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Long RA, MacKay P, Sauder JD, Sinclair M, Aubry KB, Raley CM. An overwinter protocol for detecting wolverines and other carnivores at camera traps paired with automated scent dispensers. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11290. [PMID: 38706935 PMCID: PMC11066567 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11290] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Camera traps deployed with olfactory attractants are used to survey rare and elusive carnivores. Study areas with deep snowpack and rugged terrain present challenges and risks to field personnel, who traditionally must revisit camera stations regularly to refresh attractants. In such locations, alternative overwinter survey protocols that include a persistent attractant would improve both the safety and efficiency of camera-trap surveys. We present a protocol for installing camera traps and automated scent dispensers on trees at above-average maximum snow depth to eliminate the need for interim service visits and to enable standardized surveys to be conducted throughout the year. Our protocol proved to be effective at attracting and detecting numerous and repeated visits by wolverines, fishers, and other carnivores in two montane regions of the western contiguous United States. The volume, timing, and composition of liquid scent lure released by automated scent dispensers can be varied to target multiple species of interest, and the dispenser can be used in situations where bait rewards may influence the behavior of target species and/or pose human safety concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Mike Sinclair
- Microsoft Research, Microsoft CorporationRedmondWashingtonUSA
| | - Keith B. Aubry
- USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research StationOlympiaWashingtonUSA
| | - Catherine M. Raley
- USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research StationOlympiaWashingtonUSA
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2
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Jachowski DS, Marneweck CJ, Olfenbuttel C, Harris SN. Support for the size-mediated sensitivity hypothesis within a diverse carnivore community. J Anim Ecol 2024; 93:109-122. [PMID: 36924272 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Carnivore community dynamics are governed by a complex set of often interacting biotic, abiotic and anthropogenic factors that are increasingly volatile as a result of global change. Understanding how these changing conditions influence carnivore communities is urgent because of the important role carnivores play within ecosystems at multiple trophic levels, and the conservation threats that many carnivores face globally. While a great deal of research attention has historically been focused on large carnivores within ecosystems, the size-mediated sensitivity hypothesis has recently been proposed where the smallest carnivore in a system is likely to be the most responsive to the diverse suite of ongoing environmental and anthropogenic changes within ecological communities. We deployed camera traps at 197 sites over 4 years to monitor a diverse suite of mammalian carnivores within the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina and then used a two-step occupancy modelling-structural equation modelling framework to investigate the relative support for four primary hypothesized drivers (interspecific competition/predation, habitat complexity, food availability and anthropogenic disturbance) on carnivore occurrence. We found that each of the 10 carnivores in our system responded differently to conditions associated with each of these four hypothesized drivers, but that small and medium-sized carnivores had a greater number of significant (p < 0.05) pathways by which these conditions were influencing occupancy relative to large carnivores. In particular, the smallest carnivore observed in our study was the only species for which we found support for each of the four hypothesized drivers influencing occupancy. Collectively, our study supports the size-mediated sensitivity hypothesis and suggests that small carnivores are ideal sentinel species for global change. We echo recent calls for adopting a middle-out approach to investigations into carnivore community dynamics by refocusing sustained monitoring and research efforts on smaller carnivores within systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Jachowski
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, 29634, USA
| | - Courtney J Marneweck
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, 29634, USA
| | - Colleen Olfenbuttel
- North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Pittsboro, North Carolina, 27312, USA
| | - Stephen N Harris
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, 29634, USA
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3
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White JG, Sparrius J, Robinson T, Hale S, Lupone L, Healey T, Cooke R, Rendall AR. Can NDVI identify drought refugia for mammals and birds in mesic landscapes? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158318. [PMID: 36037901 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Refugia within landscapes are increasingly important as climate change intensifies, yet identifying refugia, and how they respond to climatic perturbations remains understudied. We use Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) developed during extreme drought to identify drought refugia. We then utilise camera trapping to understand the ecological role and importance of these refugia under fluctuating rainfall conditions. Ground foraging mammals and birds were surveyed annually from 2016 to 2019 whereby 171 remote-sensing cameras were deployed in the southern section of the Grampians, Australia. NDVI values were calculated during Australia's millennium drought, allowing the assessment of how NDVI calculated during extreme drought predicts drought refugia and the response of biodiversity to NDVI under rainfall fluctuations. Site occupancy of bird and mammal assemblages were dependent on NDVI, with areas of high NDVI during drought exhibiting characteristics consistent with refugia. Rainfall pulses increased site occupancy at all sites with colonisation probability initially associated with higher NDVI sites. Extinction probabilities were greatest at low NDVI sites when rainfall declined. Within mesic systems, remotely sensed NDVI can identify areas of the landscape that act as drought refugia enabling landscape management to prioritise species conservation within these areas. The protection and persistence of refugia is crucial in ensuring landscapes and their species communities therein are resilient to a range of climate change scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G White
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, VIC, Australia.
