Seasonal changes in activity and spatial and social relationships of the Iberian rock lizard, Lacerta monticola

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (11) ◽  
pp. 1965-1971 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Aragón ◽  
Pilar López ◽  
José Martín
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Mating Season ◽  
Agonistic Interactions ◽  
Climatic Period ◽  
Rock Lizard

We conducted a field study to examine the significance of the seasonal changes in activity levels, spatial relationships, and social interactions of the Iberian rock lizard, Lacerta monticola, during the same favorable climatic period. Activity level, movement rate, home-range size, number of same-sex neighbors, and number of agonistic interactions decreased as the mating season finished for males but not for females. The number of females' home ranges overlapped by the home range of each male was also higher in the mating season than in the nonmating season. Measurements of available ambient temperatures showed that the thermal environment was suitable for the activity of lizards in both seasons, therefore the seasonal changes cannot be explained by thermal constraints. Males gain access to several females by increasing their home-range size, thus overlapping a larger number of females' home ranges, but as a consequence, also those of a larger number of male competitors. Thus, the cost of incurring agonistic interactions also increases. These results suggest that because activity and aggressiveness in males are related to their mating success, the balance between the costs and benefits of their activity and spatial strategies differs seasonally, and this may be the cause of the observed seasonal changes.

Seasonal changes in home ranges of Abert's squirrels: impact of mating season

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 404-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
A J Edelman ◽  
J L Koprowski
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Conifer Forest ◽  
Mating Season ◽  
Mixed Conifer ◽  
Mixed Conifer Forest ◽  
Range Overlap

We compared home ranges of introduced Abert's squirrels (Sciurus aberti Woodhouse, 1853) in mixed-conifer forests of Arizona during non-mating and mating seasons. Because Abert's squirrels are reported to depend on ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa P. & C. Lawson) forests, the mixed-conifer forest in our study represented a novel habitat. Home-range size, home-range overlap with females, and movement distances increased for males from non-mating to mating seasons. Home-range size and overlap characteristics of females remained consistent between seasons, but movement distances were reduced during the mating season. Males probably increased home-range size, home-range overlap with females, and movement distances during the mating season to maximize contact with scarce females. Home-range size and overlap characteristics of female Abert's squirrels likely remained stable between seasons because females do not search for mates. Restricted movements by females during the mating season may be due to changes in resource use in preparation for reproduction. Non-mating season home ranges in our study were smaller than home ranges observed in ponderosa pine forest. Abert's squirrels in mixed-conifer forest may have small home ranges because resource quality is higher than in ponderosa pine forest or competition for space with co-occurring Mount Graham red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis (J.A. Allen, 1894)).

Home-range ecology, aggressive behaviour, and survival in juvenile lizards, Psammodromus algirus

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (9) ◽  
pp. 1681-1685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilio Civantos
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Agonistic Interactions ◽  
Probability Of Survival ◽  
Dominant Animal ◽  
Psammodromus Algirus

Individual animals are assumed to gain possession of areas where they win fights or chases, while those that lose agonistic interactions leave areas where they were defeated. Thus, the more dominant animal secures the territory, often excluding subordinates from optimal habitat. This assumption forms the basis for concluding that the degree of aggressiveness or relative dominance of an individual may be important in determining the size or quality of a territory that it can secure. I examined in the field the relationships between home-range size, quality of home range, and degree of aggressiveness and their effects on survivorship in juvenile male lizards (Psammodromus algirus). The degree of aggressiveness was determined using tethered intruders presented to resident individuals in the field. The more aggressive individuals had larger home ranges than the less aggressive ones. Furthermore, home-range size and vegetative cover in the home range also influenced the probability of survival: survivors had larger home ranges, with a greater amount of vegetative cover, than nonsurvivors.

Movement patterns of feral predators in an arid environment – implications for control through poison baiting

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 422 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. E. Moseby ◽  
J. Stott ◽  
H. Crisp
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Sand Dunes ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Movement Patterns ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Poison Baiting ◽  
Specific Variation

