Behavioral responses of coyotes to wolf recolonization in northwestern Montana

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (12) ◽  
pp. 1919-1927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy M Arjo ◽  
Daniel H Pletscher
Keyword(s):  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Wolf Population ◽  
Temporal Separation ◽  
Temporal Partitioning ◽  
Northwestern Montana ◽  
Range Overlap ◽  
Overlap Area

Recent recolonization of northwestern Montana by wolves (Canis lupus) provided an opportunity to examine behavioral responses of coyotes (Canis latrans) to a reestablished wolf population. Coyote and wolf annual home ranges overlapped extensively; however, seasonal overlap was not as pronounced. Most seasonal coyote home ranges were located between wolf packs or along the edge of wolf territories, but wolves and coyotes did not use the seasonal overlap area differently than expected. Most of the coyotes maintained random separation distances from wolves, though three coyotes were closer to wolves than expected. No difference in summer activity was found between the canids; however, temporal partitioning occurred during the winter, which may have allowed the increase in home-range overlap observed during the winter. Additionally, temporal partitioning occurred through differential arrangement of canid home ranges (i.e., wolf home ranges were smaller in summer) and reduced overlap of seasonal home ranges. Coyotes were usually singletons and some pairs, and before wolf colonization they fed on lagomorphs and plants. After wolf colonization, coyotes tended to be in pairs and small packs and they relied on ungulates. Although we documented wolves killing coyotes, coyotes are coexisting with wolves through spatial and temporal separation and behavioral changes.

scholarly journals Reactions of Narwhals, Monodon monoceros, to Killer Whale, Orcinus orca, Attacks in the Eastern Canadian Arctic

2006 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin L. Laidre ◽  
Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen ◽  
Jack R. Orr
Keyword(s):  
Killer Whale ◽  
Satellite Telemetry ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Space Use ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Time Changes

A Killer Whale attack on Narwhals was observed at Kakiak Point in Admiralty Inlet, Nunavut, Canada, in August 2005. Behavioral responses of both Narwhals and Killer Whales were documented by direct observation. Data collected from Narwhals instrumented with satellite-linked transmitters 5 days prior to the arrival of Killer Whales were used to examine changes in Narwhal movement patterns (e.g., dispersal and clumping) five days before the attack, during the attack, and five days after Killer Whales left the area. A minimum of four Narwhals were killed by 12-15 Killer Whales in a period of 6 hours. Narwhals showed a suite of behavioral changes in the immediate presence of Killer Whales including slow, quiet movements, travel close to the beach (<2 m from shore), use of very shallow water, and formation of tight groups at the surface. These behavioral changes are consistent with Inuit accounts of Killer Whale attacks on Narwhals. During the attack, Narwhals dispersed broadly, the groups were less clumped (standard deviation of inter-whale mean latitudes and longitudes), Narwhal space-use doubled from pre-attack home ranges of 347 km2 to 767 km2 (kernel 50% probability), and Narwhals shifted their distribution further south of the attack site. After the disappearance of Killer Whales, north-south dispersal of Narwhals contracted and was similar to pre-attack levels, total space use decreased slightly (599 km2), yet west-east dispersal remained high. Narwhals were distributed significantly (P < 0.001) more broadly offshore in areas not used before the occurrence of Killer Whales. In general, short-term reactions of Narwhals to Killer Whale presence were obvious; yet normal behavior (as observed from shore) resumed shortly after Killer Whales left the area. Long-term (five day) Narwhal behavioral responses included increased dispersal of Narwhal groups over large offshore areas. This is among the few reports of eyewitness Killer Whale attacks on Narwhals in the high Arctic and is the first time changes in Narwhal behavior have been documented in response to a predation event through the use of satellite telemetry.

Behavioral responses of white-tailed deer subjected to lethal management

2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (12) ◽  
pp. 1358-1366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott C. Williams ◽  
Anthony J. DeNicola ◽  
Isaac M. Ortega
Keyword(s):  
Global Positioning System ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Population Reduction ◽  
Global Positioning ◽  
Lethal Management ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Range Overlap ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Interaction Behaviors

Currently, the most effective and cost-efficient mechanism for controlling overabundant white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann, 1780)) is lethal removal, most commonly controlled hunting and sharpshooting. Deer subjected to such efforts may behave differently during removal and remaining deer may alter behaviors, potentially limiting future efficacy of removal efforts. Our objectives were to quantify changes in deer distribution in response to controlled hunting and sharpshooting. We immobilized two sample populations of 20 deer (one enclosed and one free-ranging) in central New Jersey, USA, and fitted them with global positioning system collars. The free-ranging herd experienced 11 days of controlled hunting, reducing density from 78 to 27 deer/km2. We subjected the enclosed herd to a 7 day sharpshoot, reducing density from 83 to 7 deer/km2. Hunted deer increased mean home ranges during removal, while deer exposed to sharpshooting did not. Collared doe–doe home-range overlap increased postsharpshoot, suggesting increased social interaction. Behaviors of hunted deer were directly affected by the human threat, while behavioral changes of deer exposed to sharpshooting were linked to population reduction. In the absence of an intact matrilineal social group, unrelated does will seek each other out in what appears to be an inherent need to be social.

