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Arseneau-Robar TJM, Anderson KA, Vasey EN, Sicotte P, Teichroeb JA. Think Fast!: Vervet Monkeys Assess the Risk of Being Displaced by a Dominant Competitor When Making Foraging Decisions. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.775288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Foraging animals need to quickly assess the costs and benefits of different foraging decisions, including resource quantity, quality, preference, ease of access, dispersion, distance, and predation risk. Social animals also need to take social context into account and adapt foraging strategies that maximize net resource intake and minimize contest competition with conspecifics. We used an experimental approach to investigate how social context impacts wild vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) foraging decisions in a multi-destination pentagon array. We baited four platforms with less-preferred corn and one platform with a larger, preferred resource (half banana) that required handling time. We ran over 1,000 trials and found that when monkeys foraged alone, they usually took the path that minimized travel distance but prioritized the preferred-food platform when in competition. However, the foraging strategy chosen by low-ranking individuals depended on the handling skill of the decision maker (i.e., time it would take them to retrieve the banana), the relative rank of their audience members (i.e., who has priority-of-access to resources), and the distance audience members were from the experiment site (i.e., their travel time). When the risk of being displaced by a dominant competitor was low (because they were far away and/or because the decision-maker was skilled in retrieving the banana), low-ranking individuals chose a route that minimized travel costs. Conversely, when the risk of losing food to a dominant competitor was high, decision-makers rushed for the preferred-food platform at the onset of the trial. When the risk of displacement was moderate because a dominant audience member was at least 50 m away, low-ranking individuals partly prioritized the preferred-food platform but took the time to stop for one platform of corn on the way. This strategy increased the total amount of food obtained during the trial. These findings suggest that lower-ranking individuals, who experienced high contest competition at the foraging experiment, calculated the risk of being displaced by a dominant competitor when making foraging decisions. This experiment demonstrates that vervets go through a complex decision-making process that simultaneously considers the profitability of different foraging decisions and their social context.
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Chitwood MC, Baruzzi C, Lashley MA. “Ecology of fear” in ungulates: Opportunities for improving conservation. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8657. [PMID: 35261746 PMCID: PMC8888265 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Because ungulates are important contributors to ecosystem function, understanding the “ecology of fear” could be important to the conservation of ecosystems. Although studying ungulate ecology of fear is common, knowledge from ungulate systems is highly contested among ecologists. Here, we review the available literature on the ecology of fear in ungulates to generalize our current knowledge and how we can leverage it for conservation. Four general focus areas emerged from the 275 papers included in our literature search (and some papers were included in multiple categories): behavioral responses to predation risk (79%), physiological responses to predation risk (15%), trophic cascades resulting from ungulate responses to predation risk (20%), and manipulation of predation risk (1%). Of papers focused on behavior, 75% were about movement and habitat selection. Studies were biased toward North America (53%), tended to be focused on elk (Cervus canadensis; 29%), and were dominated by gray wolves (40%) or humans (39%) as predators of interest. Emerging literature suggests that we can utilize predation risk for conservation with top‐down (i.e., increasing predation risk) and bottom‐up (i.e., manipulating landscape characteristics to increase risk or risk perception) approaches. It is less clear whether fear‐related changes in physiology have population‐level fitness consequences or cascading effects, which could be fruitful avenues for future research. Conflicting evidence of trait‐mediated trophic cascades might be improved with better replication across systems and accounting for confounding effects of ungulate density. Improving our understanding of mechanisms modulating the nature of trophic cascades likely is most important to ensure desirable conservation outcomes. We recommend future work embrace the complexity of natural systems by attempting to link together the focal areas of study identified herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Colter Chitwood
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management Oklahoma State University Stillwater Oklahoma USA
| | - Carolina Baruzzi
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Mississippi State University Starkville Mississippi USA
- School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
| | - Marcus A. Lashley
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Mississippi State University Starkville Mississippi USA
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
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3
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Parker EJ, Hill RA, Koyama NF. Behavioral responses to spatial variation in perceived predation risk and resource availability in an arboreal primate. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Edwin J. Parker
- School of Natural Sciences and Psychology Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool UK
- Primate and Predator Project Lajuma Research Centre Louis Trichardt South Africa
| | - Russell A. Hill
- Primate and Predator Project Lajuma Research Centre Louis Trichardt South Africa
- Department of Anthropology Durham University Durham UK
- Department of Zoology University of Venda Thohoyandou South Africa
| | - Nicola F. Koyama
- School of Natural Sciences and Psychology Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool UK
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4
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OUP accepted manuscript. J Mammal 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyac014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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5
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Behavioural Indicators of Intra- and Inter-Specific Competition: Sheep Co-Grazing with Guanaco in the Patagonian Steppe. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11113333. [PMID: 34828064 PMCID: PMC8614449 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In extensive livestock ranching, where animals are maintained at high numbers, competition between individuals is expected, but not generally assumed. To compensate for reduced food availability, herbivores modify their feeding behaviour, which can be used as an indicator of competition. We investigated behavioural changes of domestic sheep in Chilean Patagonia in response to herd size, food availability, and the presence of a wild competitor, the guanaco, considered a problem for sheep production by ranchers. Large sheep herds were associated with a decrease in sheep grazing, while food availability increased time spent feeding. Guanaco had no effect on sheep behaviours. Behavioural changes were mostly associated with competition between individual sheep and not with guanaco. We suggest that to improve sheep production, ranchers should focus on sheep management at appropriate herd sizes according to grassland capacities. Abstract In extensive livestock production, high densities may inhibit regulation processes, maintaining high levels of intraspecific competition over time. During competition, individuals typically modify their behaviours, particularly feeding and bite rates, which can therefore be used as indicators of competition. Over eight consecutive seasons, we investigated if variation in herd density, food availability, and the presence of a potential competitor, the guanaco (Lama guanicoe), was related with behavioural changes in domestic sheep in Chilean Patagonia. Focal sampling, instantaneous scan sampling, measures of bite and movement rates were used to quantify behavioural changes in domestic sheep. We found that food availability increased time spent feeding, while herd density was associated with an increase in vigilant behaviour and a decrease in bite rate, but only when food availability was low. Guanaco presence appeared to have no impact on sheep behaviour. Our results suggest that the observed behavioural changes in domestic sheep are more likely due to intraspecific competition rather than interspecific competition. Consideration of intraspecific competition where guanaco and sheep co-graze on pastures could allow management strategies to focus on herd density, according to rangeland carrying capacity.
