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Benson JF, Dougherty KD, Beier P, Boyce WM, Cristescu B, Gammons DJ, Garcelon DK, Higley JM, Martins QE, Nisi AC, Riley SPD, Sikich JA, Stephenson TR, Vickers TW, Wengert GM, Wilmers CC, Wittmer HU, Dellinger JA. The ecology of human-caused mortality for a protected large carnivore. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2220030120. [PMID: 36940341 PMCID: PMC10068828 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2220030120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitigating human-caused mortality for large carnivores is a pressing global challenge for wildlife conservation. However, mortality is almost exclusively studied at local (within-population) scales creating a mismatch between our understanding of risk and the spatial extent most relevant to conservation and management of wide-ranging species. Here, we quantified mortality for 590 radio-collared mountain lions statewide across their distribution in California to identify drivers of human-caused mortality and investigate whether human-caused mortality is additive or compensatory. Human-caused mortality, primarily from conflict management and vehicles, exceeded natural mortality despite mountain lions being protected from hunting. Our data indicate that human-caused mortality is additive to natural mortality as population-level survival decreased as a function of increasing human-caused mortality and natural mortality did not decrease with increased human-caused mortality. Mortality risk increased for mountain lions closer to rural development and decreased in areas with higher proportions of citizens voting to support environmental initiatives. Thus, the presence of human infrastructure and variation in the mindset of humans sharing landscapes with mountain lions appear to be primary drivers of risk. We show that human-caused mortality can reduce population-level survival of large carnivores across large spatial scales, even when they are protected from hunting.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F. Benson
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE68583
| | - Kyle D. Dougherty
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE68583
| | - Paul Beier
- Center for Large Landscape Conservation, Bozeman, MT59715
| | - Walter M. Boyce
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA95616
| | - Bogdan Cristescu
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA95064
| | | | | | | | | | - Anna C. Nisi
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA95064
| | - Seth P. D. Riley
- National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Thousand Oaks, CA91360
| | - Jeff A. Sikich
- National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Thousand Oaks, CA91360
| | | | - T. Winston Vickers
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA95616
| | | | | | - Heiko U. Wittmer
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington6140, New Zealand
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Nams VO, Parker DM, Weise FJ, Patterson BD, Buij R, Radloff FGT, Vanak AT, Tumenta PN, Hayward MW, Swanepoel LH, Funston PJ, Bauer H, Power RJ, O'Brien J, O'Brien TG, Tambling CJ, de Iongh HH, Ferreira SM, Owen‐Smith N, Cain JW, Fattebert J, Croes BM, Spong G, Loveridge AJ, Houser AM, Golabek KA, Begg CM, Grant T, Trethowan P, Musyoki C, Menges V, Creel S, Balme GA, Pitman RT, Bissett C, Jenny D, Schuette P, Wilmers CC, Hunter LTB, Kinnaird MF, Begg KS, Owen CR, Steyn V, Bockmuehl D, Munro SJ, Mann GKH, du Preez BD, Marker LL, Huqa TJ, Cozzi G, Frank LG, Nyoni P, Stein AB, Kasiki SM, Macdonald DW, Martins QE, van Vuuren RJ, Stratford KJ, Bidner LR, Oriol‐Cotteril A, Maputla NW, Maruping‐Mzileni N, Parker T, van't Zelfde M, Isbell LA, Beukes OB, Beukes M. Spatial patterns of large African cats: a large‐scale study on density, home range size, and home range overlap of lions
Panthera leo
and leopards
Panthera pardus. Mamm Rev 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Vilis O. Nams
- Department of Plant, Food and Environmental Scienes, Faculty of Agriculture Dalhousie University Truro NS B2N 5E3 Canada
- Wildlife and Reserve Management Research Group, Department of Zoology & Entomology Rhodes University P.O. Box 94 Grahamstown 6140 South Africa
| | - Dan M. Parker
- Wildlife and Reserve Management Research Group, Department of Zoology & Entomology Rhodes University P.O. Box 94 Grahamstown 6140 South Africa
- School of Biology and Environmental Sciences University of Mpumalanga Nelspruit 1200 South Africa
| | - Florian J. Weise
- Centre for Wildlife Management University of Pretoria Pretoria 0002 South Africa
- CLAWS Conservancy, Pride in Our Prides Worcester MA 01608 USA
- N/a'an ku sê Research Programme P.O. Box 99292 Windhoek Namibia
| | - Bruce D. Patterson
