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Barja I, Navarro-Castilla Á, Ortiz-Jiménez L, España Á, Hinojosa R, Sánchez-Sotomayor D, Iglesias Á, España J, Rubio-Sánchez S, Martín-Romero S, Vielva J, Horcajada-Sánchez F. Wild Ungulates Constitute the Basis of the Diet of the Iberian Wolf in a Recently Recolonized Area: Wild Boar and Roe Deer as Key Species for Its Conservation. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3364. [PMID: 37958119 PMCID: PMC10647792 DOI: 10.3390/ani13213364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) is recolonizing historical distribution areas after decades of absence. As in other human-dominated landscapes, finding a balance to protect this species by favoring recolonization and mitigating human-wildlife conflicts is a challenge. Since wolves are often generalist opportunistic predators, we studied their diet composition in central Spain to evaluate the consumption of domestic ungulates and provide reliable data that could help local authorities to deal with the current wolf-cattle ranchers conflict and coexistence. Diet composition (% prey occurrence, % prey ingested biomass) was analyzed through the identification of prey hairs present in 671 scats collected between 2017 and 2021. The wolves fed more on wild ungulates (82% occurrence) than domestic ones (18%). Wild boar (Sus scrofa, 44% occurrence) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus, 35%) were the most consumed prey. The wolves positively selected these two species. The wolves' diets varied between seasons, years, and forest regions, but a diet based on wild ungulates predominated over domestic ones. Food niche breadth showed variations depending on seasons and years. Preserving the availability and diversity of wild ungulates may favor reducing livestock attacks and would be an achievable goal that would help to conserve this species and reduce conservation conflicts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Barja
- Unidad de Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Research Centre in Biodiversity and Global Change (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Álvaro Navarro-Castilla
- Unidad de Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Research Centre in Biodiversity and Global Change (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lorena Ortiz-Jiménez
- Unidad de Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángel España
- Unidad de Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Roberto Hinojosa
- SIGNATUR, Carretera de la Sierra, 45, Villavieja del Lozoya, 28739 Madrid, Spain
| | - David Sánchez-Sotomayor
- Unidad de Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángel Iglesias
- Unidad de Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - José España
- SIGNATUR, C/Asunción Castell, 22, 28739 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio Rubio-Sánchez
- Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación del Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama, TRAGSA, 28740 Madrid, Spain
| | - Santiago Martín-Romero
- Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación del Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama, TRAGSA, 28740 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Vielva
- Consejería de Medio Ambiente, Vivienda y Agricultura, Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación del Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama, 28740 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Horcajada-Sánchez
- Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación del Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama, TRAGSA, 28740 Madrid, Spain
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Boczulak H, Boucher NP, Ladle A, Boyce MS, Fisher JT. Industrial development alters wolf spatial distribution mediated by prey availability. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10224. [PMID: 37396026 PMCID: PMC10307794 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing resource extraction and human activity are reshaping species' spatial distributions in human-altered landscape and consequently shaping the dynamics of interspecific interactions, such as between predators and prey. To evaluate the effects of industrial features and human activity on the occurrence of wolves (Canis lupus), we used wildlife detection data collected in 2014 from an array of 122 remote wildlife camera traps in Alberta's Rocky Mountains and foothills near Hinton, Canada. Using generalized linear models, we compared the occurrence frequency of wolves at camera sites to natural land cover, industrial disturbance (forestry and oil/gas exploration), human activity (motorized and non-motorized), and prey availability (moose, Alces alces; elk, Cervus elaphus; mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus; and white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus). Industrial block features (well sites and cutblocks) and prey (elk or mule deer) availability interacted to influence wolf occurrence, but models including motorized and non-motorized human activity were not strongly supported. Wolves occurred infrequently at sites with high densities of well sites and cutblocks, except when elk or mule deer were frequently detected. Our results suggest that wolves risk using industrial block features when prey occur frequently to increase predation opportunities, but otherwise avoid them due to risk of human encounters. Effective management of wolves in anthropogenically altered landscapes thus requires the simultaneous consideration of industrial block features and populations of elk and mule deer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Boczulak
- School of Environmental StudiesUniversity of VictoriaVictoriaBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Nicole P. Boucher
