area of the home ranges was 65.2 ± 13.9% for those of period 1 over those of period 2 and 66.3 ± 28.7% for those of period 2 over those of period 1. Despite substantial overlap of home-range and core-use areas, there were significant differences in the distribution of locations between periods in five of six home ranges. This suggests that, although packs are faithful to one site (i.e., boundaries remain similar over a period of years), their use of the site (i.e., distribution of locations within the range) may change temporally.



Mammalia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 540-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy T. McBride ◽  
Jeffrey J. Thompson

AbstractHome range and core area size were estimated for jaguar (Panthera onca) in western Paraguay in the Dry Chaco, Humid Chaco and Pantanal using an autocorrelated kernel density estimator. Mean home range size was 818 km2(95% confidence interval: 425–1981) in the Dry Chaco and 237 km2(95% confidence interval: 90–427) in the Humid Chaco/Pantanal. Core areas, defined as the home range area where use was equal to expected use, was consistent across sexes and systems represented on average by the 59% home range isopleth (range: 56–64%). Males had a higher probability of larger home ranges and more directional and greater daily movements than females collectively and within systems. The large home ranges in the Dry Chaco are attributable to the relatively low productivity of that semi-arid ecosystem and high heterogeneity in resource distribution while larger than expected home ranges in the Humid Chaco/Pantanal compared to home range estimates from the Brazilian Pantanal may be due to differences in geomorphology and hydrological cycle. The large home ranges of jaguars in western Paraguay and a low proportional area of protected areas in the region demonstrate the importance of private ranchland for the long-term conservation of the species.



1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 1788-1793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren E. Johnson ◽  
William L. Franklin

The activity patterns, home-range use, and habitat utilization of sympatric South American grey fox (Dusicyon griseus) and culpeo fox (Dusicyon culpaeus) in eastern Torres del Paine National Park, Chile, were studied to determine how the two species were distributed. Both species were primarily nocturnal. Mean percent daily activity did not differ between species or among seasons, but the grey fox had a greater daily activity rate in summer and fall and the culpeo fox in winter and spring. Seasonal and annual home ranges of culpeo foxes were larger than those of grey foxes, but did not differ between sexes or among seasons. Home ranges of grey and culpeo foxes were interspersed in a mosaic-like arrangement and did not overlap. Grey foxes were located more often in upland shrub transition habitat and in areas of medium cover density. Culpeo foxes were found more often in thickets of trees and in areas of high cover density. Within their home range, matorral shrubland or Nothofagus thicket habitat was selected by all culpeo foxes and by 60% of grey foxes monitored. Interference competition by the culpeo fox may have been important in determining fox distribution.



2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald S. C. Firth ◽  
John C. Z. Woinarski ◽  
Richard A. Noske

Radio-telemetry was used to investigate the home range and den characteristics of the brush-tailed rabbit-rat (Conilurus penicillatus) from three sites in the monsoonal tropics of the Northern Territory, Australia. Radio-tracking was conducted in a series of discontinuous 4–17-day sessions, over a 2-year period. The home ranges of 61 C. penicillatus were estimated using the minimum convex polygon (MCP) and fixed kernel (K95% and K50%) methods. There were no significant differences in home-range size among the three sites or between wet and dry seasons, which suggests that vegetation structure, floristics and season play relatively little role in movements of C. penicillatus. The mean home-range size was 0.79 ± 0.09 ha (MCP estimate) to 0.97 ± 0.12 ha (K95% estimate). The home ranges of males were larger than those of females (mean MCP estimates of 1.07 ± 0.15 and 0.45 ± 0.06 ha respectively). C. penicillatus denned primarily in fallen logs and in hollows of eucalypts and bloodwoods (Corymbia spp.). Rough-barked trees appeared to be preferred. The diameter at breast height (DBH) of den trees varied significantly between the three sites, being greatest at site C1 (34.5 ± 2.4 cm) and least at site C2 (26.1 ± 1.0 cm). Den trees had larger DBH than randomly selected trees at each site. The diameter at the mid-point (DMP) of both den and randomly selected logs were not significantly different between sites. Many individuals used more than one den site per tracking session. The small home ranges of C. penicillatus and its reliance on hollows in trees and logs suggest that this species is very vulnerable to local extinction following long-term annual and destructive fire regimes and land clearing, even in comparatively small patches.



2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy T McBride ◽  
Jeffrey J Thompson

AbstractWe estimated home range and core area size for jaguar (Panthera onca) in western Paraguay in the Dry Chaco, Humid Chaco and Pantanal using an autocorrelated kernel density estimator. Mean home range size was 818 km2 (95% CI:425-1981) in the Dry Chaco and 237 km2 (95% CI:90-427) in the Humid Chaco/Pantanal. Core areas, defined as the home range area where use was equal to expected use, was consistent across sexes and systems represented on average by the 59% utility distribution isopleth (range:56-64%). Males had a higher probability of larger home ranges and more directional and greater daily movements than females collectively and within systems. The large home ranges in the Dry Chaco are attributable to the relatively low productivity of that semi-arid ecosystem and high heterogeneity in resource distribution while larger than expected home ranges in the Humid Chaco/Pantanal compared to home range estimates from the Brazilian Pantanal may be due to differences in geomorphology and hydrological cycle. The large home ranges of jaguars in western Paraguay and a low proportional area of protected areas in the region demonstrate the importance of private ranchland for the long-term conservation of the species.



1978 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 417 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Green ◽  
D King

The movements of two subspecies of the sand goanna, V. gouldii, were studied at two localities in South Australia. The estimated home ranges of individuals of V.g. rosenbergi differed considerably, the largest area being 25 times the size of the smallest. Daily activity areas varied with the season, being largest in summer and smallest in winter. There were distinct differences between the two subspecies in their activity patterns, V. g. rosenbergi being active throughout the year whereas Kg. gouldii remained underground during winter.