Control of introduced predators is critical to both protection and successful reintroduction of threatened prey species. Efficiency of control is improved if it takes into account habitat use, home range and the activity patterns of the predator. These characteristics were studied in feral cats (Felis catus) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in arid South Australia, and results are used to suggest improvements in control methods. In addition, mortality and movement patterns of cats before and after a poison-baiting event were compared. Thirteen cats and four foxes were successfully fitted with GPS data-logger radio-collars and tracked 4-hourly for several months. High intra-specific variation in cat home-range size was recorded, with 95% minimum convex polygon (MCP) home ranges varying from 0.5 km2 to 132 km2. Cat home-range size was not significantly different from that of foxes, nor was there a significant difference related to sex or age. Cats preferred habitat types that support thicker vegetation cover, including creeklines and sand dunes, whereas foxes preferred sand dunes. Cats used temporary focal points (areas used intensively over short time periods and then vacated) for periods of up to 2 weeks and continually moved throughout their home range. Aerial baiting at a density of 10 baits per km2 was ineffective for cats because similar high mortality rates were recorded for cats in both baited and unbaited areas. Mortality was highest in young male cats. Long-range movements of up to 45 km in 2 days were recorded in male feral cats and movement into the baited zone occurred within 2 days of baiting. Movement patterns of radio-collared animals and inferred bait detection distances were used to suggest optimum baiting densities of ~30 baits per km2 for feral cats and 5 per km2 for foxes. Feral cats exhibited much higher intra-specific variation in activity patterns and home-range size than did foxes, rendering them a potentially difficult species to control by a single method. Control of cats and foxes in arid Australia should target habitats with thick vegetation cover and aerial baiting should ideally occur over areas of several thousand square kilometres because of large home ranges and long-range movements increasing the chance of fast reinvasion. The use of temporary focal points suggested that it may take several days or even weeks for a cat to encounter a fixed trap site within their home range, whereas foxes should encounter them more quickly as they move further each day although they have a similar home-range size. Because of high intra-specific variability in activity patterns and home-range size, control of feral cats in inland Australia may be best achieved through a combination of control techniques.

Ecological Correlates of Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites in Female Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrococercus urophasianus)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan Clark Rabon ◽  
Cassandra M. V. Nuñez ◽  
Peter Coates ◽  
Mark Ricca ◽  
Tracey N. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Habitat Degradation ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Remotely Sensed Data ◽  
Sage Grouse ◽  
Ecological Conditions ◽  
Annual Grasses

Measurement of physiological responses can reveal effects of ecological conditions on an animal and correlate with demographic parameters. Ecological conditions for many animal species have deteriorated as a function of invasive plants and habitat fragmentation. Expansion of juniper (Juniperus spp.) trees and invasion of annual grasses into sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems have contributed to habitat degradation for Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrococercus urophasianus (Bonaparte, 1827); hereafter, “Sage-Grouse”), a species of conservation concern throughout its range. We evaluated relationships between habitat use in a landscape modified by juniper expansion and annual grasses and corticosterone metabolite levels (stress responses) in feces (FCORTm) of female Sage-Grouse. We used remotely sensed data to estimate vegetation cover within hens’ home ranges and accounted for factors that influence FCORTm in other vertebrates, such as age and weather. We collected 36 fecal samples from 22 radio-collared hens during the brood-rearing season (24 May–26 July) in southwestern Idaho 2017–18. Concentrations of corticosterone increased with home range size but decreased with reproductive effort and temperature. The importance of home range size suggests that maintaining or improving habitats that promote smaller home ranges would likely facilitate a lower stress response by hens, which should benefit Sage-Grouse survival and reproduction.

Allometry of home range size in lake and river fishes

1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 1499-1508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles K. Minns
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Freshwater Fish ◽  
Fish Population ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Territory Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals

A data set assembled from published literature supported the hypotheses that (i) home range size increases allometrically with body size in temperate freshwater fishes, and (ii) fish home ranges are larger in lakes than rivers. The allometric model fitted was home range = A∙(body size)B. Home ranges in lakes were 19–23 times larger than those in rivers. Additional analyses showed that membership in different taxonomic groupings of fish, the presence–absence of piscivory, the method of measuring home range, and the latitude position of the water bodies were not significant predictive factors. Home ranges of freshwater fish were smaller than those of terrestrial mammals, birds, and lizards. Home ranges were larger than area per fish values derived by inverting fish population and assemblage density–size relationships from lakes and rivers and territory–size relationships in stream salmonids. The weight exponent (B) of fish home range was lower than values reported for other vertebrates, 0.58 versus a range of 0.96–1.14. Lake–river home range differences were consistent with differences reported in allometric models of freshwater fish density and production.

Influence of habitat on home-range size in the short-beaked echidna

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Sprent ◽  
Stewart C. Nicol
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Spatial Ecology ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Location Data ◽  
Significant Negative Relationship ◽  
Solitary Species

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.