- School of Environmental StudiesUniversity of VictoriaVictoriaBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Andrew Ladle
- School of Environmental StudiesUniversity of VictoriaVictoriaBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Mark S. Boyce
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
| | - Jason T. Fisher
- School of Environmental StudiesUniversity of VictoriaVictoriaBritish ColumbiaCanada
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Del Frate M, Bongi P, Tanzillo L, Russo C, Benini O, Sieni S, Scandura M, Apollonio M. A Predator on the Doorstep: Kill Site Selection by a Lone Wolf in a Peri-Urban Park in a Mediterranean Area. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:480. [PMID: 36766369 PMCID: PMC9913258 DOI: 10.3390/ani13030480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess which kill site characteristics were selected by a lone wolf living in a protected Mediterranean coastal area near the city of Pisa, Italy, where both wild and domestic ungulates were available as potential prey. Between 2017 and 2019, we monitored the wolf's predatory behaviour through a combination of camera trapping and active search for kill sites and prey carcasses. The main prey found was the fallow deer (n = 82); only two wild boars and no domestic ungulates were found preyed upon. The features and habitat of kill sites were modelled to test for selection by the wolf. The habitat type of kill site was composed of meadows and pastures (89.3%), woods (7.3%), degraded coastal areas (1.9%), roads and rivers (1.1%), and marshes (0.5%). We calculated their distance from landscape features and ran a binomial generalised linear model to test the influence of such landscape variables. The distance of kill sites from landscape elements was significantly different from random control sites, and a positive selection for fences was found. In fact, the wolf pushed fallow deer towards a fence to constrain them and prevent them from escaping. We also analysed the body condition of predated fallow deer as a percentage of fat content in the bone marrow of the hind legs. Our results revealed the selection of the lone wolf for deer in good body condition. This is a possible outcome of the habitat selection shown by fallow deer in the study area, where fenced open pastures are the richest in trophic resources; therefore, our findings suggest a high efficacy for the lone wolf hunting strategy, but also the adoption of a high risk feeding strategy by deer. This study suggests that a lone predator can take advantage of human infrastructures to maximise its predatory effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Del Frate
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Paolo Bongi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Luigi Tanzillo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Claudia Russo
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy
| | - Omar Benini
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy
| | - Sara Sieni
- Department of Agricultural Management, Food and Forestry System, University of Florence, 50100 Florence, Italy
| | - Massimo Scandura
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Marco Apollonio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
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Shrotriya S, Reshamwala HS, Lyngdoh S, Jhala YV, Habib B. Feeding Patterns of Three Widespread Carnivores—The Wolf, Snow Leopard, and Red Fox—in the Trans-Himalayan Landscape of India. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.815996] [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
The Trans-Himalayan landscape is an extreme cold desert with limited diversity and a low density of wild prey. The landscape has three widespread carnivores—the wolf Canis lupus chanco, snow leopard Panthera uncia, and red fox Vulpes vulpes—competing for similar prey. We studied predation patterns, dietary competition, and niche segregation of three sympatric carnivores in the Indian Trans-Himalayas. The Himalayan or wooly wolf is one of the oldest lineages and has adapted to extreme cold. We further studied the prey selection of the wolf in the high-altitude environment. We collected 1,600 carnivore scats (wolf = 542, snow leopard = 31, and red fox = 1,027), and additional data on 573 snow leopard scats from literature was used in the analyses. We found that livestock was a major contributor to the wolf (56.46%) and snow leopard diet (30.01%). The wolf consumed blue sheep (8.26%) and ibex (3.13%), whereas the snow leopard subsisted on blue sheep (30.79%) and ibex (17.15%), relatively more frequently. The red fox preyed upon small species like pika and marmots (18.85 %); however, livestock carrions (16.49%), fruits and seeds (15.05%), and human-derived material (11.89%) were also consumed frequently. The dietary niche of three carnivore species highly overlapped (Pianka's index = 0.503, simulated mean = 0.419, p = 0.15) due to livestock. The carnivores segregated their diet in prey items originating from the wild. We tested a relationship between carnivore diet variations and prey/predator functional traits using RLQ ordination. Predator morphology traits like body size, weight, and habitat preference significantly affected the prey selection (p < 0.05). The wolf and snow leopard avoided the competition through habitat selection, while the red fox coexisted by exploiting a broader niche. The wolf showed site-specific variation in prey preferences albeit no prey selection at the landscape level (G2 = 6.79, df = 12, p = 0.87). The wolf preferred wild prey over domestic species at the wild prey rich site. The carnivores in this pastoralist landscape have adapted to exploit livestock resources despite facing persecution. Therefore, managing livestock and simultaneously restoring wild prey is crucial for the conservation of the carnivore guild in the Trans-Himalayan ecosystem.