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Culbert BM, Tsui N, Balshine S. Learning performance is associated with social preferences in a group-living fish. Behav Processes 2021; 191:104464. [PMID: 34329728 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Many animals live in groups yet grouping tendencies and preferences for groups of different sizes vary considerably between individuals. This variation reflects, at least in part, differences in how individuals evaluate and perceive their physical surroundings and their social environment. While such differences are likely related to individual variation in cognition, there have been few studies that have directly investigated how cognitive abilities are linked to individual grouping decisions. Therefore, in this study we assessed whether performance on a foraging-based reversal learning task is related to grouping preferences (a group of three fish versus a single fish) in a group-living cichlid fish, Neolamprologus pulcher. While most fish preferred to associate with the group over a single fish, individuals that completed the reversal learning task the quickest were the least interested in the group under elevated predation risk. In addition, fish that quickly completed the reversal learning task also adjusted their grouping preferences the most when predation risk increased. This result suggests that the observed relationship between learning performance and grouping decisions may be linked to individual differences in behavioural flexibility. Overall, our results offer valuable insight into the potential factors that underlie inter-individual variation in grouping decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett M Culbert
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Nicholas Tsui
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sigal Balshine
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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7
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Webber QMR, Vander Wal E. Context-dependent group size: effects of population density, habitat, and season. Behav Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arab070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Group size can vary in relation to population density, habitat, and season. Habitat and season may also interact with population density and affect group size through varying foraging benefits of social aggregation in different ecological contexts. We tested the hypothesis that group size varies across ecological contexts, including population density, habitat type, and season, for woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in ten herds over 25 years in Newfoundland, Canada. We predicted that group size would increase as a function of population density. Based on the foraging benefits of social aggregation, we predicted larger groups as habitat openness increased because open areas tend to have higher quality foraging resources. We predicted larger groups during winter when foraging resources are covered in snow because caribou and other social animals exploit social information about the location of foraging resources. In contrast to our prediction, group size decreased as a function of population density. In support of our prediction, group size was larger in winter than calving and summer, and we found that group size increased with habitat openness in some, but not all, cases. Patterns of animal grouping are context-dependent and the additive effect of different ecological contexts on variation in group size informs our understanding of the implicit trade-offs between competition, predation risk, and profitability of forage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quinn M R Webber
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Interdisciplinary Program, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 232 Elizabeth Ave, St. John’s, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Eric Vander Wal
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Interdisciplinary Program, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 232 Elizabeth Ave, St. John’s, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 232 Elizabeth Ave, St. John’s, NL A1B 3X9,Canada
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8
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Abstract
Humpback dolphins (Sousa spp.) are obligate shallow-water and resident species, and they typically live in fission-fusion societies composed of small-sized groups with changeable membership. However, we have scant knowledge of their behavioral ecology, starting with potential factors influencing inter-population variability of their group sizes. Here, we compiled a new global dataset of humpback dolphin group sizes based on 150 published records. Our data indicated an inter-specific consistency of group-living strategy among the 4 species in the Sousa genus, as these species preferred living in small-sized groups with a mean size of mostly no more than 10, a minimum size of single individual or small pairs, and a maximum size of several tens or ≈100. In addition, we clearly showed the geographic variations in group sizes of humpback dolphins at a global scale. We found that the geographic variations in humpback dolphin group sizes were primarily associated with the latitude, sea surface temperature, and abundance. To conclude, our findings provide insights into social dynamics and socioecological trade-offs of humpback dolphins, and help better understand how these resident animals adapted to their shallow-water habitats from the perspectives of biogeography and socioecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingming Liu
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Mingli Lin
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - David Lusseau
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.,National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Songhai Li
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.,Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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9
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Investigating local concerns regarding large mammal restoration: group size in a growing population of reintroduced bison (Bison bison). Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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10
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Kroesen LP, Hik DS, Cherry SG. Patterns of decadal, seasonal and daily visitation to mineral licks, a critical resource hotspot for mountain goats Oreamnos americanus in the Rocky Mountains. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura P. Kroesen
- L. P. Kroesen (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5524-0664) ✉ and D. S. Hik (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8994-9305), Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser Univ., Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - David S. Hik
- L. P. Kroesen (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5524-0664) ✉ and D. S. Hik (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8994-9305), Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser Univ., Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Seth G. Cherry
- S. G. Cherry (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4242-3629), Parks Canada Agency, Radium Hot Springs, BC, Canada
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11
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Wielgus E, Cornélis D, de Garine‐Wichatitsky M, Cain B, Fritz H, Miguel E, Valls‐Fox H, Caron A, Chamaillé‐Jammes S. Are fission-fusion dynamics consistent among populations? A large-scale study with Cape buffalo. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:9240-9256. [PMID: 32953058 PMCID: PMC7487245 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Fission-fusion dynamics allow animals to manage costs and benefits of group living by adjusting group size. The degree of intraspecific variation in fission-fusion dynamics across the geographical range is poorly known. During 2008-2016, 38 adult female Cape buffalo were equipped with GPS collars in three populations located in different protected areas (Gonarezhou National Park and Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe; Kruger National Park, South Africa) to investigate the patterns and environmental drivers of fission-fusion dynamics among populations. We estimated home range overlap and fission and fusion events between Cape buffalo dyads. We investigated the temporal dynamics of both events at daily and seasonal scales and examined the influence of habitat and distance to water on event location. Fission-fusion dynamics were generally consistent across populations: Fission and fusion periods lasted on average between less than one day and three days. However, we found seasonal differences in the underlying patterns of fission and fusion, which point out the likely influence of resource availability and distribution in time on group dynamics: During the wet season, Cape buffalo split and associated more frequently and were in the same or in a different subgroup for shorter periods. Cape buffalo subgroups were more likely to merge than to split in open areas located near water, but overall vegetation and distance to water were very poor predictors of where fission and fusion events occurred. This study is one of the first to quantify fission-fusion dynamics in a single species across several populations with a common methodology, thus robustly questioning the behavioral flexibility of fission-fusion dynamics among environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Wielgus
- Division of Biology and Conservation EcologyManchester Metropolitan UniversityManchesterUK
- LTSER FranceZone Atelier “Hwange,” Hwange National Park, Bag 62, DeteZimbabwe ‐ CNRS HERD (Hwange Environmental Research Development) ProgramDeteZimbabwe
- CEFECNRSUniv. MontpellierUniv. Paul Valéry Montpellier 3EPHEIRDMontpellierFrance
- ASTRECIRADINRAUniversité de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Daniel Cornélis
- Forêts et SociétésCIRADMontpellierFrance
- Forêts et SociétésUniversité de MontpellierCIRADMontpellierFrance
| | - Michel de Garine‐Wichatitsky
- ASTRECIRADINRAUniversité de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
- CIRADUMR ASTREBangkokThailand
- Faculty of Veterinary MedicineKasetsart UniversityBangkokThailand
| | - Bradley Cain
- Division of Biology and Conservation EcologyManchester Metropolitan UniversityManchesterUK
| | - Hervé Fritz
- LTSER FranceZone Atelier “Hwange,” Hwange National Park, Bag 62, DeteZimbabwe ‐ CNRS HERD (Hwange Environmental Research Development) ProgramDeteZimbabwe
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie EvolutiveUMR 5558Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1Villeurbanne CedexFrance
| | - Eve Miguel
- MIVEGEC, IRDCNRSUniversité de MontpellierCNRSMontpellierFrance
| | - Hugo Valls‐Fox
