scholarly journals Home range of the Tropidurid lizard Liolaemus lutzae: sexual and body size differences

1999 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. F. D. ROCHA

The home range of the Tropidurid lizard Liolaemus lutzae, an endemic species of the costal sand dune habitats of Rio de Janeiro State, was studied in the beach habitat of Barra de Maricá restinga, Maricá County. Home ranges were studied using a mark-recapture technique in a delimited area at the beach habitat. I considered for estimates and analysis the home ranges of those lizards with a minimum of four positions. The size of L. lutzae home ranges varied according to the segment of the population. The mean home range size of adult males (x = 59.8 ± 33.7 m²) was significantly larger than that of adult females (x = 22.3 ± 16.1 m²). Juvenile mean home range size was significantly smaller than that of adult males, but did not differ from that of adult females (t = 1.058; p = 0.149). The overlap between male home ranges was usually low (3.6%), being in general only peripheral. Conversely, there was a considerable overlap between home ranges of adult females with those of adult males, the home range areas of two or three females being enclosed in the home range of one adult male. The small overlap between home ranges of adult males suggested mutual exclusion. The observed between-sex differences in the size of L. lutzae home range may be explained by the sexual dimorphism in body size in this species, and by the need of adult males to establish larger areas so as to include many females in their areas, during the reproductive season. The differences in home range along ontogeny probably result from differences in body size of the different segments of the population, due to trophic differences (carnivory and herbivory levels), and the dispersal of young after birth. Because L. lutzae is omnivorous, but primarily herbivorous when adult, and due to its sit-and-wait foraging behavior (mainly on arthropods), it does not need to move around over large areas to find food, which in turn reduces the area necessary for it to live.

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer K. Martin

Detailed knowledge of how individuals use space when active and while sheltering is crucial to understanding the habitat requirements of a species. I present the first home-range estimates for bobucks, Trichosurus cunninghami, that are based on both nocturnal and diurnal radio-tracking fixes. I tracked 37 individuals (14 adult females, 14 adult males, three subadult females and six subadult males) between mid-1999 and late 2003 in a forest patch in the Strathbogie Ranges, south-eastern Australia. I collected a total of 9562 diurnal fixes (mean 309 fixes per adult) and 5211 nocturnal fixes (mean 169 fixes per adult). All individuals used multiple den-trees; adults used a mean of 7.2 den-trees per individual. Adult bobucks of both sexes had a mean home-range size of 6.0 ha. There were no significant differences in the mean number of den-trees used or in the mean home-range size of adult males and females. Subadults used significantly fewer den-trees and had significantly smaller home ranges than adults. This study demonstrates the importance of large and long-term datasets in accurately determining the habitat requirements of a population.


1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 1499-1508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles K. Minns

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.


2012 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florencia Bonatto ◽  
Daniela Gomez ◽  
Andrea Steinmann ◽  
José Priotto

Patterns of space use and sexual dimorphism are frequently used to infer mating systems. We examined body size and home range size and intra- and intersexual overlap degree in order to elucidate mating strategy of Akodon azarae males. We studied spacing patterns using 113 and 129 home ranges established by males and females, respectively, in four 0.25 ha enclosures during the breeding season. Significant differences between sexes in home range size and overlap degree were found. Male home ranges were always larger than those of females. We observed exclusive space use among males and among females. Considering only those males that shared their home ranges with females, average intersexual overlap value was about 50%. Males mainly overlap their home ranges with home ranges of two or three females. Significant differences in body size were found between males and females, with males being larger. We concluded that space use and sexual dimorphism in this species is consistent with patterns characteristic of polygynous rodents, and we propose a polygynous system in A. azarae.


Koedoe ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. L Penzhorn

The mean home range size of Cape mountain zebra breeding herds was 9,4 km2 (range 3,1 @ 16,0 km2). In two herds which split up, the home ranges of the resultant herds included the original home ranges, but were larger.


Oryx ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 370-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Achara Simcharoen ◽  
Tommaso Savini ◽  
George A. Gale ◽  
Saksit Simcharoen ◽  
Somphot Duangchantrasiri ◽  
...  

