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Anderwald P, Buchmann S, Rempfler T, Filli F. Weather-dependent changes in habitat use by Alpine chamois. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2024; 12:3. [PMID: 38229138 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-024-00449-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alterations in weather patterns due to climate change are accelerated in alpine environments, but mountains also provide a wide range of niches and potential refuge areas. In order to identify future critical habitat for mountain ungulates for effective protection, it is important to understand their spatial responses to changing weather conditions without movement constraints by human disturbance. METHODS Using integrated step selection functions, we investigated fine-scale changes in seasonal habitat use in response to weather and time of day for 55 GPS-collared adult Alpine chamois in summer and 42 individuals in winter in a strictly protected area. RESULTS Chamois reacted to increasing precipitation and wind speeds primarily by moving to lower elevations in summer and winter. However, reactions to high summer temperatures predominantly involved preferences for increasing tree cover density and northerly slopes. Snow depth had little effect on habitat choice, and southerly slopes were preferred in winter regardless of temperature. At night, chamois moved to steeper slopes and lower elevations than during daytime in both seasons, and to more open areas in summer. Steeper slopes were also preferred with increasing tree cover density. CONCLUSIONS Chamois employ adaptive fine-scale adjustments in their habitat choice consistent with respect to efficient thermoregulation and protection from both weather extremes and predation risk in summer and winter. Movement responses to climate change are therefore expected to be far more complex than simple altitudinal changes in distribution. Particularly the role of forest cover must not be underestimated, as it appears to provide important thermal refuge habitat from high summer temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Anderwald
- Swiss National Park, Chastè Planta-Wildenberg, Runatsch 124, 7530, Zernez, Switzerland.
| | - Sven Buchmann
- Swiss National Park, Chastè Planta-Wildenberg, Runatsch 124, 7530, Zernez, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Rempfler
- Swiss National Park, Chastè Planta-Wildenberg, Runatsch 124, 7530, Zernez, Switzerland
| | - Flurin Filli
- Swiss National Park, Chastè Planta-Wildenberg, Runatsch 124, 7530, Zernez, Switzerland
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Brodeur A, Leblond M, Brodeur V, Taillon J, Côté SD. Investigating potential for competition between migratory caribou and introduced muskoxen. J Wildl Manage 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Brodeur
- Caribou Ungava and Centre d'Études Nordiques, Département de Biologie Université Laval 1045 Avenue de la Médecine Québec QC G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Mathieu Leblond
- Environment and Climate Change Canada 1125 Colonel By Drive Ottawa ON K1S 5B6 Canada
| | - Vincent Brodeur
- Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs Direction de la gestion de la faune du Nord‐du‐Québec 951 boulevard, Hamel Chibougamau QC G8P 2Z3 Canada
| | - Joëlle Taillon
- Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs, Direction de l'expertise sur la faune terrestre l'herpétofaune et l'avifaune 880 chemin Sainte‐Foy Québec QC G1S 4X4 Canada
| | - Steeve D. Côté
- Caribou Ungava and Centre d'Études Nordiques, Département de Biologie Université Laval 1045 Avenue de la Médecine Québec QC G1V 0A6 Canada
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Kavčić K, Radočaj T, Corlatti L, Safner T, Gračanin A, Mikac KM, Šprem N. Spatio-temporal response of forest-dwelling chamois to red deer presence. Mamm Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-021-00147-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Gamelon M, Filli F, Saether BE, Herfindal I. Multi-event capture-recapture analysis in Alpine chamois reveals contrasting responses to interspecific competition, within and between populations. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:2279-2289. [PMID: 32654115 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Understanding components of interspecific competition has long been a major goal in ecological studies. Classical models of competition typically consider equal responses of all individuals to the density of competitors, however responses may differ both among individuals from the same population, and between populations. Based on individual long-term monitoring of two chamois populations in sympatry with red deer, we built a multi-event capture-recapture model to assess how vital rates of the smaller chamois are affected by competition from the larger red deer. In both populations, mortality and breeding probabilities of female chamois depend on age and in most cases, breeding status the preceding year. Successful breeders always performed better the next year, indicating that some females are of high quality. In one population where there was high spatial overlap between the two species, the survival of old female chamois that were successful breeders the preceding year (high-quality) was negatively related to an index of red deer population size suggesting that they tend to skip reproduction instead of jeopardizing their own survival when the number of competitors increases. The breeding probability of young breeders (ages 2 and 3) was similarly affected by red deer population size. In contrast, in the second site with low spatial overlap between the two species, the vital rates of female chamois were not related to red deer population size. We provide evidence for population-specific responses to interspecific competition and more generally, for context-, age- and state-dependent effects of interspecific competition. Our results also suggest that the classical assumption of equal responses of all individuals to interspecific competition should be relaxed, and emphasize the need to move towards more mechanistic approaches to better understand how natural populations respond to changes in their environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlène Gamelon