Demography of a harvested population of wolves (Canis lupus) in west-central Alberta, Canada

2011 ◽  
Vol 89 (8) ◽  
pp. 744-752 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.F. Webb ◽  
J.R. Allen ◽  
E.H. Merrill
Keyword(s):  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Mandatory Reporting ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Natural Mortality ◽  
Wolf Population ◽  
West Central ◽  
Reproductive Rates

Wolves ( Canis lupus L., 1758) are subject to liberal public harvests throughout most of their range in North America, yet detailed information on populations where sport harvest is the primary source of mortality are limited. We studied a harvested wolf population in west-central Alberta from 2003 to 2008. Demographic data were collected from visits to den sites, 84 collared wolves from 19 packs, and a harvest monitoring program that augmented mandatory reporting for registered traplines. Annual harvest rate of wolves was 0.34, with harvest on registered traplines (0.22 ± 0.03) being twice that of hunters (0.12 ± 0.04). Most wolves harvested (71%) were pre-reproductive. Probability of a pack breeding was 0.83 ± 0.01, litter size averaged 5.6 ±1.4, and these rates and stability of home ranges were unaffected by the number of wolves harvested. Natural mortality (0.04 ± 0.03) and dispersal rates (0.25 ± 0.04) were lower than reported for wolf populations in protected areas. Reproductive rates balanced total wolf mortality, indicating harvest was likely sustainable. We suggest that a high proportion of juveniles harvested and the spatial structure of the registered trapline system contributed to the sustainability of harvests.

scholarly journals ctmmweb: A graphical user interface for autocorrelation-informed home range estimation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin M. Calabrese ◽  
Christen H. Fleming ◽  
Michael J. Noonan ◽  
Xianghui Dong
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Kernel Density ◽  
R Package ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Tracking Data ◽  
Sampled Data ◽  
Convex Polygons ◽  
Range Estimation ◽  
Empirical Reality ◽  
Range Overlap

ABSTRACTEstimating animal home ranges is a primary purpose of collecting tracking data. All conventional home range estimators in widespread usage, including minimum convex polygons and kernel density estimators, assume independently sampled data. In stark contrast, modern GPS animal tracking datasets are almost always strongly autocorrelated. This incongruence between estimator assumptions and empirical reality leads to systematically underestimated home ranges. Autocorrelated kernel density estimation (AKDE) resolves this conflict by modeling the observed autocorrelation structure of tracking data during home range estimation, and has been shown to perform accurately across a broad range of tracking datasets. However, compared to conventional estimators, AKDE requires additional modeling steps and has heretofore only been accessible via the command-line ctmm R package. Here, we introduce ctmmweb, which provides a point-and-click graphical interface to ctmm, and streamlines AKDE, its prerequisite autocorrelation modeling steps, and a number of additional movement analyses. We demonstrate ctmmweb’s capabilities, including AKDE home range estimation and subsequent home range overlap analysis, on a dataset of four jaguars from the Brazilian Pantanal. We intend ctmmweb to open AKDE and related autocorrelation-explicit analyses to a wider audience of wildlife and conservation professionals.

Home range of the allied rock-wallaby, Petrogale assimilis

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Horsup
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Major Effect ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Temporal Separation ◽  
Dry Tropics ◽  
Shelter Site ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
Core Areas

The home range and movements of the allied rock wallaby, Petrogale assimilis, a small macropod of the seasonally wet-dry tropics of Queensland, were studied over a 22-month period. There was no significant difference in the size of home ranges (95% isopleth) or core areas (65% isopleth) of males and females. Home ranges were generally elliptical with a mean size of 11.9 ha. Season had a major effect on home ranges. The following measures were all significantly greater in the dry seasons than in the wet seasons: home-range size (larger), home-range shape (more elongate), distance moved by females when feeding (longer), distance between shelter site and home-range centre of activity (longer). Feeding movements of males did not vary seasonally and were as long as dry-season movements of females, suggesting that movements of males are primarily determined by behavioural rather than physiological considerations. The overlap of rock-wallaby home ranges varied little between the sexes or seasons and averaged 38%. Core areas overlapped by an average of 22%; however, feeding adult rock-wallabies rarely met other conspecifics, except their partners. A comparison of the fixes of unpaired wallabies that had overlapping home ranges showed that temporal separation was occurring. In contrast, the home ranges of consort pairs showed extremely high temporal and spatial overlap. Rock-wallabies exhibited strong fidelity to their home ranges. The overlap of the seasonal home ranges and core areas of each individual rock wallaby averaged 68% and 52%, respectively. However, the seasonal home range of a socially immature adult male altered in location and size as he matured socially until it stabilised when he obtained a permanent consort.