AbstractTigers Panthera tigris are highly threatened and continue to decline across their entire range. Actions to restore and conserve populations need to be based on science but, in South-east Asia, information on ecology and behaviour of tigers is lacking. This study reports the relationship between the home range size of female tigers and prey abundance, using data from radio-collared tigers in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand, and published data from other studies. A total of 11 tigers, four males and seven females, were fitted with global positioning system collars, to estimate home ranges using 95 and 100% minimum convex polygons (MCP). Prey abundance was estimated by faecal accumulation rates. The mean home range size of male tigers was 267 and 294 km2 based on 95 and 100% MCPs, respectively; the mean female home range size was 70 and 84 km2, respectively. Territories of male and female tigers had little overlap, which indicated both sexes were territorial. Mean densities of the prey species sambar Rusa unicolor, barking deer Muntiacus muntjac and large bovids were 7.5, 3.5 and 3.0 km−2, respectively. When female home range size and prey abundance were compared at six locations in Thailand, and at other sites in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Russia, a significant negative correlation was found between prey abundance and home range size. Monitoring this relationship can provide managers with metrics for setting conservation goals.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Marek Kouba ◽  
Václav Tomášek

Abstract Animal home ranges are typically characterized by their size, shape and a given time interval and can be affected by many different biotic and abiotic factors. Understanding of animal movements and assessing the size of their home ranges are essential topics in ecology and necessary for effective species protection, especially concerning birds of prey. Using radio-telemetry (VHF; 2.1 g tail-mounted tags) we studied the movements of two Tengmalm’s owl (Aegolius funereus) males during the breeding season 2008 in a mountain area of Central Europe (the Czech Republic, the Jizera Mountains: 50˚ 50’ N, 15˚ 16’ E). We determined their average nocturnal hunting and diurnal roosting home range sizes. The mean hunting home range size calculated according to the 90% fixed kernel density estimator was 251.1 ± 43.2 ha (± SD). The mean roosting home range size calculated according to the 100% minimum convex polygon method was 57.9 ± 15.8 ha (± SD). The sizes of hunting home ranges during breeding in this study coincide with those previously reported by other studies focusing on Tengmalm’s owl males. However, we found the roosting home ranges were smaller in size compared to those previously reported. This result was most probably connected with different habitat structure in our study area, which was severally damaged by air-pollution in the past, thus probably offering fewer suitable hiding-places, for instance from predators. We found the roosting locations were concentrated in the oldest and densest Norway spruce forest patches. We emphasize that these parts of forest stands require the highest possible protection in our study area.


2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Borowik ◽  
Rafał Kowalczyk ◽  
Weronika Maślanko ◽  
Norbert Duda ◽  
Mirosław Ratkiewicz

Abstract The heterogeneity of resource availability shapes animal movements at different spatio-temporal scales. Given that movements at various scales are assumed to be linked, the space use of temperate ungulates within seasonal ranges (winter, summer) should be related to their movement patterns at the annual scale. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the level of stationarity of moose (Alces alces) within their seasonal ranges and to link annual movement patterns to within-season space use. We analysed the ranging behaviour of 32 moose fitted with GPS collars from two study areas in Eastern Poland, where at the annual scale a fraction of individuals migrate between summer and winter ranges (partial migration). Our results revealed that moose stationarity within seasonal home ranges expressed remarkable variation. The probability of moose stationarity within seasonal ranges was significantly higher (by 23%), and the mean home range size tended to be lower (9.7 km2) among individuals that seasonally migrated than among non-migratory moose (14.3 km2). In addition, we found that (i) in summer, moose were significantly more stationary (by 19%) and exhibited a smaller mean home range size than in winter (9.0 and 15.9 km2, respectively) and (ii) the mean seasonal home range size of males (19.6 km2) was remarkably greater than that of females (9.6 km2). Given the significant link between annual and seasonal scales of animal movements, any environmental change (e.g. climate warming) affecting an animal’s annual movement strategy could alter within-season animal space use and presumably individual fitness. Significance statement To maximize their fitness, animals adjust their movements to deal with variations in resource distribution in the landscape. The scale of spatio-temporal variation causes different types of migratory behaviours, ranging from year-round stationarity to migration, when individuals establish spatially separated seasonal ranges. Studies on ungulates suggest that the stability and the size of seasonal home ranges can be linked to annual movement behaviour. Using the locations of GPS-tracked moose, we demonstrate in this study that migratory individuals were more prone to establishing stable seasonal home ranges (especially in summer) than moose that occupied the same area throughout the year. Moreover, stable seasonal home ranges were remarkably smaller in summer than in winter, which may suggest a season-specific spatial distribution and a renewability of moose forage. Our results show a clear link between different temporal scales of animal movements.