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Flurin Filli
- Swiss National Park, Chaste Planta-Wildenberg, Zernez, Switzerland
| | - Bernt-Erik Saether
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ivar Herfindal
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
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Corlatti L, Bonardi A, Bragalanti N, Pedrotti L. Long‐term dynamics of Alpine ungulates suggest interspecific competition. J Zool (1987) 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. Corlatti
- Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
- Stelvio National Park Bormio Italy
| | | | - N. Bragalanti
- Stelvio National Park, Sustainable Development and Protected Areas Service Autonomous Province of Trento Cogolo di Peio Italy
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Formenti N, Viganó R, Fraquelli C, Trogu T, Bonfanti M, Lanfranchi P, Palme R, Ferrari N. Increased hormonal stress response of Apennine chamois induced by interspecific interactions and anthropogenic disturbance. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-018-1228-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Ferretti F, Lovari S, Stephens PA. Joint effects of weather and interspecific competition on foraging behavior and survival of a mountain herbivore. Curr Zool 2018; 65:165-175. [PMID: 30936905 PMCID: PMC6430973 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoy032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Weather variations have the potential to influence species interactions, although effects on competitive interactions between species are poorly known. Both weather and competition can influence foraging behavior and survival of herbivores during nursing/weaning, a critical period in the herbivore life cycle. We evaluated the joint effects of weather and competition with red deer Cervus elaphus on the foraging behavior of adult female Apennine chamois Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata in summer, and on winter survival of chamois kids. High temperature and low rainfall during the growing season of vegetation had negative effects on bite rate. Effects of weather were greater in forb patches, including cold-adapted, nutritious plants of key importance to chamois, than in graminoid ones. Our results confirm previous indications of a negative effect of competition on bite rate of female chamois and on kid survival. Furthermore, harsh weather conditions and competition with deer had additive, negative roles on foraging behavior and survival of chamois. Growing temperatures are expected to influence distribution, growth, and/or nutritional quality of plants; competition would reduce pasture quality and food availability through resource depletion. Both factors would limit food/energy intake rates during summer, reducing survival of the youngest cohorts in winter. We suggest that interspecific competition can be an important additive factor to the effects of weather changes on behavior and demography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Ferretti
- Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology and Wildlife Management, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, Siena, Italy
| | - Sandro Lovari
- Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology and Wildlife Management, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, Siena, Italy.,Maremma Natural History Museum, Strada Corsini 5, Grosseto, Italy
| | - Philip A Stephens
- Conservation Ecology Group, Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, UK
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Puorger A, Rossi C, Haller RM, Anderwald P. Plastic adaptations of foraging strategies to variation in forage quality in Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). CAN J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2017-0073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Foraging efficiency strongly affects individual fitness and is influenced by diverse factors such as food quality and quantity, as well as intra- and inter-specific interactions. We investigated whether Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra (Linnaeus, 1758)) in a protected area in the Swiss Alps adapted their foraging behaviour to forage availability and quality by modeling the bite and step rates of individuals on vegetation nitrogen content, relative plant cover, sex, daytime, air temperature, and slope. Vegetation characteristics were derived using remote sensing data from airborne imaging spectroscopy data sets and feeding locations determined using a theodolite. Chamois increased their bite rates with decreasing forage nitrogen content, decreasing slope, and increasing temperature. Step rates were higher at high temperatures and decreased with increasing relative plant cover. Males showed higher bite rates and lower step rates than females. Daytime had no influence on either bite or step rates. An increase in bite rate may represent a plastic adaptation of foraging behaviour to compensate for lower nutritional quality of the available vegetation. Our results show variability in foraging behaviour according to both vegetation characteristics and physical environment and emphasize the use of remote sensing data to investigate relationships between habitat and subtle behavioural adaptations in ungulates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arno Puorger
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria
- Swiss National Park, Chastè Planta-Wildenberg, 7530 Zernez, Switzerland
| | - Christian Rossi
- Swiss National Park, Chastè Planta-Wildenberg, 7530 Zernez, Switzerland
- Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Rudolf M. Haller
- Swiss National Park, Chastè Planta-Wildenberg, 7530 Zernez, Switzerland
| | - Pia Anderwald
- Swiss National Park, Chastè Planta-Wildenberg, 7530 Zernez, Switzerland
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Monteith KL, Long RA, Stephenson TR, Bleich VC, Bowyer RT, Lasharr TN. Horn size and nutrition in mountain sheep: Can ewe handle the truth? J Wildl Manage 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin L. Monteith
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research UnitDepartment of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming 804 East Fremont St. Laramie WY 82072 USA
| | - Ryan A. Long
- Department of Fish and Wildlife SciencesUniversity of Idaho 875 Perimeter Dr., MS 1142 Moscow ID 83844 USA
| | - Thomas R. Stephenson
- Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery ProgramCalifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife 787 North Main Street, Suite 220 Bishop CA 93514 USA
| | - Vernon C. Bleich
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental ScienceUniversity of Nevada Reno Mail Stop 186, 1664 North Virginia Street Reno NV 89557 USA
| | - R. Terry Bowyer
- Institute of Arctic BiologyUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks Box 757000 Fairbanks AK 99775 USA
| | - Tayler N. Lasharr
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and PhysiologyUniversity of Wyoming Dept. 3166, 1000 E. University Ave Laramie WY 82071 USA
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Herfindal I, Lande US, Solberg EJ, Rolandsen CM, Roer O, Wam HK. Weather affects temporal niche partitioning between moose and livestock. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ivar Herfindal
- I. Herfindal , Dept of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Norwegian Univ. of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Unni Støbet Lande
- U. S. Lande, Division of Forest and Forest Resources, Norwegian Inst. of Bioeconomy Research, Tingvoll, Norway
| | - Erling Johan Solberg
- E. J. Solberg and C. M. Rolandsen, Norwegian Inst. for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Christer Moe Rolandsen
- E. J. Solberg and C. M. Rolandsen, Norwegian Inst. for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ole Roer
- O. Roer, Faun Naturforvaltning AS, Fyresdal, Norway
| | - Hilde Karine Wam
- H. K. Wam, Div. of Forest and Forest Resources, Norwegian Inst. of Bioeconomy Research, Ås, Norway
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Cain JW, Avery MM, Caldwell CA, Abbott LB, Holechek JL. Diet composition, quality and overlap of sympatric American pronghorn and gemsbok. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James W. Cain
- J. W. Cain III and C. A. Caldwell , U.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, New Mexico State Univ., PO Box 30003, MSC 4901, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
| | - Mindi M. Avery
- M. M. Avery, Dept of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology, New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces, NM, USA
| | - Colleen A. Caldwell
- J. W. Cain III and C. A. Caldwell , U.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, New Mexico State Univ., PO Box 30003, MSC 4901, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
| | - Laurie B. Abbott
- L. B. Abbott (posthumous) and J. L. Holechek, Dept of Animal and Range Science, New Mexico State Univ. Las Cruces, NM, USA
| | - Jerry L. Holechek
- L. B. Abbott (posthumous) and J. L. Holechek, Dept of Animal and Range Science, New Mexico State Univ. Las Cruces, NM, USA
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Anderwald P, Haller RM, Filli F. Heterogeneity in Primary Productivity Influences Competitive Interactions between Red Deer and Alpine Chamois. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0146458. [PMID: 26824867 PMCID: PMC4732944 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Habitat heterogeneity can promote coexistence between herbivores of different body size limited to different extents by resource quantity and quality. Red deer (Cervus elaphus) are known as superior competitors to smaller species with similar diets. We compared competitive interactions and habitat use between red deer and Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) in two adjacent valleys in a strictly protected area in the Central Alps. Red deer density was higher in the valley with higher primary productivity. Only here was horn growth in kid and yearling chamois (as a measure for body condition) negatively correlated with red deer population size, suggesting interspecific competition, and chamois selected meadows with steeper slopes and lower productivity than available on average. Conversely, red deer selected meadows of high productivity, particularly in the poorer area. As these were located mainly at lower elevations, this led to strong altitudinal segregation between the two species here. Local differences in interspecific competition thus coincided with differences in habitat preference and–segregation between areas. This suggests that spatial habitat and resource heterogeneity at the scale of adjacent valleys can provide competition refuges for competitively inferior mountain ungulates which differ from their superior competitor in their metabolic requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Anderwald
- Swiss National Park, Chastè Planta-Wildenberg, 7530 Zernez, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | - Rudolf M. Haller
- Swiss National Park, Chastè Planta-Wildenberg, 7530 Zernez, Switzerland
| | - Flurin Filli
- Swiss National Park, Chastè Planta-Wildenberg, 7530 Zernez, Switzerland
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