Snowmobile Effects on Movements of White-tailed Deer: A Case-study

1979 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald G. Eckstein ◽  
Thomas F. O'Brien ◽  
Orrin J. Rongstad ◽  
John G. Bollinger
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Odocoileus Virginianus ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges

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.

scholarly journals Home range expansion in response to temperature by evening bats (Nycticeius humeralis) in an urban environment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen Hall ◽  
Victoria Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Activity Period ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces

Abstract Background: Despite the negative connotation of urban sprawl for bat populations, fragmented green spaces such as parks, cemeteries, and golf courses have the potential to provide necessary resources for bats. For example, water resources in these areas can include natural or semi-natural lakes, ponds, streams, and drainage ditches. Such water resources, however, are frequently ephemeral when subject to prolonged periods of high temperatures. We, therefore, hypothesize that bats will expand or shift their home ranges from these urban green spaces into the surrounding neighborhoods to access alternative resources, such as residential swimming pools. Methods: To explore whether bats expand their ranges from urban green spaces, we conducted a telemetry study in which we radio-tracked resident evening bats (Nycticeius humeralis) in a local park system during their summer activity period from 2017-2019 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. From radio-tracking surveys, we measured home range size using a k-LoCoH method and the percentage of these home ranges that fell within the park system. We compared these variables using linear and non-linear regressions with temperature. Results: We successfully tracked a total of 30 bats over the 3-year period and found a positive correlation between home range size and temperature. Furthermore, we observed that home ranges increased 6 times in size when temperatures exceeded 30ºC. Conclusions: Our study indicates the importance of urban neighborhoods surrounding green spaces in providing alternative resources, such as water, for bats. If managed appropriately, these urban areas have the potential to act as urban oases for bat populations, which in turn can contribute to their conservation.

Ecology and social biology of the southern three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus; Cingulata: Chlamyphoridae)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Attias ◽  
E Gurarie ◽  
W F Fagan ◽  
G Mourão
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Movement Behavior ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Social Biology

Abstract Basic knowledge of species biology and ecology is essential for the assessment of species conservation status and planning for efficient conservation strategies; however, this information is not always readily available. Here we use movement behavior to understand the ecology and social biology of the poorly known southern three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus). We used VHF and GPS telemetry to monitor 26 individuals from two sites in the Pantanal wetlands of Brazil. We characterized armadillo activity patterns, evaluated the relationship between sex and body mass with home range size and mean daily distance traveled, and examined home and core range overlap. Three-banded armadillos were active on average for 5.5 ± 2.8 h/day, with most of their activity concentrated in the first half of the night. Adult males were heavier and had larger home ranges than adult females. Home range size scaled positively with body mass for males, but not for females. Core ranges for females overlapped little (< 1%) regardless of age, but home ranges for males overlapped both with other males (12%) and females (18%). Our data suggest that three-banded armadillos are mainly a nocturnal species. Home range and spacing patterns point to a generally asocial behavior and a polygynous or promiscuous mating system. We hope that the data generated as a result of this project will contribute to this species’ conservation in Brazil and elsewhere by guiding future management and research efforts.

Isometric scaling in home-range size of male and female bobcats (Lynx rufus)

2009 ◽  
Vol 87 (11) ◽  
pp. 1052-1060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam W. Ferguson ◽  
Nathan A. Currit ◽  
Floyd W. Weckerly
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Spatial Dynamics ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Lynx Rufus ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Order Of Magnitude

For solitary carnivores a polygynous mating system should lead to predictable patterns in space-use dynamics. Females should be most influenced by resource distribution and abundance, whereas polygynous males should be strongly influenced by female spatial dynamics. We gathered mean annual home-range-size estimates for male and female bobcats ( Lynx rufus (Schreber, 1777)) from previous studies to address variation in home-range size for this solitary, polygynous carnivore that ranges over much of North America. Mean annual home ranges for bobcats (171 males, 214 females) from 29 populations covering the entire north to south and east to west range demonstrated female home-range sizes varied more than an order of magnitude and that, on average, males maintained home ranges 1.65 times the size of females. Male home-range sizes scaled isometrically with female home-range sizes indicating that male bobcats increase their home-range size proportional to female home-range size. Using partial correlation analysis we also detected an inverse relationship between environmental productivity, estimated using the normalized difference vegetation index, and home-range size for females but not males. This study provides one of the few empirical assessments of how polygyny influences home-range dynamics for a wide-ranging carnivore.

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