2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (10) ◽  
pp. 853-859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuelle Richard ◽  
Sonia Saïd ◽  
Jean-Luc Hamann ◽  
Jean-Michel Gaillard

Behavioural tactics of animals are determined by both environmental and social factors. Among nonmigratory ungulates, most home-range studies focused either on the effect of environmental variables on home-range size or on the overlap between home ranges of different individuals. Here, as rarely in previous studies, we aim to identify the dynamics of the home range of a given individual, involving variation in home-range size and home-range overlap between periods, for two resident populations of contrasting species: red deer (Cervus elaphus L., 1758) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus (L., 1758)). In both species, yearly and seasonal home-range fidelity was high and constant (mean of 64% in red deer and mean of 66% in roe deer), possibly because of benefits accruing from knowledge of spatial distribution of food resources and refugia. Home range in winter, when food availability was low, was larger than other seasonal home ranges for both species. Differences in body size between red deer and roe deer accounted for observed between-species differences in space use, especially when the species were active at night. Our study clearly demonstrates that patterns of variation in home-range size are similar; however, between-species differences in body size lead to differential patterns of home-range size and fidelity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keenan Stears ◽  
Tristan A. Nuñez ◽  
Epaphras A. Muse ◽  
Benezeth M. Mutayoba ◽  
Douglas J. McCauley

Abstract The obligate dependency of the common hippopotamus, Hippopotamus amphibius, on water makes them particularly vulnerable to hydrological disturbances. Despite the threats facing this at-risk species, there is a lack of information regarding H. amphibius spatial ecology. We used high-resolution tracking data of male H. amphibius to assess home range size, movement mode (e.g. residency and migratory movements), and resource selection patterns. We compared these results across seasons to understand how hydrological variability influences H. amphibius movement. Our study watershed has been severely impacted by anthropogenic water abstraction causing the river to stop flowing for prolonged periods. We observed H. amphibius movements to be highly constrained to the river course with grassy floodplains being their preferred habitat. Dominant and small sub-adult males displayed year-round residency in/near river pools and had smaller home ranges compared to large sub-adults. During the dry season, large sub-adult males made significant (~15 km) upstream movements. The larger home range size of large sub-adults can be attributed to the elevated levels of migratory and exploratory activities to limit conspecific aggression as the river dries. Our observations provide insight into how future changes in water flow may influence male H. amphibius movements and populations through density-dependent effects.


1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Palomares

Home-range size has been found to be related to body mass of some animals both across species and within species when the spatial strategies of the sexes differ. I studied home-range size in a polygynous carnivore, the Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon), and compared observed home-range size with predictions based on body mass. First, I tested whether mongooses actually exhibited site fidelity (for daily and multiday periods). Mongooses always showed site fidelity for a multiday home range, but in only 59% of the cases for daily home range. Adult males exhibited less daily site fidelity than did adult females or young. Multiday home-range size was similar among age–sex classes, but males had significantly more core areas than females or young. Multiday home-range size was positively correlated with body mass for adult males (r2 = 0.98, P = 0.0122) and negatively correlated with body mass of adult females (r2 = 0.40, P = 0.0374). Differences in these relationships and daily site fidelity between adult males and females suggest that the spatial strategies of male and female Egyptian mongooses are different, with the larger females defending the areas richer in resources and the larger males having more access to females.


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