- LTSER FranceZone Atelier “Hwange,” Hwange National Park, Bag 62, DeteZimbabwe ‐ CNRS HERD (Hwange Environmental Research Development) ProgramDeteZimbabwe
- SELMETUniversité de MontpellierCIRADINRAMontpellier Sup. AgroMontpellierFrance
| | - Alexandre Caron
- ASTRECIRADINRAUniversité de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
- Faculdade de VeterináriaUniversidade Eduardo MondlaneMaputoMozambique
| | - Simon Chamaillé‐Jammes
- LTSER FranceZone Atelier “Hwange,” Hwange National Park, Bag 62, DeteZimbabwe ‐ CNRS HERD (Hwange Environmental Research Development) ProgramDeteZimbabwe
- CEFECNRSUniv. MontpellierUniv. Paul Valéry Montpellier 3EPHEIRDMontpellierFrance
- Department of Zoology & EntomologyMammal Research InstituteUniversity of PretoriaPretoriaSouth Africa
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12
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Mutz J, Underwood N, Inouye BD. Integrating top-down and bottom-up effects of local density across scales and a complex life cycle. Ecology 2020; 101:e03118. [PMID: 32531072 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Effects of group size (local conspecific density) on individual performance can be substantial, yet it is unclear how these translate to larger-scale and longer-term outcomes. Effects of group size can be mediated by both top-down and bottom-up interactions, can change in type or direction across the life cycle, and can depend on the spatial scale at which group size is assessed. Only by determining how these different processes combine can we make predictions about how selection operates on group size or link hierarchical patterns of density dependence with population dynamics. We manipulated the density of a leaf beetle, Leptinotarsa juncta, at three nested spatial scales (patch, plant within a patch, and leaf within plant) to investigate how conspecific density affects predator-mediated survival and resource-mediated growth during different life stages and across multiple spatial scales. We then used data from field predation experiments to assess how L. juncta densities at hierarchical scales affect different aspects of predation. Finally, we incorporated predator- and resource-mediated effects of density in a model to explore how changes in group size due to density-dependent predation might affect mass at pupation for survivors. The effects of L. juncta density on predation risk differed among scales. Per capita predation risk of both eggs and late instars was lowest at high patch-scale densities, but increased with plant-scale density. The final mass of late instars declined with increasing plant-scale larval density, potentially because of truncated development of high-density larvae. Predation incidence (i.e., group attack rate) increased with larval density at all spatial scales. A high coefficient of variation (i.e., greater aggregation) of L. juncta density was associated with lower predation incidence at some scales. Our model suggested that predator- and resource-mediated effects of density interact: lower survival at high larval density is mitigated by high final mass of larvae in the resulting smaller groups. Our results emphasize the importance of spatial scale and demonstrate that effects of top-down and bottom-up interactions are not necessarily independent. To understand how group size influences fitness, predator- and resource-mediated effects of density should be measured in their demographic and spatial context, and not in isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie Mutz
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32306, USA
| | - Nora Underwood
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32306, USA
| | - Brian D Inouye
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32306, USA
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13
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Hoare S. The possible role of predator-prey dynamics as an influence on early hominin use of burned landscapes. Evol Anthropol 2019; 28:295-302. [PMID: 31652026 DOI: 10.1002/evan.21807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Foraging in burned areas has been suggested to represent the earliest stage in the use and control of fire by early hominins. Recently burned areas offer immediate foraging benefits including increased search efficiency for high-ranked food items and decreased hunting opportunities for ambush predators. As such, they provide a triple-bonus (reduced risk from ambush, ease of terrestrial travel and higher foraging returns) for some primates. However, previous studies have not yet accounted for other types of predators e.g., coursing (endurance predators that can pursue prey over long distances) which were sympatric with hominins and may also have exploited these environments. Behavioral ecology studies on the use of burned landscapes by extant carnivores demonstrate that while some ambush predators avoid recently burned areas, coursing predators do take advantage of their immediate hunting opportunities. Research examining habitat selection by animals under the simultaneous threat of multiple predator species with different modes of hunting, and the diversity of Plio-Pleistocene carnivore guild is suggestive of two possible evolutionary scenarios in which hominins could either have selected or avoided burned areas (3-2 mya), based on whether ambush or coursing predators were perceived as presenting the greatest risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Hoare
- Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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14
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Ng'weno CC, Ford AT, Kibungei AK, Goheen JR. Interspecific prey neighborhoods shape risk of predation in a savanna ecosystem. Ecology 2019; 100:e02698. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline C. Ng'weno
- Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming 82071 USA
- Conservation Department Ol Pejeta Conservancy Private Bag‐10400 Nanyuki Kenya
| | - Adam T. Ford
- Department of Biology University of British Columbia Kelowna British Columbia V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - Alfred K. Kibungei
- Conservation Department Ol Pejeta Conservancy Private Bag‐10400 Nanyuki Kenya
| | - Jacob R. Goheen
- Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming 82071 USA
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15
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Peignier M, Webber QMR, Koen EL, Laforge MP, Robitaille AL, Vander Wal E. Space use and social association in a gregarious ungulate: Testing the conspecific attraction and resource dispersion hypotheses. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:5133-5145. [PMID: 31110667 PMCID: PMC6509382 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Revised: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals use a variety of proximate cues to assess habitat quality when resources vary spatiotemporally. Two nonmutually exclusive strategies to assess habitat quality involve either direct assessment of landscape features or observation of social cues from conspecifics as a form of information transfer about forage resources. The conspecific attraction hypothesis proposes that individual space use is dependent on the distribution of conspecifics rather than the location of resource patches, whereas the resource dispersion hypothesis proposes that individual space use and social association are driven by the abundance and distribution of resources. We tested the conspecific attraction and the resource dispersion hypotheses as two nonmutually exclusive hypotheses explaining social association and of adult female caribou (Rangifer tarandus). We used location data from GPS collars to estimate interannual site fidelity and networks representing home range overlap and social associations among individual caribou. We found that home range overlap and social associations were correlated with resource distribution in summer and conspecific attraction in winter. In summer, when resources were distributed relatively homogeneously, interannual site fidelity was high and home range overlap and social associations were low. Conversely, in winter when resources were distributed relatively heterogeneously, interannual site fidelity was low and home range overlap and social associations were high. As access to resources changes across seasons, caribou appear to alter social behavior and space use. In summer, caribou may use cues associated with the distribution of forage, and in winter caribou may use cues from conspecifics to access forage. Our results have broad implications for our understanding of caribou socioecology, suggesting that caribou use season-specific strategies to locate forage. Caribou populations continue to decline globally, and our finding that conspecific attraction is likely related to access to forage suggests that further fragmentation of caribou habitat could limit social association among caribou, particularly in winter when access to resources may be limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélissa Peignier
- Department of BiologyMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundlandCanada
| | - Quinn M. R. Webber
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Interdisciplinary ProgramMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundlandCanada
| | - Erin L. Koen
- Department of BiologyMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundlandCanada
| | - Michel P. Laforge
- Department of BiologyMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundlandCanada
| | - Alec L. Robitaille
- Department of BiologyMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundlandCanada
| | - Eric Vander Wal
- Department of BiologyMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundlandCanada
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Interdisciplinary ProgramMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundlandCanada
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16
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Fryxell JM, Berdahl AM. Fitness trade-offs of group formation and movement by Thomson's gazelles in the Serengeti ecosystem. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 373:rstb.2017.0013. [PMID: 29581398 PMCID: PMC5882983 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Collective behaviours contributing to patterns of group formation and coordinated movement are common across many ecosystems and taxa. Their ubiquity is presumably due to altering interactions between individuals and their predators, resources and physical environment in ways that enhance individual fitness. On the other hand, fitness costs are also often associated with group formation. Modifications to these interactions have the potential to dramatically impact population-level processes, such as trophic interactions or patterns of space use in relation to abiotic environmental variation. In a wide variety of empirical systems and models, collective behaviour has been shown to enhance access to ephemeral patches of resources, reduce the risk of predation and reduce vulnerability to environmental fluctuation. Evolution of collective behaviour should accordingly depend on the advantages of collective behaviour weighed against the costs experienced at the individual level. As an illustrative case study, we consider the potential trade-offs on Malthusian fitness associated with patterns of group formation and movement by migratory Thomson's gazelles in the Serengeti ecosystem. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Collective movement ecology’.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Fryxell