- Negaunee Integrative Research Center Field Museum of Natural History Chicago IL 60605 USA
| | - Ralph Buij
- Animal Ecology Group Wageningen University & Research Droevendaalsesteeg 3A 6708 PB Wageningen The Netherlands
- The Peregrine Fund 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane Boise ID 83709 USA
| | - Frans G. T. Radloff
- Department of Conservation and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences Cape Peninsula University of Technology P.O. Box 652 Cape Town 8000 South Africa
| | - Abi Tamim Vanak
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment Bangalore 560064 India
- School of Life Sciences University of KwaZulu‐Natal Durban 3629 South Africa
| | - Pricelia N. Tumenta
- Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences University of Dschang P.O. Box 138 Yaounde Cameroon
- Regional Training Centre Specialized in Agriculture, Forestry‐wood and Environment (CRESA Foret Bois) University of Dschang P.O. Box 138 Yaounde Cameroon
| | - Matt W. Hayward
- Conservation Science Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, College of Engineering, Science and the Environment University of Newcastle Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Mammal Research Institute University of Pretoria Pretoria 0002 South Africa
| | | | - Paul J. Funston
- Department of Nature Conservation Tshwane University of Technology Private Bag X680 Pretoria 0001 South Africa
- Panthera New York NY 10018 USA
| | - Hans Bauer
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Zoology Department University of Oxford, The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney Abingdon OX13 5QL UK
| | - R. John Power
- Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism North West Provincial Government Mahikeng 2735 South Africa
| | - John O'Brien
- Wildlife and Reserve Management Research Group, Department of Zoology & Entomology Rhodes University P.O. Box 94 Grahamstown 6140 South Africa
| | - Timothy G. O'Brien
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Conservation Programs 2300 Southern Blvd. Bronx NY 10460 USA
| | - Craig J. Tambling
- Department of Zoology and Entomology University of Fort Hare Alice Eastern Cape 5700 South Africa
- Department of Zoology and Entomology University of Pretoria Pretoria 0028 South Africa
| | - Hans H. de Iongh
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department Biology University of Antwerp Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Building D 132 Antwerpen Belgium
- Institute of Environmental Sciences Leiden University Einsteinweg 2, P.O. Box 9518 2300 RA Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Sam M. Ferreira
- Scientific Services, SANParks Private Bag x 402 Skukuza 1350 South Africa
| | - Norman Owen‐Smith
- Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences University of the Witwatersrand Private Bag 3 Wits 2050 South Africa
| | - James W. Cain
- Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences University of the Witwatersrand Private Bag 3 Wits 2050 South Africa
| | - Julien Fattebert
- Panthera New York NY 10018 USA
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences University of KwaZulu‐Natal Durban 4000 South Africa
| | - Barbara M. Croes
- Institute of Environmental Sciences Leiden University Einsteinweg 2, P.O. Box 9518 2300 RA Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Goran Spong
- Forestry and Environmental Resources College of Natural Resources, NCSU Raleigh 27695 USA
- Molecular Ecology Group Wildlife, Fish, & Environmental Studies, SLU 90183 Umeå Sweden
| | - Andrew J. Loveridge
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Zoology Department University of Oxford, The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney Abingdon OX13 5QL UK
| | - Ann Marie Houser
- Cheetah Conservation Botswana Private Bag 0457 Gaborone Botswana
| | | | - Colleen M. Begg
- Niassa Carnivore Project Private Bag X18 Rondebosch South Africa
| | - Tanith Grant
- Wildlife and Reserve Management Research Group, Department of Zoology & Entomology Rhodes University P.O. Box 94 Grahamstown 6140 South Africa
| | - Paul Trethowan
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Zoology Department University of Oxford, The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney Abingdon OX13 5QL UK
| | | | - Vera Menges
- Department Evolutionary Ecology Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Alfred‐Kowalke‐Str. 17 D‐10315 Berlin Germany
| | - Scott Creel
- Department of Ecology Montana State University Bozeman MT 59717 USA
| | - Guy A. Balme
- Panthera New York NY 10018 USA
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa University of Cape Town Private Bag X3 Rondebosch 7701 South Africa
| | - Ross T. Pitman
- Panthera New York NY 10018 USA
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa University of Cape Town Private Bag X3 Rondebosch 7701 South Africa