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Sells SN, Mitchell MS, Podruzny KM, Ausband DE, Emlen DJ, Gude JA, Smucker TD, Boyd DK, Loonam KE. Competition, prey, and mortalities influence gray wolf group size. J Wildl Manage 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N. Sells
- Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Wildlife Biology Program, 205 Natural Sciences Building University of Montana, Missoula Montana 59812 USA
| | - Michael S. Mitchell
- U.S. Geological Survey, Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Wildlife Biology Program, 205 Natural Sciences Building University of Montana Missoula Montana 59812 USA
| | | | - David E. Ausband
- U.S. Geological Survey, Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1141 University of Idaho Moscow Idaho 83844 USA
| | - Douglas J. Emlen
- Division of Biological Sciences University of Montana Missoula Montana 59812
| | - Justin A. Gude
- Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks 1420 E. 6th St. Helena MT 59620
| | - Ty D. Smucker
- Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks 4600 Giant Springs Road Great Falls MT 59405
| | - Diane K. Boyd
- Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks 490 North Meridian Road Kalispell MT 59901
| | - Kenneth E. Loonam
- Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Wildlife Biology Program, 205 Natural Sciences Building University of Montana, Missoula Montana 59812 USA
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Moseby K, McGregor H. Feral Cats Use Fine Scale Prey Cues and Microhabitat Patches of Dense Vegetation When Hunting Prey in Arid Australia. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
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Irvine CC, Cherry SG, Patterson BR. Discriminating grey wolf kill sites using GPS clusters. J Wildl Manage 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Seth G. Cherry
- Parks Canada Agency Box 220 Radium Hot Springs BC V0A 1M0 Canada
| | - Brent R. Patterson
- Trent University 1600 W Bank Drive Peterborough ON K9L 0G2 Canada
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry 2140 East Bank Drive Peterborough ON K9L 1Z8 Canada
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MacAulay KM, Spilker EG, Berg JE, Hebblewhite M, Merrill EH. Beyond the encounter: Predicting multi-predator risk to elk ( Cervus canadensis) in summer using predator scats. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8589. [PMID: 35222962 PMCID: PMC8843817 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence that prey perceive the risk of predation and alter their behavior in response, resulting in changes in spatial distribution and potential fitness consequences. Previous approaches to mapping predation risk across a landscape quantify predator space use to estimate potential predator-prey encounters, yet this approach does not account for successful predator attack resulting in prey mortality. An exception is a prey kill site that reflects an encounter resulting in mortality, but obtaining information on kill sites is expensive and requires time to accumulate adequate sample sizes.We illustrate an alternative approach using predator scat locations and their contents to quantify spatial predation risk for elk (Cervus canadensis) from multiple predators in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. We surveyed over 1300 km to detect scats of bears (Ursus arctos/U. americanus), cougars (Puma concolor), coyotes (Canis latrans), and wolves (C. lupus). To derive spatial predation risk, we combined predictions of scat-based resource selection functions (RSFs) weighted by predator abundance with predictions that a predator-specific scat in a location contained elk. We evaluated the scat-based predictions of predation risk by correlating them to predictions based on elk kill sites. We also compared scat-based predation risk on summer ranges of elk following three migratory tactics for consistency with telemetry-based metrics of predation risk and cause-specific mortality of elk.We found a strong correlation between the scat-based approach presented here and predation risk predicted by kill sites and (r = .98, p < .001). Elk migrating east of the Ya Ha Tinda winter range were exposed to the highest predation risk from cougars, resident elk summering on the Ya Ha Tinda winter range were exposed to the highest predation risk from wolves and coyotes, and elk migrating west to summer in Banff National Park were exposed to highest risk of encountering bears, but it was less likely to find elk in bear scats than in other areas. These patterns were consistent with previous estimates of spatial risk based on telemetry of collared predators and recent cause-specific mortality patterns in elk.A scat-based approach can provide a cost-efficient alternative to kill sites of quantifying broad-scale, spatial patterns in risk of predation for prey particularly in multiple predator species systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara M. MacAulay