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Andrew M Berdahl
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA.,School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
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17
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Novcic I, Beauchamp G. Effect of forager density on feeding rates in spring-staging Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) using different foraging modes. CAN J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2017-0238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We examined the influence of the density of foragers on feeding rates of Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla (Linnaeus, 1766)) while using different foraging modes at a spring stopover site in Delaware Bay, USA. Using dynamic estimates of interindividual distances obtained at short intervals of time, we explored how forager density affected feeding rates when Semipalmated Sandpipers used visual pecking or tactile probing. Pecking rate significantly increased with interindividual distances, whereas probe rate was not affected by density. Our study also showed that in fast-moving foragers, such as Semipalmated Sandpipers, in which the number of nearby foragers and distance to the nearest neighbour continuously change throughout the foraging bout, pecking rates are more affected by nearest neighbour distance than by the number of foragers in their immediate vicinity. In addition, our study implies that foragers using different foraging modes might be differently affected by nearby competitors perhaps in response to prey disturbance by neighbours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Novcic
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kean University, Union, NJ 07083, USA
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18
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Visscher DR, Merrill EH. Functional connectivity in ruminants: A generalized state-dependent modelling approach. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0199671. [PMID: 29944693 PMCID: PMC6019401 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal behaviour is increasingly seen as an important component in maintaining functional connectivity between patches in fragmented landscapes. However, models that explicitly incorporate behavioural trade-offs are rarely applied to landscape planning problems like connectivity. The aim of this study was to explore how state-dependent behaviour influenced functional connectivity between patches from a theoretical perspective. We investigated how inter-patch distances influenced functional connectivity using a dynamic state variable model framework. The decision making process of an individual ruminant facing fitness trade-offs in staying in its patch of origin or moving to another patch at various distances were explicitly modelled. We incorporated energetic costs and predation costs of feeding, ruminating, and resting while in the patch and for transit between patches based on inter-patch distance. Functional connectivity was maintained with isolated patches when they offered high intake and the inactivity of rumination associated with rapid gut fill resulted in reduced predation risk. Nevertheless, individuals in high energetic state often would forgo moving to another patch, whereas individuals in poor energetic states were forced to accept the cost of movement to best meet their requirements in the distant patch. The inclusion of state-dependent behavioural models provides important insights into functional connectivity in fragmented landscapes and helps integrate animal behaviour into landscape planning. We discuss the consequences of our findings for landscape planning to show how the approach provides a heuristic tool to assess alternative scenarios for restoring landscape functional connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darcy R. Visscher
- Department of Biology, The King’s University, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Evelyn H. Merrill
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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19
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Cozzi G, Maag N, Börger L, Clutton-Brock TH, Ozgul A. Socially informed dispersal in a territorial cooperative breeder. J Anim Ecol 2018; 87:838-849. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Cozzi
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies; Zurich University; Zürich Switzerland
- Kalahari Research Centre; Kuruman River Reserve; Northern Cape South Africa
| | - Nino Maag
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies; Zurich University; Zürich Switzerland
- Kalahari Research Centre; Kuruman River Reserve; Northern Cape South Africa
| | - Luca Börger
- Department of Biosciences; College of Science; Swansea University; Swansea UK
| | - Tim H. Clutton-Brock
- Kalahari Research Centre; Kuruman River Reserve; Northern Cape South Africa
- Department of Zoology; Cambridge University; Cambridge UK
| | - Arpat Ozgul
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies; Zurich University; Zürich Switzerland
- Kalahari Research Centre; Kuruman River Reserve; Northern Cape South Africa
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20
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Food supply fluctuations constrain group sizes of kangaroos and in turn shape their vigilance and feeding strategies. Anim Behav 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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21
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Moll RJ, Redilla KM, Mudumba T, Muneza AB, Gray SM, Abade L, Hayward MW, Millspaugh JJ, Montgomery RA. The many faces of fear: a synthesis of the methodological variation in characterizing predation risk. J Anim Ecol 2017; 86:749-765. [PMID: 28390066 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Predators affect prey by killing them directly (lethal effects) and by inducing costly antipredator behaviours in living prey (risk effects). Risk effects can strongly influence prey populations and cascade through trophic systems. A prerequisite for assessing risk effects is characterizing the spatiotemporal variation in predation risk. Risk effects research has experienced rapid growth in the last several decades. However, preliminary assessments of the resultant literature suggest that researchers characterize predation risk using a variety of techniques. The implications of this methodological variation for inference and comparability among studies have not been well recognized or formally synthesized. We couple a literature survey with a hierarchical framework, developed from established theory, to quantify the methodological variation in characterizing risk using carnivore-ungulate systems as a case study. Via this process, we documented 244 metrics of risk from 141 studies falling into at least 13 distinct subcategories within three broader categories. Both empirical and theoretical work suggest risk and its effects on prey constitute a complex, multi-dimensional process with expressions varying by spatiotemporal scale. Our survey suggests this multi-scale complexity is reflected in the literature as a whole but often underappreciated in any given study, which complicates comparability among studies and leads to an overemphasis on documenting the presence of risk effects rather than their mechanisms or scale of influence. We suggest risk metrics be placed in a more concrete conceptual framework to clarify inference surrounding risk effects and their cascading effects throughout ecosystems. We recommend studies (i) take a multi-scale approach to characterizing risk; (ii) explicitly consider 'true' predation risk (probability of predation per unit time); and (iii) use risk metrics that facilitate comparison among studies and the evaluation of multiple competing hypotheses. Addressing the pressing questions in risk effects research, including how, to what extent and on what scale they occur, requires leveraging the advantages of the many methods available to characterize risk while minimizing the confusion caused by variability in their application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remington J Moll
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Kyle M Redilla
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Tutilo Mudumba
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Arthur B Muneza
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.,Giraffe Conservation Foundation, P.O. Box 51061 GPO, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
| | - Steven M Gray
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Leandro Abade
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.,Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Oxfordshire, OX13 5QL, UK
| | - Matt W Hayward
- School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK.,Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa.,Centre for Wildlife Management, University of Pretoria, X001, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Joshua J Millspaugh
- Wildlife Biology Program, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
| | - Robert A Montgomery
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