| | - Jacinta Sparrius
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, VIC, Australia
| | - Tomas Robinson
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, VIC, Australia
| | - Susannah Hale
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, VIC, Australia
| | - Luke Lupone
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, VIC, Australia
| | - Tom Healey
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, VIC, Australia
| | - Raylene Cooke
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, VIC, Australia
| | - Anthony R Rendall
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, VIC, Australia
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5
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Allen ML, Green AM, Moll RJ. Modelling the distribution and intraguild associations of an understudied mesocarnivore across the contiguous United States. DIVERS DISTRIB 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian L. Allen
- Illinois Natural History Survey University of Illinois Champaign Illinois USA
| | - Austin M. Green
- School of Biological Sciences University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah USA
| | - Remington J. Moll
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire USA
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6
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Popescu VD, Kenyon M, Brown RK, Dyck MA, Prange S, Peterman WE, Dennison C. Habitat connectivity and resource selection in an expanding bobcat ( Lynx rufus) population. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12460. [PMID: 34824917 PMCID: PMC8590802 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Terrestrial carnivores are among the most imperiled species worldwide, yet some species are resilient and are recovering in human-dominated landscapes after decades or centuries of absence. Bobcat (Lynx rufus) populations were extirpated from much of Midwestern US in the mid-1800's, and are currently expanding and recolonizing their former range. In this study, we investigated multi-scale habitat selection for Ohio's expanding bobcat population, and examined habitat connectivity in order to evaluate the conduits for dispersal statewide. We used citizen observations collected between 1978 and 2019 and logistic regression to evaluate population-level habitat selection, and GPS telemetry data for 20 individuals collected between 2012 and 2014 and a distribution-weighted exponential Resource Selection Function to evaluate individual-level habitat selection within home ranges. At the population level, bobcats selected for higher amounts of forest and pasture (at a 50 km2 scale) and herbaceous vegetation (at 15-50 50 km2 scales), thus overall heterogeneous forested habitat. At individual (home range) level, bobcats selected for forested habitats with low road density and farther away from high traffic roads; they also showed weak selection for open habitat at the home range level. Male home ranges were significantly greater than female home ranges. Lastly, we used the population-level spatial outputs (i.e. habitat suitability map) to parameterize habitat connectivity models using circuit theory in the program Circuitscape. We tested three relationships between habitat suitability and resistance to movement and used a subset of data on potential dispersing individuals to evaluate which relationship performed best. All three relationships performed almost equally well, and we calculated a weighted averaged connectivity map as our final map. Habitat was highly permeable to movements between core areas of two genetically distinct subpopulations located in southeastern Ohio. We also identified potential dispersal corridors from the core areas to other regions of Ohio dominated by agriculture and suburban development via forested riparian corridors. Overall, our analysis offers new information on habitat selection and connectivity in a rebounding felid population and offers important ecological information for wildlife management strategies. We recommend that the suitability and connectivity models should be periodically updated until the population reaches an equilibrium, and be integrated with data from neighboring states for a comprehensive assessment of a conservation success story.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viorel D Popescu
- Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States.,Center for Environmental Research, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Madeline Kenyon
- Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States
| | - Ryan K Brown
- Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States
| | - Marissa A Dyck
- Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States
| | - Suzanne Prange
- Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States.,Appalachian Wildlife Research Institute, Athens, OH, United States of America
| | - William E Peterman