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
| | - Eric G. Spilker
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
| | - Jodi E. Berg
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
| | - Mark Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology ProgramDepartment of Ecosystem and Conservation SciencesW. A. Franke College of Forestry and ConservationUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMontanaUSA
| | - Evelyn H. Merrill
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
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Alting BF, Bennitt E, Golabek KA, Pitcher BJ, McNutt JW, Wilson AM, Bates H, Jordan NR. The characteristics and consequences of African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) den site selection. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03047-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Viola P, Adriani S, Rossi CM, Franceschini C, Primi R, Apollonio M, Amici A. Anthropogenic and Environmental Factors Determining Local Favourable Conditions for Wolves during the Cold Season. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11071895. [PMID: 34202132 PMCID: PMC8300267 DOI: 10.3390/ani11071895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Wolves normally howl in response to unfamiliar vocalisations, to defend their territory and the important resources within it (e.g., pups and prey). During the non-rendezvous period (late autumn and winter), the protectiveness of adults towards pups decreases, as well as reactions to unfamiliar vocal stimuli. In the late fall of 2010, we performed a saturation wolf howling design in the Cicolano area (Central Apennines, Italy), aiming to identify environmental and human-related characteristics of locations where wolves are prone to respond to unfamiliar howling and to assess their eventual ability to provide insights into the distribution of valuable resources (aside from pups) during the cold season. We found that winter response sites (WRS) were characterized by diverging conditions, with respect to all available sites, suggesting that they are non-randomly located but, instead, had been selected by wolves for some reason. We recorded a positive role of thermal refuges and the occurrence of wild boar drive hunts, as well as the negative roles of other forms of human presence and activities, including the occurrence of free-ranging dogs. These results could be of interest both for conservation purposes and for assessing interactions with human activities. Abstract Winter resources are crucial for wildlife, and, at a local scale, some anthropogenic and environmental factors could affect their availability. In the case of wolves, it is known that vocalisations in response to unfamiliar howls are issued to defend their territory and the important resources within it. Then, we studied the characteristics of winter response sites (WRS) during the cold season, aiming to assess their eventual ability to provide insights into the distribution of valuable resources within their territories. Within this scope, we planned a wolf-howling survey following a standardised approach. The study covered an Apennine (Central Italy) area of 500 km2. A hexagonal mesh was imposed on the area, in order to determine the values of different variables at the local scale. A logistic LASSO regression was performed. WRS were positively related to the presence of thermal refuges (odds = 114.485), to patch richness (odds = 1.153), wild boar drive hunting areas (odds = 1.015), and time elapsed since the last hunt (odds = 1.019). Among negative factors, stray dogs reply considerably affects wolves’ responsiveness (odds = 0.207), where odds are the exponentiated coefficients estimated by the logistic lasso regression. These results suggest that WRS are related to anthropogenic and environmental factors favouring the predation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Viola
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via S. C. de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, VT, Italy; (P.V.); (S.A.); (C.M.R.); (C.F.); (R.P.)
| | - Settimio Adriani
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via S. C. de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, VT, Italy; (P.V.); (S.A.); (C.M.R.); (C.F.); (R.P.)
| | - Carlo Maria Rossi
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via S. C. de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, VT, Italy; (P.V.); (S.A.); (C.M.R.); (C.F.); (R.P.)
| | - Cinzia Franceschini
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via S. C. de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, VT, Italy; (P.V.); (S.A.); (C.M.R.); (C.F.); (R.P.)
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Science, University of Bologna, Piazza di Porta S. Donato 1, 40127 Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Riccardo Primi
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via S. C. de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, VT, Italy; (P.V.); (S.A.); (C.M.R.); (C.F.); (R.P.)