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Lesmerises F, Johnson CJ, St‐Laurent M. Refuge or predation risk? Alternate ways to perceive hiker disturbance based on maternal state of female caribou. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:845-854. [PMID: 28168021 PMCID: PMC5288256 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Human presence in natural environments is often a source of stress that is perceived by large ungulates as an increased risk of predation. Alternatively, disturbance induced by hikers creates a relatively predator‐free space that may serve as a refuge. We measured the behavioral responses of female caribou to disturbance associated with the presence of hikers during summer in the Gaspésie National Park. We used those data to determine whether caribou responded negatively to human activity (i.e., the predation risk hypothesis) or whether human activity resulted in a decrease in the magnitude of perceived risk (i.e., the refuge hypothesis). Female caribou with a calf spent nearly half of their time feeding, regardless of the presence of a trail or the number of hikers. They also decreased their vigilance near trails when the number of hikers increased. Conversely, lone females fed less frequently and almost doubled the time invested in vigilance under the same circumstances. However, both groups of females moved away from trails during the day, especially in the presence of hikers. We demonstrated that risk avoidance was specific to the maternal state of the individual. Lactating females accommodated the presence of hikers to increase time spent foraging and nutritional intake, providing support for the refuge hypothesis. Alternatively, lone females with lower energetic requirements and no maternal investment in a vulnerable calf appeared less tolerant to risk, consistent with the predation risk hypothesis. Synthesis and applications: Hikers influenced the vigilance–feeding trade‐off in caribou, underlining the importance of appropriate management of linear structures and human activities, especially across the critical habitat of endangered species. Even if some individuals seemed to benefit from human presence, this behavioral adaptation was not sufficient to reduce annual calf mortality associated with predation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Lesmerises
- Département de Biologie, Chimie et GéographieCentre for Northern StudiesUniversité du Québec à RimouskiRimouskiQCCanada
| | - Chris J. Johnson
- Ecosystem Science and Management ProgramUniversity of Northern British ColumbiaPrince GeorgeBCCanada
| | - Martin‐Hugues St‐Laurent
- Département de Biologie, Chimie et GéographieCentre for Northern StudiesUniversité du Québec à RimouskiRimouskiQCCanada
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23
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Lardy S, Fortin D, Pays O. Increased Exploration Capacity Promotes Group Fission in Gregarious Foraging Herbivores. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0167516. [PMID: 27907143 PMCID: PMC5132246 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Many gregarious species display rapid fission-fusion dynamics with individuals frequently leaving their groups to reunite or to form new ones soon after. The adaptive value of such ephemeral associations might reflect a frequent tilt in the balance between the costs and benefits of maintaining group cohesion. The lack of information on the short-term advantages of group fission, however, hampers our understanding of group dynamics. We investigated the effect of group fission on area-restricted search, a search tactic that is commonly used when food distribution is spatially autocorrelated. Specifically, we determine if roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) improve key aspects of their extensive search mode immediately after fission. We found that groups indeed moved faster and farther over time immediately after than before fission. This gain was highest for the smallest group that resulted from fission, which was more likely to include the fission’s initiator. Sex of group members further mediated the immediate gain in search capacity, as post-fission groups moved away at farthest rate when they were only comprised of males. Our study suggests that social conflicts during the extensive search mode can promote group fission and, as such, can be a key determinant of group fission-fusion dynamics that are commonly observed in gregarious herbivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Lardy
- Groupe Ecologie et Conservation des Vertébrés, Université d’Angers, Angers, France
| | - Daniel Fortin
- Centre d’Étude de la Forêt (CEF), and Département de Biologie, Université de Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Olivier Pays
- UMR 6554 CNRS, LETG-Angers, Université d'Angers, Angers, France
- * E-mail:
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24
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Morris LR, Proffitt KM, Blackburn JK. Mapping Resource Selection Functions in Wildlife Studies: Concerns and Recommendations. APPLIED GEOGRAPHY (SEVENOAKS, ENGLAND) 2016; 76:173-183. [PMID: 29887652 PMCID: PMC5992917 DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2016.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Predicting the spatial distribution of animals is an important and widely used tool with applications in wildlife management, conservation, and population health. Wildlife telemetry technology coupled with the availability of spatial data and GIS software have facilitated advancements in species distribution modeling. There are also challenges related to these advancements including the accurate and appropriate implementation of species distribution modeling methodology. Resource Selection Function (RSF) modeling is a commonly used approach for understanding species distributions and habitat usage, and mapping the RSF results can enhance study findings and make them more accessible to researchers and wildlife managers. Currently, there is no consensus in the literature on the most appropriate method for mapping RSF results, methods are frequently not described, and mapping approaches are not always related to accuracy metrics. We conducted a systematic review of the RSF literature to summarize the methods used to map RSF outputs, discuss the relationship between mapping approaches and accuracy metrics, performed a case study on the implications of employing different mapping methods, and provide recommendations as to appropriate mapping techniques for RSF studies. We found extensive variability in methodology for mapping RSF results. Our case study revealed that the most commonly used approaches for mapping RSF results led to notable differences in the visual interpretation of RSF results, and there is a concerning disconnect between accuracy metrics and mapping methods. We make 5 recommendations for researchers mapping the results of RSF studies, which are focused on carefully selecting and describing the method used to map RSF studies, and relating mapping approaches to accuracy metrics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lillian R. Morris
- Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, 3141 Turlington Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, 2055 Mowry Road, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - Kelly M. Proffitt
- Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, 1400 South 19th Avenue, Bozeman, MT 59718
| | - Jason K. Blackburn
- Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, 3141 Turlington Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, 2055 Mowry Road, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
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25
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Staying cool in a changing landscape: the influence of maximum daily ambient temperature on grizzly bear habitat selection. Oecologia 2016; 181:1101-16. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-016-3630-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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26
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Pigeon KE, Côté SD, Stenhouse GB. Assessing den selection and den characteristics of grizzly bears. J Wildl Manage 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.1069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karine E. Pigeon
- Département de biologie and Centre d'études nordiques; Université Laval; 1045 Av. de la Médecine Québec QC G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Steeve D. Côté
- Département de biologie and Centre d'études nordiques; Université Laval; 1045 Av. de la Médecine Québec QC G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Gordon B. Stenhouse
- fRI Research Grizzly Bear Program (FRIGBP); 1176 Switzer Drive Hinton AB T7V 1V3 Canada
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27
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Refoyo P, Olmedo C, Muñoz B. Space use of a reintroduced population of Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) in a protected natural area. CAN J ZOOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2015-0166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In Europe, wild ungulates have undergone major expansion and population growth during recent decades. In certain cases, the high density achieved by these populations has led to excessive pressure on the environment, which eventually becomes a limiting factor for the population itself. One of these reintroductions was performed with the Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica Schinz, 1838) in the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park (Spain). This reintroduced population was monitored during six field seasons (2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010, and 2014) by direct observation of the animals along transects using the distance sampling method to determine the degree of expansion over the years and the use of different habitats according to different seasons. The abundances obtained for each field season showed a significant increase from 4.16 to 8.65 individuals/km, showing a linear relationship between abundance and extent of the area occupied by the species. We observed that differences between habitat availability and use were significant for all seasons. Our data can be used as an example of the colonization process of a population of wild ungulates and their impact on vegetation to better manage future reintroductions.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Refoyo
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Complutense University of Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais, 12, E-28040 Madrid
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Complutense University of Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais, 12, E-28040 Madrid
| | - C. Olmedo
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Complutense University of Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais, 12, E-28040 Madrid
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Complutense University of Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais, 12, E-28040 Madrid
| | - B. Muñoz
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Complutense University of Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais, 12, E-28040 Madrid
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Complutense University of Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais, 12, E-28040 Madrid
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28
