Abstract
An individual’s spatial behavior is shaped by social and environmental factors and provides critical information about population processes to inform conservation and management actions. Heterogeneity in spatial overlap among conspecifics can be evaluated using estimates of home ranges and core areas and used to understand factors influencing space use and territoriality. To understand and test predictions about spatial behavior in an invasive large mammal, the wild pig (Sus scrofa), we examined variation in space use between sexes and seasons. We predicted that if animals were territorial that there would be a reduction in space-use overlap when comparing overlap of home ranges (HR-HR), to home ranges and core areas (HR-CA), and in-turn to core areas (CA-CA). Home ranges and core areas were estimated for 54 wild pigs at Buck Island Ranch, FL from GPS telemetry data. Overlap indices were calculated to estimate the strength (space-use overlap) and number of potential interactions within three wet seasons (June-October) and two dry seasons (December-April). Across all seasons, males exhibited larger home ranges compared to females (M = 10.36±0.79 km² (±SE), F = 3.21±0.16 km²) and interacted with a greater number of individuals than females. Home range size and strength of interactions did not vary between wet and dry seasons. Consistent with our predictions, wild pigs appeared to exhibit territorial behavior, where strength of overlap decreased when comparing HR-HR to HR-CA and HR-CA to CA-CA. Strength of overlap varied by sex, which was lowest between females, intermediate between females and males, and greatest between males. Our framework can be used to understand patterns of space use and territoriality in populations, which has important implications in understanding population processes and how pathogens and parasites might spread within and among populations.