| | - Marco Apollonio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, SS, Italy;
| | - Andrea Amici
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via S. C. de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, VT, Italy; (P.V.); (S.A.); (C.M.R.); (C.F.); (R.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-(0)761-357443
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11
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Shave JR, Cherry SG, Derocher AE, Fortin D. Seasonal and inter-annual variation in diet for gray wolves Canis lupus in Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Justin R. Shave
- J. R. Shave ✉ and A. E. Derocher, Dept of Biological Sciences, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Seth G. Cherry
- S. G. Cherry, Parks Canada Agency, Radium Hot Springs, BC, Canada
| | - Andrew E. Derocher
- J. R. Shave ✉ and A. E. Derocher, Dept of Biological Sciences, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Daniel Fortin
- D. Fortin, Dépt de biologie and Centre d'étude de la Foret; Univ. Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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Woodruff SP, Jimenez MD. Winter predation patterns of wolves in Northwestern Wyoming. J Wildl Manage 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Oates BA, Merkle JA, Kauffman MJ, Dewey SR, Jimenez MD, Vartanian JM, Becker SA, Goheen JR. Antipredator response diminishes during periods of resource deficit for a large herbivore. Ecology 2019; 100:e02618. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- B. A. Oates
- Idaho Department of Fish and Game Boise Idaho 83712 USA
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming 82071 USA
| | - J. A. Merkle
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming 82071 USA
| | - M. J. Kauffman
- U.S. Geological Survey Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming 82071 USA
| | - S. R. Dewey
- National Park Service Grand Teton National Park Moose Wyoming 83012 USA
| | - M. D. Jimenez
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (retired) Jackson Wyoming 83001 USA
| | | | - S. A. Becker
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lander Wyoming 82520 USA
| | - J. R. Goheen
- Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming 82071 USA
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Wilson KS, Pond BA, Brown GS, Schaefer JA. The biogeography of home range size of woodland caribou Rangifer tarandus caribou. DIVERS DISTRIB 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin S. Wilson
- Environmental & Life Sciences Graduate Program; Trent University; Peterborough Ontario Canada
| | - Bruce A. Pond
- Science and Research Branch; Wildlife Research & Monitoring Section; Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry; Peterborough Ontario Canada
| | - Glen S. Brown
- Science and Research Branch; Wildlife Research & Monitoring Section; Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry; Peterborough Ontario Canada
| | - James A. Schaefer
- Department of Biology; Trent University; Peterborough Ontario Canada
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15
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Characteristics of Winter Wolf Kill Sites in the Southern Yellowstone Ecosystem. JOURNAL OF FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 2018. [DOI: 10.3996/032016-jfwm-024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Understanding the spatial use of wolves and how that might relate to prey species may help predict areas with increased likelihood of wolf–prey interactions, areas where wolves may have a higher impact on prey populations, or areas of wolf–livestock conflict. After reintroduction into Yellowstone National Park in 1995, wolves Canis lupus expanded south and recolonized areas in and around Grand Teton National Park in the southern Yellowstone ecosystem in Wyoming, USA. Elk Cervus elaphus in this area are supplementally fed at three feedgrounds artificially increasing elk density. We tracked radio-collared and uncollared wolves annually in winter (December–March) from 2000 to 2008 to investigate kill sites. Our objective was to investigate potential differences in habitat variables (e.g., canopy cover, elevation) between kill sites (n = 295) and available (random; n = 2,360) locations and investigate whether factors influencing winter wolf kill sites differed in a natural setting (i.e., native winter range) vs. an artificial setting (i.e., near or on feedgrounds). Wolf kills occurred at sites with lower elevation, canopy cover, and terrain roughness compared with random locations. Wolf kills were also slightly farther from packed surfaces (i.e., roads or groomed snowmobile trails) and elk feedgrounds, although still in areas of higher intensity of use by elk compared with random locations. Kill sites on native winter range were considerably more rough (odds ratio = 4.47) than those on feedgrounds. Our results suggest wolves hunt where the likelihood of encountering prey is high, although in areas where prey distribution is more sparse (i.e., native winter range), wolves may need to rely on rougher terrain for successful hunts. The relationship between areas of high prey use and increased wolf activity has important implications for both wildlife managers and livestock producers. In the future, managers will continue to face the issue of having high concentrations of ungulates, either wild or domestic, and the obvious attraction this has for wolves.