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Catherine Dennison
- Division of Wildlife, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Columbus, OH, United States of America
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Bianchi R, Jenkins JMA, Lesmeister DB, Gouvea JA, Cesário CS, Fornitano L, de Oliveira MY, de Morais KDR, Ribeiro RLA, Gompper ME. Tayra (
Eira barbara
) landscape use as a function of cover types, forest protection, and the presence of puma and free‐ranging dogs. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rita Bianchi
- Departamento de Biologia Aplicada à Agropecuária Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Universidade Estadual Paulista‐Unesp Jaboticabal SP Brazil
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Biodiversidade Universidade Estadual Paulista‐Unesp São José do Rio Preto SP Brazil
| | | | | | - Jéssica Abonízio Gouvea
- Departamento de Biologia Aplicada à Agropecuária Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Universidade Estadual Paulista‐Unesp Jaboticabal SP Brazil
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Biodiversidade Universidade Estadual Paulista‐Unesp São José do Rio Preto SP Brazil
| | - Clarice Silva Cesário
- Departamento de Biologia Aplicada à Agropecuária Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Universidade Estadual Paulista‐Unesp Jaboticabal SP Brazil
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Biodiversidade Universidade Estadual Paulista‐Unesp São José do Rio Preto SP Brazil
| | - Larissa Fornitano
- Departamento de Biologia Aplicada à Agropecuária Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Universidade Estadual Paulista‐Unesp Jaboticabal SP Brazil
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Biodiversidade Universidade Estadual Paulista‐Unesp São José do Rio Preto SP Brazil
| | - Mateus Yan de Oliveira
- Departamento de Biologia Aplicada à Agropecuária Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Universidade Estadual Paulista‐Unesp Jaboticabal SP Brazil
| | - Kimberly Danielle Rodrigues de Morais
- Departamento de Biologia Aplicada à Agropecuária Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Universidade Estadual Paulista‐Unesp Jaboticabal SP Brazil
| | - Renan Lieto Alves Ribeiro
- Departamento de Biologia Aplicada à Agropecuária Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Universidade Estadual Paulista‐Unesp Jaboticabal SP Brazil
| | - Matthew E. Gompper
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology New Mexico State University Las Cruces New Mexico USA
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Allen ML, Avrin AC, Farmer MJ, Whipple LS, Alexander EP, Cervantes AM, Bauder JM. Limitations of current knowledge about the ecology of Grey Foxes hamper conservation efforts. JOURNAL OF THREATENED TAXA 2021. [DOI: 10.11609/jott.7102.13.8.19079-19092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Species-specific conservation is important for maintaining the integrity of ecological communities but is dependent on sufficiently understanding multiple aspects of a species’ ecology. Species-specific data are commonly lacking for species in geographic areas with little research and species perceived to have insufficient charisma or economic importance. Despite their widespread distribution across central and North America and status as a furbearing mammal, little is known about the ecology of Grey Foxes Urocyon cinereoargenteus compared to other species of furbearing mammals. To understand what is known about this species, especially factors affecting population dynamics, we performed a systematic review of the scientific literature. We found 234 studies about Grey Foxes, with studies increasing substantially over time but with geographic gaps in the Great Plains and most of Mexico and central America. Most studies we reviewed examined relative abundance or occupancy (n= 35), habitat associations (n= 30), primarily as part of larger mammalian community studies, or spatiotemporal effects of other mammalian carnivores (n= 19), predominately Coyote Canis latrans. Grey Foxes were primarily forest-associated although associations with specific forest communities or anthropogenically disturbed habitats varied among studies. Multiple studies across ecoregions reported this fox as among both the most- and least-abundant mammalian carnivore. The inter-specific effects of Coyote were often, but not exclusively, negative and were likely mediated by landscape composition and human development. Importantly, very few studies examined population-effects of coyotes on Grey Foxes. Studies of population trends, demographics, and space use of Grey Foxes were comparatively rare and small inter- and intra-study sample sizes limited our ability to infer broader patterns. We suggest multiple avenues for future research to better understand the population status of this species throughout their range.