Swift fox (Vulpes velox) home-range dispersion patterns in southeastern Wyoming

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (11) ◽  
pp. 2024-2029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Travis L Olson ◽  
Frederick G Lindzey
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Vulpes Velox ◽  
Swift Fox ◽  
Dispersion Patterns ◽  
Range Overlap ◽  
Grassland Habitats

We monitored dispersion patterns of swift foxes (Vulpes velox) for 3 years in shrub-grassland habitats on the margin of the species' geographic range near Medicine Bow, Wyoming. Annual home-range size was 18.6 ± 1.6 km2 (mean ± SE, n = 13) and was similar to home-range estimates reported in other studies conducted within grassland habitats in other portions of the species' geographic range. Male home ranges were larger than those of their mates during pup-rearing periods (P < 0.04) but were similar in size during the dispersal period. The home ranges of both sexes were smallest during the pup-rearing period. The degree of home-range overlap for mates (biological periods combined) was high (range = 27.4–100%, mean ± SE = 70.8 ± 0.03%, n = 26 pairs) but was minimal between adjacent pairs (range = 0.2–36%, mean ± SE = 11.9 ± 2.4%, n = 10 pairs), suggesting territorial behavior. Occupied home ranges were distributed similarly each year despite one or both pair members often being new. Swift fox home-range size varied seasonally, and home-range dispersion patterns appeared to be influenced by the presence of other fox pairs and the recent use of an area by other swift foxes.

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)).

PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES OF GRAY WOLVES (CANIS LUPUS) TO IMMOBILIZATION WITH TILETAMINE AND ZOLAZEPAM

1990 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry J. Kreeger ◽  
Ulysses S. Seal ◽  
Margaret Callahan ◽  
Mark Beckel
Keyword(s):  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Gray Wolves

Space use and the social system of muskrats

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 869-875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lui Marinelli ◽  
François Messier
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Social System ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Social Unit ◽  
Canadian Prairies ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Adult Sex Ratio ◽  
Range Overlap

We investigated the space-use patterns of adult muskrats in a small (77 ha) marsh on the Canadian Prairies during two breeding seasons. During the study, population size was relatively low and the adult sex ratio was biased towards females. Adult muskrats were territorial with little intrasexual home-range overlap. The exclusivity of home ranges was maintained throughout the breeding season, and appeared to decrease at the end of the season. Male movements often extended over the territory of more than one female, but the overlap was more extensive with primary than with secondary females. Lactation appeared to reduce the space use and mobility of female muskrats. Male muskrats tended to range over smaller areas when weaned young were present within their home range. The results suggest that the sexual pair is the basic social unit of muskrats but that polygyny was common. A female-biased sex ratio appeared to be responsible for the tendency of males to mate polygynously during this study, thus illustrating the plasticity of this social system.

Managing wolves (Canis lupus) to recover threatened woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in Alberta

2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (12) ◽  
pp. 1029-1037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dave Hervieux ◽  
Mark Hebblewhite ◽  
Dave Stepnisky ◽  
Michelle Bacon ◽  
Stan Boutin
Keyword(s):  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Apparent Competition ◽  
Provincial Government ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Caribou ◽  
Wolf Population ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Population Reduction ◽  
Reduction Program

Across Canada, woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788)) populations are declining because of human-induced changes to food webs that are resulting in apparent competition-induced increases in predator-caused caribou mortality. We tested the hypothesis that wolf (Canis lupus L., 1758) population reduction could reverse declines in a woodland caribou population following a BACI (before-after-control-impact) design conducted over a 12-year period in west-central Alberta, Canada. We monitored annual survival for 172 adult female caribou and calf recruitment from 2000 through 2012 and conducted a provincial government delivered wolf population reduction program annually during the winters of 2005–2006 to 2012 (inclusive) in an area centered on the Little Smoky range. Wolf removal translated to a 4.6% increase in mean population growth rate of the Little Smoky population mostly through improvements in calf recruitment. In contrast, the Red Rock Prairie Creek control population exhibited a 4.7% decline. Although the wolf population reduction program appeared to stabilize the Little Smoky population, it did not lead to population increase, however, with λ remaining approximately equal to 1. Therefore, we recommend, if required, predation management be combined with effective habitat conservation and long-term planning to effect the recovery of species, such as woodland caribou, which are declining as a result of habitat-mediated apparent competition.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document