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Steenweg R, Hebblewhite M, Gummer D, Low B, Hunt B. Assessing Potential Habitat and Carrying Capacity for Reintroduction of Plains Bison (Bison bison bison) in Banff National Park. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150065. [PMID: 26910226 PMCID: PMC4765961 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Interest in bison (Bison bison, B. bonasus) conservation and restoration continues to grow globally. In Canada, plains bison (B. b. bison) are threatened, occupying less than 0.5% of their former range. The largest threat to their recovery is the lack of habitat in which they are considered compatible with current land uses. Fences and direct management make range expansion by most bison impossible. Reintroduction of bison into previously occupied areas that remain suitable, therefore, is critical for bison recovery in North America. Banff National Park is recognized as historical range of plains bison and has been identified as a potential site for reintroduction of a wild population. To evaluate habitat quality and assess if there is sufficient habitat for a breeding population, we developed a Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) model for the proposed reintroduction and surrounding areas in Banff National Park (Banff). We then synthesize previous studies on habitat relationships, forage availability, bison energetics and snowfall scenarios to estimate nutritional carrying capacity. Considering constraints on nutritional carrying capacity, the most realistic scenario that we evaluated resulted in an estimated maximum bison density of 0.48 bison/km2. This corresponds to sufficient habitat to support at least 600 to 1000 plains bison, which could be one of the largest 10 plains bison populations in North America. Within Banff, there is spatial variation in predicted bison habitat suitability and population size that suggests one potential reintroduction site as the most likely to be successful from a habitat perspective. The successful reintroduction of bison into Banff would represent a significant global step towards conserving this iconic species, and our approach provides a useful template for evaluating potential habitat for other endangered species reintroductions into their former range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Steenweg
- Wildlife Biology Program, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Mark Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology Program, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - David Gummer
- Resource Conservation, Banff National Park, Parks Canada, Banff, Alberta, Canada
| | - Brian Low
- Resource Conservation, Banff National Park, Parks Canada, Banff, Alberta, Canada
| | - Bill Hunt
- Resource Conservation, Banff National Park, Parks Canada, Banff, Alberta, Canada
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29
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Ramos A, Petit O, Longour P, Pasquaretta C, Sueur C. Space Use and Movement Patterns in a Semi-Free-Ranging Herd of European Bison (Bison bonasus). PLoS One 2016; 11:e0147404. [PMID: 26841107 PMCID: PMC4740407 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The successful reintroduction and restocking of the European Bison demands a reliable knowledge of the biology of this species. Yet little is known to date about the European bison, and empirical data remains insufficient to set up a reliable plan ensuring the reintroduction, maintenance and survival of populations in habitats that have been largely modified by human activity. Studies of the ecology, social behaviour and management of bison are therefore crucial to the conservation of this species and its cohabitation with humans. To meet these challenges, we focused on movement patterns and space use in a semi-free-ranging herd of European bison living in the Réserve Biologique des Monts-d’Azur (France). Bison spend over 80% of their time foraging and resting; foraging mainly occurs around the artificial feeding sites (i.e., hay racks) or in meadows. The time of day and the presence of snow have no influence on the time budget allocated to each activity. Animals, however, spend more time at the food racks in winter. Bison also spend most of their time in small groups of individuals, confirming the occurrence of both fission-fusion dynamics and sexual segregation in this species. Bison seem to follow a Lévy walk pattern of movement, which is probably related to the geographical distribution and size of food patches in the reserve. The conclusions of this study provide a better understanding of the sociality, life habits and habitat use of bison, and also describe how the provision of hay affects all these behaviours. These results could be useful in the development of tools to select the most suitable habitats for the reintroduction, management and conservation of bison populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandine Ramos
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Strasbourg, France
| | - Odile Petit
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Strasbourg, France
| | - Patrice Longour
- Réserve Biologique des Monts-d’Azur, Domaine du Haut-Thorenc, Thorenc, France
| | - Cristian Pasquaretta
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Strasbourg, France
| | - Cédric Sueur
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Strasbourg, France
- * E-mail:
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30
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Seasonal Shifts in Diet and Gut Microbiota of the American Bison (Bison bison). PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142409. [PMID: 26562019 PMCID: PMC4642958 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
North American bison (Bison bison) are becoming increasingly important to both grassland management and commercial ranching. However, a lack of quantitative data on their diet constrains conservation efforts and the ability to predict bison effects on grasslands. In particular, we know little about the seasonality of the bison diet, the degree to which bison supplement their diet with eudicots, and how changes in diet influence gut microbial communities, all of which play important roles in ungulate performance. To address these knowledge gaps, we quantified seasonal patterns in bison diet and gut microbial community composition for a bison herd in Kansas using DNA sequencing-based analyses of both chloroplast and microbial DNA contained in fecal matter. Across the 11 sampling dates that spanned 166 days, we found that diet shifted continuously over the growing season, allowing bison to take advantage of the seasonal availability of high-protein plant species. Bison consumed more woody shrubs in spring and fall than in summer, when forb and grass intake predominated. In examining gut microbiota, the bacterial phylum Tenericutes shifted significantly in relative abundance over the growing season. This work suggests that North American bison can continuously adjust their diet with a high reliance on non-grasses throughout the year. In addition, we find evidence for seasonal patterns in gut community composition that are likely driven by the observed dietary changes.
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Ford AT, Goheen JR. An experimental study on risk effects in a dwarf antelope,Madoqua guentheri. J Mammal 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyv090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Equivalence between Step Selection Functions and Biased Correlated Random Walks for Statistical Inference on Animal Movement. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0122947. [PMID: 25898019 PMCID: PMC4405542 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2014] [Accepted: 02/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal movement has a fundamental impact on population and community structure and dynamics. Biased correlated random walks (BCRW) and step selection functions (SSF) are commonly used to study movements. Because no studies have contrasted the parameters and the statistical properties of their estimators for models constructed under these two Lagrangian approaches, it remains unclear whether or not they allow for similar inference. First, we used the Weak Law of Large Numbers to demonstrate that the log-likelihood function for estimating the parameters of BCRW models can be approximated by the log-likelihood of SSFs. Second, we illustrated the link between the two approaches by fitting BCRW with maximum likelihood and with SSF to simulated movement data in virtual environments and to the trajectory of bison (Bison bison L.) trails in natural landscapes. Using simulated and empirical data, we found that the parameters of a BCRW estimated directly from maximum likelihood and by fitting an SSF were remarkably similar. Movement analysis is increasingly used as a tool for understanding the influence of landscape properties on animal distribution. In the rapidly developing field of movement ecology, management and conservation biologists must decide which method they should implement to accurately assess the determinants of animal movement. We showed that BCRW and SSF can provide similar insights into the environmental features influencing animal movements. Both techniques have advantages. BCRW has already been extended to allow for multi-state modeling. Unlike BCRW, however, SSF can be estimated using most statistical packages, it can simultaneously evaluate habitat selection and movement biases, and can easily integrate a large number of movement taxes at multiple scales. SSF thus offers a simple, yet effective, statistical technique to identify movement taxis.
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Fortin D, Merkle JA, Sigaud M, Cherry SG, Plante S, Drolet A, Labrecque M. Temporal dynamics in the foraging decisions of large herbivores. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2015. [DOI: 10.1071/an14428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The foraging decisions involved in acquiring a meal can have an impact on an animal’s spatial distribution, as well as affect other animal species and plant communities. Thus, understanding how the foraging process varies over space and time has broad ecological implications, and optimal foraging theory can be used to identify key factors controlling foraging decisions. Optimality models are based on currencies, options and constraints. Using examples from research on free-ranging bison (Bison bison), we show how variations in these model elements can yield strong spatio-temporal variation in expected foraging decisions. First, we present a simple optimal foraging model to investigate the temporal scale of foraging decisions. On the basis of this model, we identify the foraging currency and demonstrate that such a simple model can be successful at predicting animal distribution across ecosystems. We then modify the model by changing (1) the forager’s option, from the selection of individual plants to the selection of food bites that may include more than one plant species, (2) its constraints, from being omniscient to having incomplete information of resource quality and distribution and (3) its currency, from the maximisation of energy intake rate (E) to the maximisation of the ratio between E and mortality risk (u).We also show that, where the maximisation of E fails, the maximisation of E/u can explain the circadian rhythm in the diet and movements of bison. Simple optimal foraging-theory models thus can explain changes in dietary choice of bison within a foraging patch and during the course of a day.