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Schlägel UE, Merrill EH, Lewis MA. Territory surveillance and prey management: Wolves keep track of space and time. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:8388-8405. [PMID: 29075457 PMCID: PMC5648667 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 04/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying behavioral mechanisms that underlie observed movement patterns is difficult when animals employ sophisticated cognitive‐based strategies. Such strategies may arise when timing of return visits is important, for instance to allow for resource renewal or territorial patrolling. We fitted spatially explicit random‐walk models to GPS movement data of six wolves (Canis lupus; Linnaeus, 1758) from Alberta, Canada to investigate the importance of the following: (1) territorial surveillance likely related to renewal of scent marks along territorial edges, to reduce intraspecific risk among packs, and (2) delay in return to recently hunted areas, which may be related to anti‐predator responses of prey under varying prey densities. The movement models incorporated the spatiotemporal variable “time since last visit,” which acts as a wolf's memory index of its travel history and is integrated into the movement decision along with its position in relation to territory boundaries and information on local prey densities. We used a model selection framework to test hypotheses about the combined importance of these variables in wolf movement strategies. Time‐dependent movement for territory surveillance was supported by all wolf movement tracks. Wolves generally avoided territory edges, but this avoidance was reduced as time since last visit increased. Time‐dependent prey management was weak except in one wolf. This wolf selected locations with longer time since last visit and lower prey density, which led to a longer delay in revisiting high prey density sites. Our study shows that we can use spatially explicit random walks to identify behavioral strategies that merge environmental information and explicit spatiotemporal information on past movements (i.e., “when” and “where”) to make movement decisions. The approach allows us to better understand cognition‐based movement in relation to dynamic environments and resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike E Schlägel
- Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada.,Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute of Biochemistry and Biology University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany
| | - Evelyn H Merrill
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada
| | - Mark A Lewis
- Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada
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17
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Kittle AM, Anderson M, Avgar T, Baker JA, Brown GS, Hagens J, Iwachewski E, Moffatt S, Mosser A, Patterson BR, Reid DEB, Rodgers AR, Shuter J, Street GM, Thompson ID, Vander Vennen LM, Fryxell JM. Landscape‐level wolf space use is correlated with prey abundance, ease of mobility, and the distribution of prey habitat. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. Kittle
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road E. Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Morgan Anderson
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road E. Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Tal Avgar
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road E. Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - James A. Baker
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road E. Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Glen S. Brown
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry 1235 Queen Street East Sault Ste. Marie Ontario P6A 2E5 Canada
| | - Jevon Hagens
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research 103‐421 James Street South Thunder Bay Ontario P7E 2V6 Canada
| | - Ed Iwachewski
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research 103‐421 James Street South Thunder Bay Ontario P7E 2V6 Canada
| | - Scott Moffatt
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road E. Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Anna Mosser
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road E. Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Brent R. Patterson
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Wildlife Research and Development Section Trent University DNA Building, 2140 East Bank Drive Peterborough Ontario K9J 7B8 Canada
| | - Douglas E. B. Reid
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research 103‐421 James Street South Thunder Bay Ontario P7E 2V6 Canada
| | - Arthur R. Rodgers
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research 103‐421 James Street South Thunder Bay Ontario P7E 2V6 Canada
| | - Jen Shuter
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research 103‐421 James Street South Thunder Bay Ontario P7E 2V6 Canada
| | - Garrett M. Street
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road E. Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Ian D. Thompson
- Canadian Forest Service 1219 Queen Street East Sault Ste. Marie Ontario P6A 2E5 Canada
| | - Lucas M. Vander Vennen
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road E. Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - John M. Fryxell
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road E. Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
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18
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Johnson I, Brinkman T, Lake B, Brown C. Winter hunting behavior and habitat selection of wolves in a low-density prey system. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ian Johnson
- I. Johnson , PO Box 750881, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - Todd Brinkman
- T. Brinkman, PO Box 757000, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - Bryce Lake
- B. Lake, 101 12th Ave, Fairbanks, AK 99701, USA
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19
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Kittle AM, Anderson M, Avgar T, Baker JA, Brown GS, Hagens J, Iwachewski E, Moffatt S, Mosser A, Patterson BR, Reid DEB, Rodgers AR, Shuter J, Street GM, Thompson ID, Vander Vennen LM, Fryxell JM. Wolves adapt territory size, not pack size to local habitat quality. J Anim Ecol 2015; 84:1177-86. [PMID: 25757794 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
1. Although local variation in territorial predator density is often correlated with habitat quality, the causal mechanism underlying this frequently observed association is poorly understood and could stem from facultative adjustment in either group size or territory size. 2. To test between these alternative hypotheses, we used a novel statistical framework to construct a winter population-level utilization distribution for wolves (Canis lupus) in northern Ontario, which we then linked to a suite of environmental variables to determine factors influencing wolf space use. Next, we compared habitat quality metrics emerging from this analysis as well as an independent measure of prey abundance, with pack size and territory size to investigate which hypothesis was most supported by the data. 3. We show that wolf space use patterns were concentrated near deciduous, mixed deciduous/coniferous and disturbed forest stands favoured by moose (Alces alces), the predominant prey species in the diet of wolves in northern Ontario, and in proximity to linear corridors, including shorelines and road networks remaining from commercial forestry activities. 4. We then demonstrate that landscape metrics of wolf habitat quality - projected wolf use, probability of moose occupancy and proportion of preferred land cover classes - were inversely related to territory size but unrelated to pack size. 5. These results suggest that wolves in boreal ecosystems alter territory size, but not pack size, in response to local variation in habitat quality. This could be an adaptive strategy to balance trade-offs between territorial defence costs and energetic gains due to resource acquisition. That pack size was not responsive to habitat quality suggests that variation in group size is influenced by other factors such as intraspecific competition between wolf packs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Kittle