| | - Charlene Bissett
- Wildlife and Reserve Management Research Group, Department of Zoology & Entomology Rhodes University P.O. Box 94 Grahamstown 6140 South Africa
- Scientific Services, SANParks Private Bag x 402 Skukuza 1350 South Africa
| | - David Jenny
- Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques 17 Rte de Dabou, Abidjan Ivory Coast
- Zoologisches Institut Universität Bern Baltzerstrasse 6 Bern 3012 Switzerland
| | - Paul Schuette
- Department of Ecology Montana State University Bozeman MT 59717 USA
| | | | - Luke T. B. Hunter
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Conservation Programs 2300 Southern Blvd. Bronx NY 10460 USA
- School of Biological and Conservation Sciences University of KwaZulu‐Natal, Westville Campus Private Bag X54001 Durban 4000 South Africa
| | | | - Keith S. Begg
- Niassa Carnivore Project Private Bag X18 Rondebosch South Africa
| | - Cailey R. Owen
- School of Life Sciences University of KwaZulu‐Natal Durban 3629 South Africa
| | - Villiers Steyn
- Department of Nature Conservation Tshwane University of Technology Private Bag X680 Pretoria 0001 South Africa
| | - Dirk Bockmuehl
- Department Evolutionary Ecology Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Alfred‐Kowalke‐Str. 17 D‐10315 Berlin Germany
| | - Stuart J. Munro
- N/a'an ku sê Research Programme P.O. Box 99292 Windhoek Namibia
| | - Gareth K. H. Mann
- Wildlife and Reserve Management Research Group, Department of Zoology & Entomology Rhodes University P.O. Box 94 Grahamstown 6140 South Africa
- Panthera New York NY 10018 USA
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Cape Town Cape Town 7701 South Africa
- The Cape Leopard Trust Cape Town 7806 South Africa
| | - Byron D. du Preez
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Zoology Department University of Oxford, The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney Abingdon OX13 5QL UK
| | | | - Tuqa J. Huqa
- Kenya Wildlife Service P.O. Box 40241 00100 Nairobi Kenya
| | - Gabriele Cozzi
- Botswana Predator Conservation Trust Private Bag 13 Maun Botswana
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies Zurich University Winterthurerstr. 190 Zürich 8057 Switzerland
| | - Laurence G. Frank
- Living with Lions, Mpala Research Centre P.O. Box 555 Nanyuki 10400 Kenya
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology University of California Berkeley CA 94720 USA
| | - Phumuzile Nyoni
- Wildlife and Reserve Management Research Group, Department of Zoology & Entomology Rhodes University P.O. Box 94 Grahamstown 6140 South Africa
- Debshan Ranch PO Box 24 Shagani Zimbabwe
| | - Andrew B. Stein
- CLAWS Conservancy, Pride in Our Prides Worcester MA 01608 USA
- Department of Environmental Conservation University of Massachusetts Amherst MA 01003 USA
- Landmark College Putney VT 05346 USA
| | | | - David W. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Zoology Department University of Oxford, The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney Abingdon OX13 5QL UK
| | - Quinton E. Martins
- The Cape Leopard Trust Cape Town 7806 South Africa
- True Wild LLC Glen Ellen CA USA
| | | | - Ken J. Stratford
- Ongava Research Centre 102A Nelson Mandela Avenue Windhoek Namibia
| | | | - Alayne Oriol‐Cotteril
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Zoology Department University of Oxford, The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney Abingdon OX13 5QL UK
- Living With Lions, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California Berkeley CA 94720 USA
| | - Nakedi W. Maputla
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Mammal Research Institute University of Pretoria Pretoria 0002 South Africa
| | - Nkabeng Maruping‐Mzileni
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Mammal Research Institute University of Pretoria Pretoria 0002 South Africa
| | - Tim Parker
- Wildlife and Reserve Management Research Group, Department of Zoology & Entomology Rhodes University P.O. Box 94 Grahamstown 6140 South Africa
| | - Maarten van't Zelfde
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department Biology University of Antwerp Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Building D 132 Antwerpen Belgium
| | - Lynne A. Isbell
- Mpala Research Centre P.O. Box 555 Nanyuki 10400 Kenya
- Department of Anthropology University of California Davis CA 95616 USA
| | - Otto B. Beukes
- Department of Conservation and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences Cape Peninsula University of Technology P.O. Box 652 Cape Town 8000 South Africa
| | - Maya Beukes
- Department of Conservation and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences Cape Peninsula University of Technology P.O. Box 652 Cape Town 8000 South Africa
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