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Latombe G, Parrott L, Basille M, Fortin D. Uniting statistical and individual-based approaches for animal movement modelling. PLoS One 2014; 9:e99938. [PMID: 24979047 PMCID: PMC4076191 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2013] [Accepted: 05/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The dynamic nature of their internal states and the environment directly shape animals' spatial behaviours and give rise to emergent properties at broader scales in natural systems. However, integrating these dynamic features into habitat selection studies remains challenging, due to practically impossible field work to access internal states and the inability of current statistical models to produce dynamic outputs. To address these issues, we developed a robust method, which combines statistical and individual-based modelling. Using a statistical technique for forward modelling of the IBM has the advantage of being faster for parameterization than a pure inverse modelling technique and allows for robust selection of parameters. Using GPS locations from caribou monitored in Québec, caribou movements were modelled based on generative mechanisms accounting for dynamic variables at a low level of emergence. These variables were accessed by replicating real individuals' movements in parallel sub-models, and movement parameters were then empirically parameterized using Step Selection Functions. The final IBM model was validated using both k-fold cross-validation and emergent patterns validation and was tested for two different scenarios, with varying hardwood encroachment. Our results highlighted a functional response in habitat selection, which suggests that our method was able to capture the complexity of the natural system, and adequately provided projections on future possible states of the system in response to different management plans. This is especially relevant for testing the long-term impact of scenarios corresponding to environmental configurations that have yet to be observed in real systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Latombe
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Département de Géographie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Lael Parrott
- Earth and Environmental Sciences and Biology Units, The University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mathieu Basille
- Chaire de recherche industrielle CRSNG-Université Laval en sylviculture et faune, Département de biologie, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada; Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States of America
| | - Daniel Fortin
- Chaire de recherche industrielle CRSNG-Université Laval en sylviculture et faune, Département de biologie, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
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Pigeon KE, Nielsen SE, Stenhouse GB, Côté SD. Den selection by grizzly bears on a managed landscape. J Mammal 2014. [DOI: 10.1644/13-mamm-a-137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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36
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Asensio N, Brockelman WY, Malaivijitnond S, Reichard UH. White-handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar) Core Area Use Over a Short-Time Scale. Biotropica 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Norberto Asensio
- Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies; Mahidol University; Nakorn Pathom Thailand
| | - Warren Y. Brockelman
- Conservation Genetics and Ecology Group; Institute of Molecular Biosciences; Mahidol University; Nakorn Pathom Thailand
- Ecology Laboratory; Bioresources Technology Unit (Biotec); Science Park Klong Luang Pathum Thani Thailand
| | - Suchinda Malaivijitnond
- Primate Research Unit; Department of Biology; Faculty of Science; Chulalongkorn University; Bangkok Thailand
| | - Ulrich H. Reichard
- Department of Anthropology and Center for Ecology; Southern Illinois University; Carbondale IL U.S.A
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Merkle JA, Fortin D, Morales JM. A memory-based foraging tactic reveals an adaptive mechanism for restricted space use. Ecol Lett 2014; 17:924-31. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.12294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2013] [Revised: 01/18/2014] [Accepted: 04/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. A. Merkle
- Département de biologie and Centre d'étude de la forêt; Université Laval; Québec QC Canada
| | - D. Fortin
- Département de biologie and Centre d'étude de la forêt; Université Laval; Québec QC Canada
| | - J. M. Morales
- Laboratorio Ecotono; Inbioma-conicet; Universidad Nacional del Comahue; Bariloche Argentina
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Living in a landscape of fear: the impact of predation, resource availability and habitat structure on primate range use. Anim Behav 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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39
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Spatial heterogeneity in the strength of plant-herbivore interactions under predation risk: the tale of bison foraging in wolf country. PLoS One 2013; 8:e73324. [PMID: 24039909 PMCID: PMC3770655 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2013] [Accepted: 07/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatial heterogeneity in the strength of trophic interactions is a fundamental property of food web spatial dynamics. The feeding effort of herbivores should reflect adaptive decisions that only become rewarding when foraging gains exceed 1) the metabolic costs, 2) the missed opportunity costs of not foraging elsewhere, and 3) the foraging costs of anti-predator behaviour. Two aspects of these costs remain largely unexplored: the link between the strength of plant-herbivore interactions and the spatial scale of food-quality assessment, and the predator-prey spatial game. We modeled the foraging effort of free-ranging plains bison (Bison bison bison) in winter, within a mosaic of discrete meadows. Spatial patterns of bison herbivory were largely driven by a search for high net energy gains and, to a lesser degree, by the spatial game with grey wolves (Canis lupus). Bison decreased local feeding effort with increasing metabolic and missed opportunity costs. Bison herbivory was most consistent with a broad-scale assessment of food patch quality, i.e., bison grazed more intensively in patches with a low missed opportunity cost relative to other patches available in the landscape. Bison and wolves had a higher probability of using the same meadows than expected randomly. This co-occurrence indicates wolves are ahead in the spatial game they play with bison. Wolves influenced bison foraging at fine scale, as bison tended to consume less biomass at each feeding station when in meadows where the risk of a wolf's arrival was relatively high. Also, bison left more high-quality vegetation in large than small meadows. This behavior does not maximize their energy intake rate, but is consistent with bison playing a shell game with wolves. Our assessment of bison foraging in a natural setting clarifies the complex nature of plant-herbivore interactions under predation risk, and reveals how spatial patterns in herbivory emerge from multi-scale landscape heterogeneity.
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40
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Latombe G, Fortin D, Parrott L. Spatio-temporal dynamics in the response of woodland caribou and moose to the passage of grey wolf. J Anim Ecol 2013; 83:185-98. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2012] [Accepted: 06/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Latombe
- Geography Department; Complex Systems Laboratory; University of Montreal; C.P. 6128 Succursale Centre-ville Montréal Montréal QC H3C 3J7 Canada
| | - Daniel Fortin
- Biology Department; Sylviculture and Wildlife Research Chair CRSNG-Laval University; Laval University; 1045 Av. de la Médecine Pavillon Alexandre-Vachon Québec QC G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Lael Parrott
- Geography Department; Complex Systems Laboratory; University of Montreal; C.P. 6128 Succursale Centre-ville Montréal Montréal QC H3C 3J7 Canada
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41
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Courbin N, Fortin D, Dussault C, Fargeot V, Courtois R. Multi-trophic resource selection function enlightens the behavioural game between wolves and their prey. J Anim Ecol 2013; 82:1062-71. [PMID: 23701257 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2013] [Accepted: 03/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
1. Habitat selection strategies translate into movement tactics, which reckon with the predator-prey spatial game. Strategic habitat selection analysis can therefore illuminate behavioural games. Cover types at potential encounter sites (i.e. intersections between movement paths of predator and prey) can be compared with cover types available (i) within the area of home-range-overlap (HRO) between predator and prey; and (ii) along the path (MP) of each species. Unlike the HRO scale, cover-type availability at MP scale differs between interacting species due to species-specific movement decisions. Scale differences in selection could therefore inform on divergences in fitness rewarding actions between predators and prey. 2. We used this framework to evaluate the spatial game between GPS-collared wolves (Canis lupus) versus caribou (Rangifer tarandus), and wolf versus moose (Alces alces). 3. Changes in cover-type availability between HRO and MP revealed differences in how each species fine-tuned its movements to habitat features. In contrast to caribou, wolves increased their encounter rate with regenerating cuts along their paths (MP) relative to the HRO level. As a consequence, wolves were less likely to cross caribou paths in areas with higher percentage of regenerating cuts than expected based on the availability along their paths, whereas caribou had a higher risk of intersecting wolf paths by crossing these areas, relative to random expectation along their paths. Unlike for caribou, availability of mixed and deciduous areas decreased from HRO to MP level for wolves and moose. Overall, wolves displayed stronger similarities in movement decisions with moose than with caribou, thereby revealing the focus of wolves on moose. 4. Our study reveals how differences in fine-scale movement tactics between species create asymmetric relative encounter probabilities between predators and prey, given their paths. Increase in relative risk of encounter for prey and decrease for predators associated with specific cover types emerging from HRO to MP scale analysis can disclose potential weaknesses in current movement tactics involved the predator-prey game, such as caribou use of cutovers in summer-autumn. In turn, these weaknesses can inform on subsequent changes in habitat selection tactics that might arise due to evolutionary forces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Courbin