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Morgan Anderson
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Tal Avgar
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - James A Baker
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Glen S Brown
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 1235 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, P6A 2E5, Canada
| | - Jevon Hagens
- Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 5E1, Canada
| | - Ed Iwachewski
- Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 5E1, Canada
| | - Scott Moffatt
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Anna Mosser
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Brent R Patterson
- Wildlife Research and Development Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Trent University, DNA Building, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario, K9J 7B8, Canada
| | - Douglas E B Reid
- Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 5E1, Canada
| | - Arthur R Rodgers
- Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 5E1, Canada
| | - Jen Shuter
- Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 5E1, Canada
| | - Garrett M Street
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Ian D Thompson
- Canadian Forest Service, 1219 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, P6A 2E5, Canada
| | - Lucas M Vander Vennen
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - John M Fryxell
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
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20
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Trainor AM, Schmitz OJ. Infusing considerations of trophic dependencies into species distribution modelling. Ecol Lett 2014; 17:1507-17. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.12372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2014] [Revised: 06/26/2014] [Accepted: 08/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anne M. Trainor
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies; Yale University; New Haven CT 06511 USA
- The Nature Conservancy; Arlington VA 22203 USA
| | - Oswald J. Schmitz
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies; Yale University; New Haven CT 06511 USA
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21
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Zimmermann B, Sand H, Wabakken P, Liberg O, Andreassen HP. Predator-dependent functional response in wolves: from food limitation to surplus killing. J Anim Ecol 2014; 84:102-12. [PMID: 25109601 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2013] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The functional response of a predator describes the change in per capita kill rate to changes in prey density. This response can be influenced by predator densities, giving a predator-dependent functional response. In social carnivores which defend a territory, kill rates also depend on the individual energetic requirements of group members and their contribution to the kill rate. This study aims to provide empirical data for the functional response of wolves Canis lupus to the highly managed moose Alces alces population in Scandinavia. We explored prey and predator dependence, and how the functional response relates to the energetic requirements of wolf packs. Winter kill rates of GPS-collared wolves and densities of cervids were estimated for a total of 22 study periods in 15 wolf territories. The adult wolves were identified as the individuals responsible for providing kills to the wolf pack, while pups could be described as inept hunters. The predator-dependent, asymptotic functional response models (i.e. Hassell-Varley type II and Crowley-Martin) performed best among a set of 23 competing linear, asymptotic and sigmoid models. Small wolf packs acquired >3 times as much moose biomass as required to sustain their field metabolic rate (FMR), even at relatively low moose abundances. Large packs (6-9 wolves) acquired less biomass than required in territories with low moose abundance. We suggest the surplus killing by small packs is a result of an optimal foraging strategy to consume only the most nutritious parts of easy accessible prey while avoiding the risk of being detected by humans. Food limitation may have a stabilizing effect on pack size in wolves, as supported by the observed negative relationship between body weight of pups and pack size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Zimmermann
- Faculty of Applied Ecology and Agricultural Sciences, Hedmark University College, Campus Evenstad, N-2480 Koppang, Norway
| | - Håkan Sand
- Department of Ecology, Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-73091 Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Petter Wabakken
- Faculty of Applied Ecology and Agricultural Sciences, Hedmark University College, Campus Evenstad, N-2480 Koppang, Norway
| | - Olof Liberg
- Department of Ecology, Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-73091 Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Harry Peter Andreassen
- Faculty of Applied Ecology and Agricultural Sciences, Hedmark University College, Campus Evenstad, N-2480 Koppang, Norway
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22
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Courbin N, Fortin D, Dussault C, Courtois R. Logging-induced changes in habitat network connectivity shape behavioral interactions in the wolf–caribou–moose system. ECOL MONOGR 2014. [DOI: 10.1890/12-2118.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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23
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Dances with anthrax: wolves (Canis lupus) kill anthrax bacteremic plains bison (Bison bison bison) in southwestern Montana. J Wildl Dis 2014; 50:393-6. [PMID: 24484485 DOI: 10.7589/2013-08-204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Bacillus anthracis, the cause of anthrax, was recovered from two plains bison (Bison bison bison) cows killed by wolves (Canis lupus) in Montana, USA, without associated wolf mortality in July 2010. This bison herd experienced an epizootic in summer 2008, killing ∼ 8% of the herd, the first documented in the region in several decades. No wolf deaths were associated with the 2008 event. Surveillance has continued since 2008, with research, ranch, and wildlife personnel diligent during summer. As part of this, we tested wolf-killed bison and elk (Cervus elaphus) for anthrax during the 2010 summer using lateral flow immunochromatographic assays (LFIA). Two bison cows were positive for protective antigen, confirming active bacteremia. The LFIA results were confirmed with traditional bacteriology recovering viable B. anthracis. No wolf fatalities were associated with the bison deaths, despite consuming the meat. Low-level anthrax occurrence in large, rough terrain landscapes remains difficult to detect, particularly if mortality in the herbivore host is not a consequence of infection. In these instances, surveillance of predators with large home ranges may provide a more sensitive indicator of anthrax emergence or reemergence in such systems. Though speculative, it is also possible that anthrax infection in the bison increased predation risk. These results also suggest B. anthracis remains a threat to wildlife and associated livestock in southwestern Montana.