1970 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
ER Guiler

Two geographically separate populations of S. harrisii were studied. There is evidence that long-term population cycles exist in this species. Devils are non-territorial and have a home range which may be shared by several animals. Sclerophyll forest and coastal scrub are their favoured habitats. Individuals in the two populations showed different movements, probably related to food availability; those in areas of abundant food moved about 2 miles and had small home ranges whereas those in areas with less food moved over at least 10 miles per night. The density of population was high in one area, reaching over 30 per square mile, but this is abnormal. Devils have a wide food spectrum and use introduced species as well as native, but in each area their food was based upon one to three species. Man is the principal predator on adult devils. Females were more numerous in all populations but a heavier mortality of this sex occurs in late life. This differential mortality took place at immaturity in one population. Juvenile recruitment was greater in areas with less food than in areas of abundant food, due to the absence of overcrowding.



1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 471 ◽  
Author(s):  
DG Quin ◽  
AP Smith ◽  
SW Green ◽  
HB HInes

In this study, we examined the number of captures and radio-locations of sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) necessary to give reasonable estimates of home ranges. Using home ranges determined by radiotelemetry (RTHR) as a standard, we compared nine methods of estimating trap home range (THR) from grid-based mark-recapture data. Correlation analysis was employed to determine which method of estimating THR most closely correlated with RTHRs. A minimum of 12 captures appears to be adequate for reasonable long-term THR estimates derived from the harmonic mean measure (HMM, 50% isopleth). When RTHRs were estimated by either the minimum convex polygon method (MCP) or the HMM (95% isopleth) from loci collected every 30min, a minimum of 36 radio-locations was adequate. Mean RTHR estimates for identical data sets were 53 775m*2 and 35 333m*2 calculated from the MCP and the HMM (95% isopleth) respectively. A number of methods for analysing grid-trapping data produced THR estimates that were significantly correlated with RTHR estimates. Correlations were highest when RTHRs were estimated with the HMM as opposed to the MCP. RTHR estimates derived from the MCP were most strongly correlated with THR estimates derived by the minimum area method, HMM (50% isopleth) and observed range circle (r*2>0.48). When RTHR estimates were derived from the HMM (95% isopleth), the same correlations were higher (r*2>0.88) and THRs estimated by the boundary-strip methods and the adjusted range circle were also highly correlated (r*2>0.65). The significance of the correlations suggests that reasonable short-term THR estimates may be obtained from small capture samples by these above-mentioned methods of calculation. The HMM appeared to exhibit the greatest overall utility, with both radio-tracking and grid-trapping data. The success of the HMM in describing home range appears to be in its ability to depict centres of activity. The technique is most appropriate for animals such as sugar gliders which use concentrated but patchily distributed food resources, and consequently display uneven patterns of use of space.



2008 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 489 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. G. Yeiser ◽  
M. R. Heupel ◽  
C. A. Simpfendorfer

The movement patterns of large juveniles are poorly known for many shark species. With increasing pressure on shark populations these data are critical for the management of large coastal species. A series of acoustic receivers were positioned in Pine Island Sound, Florida, USA, to passively track the long-term movements of large juvenile bull (Carcharhinus leucas) and lemon (Negaprion brevirostris) sharks. Nineteen C. leucas and five N. brevirostris were monitored during 2003 and 2004. Individual C. leucas were present for 8 to 89 days, while N. brevirostris were present for 12 to 83 days. Weekly minimum convex polygons and kernel utilisation distributions were calculated to demonstrate the home range and core areas of use of both species. Spectral analysis demonstrated that several N. brevirostris showed repetitive diel north–south movement patterns over periods of up to 28 consecutive days. C. leucas demonstrated regular use of backwater habitats. Long-term use of estuarine areas by these large juvenile sharks suggests that estuarine coastal lagoons provide an important habitat for this portion of their life history and as such, protection of these habitats may assist in shark management and conservation.



2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Paige Seidel ◽  
Wayne L. Linklater ◽  
Werner Kilian ◽  
Pierre du Preez ◽  
Wayne M. Getz

Abstract Background Understanding rhino movement behavior, especially their recursive movements, holds significant promise for enhancing rhino conservation efforts, and protecting their habitats and the biodiversity they support. Here we investigate the daily, biweekly, and seasonal recursion behavior of rhinos, to aid conservation applications and increase our foundational knowledge about these important ecosystem engineers. Methods Using relocation data from 59 rhinos across northern Namibia and 8 years of sampling efforts, we investigated patterns in 24-h displacement at dawn, dusk, midday, and midnight to examine movement behaviors at an intermediate scale and across daily behavioral modes of foraging and resting. To understand recursion patterns across animals’ short and long-term ranges, we built T-LoCoH time use grids to estimate recursive movement by each individual. Comparing these grids to contemporaneous MODIS imagery, we investigated productivity’s influence on short-term space use and recursion. Finally, we investigated patterns of recursion within a year’s home range, measuring the time to return to the most intensively used patches. Results Twenty four-hour displacements at dawn were frequently smaller than 24-h displacements at dusk or at midday and midnight resting periods. Recursion analyses demonstrated that short-term recursion was most common in areas of median rather than maximum NDVI values. Investigated across a full year, recursion analysis showed rhinos most frequently returned to areas within 8–21 days, though visits were also seen separated by months likely suggesting seasonality in range use. Conclusions Our results indicate that rhinos may frequently stay within the same area of their home ranges for days at a time, and possibly return to the same general area days in a row especially during morning foraging bouts. Recursion across larger time scales is also evident, and likely a contributing mechanism for maintaining open landscapes and browsing lawns of the savanna.



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