- Chaire de recherche industrielle CRSNG-Université Laval en sylviculture et faune, Département de biologie, Université Laval, 1045 Av. de la Médecine, pavillon Alexandre Vachon, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
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Tambling CJ, Ferreira SM, Adendorff J, Kerley GI. Lessons from Management Interventions: Consequences for Lion-Buffalo Interactions. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.3957/056.043.0116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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43
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Vander Wal E, van Beest FM, Brook RK. Density-dependent effects on group size are sex-specific in a gregarious ungulate. PLoS One 2013; 8:e53777. [PMID: 23326502 PMCID: PMC3541182 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2012] [Accepted: 12/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Density dependence can have marked effects on social behaviors such as group size. We tested whether changes in population density of a large herbivore (elk, Cervus canadensis) affected sex-specific group size and whether the response was density- or frequency-dependent. We quantified the probability and strength of changes in group sizes and dispersion as population density changed for each sex. We used group size data from a population of elk in Manitoba, Canada, that was experimentally reduced from 1.20 to 0.67 elk/km2 between 2002 and 2009. Our results indicated that functional responses of group size to population density are sex-specific. Females showed a positive density-dependent response in group size at population densities ≥0.70 elk/km2 and we found evidence for a minimum group size at population density ≤0.70 elk/km2. Changes in male group size were also density-dependent; however, the strength of the relationship was lower than for females. Density dependence in male group size was predominantly a result of fusion of solitary males into larger groups, rather than fusion among existing groups. Our study revealed that density affects group size of a large herbivore differently between males and females, which has important implications for the benefits e.g., alleviating predation risk, and costs of social behaviors e.g., competition for resources and mates, and intra-specific pathogen transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Vander Wal
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
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44
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Suraci JP, Dill LM. Short timescale rate maximization by gulls and implications for predation on size-structured prey. Behav Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ars165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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45
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Marshall HH, Carter AJ, Rowcliffe JM, Cowlishaw G. Linking social foraging behaviour with individual time budgets and emergent group-level phenomena. Anim Behav 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2012.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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46
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47
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Tambling CJ, Druce DJ, Hayward MW, Castley JG, Adendorff J, Kerley GIH. Spatial and temporal changes in group dynamics and range use enable anti-predator responses in African buffalo. Ecology 2012; 93:1297-304. [PMID: 22834371 DOI: 10.1890/11-1770.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The reintroduction of large predators provides a framework to investigate responses by prey species to predators. Considerable research has been directed at the impact that reintroduced wolves (Canis lupus) have on cervids, and to a lesser degree, bovids, in northern temperate regions. Generally, these impacts alter feeding, activity, and ranging behavior, or combinations of these. However, there are few studies on the response of African bovids to reintroduced predators, and thus, there is limited data to compare responses by tropical and temperate ungulates to predator reintroductions. Using the reintroduction of lion (Panthera leo) into the Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) Main Camp Section, South Africa, we show that Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) responses differ from northern temperate ungulates. Following lion reintroduction, buffalo herds amalgamated into larger, more defendable units; this corresponded with an increase in the survival of juvenile buffalo. Current habitat preference of buffalo breeding herds is for open habitats, especially during the night and morning, when lion are active. The increase in group size and habitat preference countered initial high levels of predation on juvenile buffalo, resulting in a return in the proportion of juveniles in breeding herds to pre-lion levels. Our results show that buffalo responses to reintroduced large predators in southern Africa differ to those of northern temperate bovids or cervids in the face of wolf predation. We predict that the nature of the prey response to predator reintroduction is likely to reflect the trade-off between the predator selection and hunting strategy of predators against the life history and foraging strategies of each prey species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig J Tambling
- Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa.
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48
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Marshall HH, Carter AJ, Coulson T, Rowcliffe JM, Cowlishaw G. Exploring foraging decisions in a social primate using discrete-choice models. Am Nat 2012; 180:481-95. [PMID: 22976011 DOI: 10.1086/667587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
There is a growing appreciation of the multiple social and nonsocial factors influencing the foraging behavior of social animals but little understanding of how these factors depend on habitat characteristics or individual traits. This partly reflects the difficulties inherent in using conventional statistical techniques to analyze multifactor, multicontext foraging decisions. Discrete-choice models provide a way to do so, and we demonstrate this by using them to investigate patch preference in a wild population of social foragers (chacma baboons Papio ursinus). Data were collected from 29 adults across two social groups, encompassing 683 foraging decisions over a 6-month period and the results interpreted using an information-theoretic approach. Baboon foraging decisions were influenced by multiple nonsocial and social factors and were often contingent on the characteristics of the habitat or individual. Differences in decision making between habitats were consistent with changes in interference-competition costs but not with changes in social-foraging benefits. Individual differences in decision making were suggestive of a trade-off between dominance rank and social capital. Our findings emphasize that taking a multifactor, multicontext approach is important to fully understand animal decision making. We also demonstrate how discrete-choice models can be used to achieve this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry H Marshall
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, United Kingdom.
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Pays O, Fortin D, Gassani J, Duchesne J. Group dynamics and landscape features constrain the exploration of herds in fusion-fission societies: the case of European roe deer. PLoS One 2012; 7:e34678. [PMID: 22479652 PMCID: PMC3316705 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2011] [Accepted: 03/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the large number of movement studies, the constraints that grouping imposes on movement decisions remain essentially unexplored, even for highly social species. Such constraints could be key, however, to understanding the dynamics and spatial organisation of species living in group fusion-fission systems. We investigated the winter movements (speed and diffusion coefficient) of groups of free-ranging roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), in an agricultural landscape characterised by a mosaic of food and foodless patches. Most groups were short-lived units that merged and split up frequently during the course of a day. Deer groups decreased their speed and diffusion rate in areas where food patches were abundant, as well as when travelling close to main roads and crest lines and far from forests. While accounting for these behavioural adjustments to habitat features, our study revealed some constraints imposed by group foraging: large groups reached the limit of their diffusion rate faster than small groups. The ability of individuals to move rapidly to new foraging locations following patch depression thus decreases with group size. Our results highlight the importance of considering both habitat heterogeneity and group dynamics when predicting the movements of individuals in group fusion-fission societies. Further, we provide empirical evidence that group cohesion can restrain movement and, therefore, the speed at which group members can explore their environment. When maintaining cohesion reduces foraging gains because of movement constraints, leaving the group may become a fitness-rewarding decision, especially when individuals can join other groups located nearby, which would tend to maintain highly dynamical group fusion-fission systems. Our findings also provide the basis for new hypotheses explaining a broad range of ecological patterns, such as the broader diet and longer residency time reported for larger herbivore groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Pays
- Groupe Ecologie et Conservation, Université d'Angers, Angers, France.
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50
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Courant S, Fortin D. Time allocation of bison in meadow patches driven by potential energy gains and group size dynamics. OIKOS 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2011.19994.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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