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24
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Lake BC, Bertram MR, Guldager N, Caikoski JR, Stephenson RO. Wolf kill rates across winter in a low-density moose system in Alaska. J Wildl Manage 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bryce C. Lake
- Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge; U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 101 12th Avenue, Room 264 Fairbanks AK 99701
| | - Mark R. Bertram
- Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge; U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 101 12th Avenue, Room 264 Fairbanks AK 99701
| | - Nikki Guldager
- Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge; U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 101 12th Avenue, Room 264 Fairbanks AK 99701
| | - Jason R. Caikoski
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game; 1300 College Road Fairbanks AK 99701-1599
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25
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26
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Fortin D, Buono PL, Fortin A, Courbin N, Tye Gingras C, Moorcroft PR, Courtois R, Dussault C. Movement responses of caribou to human-induced habitat edges lead to their aggregation near anthropogenic features. Am Nat 2013; 181:827-36. [PMID: 23669544 DOI: 10.1086/670243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The assessment of disturbance effects on wildlife and resulting mitigation efforts are founded on edge-effect theory. According to the classical view, the abundance of animals affected by human disturbance should increase monotonically with distance from disturbed areas to reach a maximum at remote locations. Here we show that distance-dependent movement taxis can skew abundance distributions toward disturbed areas. We develop an advection-diffusion model based on basic movement behavior commonly observed in animal populations and parameterize the model from observations on radio-collared caribou in a boreal ecosystem. The model predicts maximum abundance at 3.7 km from cutovers and roads. Consistently, aerial surveys conducted over 161,920 km(2) showed that the relative probability of caribou occurrence displays nonmonotonic changes with the distance to anthropogenic features, with a peak occurring at 4.5 km away from these features. This aggregation near disturbed areas thus provides the predators of this top-down-controlled, threatened herbivore species with specific locations to concentrate their search. The edge-effect theory developed here thus predicts that human activities should alter animal distribution and food web properties differently than anticipated from the current paradigm. Consideration of such nonmonotonic response to habitat edges may become essential to successful wildlife conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Fortin
- Chaire de Recherche Industrielle, Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada (CRSNG)-Université Laval en Sylviculture et Faune, Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, Québec G1V 0A6 Canada.
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27
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DeCesare NJ. Separating spatial search and efficiency rates as components of predation risk. Proc Biol Sci 2012; 279:4626-33. [PMID: 22977145 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2012.1698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Predation risk is an important driver of ecosystems, and local spatial variation in risk can have population-level consequences by affecting multiple components of the predation process. I use resource selection and proportional hazard time-to-event modelling to assess the spatial drivers of two key components of risk--the search rate (i.e. aggregative response) and predation efficiency rate (i.e. functional response)--imposed by wolves (Canis lupus) in a multi-prey system. In my study area, both components of risk increased according to topographic variation, but anthropogenic features affected only the search rate. Predicted models of the cumulative hazard, or risk of a kill, underlying wolf search paths validated well with broad-scale variation in kill rates, suggesting that spatial hazard models provide a means of scaling up from local heterogeneity in predation risk to population-level dynamics in predator-prey systems. Additionally, I estimated an integrated model of relative spatial predation risk as the product of the search and efficiency rates, combining the distinct contributions of spatial heterogeneity to each component of risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J DeCesare
- Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, College of Forestry and Conservation, Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA.
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28
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Webb NF, Merrill EH. Simulating carnivore movements: An occupancy-abundance relationship for surveying wolves. WILDLIFE SOC B 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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