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9
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Dyck MA, Wyza E, Popescu VD. When carnivores collide: a review of studies exploring the competitive interactions between bobcats
Lynx rufus
and coyotes
Canis latrans. Mamm Rev 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marissa A. Dyck
- Department of Biological Sciences Ohio University 57 Oxbow Trail 107 Irvine Hall Athens OH 45701USA
| | - Eileen Wyza
- Department of Biological Sciences Ohio University 57 Oxbow Trail 107 Irvine Hall Athens OH 45701USA
| | - Viorel D. Popescu
- Department of Biological Sciences Ohio University 57 Oxbow Trail 107 Irvine Hall Athens OH 45701USA
- Center for Environmental Research University of Bucharest 1 N. Balcescu Blvd Bucharest010042Romania
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10
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King TW, Vynne C, Miller D, Fisher S, Fitkin S, Rohrer J, Ransom JI, Thornton DH. The influence of spatial and temporal scale on the relative importance of biotic vs. abiotic factors for species distributions. DIVERS DISTRIB 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Travis W. King
- School of the Environment Washington State University Pullman WA USA
| | | | - David Miller
- Department of Ecosystem Sciences and Management Pennsylvania State University University Park PA USA
| | - Scott Fisher
- Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Northeast Region Colville WA USA
| | - Scott Fitkin
- Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Okanogan District Winthrop WA USA
| | - John Rohrer
- U.S. Forest Service Okanogan‐Wenatchee National Forest Winthrop WA USA
| | - Jason I. Ransom
- National Park Service North Cascades National Park Service Complex Sedro‐Woolley WA USA
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11
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Bauder JM, Allen ML, Ahlers AA, Benson TJ, Miller CA, Stodola KW. Identifying and Controlling for Variation in Canid Harvest Data. J Wildl Manage 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Javan M. Bauder
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research InstituteUniversity of Illinois 1816 S. Oak Street Champaign IL 61820 USA
| | - Maximilian L. Allen
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research InstituteUniversity of Illinois 1816 S. Oak Street Champaign IL 61820 USA
| | - Adam A. Ahlers
- Department of Horticulture and Natural ResourcesKansas State University 1712 Claflin Road Manhattan KS 66506 USA
| | - Thomas J. Benson
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research InstituteUniversity of Illinois 1816 S. Oak Street Champaign IL 61820 USA
| | - Craig A. Miller
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research InstituteUniversity of Illinois 1816 S. Oak Street Champaign IL 61820 USA
| | - Kirk W. Stodola
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research InstituteUniversity of Illinois 1816 S. Oak Street Champaign IL 61820 USA
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Colborn AS, Kuntze CC, Gadsden GI, Harris NC. Spatial variation in diet-microbe associations across populations of a generalist North American carnivore. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:1952-1960. [PMID: 32445202 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Generalist species, by definition, exhibit variation in niche attributes that promote survival in changing environments. Increasingly, phenotypes previously associated with a species, particularly those with wide or expanding ranges, are dissolving and compelling greater emphasis on population-level characteristics. In the present study, we assessed spatial variation in diet characteristics, gut microbiome and associations between these two ecological traits across populations of coyotes Canis latrans. We highlight the influence of the carnivore community in shaping these relationships, as the coyote varied from being an apex predator to a subordinate, mesopredator across sampled populations. We implemented a scat survey across three distinct coyote populations in Michigan, USA. We used carbon (δ13 C) and nitrogen (δ15 N) isotopic values to reflect consumption patterns and trophic level, respectively. Corresponding samples were also paired with 16S rRNA sequencing to describe the microbial community and correlate with isotopic values. Although consumption patterns were comparable, we found spatial variation in trophic level among coyote populations. Specifically, δ15 N was highest where coyotes were the apex predator and lowest where coyotes co-occurred with grey wolves Canis lupus. The gut microbial community exhibited marked spatial variation across populations with the lowest operational taxonomic units diversity found where coyotes occurred at their lowest trophic level. Bacteriodes and Fusobacterium dominated the microbiome and were positively correlated across all populations. We found no correlation between δ13 C and microbial community attributes. However, positive associations between δ15 N and specific microbial genera increased as coyotes ascended trophic levels. Coyotes provide a model for exploring implications of niche plasticity because they are a highly adaptable, wide-ranging omnivore. As coyotes continue to vary in trophic position and expand their geographic range, we might expect increased divergence within their microbial community, changes in physiology and alterations in behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Shawn Colborn
- Applied Wildlife Ecology Lab, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Corbin C Kuntze
- Applied Wildlife Ecology Lab, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gabriel I Gadsden
- Applied Wildlife Ecology Lab, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Nyeema C Harris
- Applied Wildlife Ecology Lab, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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